Pop Culture Movies and More: Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Thirty years after the events of Blade Runner (1982), a new Blade Runner, L.A.P.D. Officer "K", unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what's left of society into chaos. K's discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard, a former L.A.P.D. Blade Runner, who has been missing for thirty years. Blade Runner 2049 was a highly anticipated sequel to the cult classic movie that subsequently became the same thing. It flopped at the box office and yet grew that cult following like its predecessor and was overwhelmingly popular as well as highly rated. As time has passed many people have looked back and feel it has aged like fine wine. I see it constantly resurfacing on many various platforms, probably best seen through the countless 'edits' on YouTube, etc. They were my introduction to the film and they tend to rake in millions of views, just going to show how popular it is and continues to be. This sequel equally follows a similar style in regards to its dark, gritty tone and a slower pacing that drags down its momentum. This franchise is certainly one of the most depressing in the entirety of the sci-fi genre and whilst fascinating, it doesn't quite make it as your easy-going style movie. I'd consider it more an experience, a piece of art if you will. I have to say that 2049 is a masterpiece when it comes to its visuals, harking back to the original that shared in such beauty though I may argue I preferred this one's look better. A great deal has taken place over the past thirty years, to this futuristic L.A. with talks of big events like the Blackout that further enrich this world but also lay out foundations for the story at present and their effects on the mystery being uncovered by K. Our leading protagonist, K, is a Blade Runner with a mission to 'retire' outdated Nexus-8 replicants however, he too is a replicant from the Nexus-9 variant. During one of his usual missions, he comes across a strange anomaly. A box buried next to a dead tree. Its contents hurtle K down a mystery-filled path that has the potential to fracture what remains of civilization. Being a replicant leaves K to be repeatedly abused by peers, being called a "skin job", and he undergoes repeated 'baseline tests' to check his efficiency in addition to detecting any deviance. When not working, K returns home a holographic A.I., Joi, who is essentially a product made to cater to the desires of a customer and tell them what they want to hear. Despite all of this (and being a replicant), K shows genuine emotions towards her that blur the line in regards to our understanding of replicants' capability of emotion, which is seen as a human domain. I felt so sorry for K who shows such empathy for Joi giving her the best life she can have, buying her an emanator to move freely outside of the restricted house device. I loved their moments together even if her affection is essentially fabricated and says only what K wants to hear, I was still rooting for them. K's enquiries take him further in this investigation going as far as Las Vegas where he meets up with an older Deckard who he recruits to uncover the remaining pieces to the puzzle. Deckard's introduction was incredible and led to a phenomenal scene, and one of my favourites, where the pair fight in a bar as an entertainment system glitches around them randomly bursting into song as holograms and lights flicker. There are some gorgeous shots in this film especially the wider ones that give such scope and scale. Director Denis Villeneuve did a marvellous job bringing a perfect, fresh follow-up to Ridley Scott's film. Equally, Hans Zimmer's score is fantastic and a great supplement to the original work of Vangelis. Overall, Blade Runner 2049 is just as much of a masterpiece as its predecessor telling its own unique story heralded by exceptional actors and a competent director. I didn't go into great detail on the main mystery and story as it is best experienced yourself with no spoilers as it is quite a rollercoaster full of twists. It has quite a distinct aesthetic I love and touches on all sorts of messages/topics, mainly loneliness. I would highly recommend checking this one out. It is one you need to see at least once in your lifetime.