Ok. So I saw it yesterday in Madison, MS. All my expectations were matched or exceeded. A very satisfying experience. I got really choked up during several scenes, an uncommon reaction for me. I highly recommend being familiar with the original BR Director's cut before seeing 2049. That will help with comprehension a lot.
Few sequels are able match or beat the quality of their originals. Godfather II, Terminator II, and now 2049 come to mind. Can't wait to have my own copy so I can hit the pause and rewind buttons during several scenes.
I my opinion as a devoted fan of Science fiction for more than 50 years, Blade Runner (1982) is one of the greatest science movies that has ever been. Based on the book "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K, Dick (1968). Blade Runner 2049 is based on the Sequel to Do Androids Dream' written by Philip K Dick's close friend Kevin W Jeter; Blade Runner, The Edge of Human. (1995).
IMHO, people either "revel in their time", watching BR, or they don't get it on first viewing. I've seen the first BR, over the years (including all of Scott's money grab versions), read Dick's book a number of times. Yet, the first time I saw it, I was prejudiced, I expected a "Harrison Ford" movie and was cognitively frozen. Subsequently, I saw it again, and couldn't stop getting every little detail, every idea. BTW, Scott's "retroactively changing Deckard" was bush AND bllst... Well going to see the sequel in 35 minutes, FWIW I will rate, NOT review the movie. Anyone who would like to discuss the movie I'd love to discuss via email.
Going to see it Saturday. Ridley Scott was the one who insisted Dechert was a replicant,PKD said not he was the human element of the story.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep is my second favorite Dick novel and Deckard was clearly human. Scott's Blade Runner is not the same story.
1st favorite?
OT, for me it's The Man in the High Castle for me followed closely by A Scanner Darkly. Amazon's treatment of the former is excellent but they've charted their own course on storyline and it's great. The film version of A Scanner Darkly is probably the closest you get to an untainted PKD story IMO. Use of rotoscope was inspired to get the feel for the psycho roller-coaster Dick wrote about. I've read 'Androids' a few times and frankly like where Scott took the story more. 'Androids' ends somewhat out of gas.
Here are some adjectives to describe BR 2049:
Pretentious, noisy, incomprehensible, forgettable (saw it three weeks ago and would be hard-pressed to give you a coherent synopsis now), incoherent and cynical.
Did I forget anything?
The book “Dune” is indeed a masterpiece. But the story arc got thinner and more stretched as it went along in it’s sequels. The prequels written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson are fairly good. They fleshed did out the House Arteides, and the House Harkonnen but I did not continue with all of the others, I had Dune burnout.Sorry but the greatest SiFi novel is and will always be Dune.
No other is as rich in detail and still be able to capture the readers attention. Probably one the best novels in all Genre. Also though not SiFi Loard of the Rings is also one of the best ever. It might just be me but I read both of these books at least every other year. These two stories have been with me since before I could even read me mum would read thease to me at bed time.
His sick is that?
Sorry but the greatest SiFi novel is and will always be Dune.
No other is as rich in detail and still be able to capture the readers attention. Probably one the best novels in all Genre. Also though not SiFi Loard of the Rings is also one of the best ever. It might just be me but I read both of these books at least every other year. These two stories have been with me since before I could even read me mum would read thease to me at bed time.
His sick is that?
I like Ryan Gosling and I think he can carry a movie and did so in this instance.....Dave Bautista.
I saw it yesterday. pretty empty theater. not IMAX; 2D; not small, but not a huge screen (I'm out of town with a bunch of constraints).
I've seen all the original versions; prob seen 1st movie 15+ times.
The 1st time I saw it I thought the love story w/ Deckard and Rachel was a bit weak; lack of chemistry. Later I read a book on the making of the movie and it turns out Harrison Ford and Sean Young hated each other on the set.
Anyways. I really wanted not to be disappointed by the new version. I did like it. I like Ryan Gosling and I think he can carry a movie and did so in this instance. Harrison Ford was much better than I expected; same for Dave Bautista.
I thought the story was very clever. There is nifty twist that you may not pick up till near the end of the movie. I liked being fooled by a smart script. It had the elements of a noir whodunit, just like the 1st movie had Deckard doing gumshoe work to track down the 4 replicants.
The soundtrack was a bit loud and dissonant; it reminded me of the soundtrack for Arrival, another Vileneuve film. However, the score did nod to the Vangelis score, and it largely worked.
I loved the new look of LA/CA/Las Vegas. The orange when he goes to find Deckard was gorgeous. Also the snow and rain; very atmospheric in my book. A big part of the magic of the 1st film, IMHO, was the way Scott visualized the future in a radically new way. This future takes Ridley's LA and moves it forward in a logical way. (Having read the book re the 1st movie I was watching for models and CGI; flying over LA in the rain I was a bit disappointed in how obvious the modeling was. I was also underwhelmed by the reprise of Rachel.)
I liked the meta stuff about what is being, consciousness, etc. The AI hologram who is in love with a replicant, who in turn wants to have been born so he might have a soul. Just fun. Again, echoes of the 1st film, but playing out the themes.
SPOILERS
Finally, I loved the ending. Seemed pure noir to me. K is dying on the steps as the snow falls and the Rutger Hauer theme music plays while the dad is reunited with his daughter. The detective done good and solved the mystery. As with everything, YMMV!
I recall reading somewhere that PKD was better for concepts than the storytelling.
The original cut without Ford's post production voiceovers and the post production driving away in the sunshine ending is excellent.