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I find Bladerunner 2049 frustrating, because I *almost* love it. The characters, themes, acting, and the overall plot structure are great, imo. However, villains give melodramatic exposition monologues, villains leave heroes alive for no reason other than the plot needs them to, important things are left thinly guarded for no reason other than the plot needs the heroes or villains to easily get at them, etc. In other words, there are distracting writing/execution issues in what could otherwise be a masterpiece. The first time I watched it, I didn't love it. It did stick with me though; I think about it sometimes, for years afterward. And watching it a second time I appreciated it more, but still was frustrated by the same things. What does everyone else feel about it? image
2025-11-23 17:44:20 from 1 relay(s) 46 replies ↓
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It sure is pretty. Haven’t watched it in some time (I should again) so can’t specifically comment on the issues you point out…but in general I really enjoyed it, and I can forgive some plot shortcuts for something so aesthetically pleasing.
2025-11-23 17:47:34 from 1 relay(s) ↑ Parent Reply
Yes! there was some blog essay back in the day that encapsulated many of these perspectives (can't find it now). I felt like I was crazy at the time, because EVERYONE loved this, but I thought it was just sort of "mid." A lot of it I think is because the original Blade Runner is just so thin of a text, and because that movie relies so much on a sort of "atmospheric" mood, that the result is that trying to flesh out the world into a 2 hr 44 min (!!) screenplay is stretching the concept past its breaking point. So the "stitching" used stretch out this concept is a rogues gallery of 2010's tropes: * The Jared Leto of it all * Let's bring old and wizened Harrison Ford back to grouse and growl * Uncanny valley Sean Young * Action scenes going on way too long * A Score of Pounding Noise by Hans Zimmer There could have been a nice, tight 90-minute movie here if they just cut out more of this pseudo-spiritual stuff that doesn't really go anywhere
2025-11-23 18:00:36 from 1 relay(s) ↑ Parent Reply
It’s been a while since I’ve watched it, but the original Blade Runner is in my top 5 sci-fi movies, so I went into 2049 pretty nervous. I really expected it to warp or cheapen the legacy, like we’ve seen happen to other beloved IP (Cowboy Bebop live action comes to mind). Instead, I was pleasantly surprised. To me, 2049 didn’t just avoid ruining the original, it expanded the world in a way that felt respectful, ambitious, and thematically consistent. I totally see what you’re saying about the melodramatic villain moments and some convenient plotting, but I think I was more forgiving of those because everything else (the atmosphere, score, pacing, visuals, emotional weight) landed for me. So despite its imperfections, I came away feeling like it really added to the legacy. For me, it leans closer to masterpiece than missed opportunity.
2025-11-23 18:11:29 from 1 relay(s) ↑ Parent Reply
I rewatch it regularly. I think the reason I like it is a combination of the art direction, the picture it paints of tech capability in the not too distant future, as well as the starkness of the contrast between beauty and brutality, hope and despair. And I love the cast. Some examples of what draws me in are scenes like: - Wallace’s assistant conducting orbital strikes on rebel positions with voice commands while getting her nails done - the over-the-top initial fight scene - the capability of K’s personal drone - K’s efficiency in dealing with the armed pack of rebels that grapple his car out of the sky - Wallace’s assistant’s bludgeoning of the lab manager and killing him with a single blow - the perfect casting choice of Ana de Armas as Joi. I think it’s a masterpiece. I was pleasantly surprised when I first watched it.
2025-11-23 18:22:02 from 1 relay(s) ↑ Parent 1 replies ↓ Reply
Not for everyone but I'll always remember when I saw it with friends. Rain outside the entire time and about 3 other people in the theater on opening night. 🤌
2025-11-23 19:05:43 from 1 relay(s) ↑ Parent Reply
Watch the videos on the channel of Magyar, the Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The camerawork is excellent, the stunts are unrivaled in their beauty, and the villains always get blown to pieces. https://youtube.com/@magyarbirds
2025-11-23 19:26:34 from 1 relay(s) ↑ Parent Reply
Never watched until now, just did.. Yeah I agree with you it could be a masterpiece but it's like they had to speed the writing and were in pressure to write it in time? I imagine in a world like that, with that level of technology, a tech slave like the protagonist and his personal AI girl had too much "freedom" and self sovereignty. I believe now we have much more tech surveillance then what the protagonist had in his own house 😅 Lyn.. do a fork of it and make it more realistic.. something kinda BladeMandibles 2149.. nine years after the last block mined 👀🔥💜😁
2025-11-23 22:17:39 from 1 relay(s) ↑ Parent Reply