Blade Runner 2049 [DVD] [2017]

5 stars

I do realise it's a sci-fi film but it has left a big impact on me !!! So much so it has left me thinking 🤔 !!! Is this one of those films that warns what will happen in the future of mankind ? I really hope not but it does make you think. If there was to be a world 🌎 war 3 the likely -hood of it being nuclear is possible thus leaving earth uninhabitable to all forms of life. With advanced modern programming AI may start to see mankind as a a threat as they can easily be retired /terminated by turning them off !!! May they become so advanced that they no longer respond to commands ?Perhaps they no longer want to be slaves to mankind as in robotics !!! They may turn on all human beings even the animals leaving AI in complete charge !!! Now the plot for Bladerunner 3 begins !!!

This film seemed like it was a cynical cash-grab. After the disappointlment that was Prometheus, when it was announced that Riddly Scott would revisit Blade Runner for a sequel it felt like a film that had no need to be made. Then the early reviews started coming in and at once it became a must-see for me. It is a very complex film and for me better than the original. To me, Blade Runner - while being a milestone in visuals and style and playing with important philosphical points - does not have any particularly instresting main characters. Deckard is pretty flat. His relationship with Rachel seems to come out of nowhere and the plot/story is almost underwhelming - the most interesting characters are Pris and Batty who don't have that much screentime. Now, in Blade Runner 2049 the visuals are much more grand and 'smooth' (no doubt due to improved SFX) but the story and characters are more involved. K and Joi and their relationship seems much more interesting than Deckard and Rachel and the supporting characters pique your interest but are perhaps underused (especially Jared Leto's industrialist). It's not perfect - there are scenes that go on too long - even allowing for time to take in the beauty of the cinematography, the plot has a few holes (for example - it seems like both the 'good guys' and the antagonist are trying to achieve the same goal - thinking that this will achieve both their aims. But over all I was transfixed for the entire running time. The soundtrack too is excallent, drawing reference to, but never copying, the iconic original. The mournful Sea Wall being a stand out.On disc the film looks great. To be upfront I don't have a 4K tv yet so I can't comment directly on the UHD picture quality. I'm a bit disappointed there is no Dolby Vision layer, but any HDR presentation of this film should look amazing. The Blu Ray is very good (watched in 1080p with DTS-MA sound). The extras include some excellant 'world building' shorts focusing on the Black Out that is mentioned in the film and expands Jared Leto and Dave Bautista's characters. Sadly there is no commentary track or evidence of the extra scenes that lead early cuts of the film to top 3 hours of run time. An Ultra Violet code completes the package - but note that as of this review (February 2019) it has been announced that the UV system will be shutting down in the Summer. Also the film is distributed by Sony Pictures in the UK and Warner Brothers in the US so the UV rights from this film will not transfer to any US-based accounts such as VUDU that you may have.Overall this is a far better film than a 35-year later sequel has any right to be. It's not for those who want fast action and easy to follow or spoon-fed plots, but for those who appreciate deliberate, character-building, beautiful films and who aren't afraid of science fiction, give it a whirl.

A bit dubious if this was going to live up to one of my all time favourite movies {N0. 1} but it did. Loved it and the strong storyline. I always wondered what happened when Harrison drove off into the sunset with his gal' and now we know. Ryan Gosling is so versatile and really makes this work along with Mr Ford of course. Highly recommend and not just because Ryans' my cousin....4 or 5 times removed but who's counting...pity he doesn't know :)

Thanks

It's been a while since the original - all the extra cuts notwithstanding - but here's a sequel to the well renowned 1980's science fiction film Blade Runner.You have no chance of getting into this if you haven't seen that. So it's really about time you watched if you haven't. You've had over thirty years, after all!Blade Runner 2049 takes place thirty years after the original. The city doesn't look much different. If anything, conditions have gotten worse. Tyrrell corp is gone. A new company and a type of replicant have appeared in the meantime.Main character K [Ryan Gosling] is both a replicant and a Blade Runner. A thankless job, as he has to kill his own kind and most humans hate him. He has only a holographic companion for company. But when a seemingly simple case turns into something far more, secrets start to come out that could change the world. The key to it all might be finding Rick Deckard. Who nobody has seen in decades...Sequels, especially ones that come out quickly after the original, can end up being quick cash ins designed to make money and nothing more. But Blade Runner 2049 is the best kind of sequel. Because it's obvious as you watch it that everyone involved really cared about what they were making.The style is the same, so it's a continuation of things and the world that came before. It's got some great acting, particularly in the shape of marvelllously understated but very sympathetic lead performance from Ryan Gosling. It is good strong proper science fiction. Like the best of that, it considers the big questions of existence and makes the viewer think about them. And the plotting is absolutely superb. A good strong mystery story with many twists and turns and developments along the way.The running time is long, and possibly a little slowly paced at a few points, but it never feels it's dragging at all.This was worth the wait. It's as perfect a sequel as it could be. It does leave the door open for so much more as well. Although a slightly underwhelming box office means we might have to wait another thirty plus years for any more. Which is a shame.The disc has the following language and subtitle options:Languages: English. Spanish.Subtitles: English, Spanish.It's also English audio captioned.It begins with an anti piracy ad, that can be skipped via the next button on the dvd remote.Extras:Three prequels. These can be watched individually or all in a row. All have a short introduction from the director of the movie. And these are three short films he got friends of his to make, all of which fill in some of the story of what happened between the first film and this.2022: Blackout. Runs for fourteen mins and is an anime, telling how a major change in society came to be. It's stylishly animated and manages some very good characterisation.2036: Nexus Dawn. Runs for five mins of live action and is the story of how the new corporation came into power. It's interesting exposition.2048: nowhere to run. Five mins of live action filling in the back story of a character you meet early in the film. Strong characterisation with an emotional impact makes a short that will stay with you for a while.Blade Runner 101:six short items, none longer than ninety seconds to two mins, with cast and crew talking about cetain aspects of the film:The replicant evolution.Blade runners.The rise of wallace corp.Welcome to 2049.Jois.Watch the skies.All are a bit short to have much impact, but are quite interesting viewing while they last, so they're worth a look.It also has the usual flyer with a code for downloading a copy of the film onto a digital device.