Release Date: October 6, 2017 Director: Denis Villeneuve Producer: Andrew A. Kosove, Broderick Johnson, Bud Yorkin, Cynthia Yorkin Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Starring: Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, Robin Wright, Mackenzie Davis, Carla Juri, Lennie James, Dave Bautista, Jared Leto, Barkhad Abdi Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy Running Time: 163 minutes
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 8:51:02 PM | (Age Not Specified)
There is a major problem with Blade Runner 2049, which is that lovers of big-budget sci-fi are bound to misjudge this movie, for one or more of the following reasons:
1. It looks like a remake, so it looks like desperate franchise recycling (another lazy cash-grab?).
2. Gosling, Ford, and Leto? Sounds like an A-list, yet it isn't an easy watch (why the cast doesn't match the movie?).
3. It's super long, super confusing, and it's not FUN! (doesn't line up with other big-budget sci-fi blockbusters).
These are all fair judgments, and here's why: somehow, despite the state of Hollywood and its lengthening history of playing it safe by churning out remake after sequel after spin-off after remake sequel, Blade Runner 2049 managed to get made despite this historical trend.
The result? A darkly beautiful, unforgettably prescient story of humanity's inevitable blurring of what it means to be human. This is, hands down, one of the finest sci-fi films ever made.
But it's not for everyone. Blade Runner 2049 is designed to provoke and to challenge its audience, so if you're not into seeing something different, this film will disappoint you. If video stores still existed, you would find this film on a shelf alongside 2001: A Space Odyssey. It is a rare, rare breed of film, and an instant sci-fi classic.
