In other words, it's a world that's not for everyone which may be why the 1982 original never found a huge audience, and why the new film, despite its critical acclaim, has also confounded some audiences who aren't familiar with this series' unique mix of philosophy amid bursts of brutal violence.
If you're attracted to the world of Blade Runner, with its dispassionate heroes and gorgeous landscapes, this new film -- Blade Runner 2049 -- will not disappoint. In the same way that Mad Max: Fury Road invigorated a long moribund apocalyptic franchise, this film hits just the right notes and tone of the original, aided tremendously by Denis Villeneuve's precise direction, Roger Deakins' flawless cinematography and two terrific leading man turns from Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford.
I'm curious to see how The Last Jedi pans out, but I think I can safely say this will be the smartest and most sophisticated blockbuster-style movie of the year. And whether or not it winds up making a profit, ir's one of the best films I've seen all year.
Does every plot point fall neatly into place? No. Is it a slow-paced film short on bravura action sequences? Absolutely. But that doesn't diminish its impact.
Just like the original, this is a movie you have to give yourself over to -- if you surrender to is glacial pacing and its mysterious, circuitous plot, you will be invigorated and you'll leave the theater asking yourself crucial questions about what is the true nature of humanity and what defines us -- our memories? Our actions? Our capacity for compassion? Or, all of the above?
So much credit is due to Villeneuve, who has an incredible track record to date with modern masterpieces like Sicario, Prisoners and Arrival already under his belt. Not only does he have a great eye, he also knows how to keep emotion front and center no matter how 'big' a movie is.
He has a top-notch cast here -- and with Gosling and Ford he has two capable leading men, with very disparate acting styles, who nevertheless both know how to beautifully portray masculine vulnerability. Meanwhile, the film pays homage to the original in ways both big a small -- from the Vangelis-ish score to the film noir-ish aesthetic.
If the film has a flaw it's probably its fidelity to the themes and tone of the original. If you're not a fan of the 1982 Ridley Scott film, you won't likely enjoy this one. This is a movie for fans, for people who have grown to love the offbeat rhythms of the original and yet longed to see its themes explored more fully.
Blade Runner 2049 brilliantly bookends that unusual but groundbreaking original, which completely upended the way the future was portrayed in movies, and provided a brooding alternative to the Star Wars brand of sunny sci-fi which was dominating multiplexes at the time,
It's a work of art. It's not for everyone. But that's ok -- because so much great cinema isn't.
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