Review of 'Blade Runner 2049'

I have been very newly introduced to the blade runner universe as I only did my homework last week and caught up on the final cut of the original. More importantly this means the fortnightly event of being incredulously asked; “what? You haven't seen Blade runner?’ has finally reached its end.

I found the atmosphere of the 1985 ‘Blade Runner’ uniquely unsettling and yet somehow strangely moorish so I was delighted to feel that many qualities of the Original had been seamlessly carried over. The film managed to really capture the chilling magnitude of the over industrialised dystopian world. There was an eye feast of fascinating sculptures and settings. What the film achieved so well was very cinematic contrasts. The early on flight sequences show the domineering shapes of the city and the air itself is muddy with pollution. An effective backdrop for the lurid, neon lights of the leering Japanese commercials. When ‘K’s mission takes him to the Wallace Corporation the murky landscape changes to sharp clean architectural lines and set choices that are impressive works of art. The film managed to achieve an extraordinary arthouse feel despite its blockbuster proportions.
One controversial talking point around this film has been; the frequency of breasts. In my opinion I don't feel that the film was misogynous in tone for its use female nudity and subservient artificial intelligence. I think the points when woman where sexualised, where grotesque in tone to highlight how our future world has the potential for excessive objectification in its quest to fulfil an uncontrolled appetite for fantasy. It also fits in with the dystopian sense of excessive upscaling.
The twists and turns of the story kept my mind enticed and I didn’t notice the sneaky extra hour added to the conventional running time. The plot manages to smartly swerve any predictable plot points. The creativity alone would have kept me satisfied but the film for me managed to deliver the on all elements. ‘Blade Runner 2049’ also has a fantastic score which pulled me fully into the story and I could feel the mechanical tonality and bass reverberating through my chair!