‘Dying for the right cause is the most human thing we can do.’

Few science fiction movies have made a greater cinematic and cultural impact than “Blade Runner.” Despite the original “Blade Runner” receiving underwhelming box office receipts and mostly negative reviews upon initial release in 1982, Ridley Scott’s artistic and philosophical masterpiece has since been widely lauded by film fanatics and critics alike as one of the greatest science fiction movies of all time. Released 35 years after the original, the sequel “Blade Runner 2049” serves as an enthralling and thought-provoking experience that, in some ways, improves upon its predecessor.
In a visually appealing yet nightmarish vision of Los Angeles in 2049, replicants, genetically-engineered androids manufactured to resemble humans, have integrated themselves into society and are despised by their organic counterparts. One of them, K (Ryan Gosling), works for the LAPD as a blade runner, a cop tasked with “retiring” older model replicants. During one of his pursuits, K uncovers a box filled with secrets that could potentially lead to a catastrophic civil war between replicants and humans. The mystery revolving around the box and its contents leads him on a quest to seek out former LAPD blade runner Rick Deckard, played by Harrison Ford, reprising his role from the original.
While the film does move at a very slow pace with minimal action, director Denis Villeneuve (“Arrival,” “Sicario”) has accomplished a colossal achievement in filmmaking that is a feast for both the eyes and for the imaginat ion. Every single shot in this film has a story behind it, and the film’s cinematography makes it impossible for viewers’ eyes to look away from the screen. As stated before, the film is very long, and it definitely feels like 163 minutes. This is not a movie intended for mainstream audiences, for audiences who always need to have a fast-paced and action-packed story. It takes a special kind of moviegoer to appreciate works of cinematic art like “Blade Runner 2049,” a movie that relies on atmosphere and composition over dialogue and a straightforward plot. However, whether a viewer likes those kinds of movies or not does not define their intelligence and tastes when it comes to movies. Everyone’s taste is different, and that is what makes the concept film so unique and captivating as a whole.