C.T- Recommended: Blade Runner (1982) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Blade Runner (1982)

Directed by Ridley Scott

Starring: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos

The plot follows Rick Deckard (Ford), an ex-cop in Los Angeles circa 2019 whose job as a blade runner was to hunt down bioengineered androids called replicants.

Yes, both of them. This will be my first ever double-feature CT-Recommended review (many more coming by the way, so don't worry). Blade Runner is one of my favorite, hell it might even be my favorite film of all time. It's influence to film and the sci-fi genre is beyond words. it's dark futuristic presentation has become a benchmark for the many sci-fi films to come.

The cast was great and while the plot was not the center focus of the whole film, the visuals and the music were fantastic and attracted the audience.

The visuals were beautiful and still looks really good for it's time. The music was done beautifully by Vangelis (I especially love the Tears in Rain track). The cinematography was also masterfully done by Jordan Cronenweth.

In conclusion, a fantastic film that you must definitely watch, if you haven't already. It is considered to be one of the best sci-fi films of all time, and definitely deserves to be so.

My rating: 10/10

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Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Directed by Denis Villeneuve

Starring: Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford

the plot takes place thirty years after the first film, and follows a blade runner who uncovers a secret that threatens to instigate a war between humans and replicants.

the cast was great, I loved Gosling's performance as well as all the others. The gripes I have is that I felt Jared Leto was a weak villain. I actually preferred Luvs character as a villain. She was ruthless and did whatever was necessary, and whenever she was on screen, we had no idea what she was capable of. Another gripe is Harrison Ford. I love Harrison Ford, but I hated how they had to include him, halfway through the film.

The cinematography cannot be described with any word except for exemplary. The fantastic cinematography earned Roger Deakins his long awaited Academy Award. the visual effects were both impressive and amazing to look at. the sound design was great, and watching the film in IMAX, the music was outstanding and was done magnificently by Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch.

Unfortunately though, similar to it's predecessor, it did bomb in the box-office, but ultimately did break-even months later. It is sad to think general cinema audiences would rather watch the next action film starting Dwayne Johnson, then be watching a beautifully made film like Blade Runner.

In conclusion, a fantastic sequel to a fantastic film. I have to thank Denis Villeneuve for his beautiful direction of the film, there must have been big pressure directing a sequel to one of the greatest films of all time, and he did it wonderfully.

My rating: 9.5/10

#CTRecommended #2018