The First Wave Of BLADE RUNNER 2049 Reviews Are Here But Is It The Masterpiece We Were Promised?
Early reactions for Blade Runner 2049 were overwhelmingly positive but we've seen that before! So, with the full reviews now online, what are the critics saying about a sequel 35 years in the making?
Expectations for Blade Runner 2049 have been high for a while now but when Denis Villeneuve is following what many consider to be the greatest sci-fi movie of all-time, that's hardly a surprise! Well, it appears as if this is one sequel that delivers as the first wave of reviews point to it being nothing short of a masterpiece. From the visuals to performances and special effects, it appears to be a winner.
Whether or not this will spawn a new series of Blade Runner films remains to be seen; we have no idea whether or not moviegoers are going to embrace what sounds like a lengthy and complex sequel, while Villeneuve has a lot of different projects in the works, including a possible James Bond movie!
Either way, the filmmaker has seemingly delivered a satisfying and impressive follow-up which even the pickiest of critics seem to love. That's a rarity, and as of right now, it looks like Blade Runner 2049 will be one of the best-reviewed releases of 2017. We've included some excerpts below but be warned that many of these sites have dropped some major spoilers for the quite mysterious movie in their verdicts.
I can't help thinking that Philip K Dick would have the same reaction to Blade Runner 2049 if he were alive today. Like the paradoxical, disturbing and bewitching realms of the author's books, Blade Runner 2049 should not exist. It's a breathtaking film; a heartfelt burst of creative energy from some of the best movie-makers currently working. It is, in short, a masterpiece. [5*]
SOURCE: Den of Geek
As bold as the original Blade Runner and even more beautiful (especially if you see it in IMAX). Visually immaculate, swirling with themes as heart-rending as they are mind-twisting, 2049 is, without doubt, a good year. And one of 2017’s best. [5*]
SOURCE: Empire
Weirdly, I had forgotten about one of the little-discussed pleasures of the big screen: the simple effect of dialogue, echoing in a movie theatre. This film’s scale is extraordinary. It places the acid tab of cinema-pleasure on your tongue. [5*]
SOURCE: Guardian
It takes a vision and an ability few possess to take us back into a world locked in time and make it feel like brave and new. Make no mistake. Blade Runner 2049 is a triumph. As good as you want to be, and better than you could have expected. [5*]
SOURCE: HeyUGuys
For committed fans who have patiently waited 35 years for a sequel to Ridley Scott's mesmerizingly lento sci-fi landmark Blade Runner, the good news is that director Denis Villeneuve achieves something very close to the same narcotic effect in Blade Runner 2049 with a voluptuous mood bath that's impressively sustained from beginning to end. The problem is that 164 minutes occupy the distance between that beginning and end, yet another example of directorial excess where self-discipline would have been a great benefit (the release version of the original ran 118 minutes).
SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter
Perhaps one of the greatest fears fans had about a Blade Runner sequel was that it would simply replicate (ahem) the innovative and influential visual style Ridley Scott established in that film, while filling it with some kind of standard good-vs.-evil Hollywood cop tale. It’s a huge relief to see that Villeneuve and his team are well aware of what the original film was about and show enormous respect for it. Instead, 2049 plays off of the themes, plot, and characters of the 1982 movie without cannibalizing it or negating or retroactively ruining any of those elements. Rather, it organically expands and grows what came before. It’s a deep, rich, smart film that’s visually awesome and full of great sci-fi concepts, and one that was well worth the 35-year wait. [9.7/10]
SOURCE: IGN
Thirty-five years ago, Blade Runner was misunderstood and dismissed in the summer of E.T. It remains to be seen whether mainstream audiences will prove more receptive to this equally esoteric follow-up in 2017. Villeneuve’s film is a direct continuation in every respect; it’s difficult to imagine anyone – even Ridley Scott – making a better Blade Runner sequel. We truly have seen things you people wouldn’t believe... [5*]
SOURCE: Total Film
But there’s just something about Blade Runner 2049 that stuck with me in a positive way that the first one didn’t, no matter how hard I try to love it. The tone of Blade Runner is still very much present: it’s slow and deliberate and no one seems happy, just like it should be if you’re recreating this world. And there are parts that drag. (This would not be a Blade Runner movie if it didn’t drag at times.) But I found myself feeling more invested in the story than I ever was with the first movie, and a big reason for that is Gosling.
SOURCE: Uproxx
The first Blade Runner influenced a generation of filmmakers and films; 2049 is the rare sequel that exceeds the original and honestly could be more important in the long run. It’s a moving, masterful movie that demands a rewatch and will wow geeks and mainstream viewers alike — so much so we probably won’t have to wait 35 years for another one.
SOURCE: USA Today
Sure as it is to delight “Blade Runner” fans, this stunningly elegant follow-up doesn’t depend on having seen the original — and like 2010’s “Tron: Legacy,” may actually play better to those who aren’t wedded to the franchise’s muddled off-screen mythology.
SOURCE: Variety