First, this is a very attractive sci-fi film, perhaps more beautiful than the original. Set 30 years after the original the streets have been "cleaned up" a bit it seems, not so much the dingy apocalyptic setup we were accustomed to. Perhaps it's the advancement in technology that leads the original to have a really run down and dirty look when compared to this film. I did admire the production values of "Blade Runner 2049," it certainly made watching the film worthwhile.
Second, the film seems to go too deep with a story that would be good for another Denis Villeneuve film. This seemed like a murder mystery with random sci-fi elements featuring familiar characters. The links to the original are quite apparent, I just didn't think the story itself lended it to be appropriate for what I think would be good for the Blade Runner world. They seemed to borrow the name and took the film in another direction.
Third, it's too bad the restrained haunting drones of Johan Johannson's music couldn't be used for the film. Johannson had the skill to pay homage to the iconic Vangelis score of "Blade Runner". He was originally hired to compose the score, but something happened and was dropped for the INCREDIBLY OVERPOWERING music of Hans Zimmer. This score was so obnoxiously loud that its sole purpose was to rattle the ceiling tiles and the support beams that run through the theater. This was a crazy loud movie that was irritatingly annoying. Vangelis' score had different styles and instrumentations; Zimmer provided a score that sounded like rhythmic pounds on the world's most annoying, whirring instrument.
Fourth, I don't remember much from the trailer but I'm pretty sure it didn't say much. It seemed like a build up to reveal Harrison Ford's character like, "whoa, he's back! What does this mean!?" Ford has had a lot of luck with reboots of his Indiana Jones, Han Solo and Deckard characters, but it all seems like a big marketing push to regurgitate these iconic roles without really doing anything interesting with them. The only thing is that Ford is getting so old that he's not as believable at kicking ass anymore. A fight scene he has with Ryan Gosling is so noticeably slow to accommodate the aging star.
Fifth, while Ford is getting too old to keep his action role status from days of yore, Ryan Gosling must like playing really boring action leads, or he makes every character appear that way. Gosling is so monotone and distant as an action star that you get bored watching him. I kind of like looking into his eyes and trying to figure out which one is the lazy one. That helps pass the time.
Well, there it is. If you like the original you might be OK with "Blade Runner 2049". I thought it was way too long and overcompensated its 35-year arrival with a multi-layered story that swaps out the sci-fi intrigue for a missing baby story. The first movie had questions about who was a replicant and who wasn't: "Blade Runner 2049" gives so many clues you'd have to be dumb not to get it. It really was nice to look at, though.
Rating: C-
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