SHERDOG MOVIE CLUB: Week 139 - Blade Runner 2049

[chickenluver]

Soundtrack wise I admit one reason I wasn't so fond of it in places is that the bass was so deep that it was actually causing the screen to have ripples on it at my local cinema.

That's awesome

 

[JayPettryMMA]

It's time.

But first, Blade Runner.

 

[JayPettryMMA]

Ok, I had to pause this film on Friday around the point where the pink haired girl came over to merge with the hologram girlfriend and they did whatever. Wasn't due to lack of interest, just time constraints. A 3 hour movie is a stretch when having to cover these events recently and having to honor that shoop competition bet and on and on and on. I'll just preface this by saying that Blade Runner is one of my few 10/10 films.

I originally had a lot written up, but then I realized nobody cares because I took so long to get to this film. We're over this movie and several beyond it, so what's the point. So, it's all been deleted and I'll just say a few things here.

Bit surprised they went with the whole "he's Deckard's son...or is he..." route, but the plot felt a lot less sturdy than I had hoped. He retires some old units, and then he finds out that he's not a replicant so he seeks the truth about his life instead. Then, the big twist or something. It felt a lot less philosophical and deep than the original, but it was still faithful to what got it there, which was a relief.

If there's ever a reason to remake/follow a movie some 30 years later, it's to demonstrate the new technology that's come out since then. This is the absolute perfect example of this, they really shined with the visual effects. It's a true sight to behold. They've come a long, long way.

Villaneuve was obviously a fan of Blade Runner when making this, because he kept it consistent. The same tone, feel, pace, and so on. One of the only major differences is that the filming locations seemed a lot cleaner than the original. The surfaces were sleeker, the whites were whiter, etc. That, and the sound had a bit of a bass problem, which was definitely tuned too high compared to the heavier synths from the original. Of course I picked this up on Bluray, just like the original, because duh. The visual effects were crucial. It's the most I've spent for one week in this club.

That's the biggest takeaway I have from this: I was relieved. I had heard all sorts of things from Blade Runner fans, but I avoided most of the analysis and review so it'd be fresh to me. When something near and dear to your heart gets a sudden and unexpected revival, it is an uphill battle to not disappoint your audience. To look at something similar, when they made Force Awakens in the Star Wars series, it was ok but felt largely like a beefed up version of A New Hope. When they made Last Jedi, they just blew it completely. I felt personally harmed and attacked by how horrible that film was, so seeing them do Blade Runner justice makes me happy. Restores my faith a little.

I don't think they need to make another Blade Runner, but they're going to whether we like it or not. Then again, I thought making 2049 was also unnecessary so what do I know.

8.5/10. Thank goodness it didn't suck.

 

[europe1]

I originally had a lot written up, but then I realized nobody cares because I took so long to get to this film.

He retires some old units, and then he finds out that he's not a replicant so he seeks the truth about his life instead. Then, the big twist or something. It felt a lot less philosophical and deep than the original, but it was still faithful to what got it there, which was a relief.

K starts considering himself human because he thinks he is special, that he was born not manufactured, that biology has ennobled him with a soul.

Then he finds out that he isn't special at all. He's just like everybody else. Then he has to find out that he is human not because of birth -- but because of what he does and what he feels.

One might call it basic, but it's a neat extrapolation from the themes of the first film. Continuing on the discussions about humanity and all.

If there's ever a reason to remake/follow a movie some 30 years later, it's to demonstrate the new technology that's come out since then. This is the absolute perfect example of this, they really shined with the visual effects. It's a true sight to behold. They've come a long, long way.

Villaneuve was obviously a fan of Blade Runner when making this, because he kept it consistent. The same tone, feel, pace, and so on. One of the only major differences is that the filming locations seemed a lot cleaner than the original. The surfaces were sleeker, the whites were whiter, etc. That, and the sound had a bit of a bass problem, which was definitely tuned too high compared to the heavier synths from the original. Of course I picked this up on Bluray, just like the original, because duh. The visual effects were crucial. It's the most I've spent for one week in this club.

I really liked the retro vibe to the technology. There was a crunchy, analogue quality to them. Not the sleek, touch-screen-y dominance we have in current sci-fi presentations.

When they made Last Jedi, they just blew it completely. I felt personally harmed and attacked by how horrible that film was

Last Jedi was the best Star Wars film since the original trilogy. The Star Wars franchise desperately needed something iconoclastic to kick it out of its rut. Otherwise, we'd be drowned in nostalgia-porn, which was exactly what that piece-of-mediocrity called Force Awakens was (along with a godawful editing job). At this point, the trappings of the Star Wars universe needs to be shoot in the face to produce something worthwhile. It's that or constant fluffing of its fan-base to get cash.

 

[JayPettryMMA]

Then he finds out that he isn't special at all. He's just like everybody else. Then he has to find out that he is human not because of birth -- but because of what he does and what he feels.

There was a scene when the naked hologram was talking to him, saying he looked like a good Joe or something. So he's just a run of the mill everyman, or a clone/creation like in Oblivion?

 

[europe1]

There was a scene when the naked hologram was talking to him, saying he looked like a good Joe or something

That scene was just about showing that Joi's interactions with him where entierly pre-programed, and that she was not in fact concious and was just a program. Their love wasn't real. She gave him the nickname Joe because that's what all her models were instructed to do.

So he's just a run of the mill everyman,

He's a Replicant. But just a normal Replicant. Not the born-Replicant which was what they were searching for and what he believed himself to be. They say it when he meets La Resistance.

 

[JayPettryMMA]

That scene was just about showing that Joi's interactions with him where entierly pre-programed, and that she was not in fact concious and was just a program. Their love wasn't real. She gave him the nickname Joe because that's what all her models were instructed to do.

Oh, I didn't pick up that it was the same hologirl. That makes more sense.

He's a Replicant. But just a normal Replicant. Not the born-Replicant which was what they were searching for and what he believed himself to be. They say it when he meets La Resistance.

La Resistance lives on.

And yes, that scene did bother me a little because it felt like a bunch of air was let out of the balloon they were blowing up, but I guess not everyone is the chosen one.

If he was so boring and standard, I can't figure how he overpowered that Love replicant who was the best one of them all. Other than if he unlocked his latent powers and went super replicant.

 

[0verlord]

K, finally got around to watching it. I like Villeneuve movies and all but..this was just not my cup of tea. It was so slow, long and boring. I guess there's a target audience or something like that but that just wasn't for me.