IF MEMORY SERVES. BLADE RUNNER 2049

Memories...You're talking about memories. 

Saw 'Blade Runner 2049' yesterday at the cinema. Maranouchi Piccadilly. Great huge theater with awesome sound. 

Wow! Very powerful film. I have to say, I was impressed. But as someone who has lived and breathed 'Blade Runner' pretty much since it came out (for years it played on the VCR every night as I went to sleep) I can say with some authority that this was a pretty good effort at a sequel. Pretty darn good. I'm not sure how much better they could make it in this day and age, to be honest. But, for those who've seen it (spoilers ahead), I'd sum it up with this: 

I've always thought it would be cool to live in the world of the original 'Blade Runner' (that's probably why I'm still in Tokyo).

But, as for 'Blade Runner 2049', I would never want to live in that world...not for one minute. 

So, that says a lot, I think. 

Also, though they tried hard to get the feel, it didn't have the warmth and depth and quiet moments the original had, nor the humor or poetry. 

Han Zimmer's score was good, with touches of Vangelis in some parts. But the original film had a melodic magic to it that came alive with the score.  The Vangelis sound exuded a sense of humanity within the music, which was more than just music, really, but an atmosphere that sopped up the sounds and creaks and groans of the world of 'Blade Runner' and soaked everything in the film with it until every nook and cranny was dripping with it. Sound effects merged with the score and intertwined with it, so you couldn't tell what was sound effect Foley and what was music. Like a Japanese garden, not being able to tell where nature ends and the hand of man begins. 

If they had permeated the sequel with that kind of overwhelming musical score treatment, and in more scenes, and if they had included a little more humor, more humanity, they might have had a home run. 

But they didn't. So I'd say this was a good 'double', to keep the metaphor. They made it to second base, at least. Not bad. Not bad at all. Perhaps the next one, and I'm pretty sure there will be a next one, will complete the effort.  I'm going to see it again next week. Up in the balcony this time.

And as a side note, I did see some things that reminded me of my unfinished film: 
 The Einstein Tower, which was heavily influenced by the original Blade Runner. Peter Paluska as Alec reminded me in look and deed of 'K' in many a scene. 

Original post on Facebook with comment stream here. 

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