Blade Runner 2049

Wallace: Every leap of civilization was born on the back of a disposable workforce. Blade Runner 2049 is a sequel far superior to the original by virtue of having an actual plot with interesting characters. K's character was compelling; his subservient existence, his lonely life with his AI girlfriend, his moral and existential crisis when he realized his memories were real, his compassion for Deckard and his daughter. Although the female characters like Joi, Luv, and Lt. Joshi only orbit the stories of the main male characters (as in the first movie, and as in most of media unfortunately), I appreciated that they had distinct personalities and motivations too. I suppose the way that the replicants and the AI feel more human than the actual humans in the story is the point (more human than human). Joi: I always knew you were special. Maybe this is how. A child. Of woman born. Pushed into the world. Wanted. Loved. > K: Well if it were true... I'd be hunted for the rest of my life by someone just like me. > Joi: It's okay to dream a little, isn't it? > K: Not if you're us. I found myself invested in the movie because the characters were fully-realized figures; as a result, the themes of dehumanization and what it means to be human felt more resonant and poignant. Freysa: Dying for the right cause is the most human thing we can do. ln contrast, the weakness of the original stems from this lack of depth; there's not much plot, not much to the characters; not much of a message beyond the villains' monologues. The product is a visually striking film that's shallow and much less interesting than it could be. Blade Runner 2049 is a great improvement over its predecessor, which I absolutely hated. Great characters, good plot and pacing, and stunning cinematography, visual effects, and set dressing that add to the story instead of masking its deficiencies. Basically a perfect example of its genre. I really liked it! I hope they make a sequel somehow; the beginnings of a replicant revolution seems like it would make for a great film.