Blade Runner 2049 [DVD] [2017]

I picked this up because it was always being mentioned how good the video quality was. Well, although it wasn’t quite as crisp as I would have liked, it’s still very clean and sharp. As for the movie itself, I loved it! I felt like I “checked out” for almost 3 hours, and escaped life for a bit. It was a wonderful experience. The story, cinematography, and feel of this movie blew me away. It was visually stunning. The music soundtrack was also equally impressive. Highly recommend this movie!

A worthy sequel to the original Blade Runner. The cinematography is stunning, and the soundtrack will blow you away when played through a great multi-channel system. The story is cohesive, with a surprising ending. I also recommend viewing the deleted, and related videos on You Tube as it will enhance the film's story.

I have been waiting for this to come out on Blu-Ray since it was stunning in the theatre. Saw it on sale at Best Buy, and couldn't wait to get it home. Holds up pretty well on my small screen here at the house. Have watched it several times. It captures the essence of Ridley Scott's 1982 classic. Glad to have it.

-Feature: Finally got around to it last night & really enjoyed this sequel. Great continuation to the storyline. Like how they used the least amount of CGI to make it look authentic. Love that a great movie doesn’t have to be overstimulated with action. Had me locked in the entire time despite being 2 1/2 hours. Just the idea to see another one being made after 35 years & have the main star return is mind blowing. I could go on but trying to keep it shorter. A must own sequel for many factors. Pros: Sound; definitely an Atmos reference demo! Not rich in details like the first one but big & full dynamic. Some use of overhead but not heavy like the first one. The sound, visuals inside the movie & of course the movie itself is the highlights! Cons: -3D; Poor level. Only time you noticed it was during the snow & a fire specs scene. -Digital Copy; No (biggest disappointment to order for that reason too only to get a copy w/out it. Called support only to get transferred 3x, 2 hours on the phone, them not wanting to acknowledge the screw up on their end by attaching a deceiving photo of the actual product only to get hung up on & end up not with the correct copy I purchased. Hence my one star in hopes they take notice. Do NOT sell something you don’t have if that is why I didn’t receive the copy on listing) -Slipcover; No. -Gear used for sound & visuals: LG 65’ C6P 4k/3D passive OLED (manually calibrated) 9.2 Onkyo RZ + pre amp for 7.2.4/11.2 (integrated calibrated then manually tweeted with SPL sound level meter & balance/adjust for full dynamic range) Klipsch Reference Premier towers center sides rears dual R112SW subs Polk Audio MC80 8’ quad in-ceiling heights Oppo 4K UDP-203 Monster cables: Premium Black Platinum HDR HDMIs, THX Audio RCA, Digital Subwoofer Cables & Fiber Optic Ultra 1000 Monoprice 14 gauge awg copper speaker wire Nakamichi Speaker Plugs Auralex Acoustic Isolation platforms

This is an excellent follow up to the original Blade Runner which tie everything up, the disc is reference quality for the 4K format, perfect to showcase the capability of the highest resolution and wide color gamut

The long-awaited sequel to Ridley Scott’s 1982 science fiction masterwork, “Blade Runner” possessed me unlike any other film in 2017. As I accumulated four theatrical sojourns watching “Blade Runner 2049” I found a deeper and richer cinematic experience with each viewing, one that, to me, even surpassed the original as a work of serious art (for this is no action picture). The reason for this undoubtedly was due to Scott entrusting the great Canadian director, Denis Villeneuve (who previously made “Incendies”, “Prisoners”, “Sicario” and the previous year’s “Arrival”) to honor the original film’s world and philosophical themes while laying claim to his own vision and personal style. Taking place 30 years after Deckart and Racheal emerged from the elevator to leave the smog and overpopulation of 2019 Los Angeles, the new film follows a recent model replicant (with a normal human lifespan) called ‘K’ (played perfectly by an appropriately laconic Ryan Gosling) as he investigates a growing replicant freedom uprising to discover the remains of a once-pregnant replicant, something that leads him not only into mysterious territory in which he discovers the now reclusive Rick Deckart (Harrison Ford in one of his most subtle performances), but also leads him into a journey into his own identity. Darker and more sparse than the original, “Blade Runner 2049” goes into more nihilistic territory that becomes its own original film while respecting the original (as well as the Philip K. Dick source novel). I think this balance between honoring the original film and reaching out with its own different form to become something different, all perfectly designed and executed by Villeneuve and his crew, is arguably its greatest achievement. Of course its cynical detractors point to its length – 164 minutes – and criticize the film’s slowness, but I praise it for having the courage to allow its story to develop in a carefully measured fashion, taking the time to engulf its willing and patient viewers into its world view. I liken it to turning over one’s self to the listening of a Wagner opera like “Parsifal” in which time seems to stop as one is encompassed completely into another place, another time -- and after its long viewing I seem to awaken as if having submitted to a dream, emerging somewhat reborn and more enlightened with knowledge of the human experience. And that is really what this and the original film are really about: underneath its marvelous science fiction trappings with its state-of-the-art production design and special effects (often eschewing CGI for authentically-constructed sets and realistic miniatures), and heightened to a level of unmatched beauty by the cinematography of Roger Deakens, the film is really a thoughtful meditation on what makes us human. To me this is the most accomplished film of 2017, and one I long to experience again and again in future viewings. Unfortunately, the 3D experience on Blu-ray is slightly on the dark side and, since the company didn't think the film warranted a 7.1 Atmos track, it might be better to watch it in 2D Blu-ray. The 3D was great in the theater however, but they kind of messed this up putting it on disc.

Blade Runner 2049 (2017) is an acquired taste, but once you get past its slow start and pacing, you’ll be riveted on its very intriguing and unique storyline. I say this because it’s extremely slow-moving, and for those who appreciate its pacing with a payoff at the end, then this film is for you. As a stand-alone film, it’s 5 stars. While I still prefer the 1982 film, this sequel can hold its own, because it’s inevitably a different film in a different era of filmmaking. I tend to dislike CGI and the bloated budgets of today, but this is a visual feast with a slow-burning plot. I will add that the sound effects are some of the best I’ve ever experienced in a film; they really create a mood and set a tone. The film really pays homage to the film noirs of the 1940’s and 50’s with all of the classic lighting and other elements of film noir. The special effects are second to none, and come across as showy, but still relevant. I give the director a lot of credit for not ‘selling out’ with this long-awaited sequel. He could’ve easily made this film fast-paced and consistent with the speed of films these days, such as the Star Trek reboots. I give him props for not succumbing to the pressures of wanting to appeal to a wider audience. I think this film came up short in money grossed because the younger crowd isn’t all that familiar with the Blade Runner canon, coupled with the fact that most people want something faster-moving these days. I think this film challenges those with short attention spans, which is a great thing, because if you get through it, you will most likely appreciate it as something refreshingly different in a fast-paced world. Overall, Blade Runner 2049 is a worthy sequel to a classic of American cinema, Blade Runner. The blu ray is really something special, with lots of special features that are interesting. Perhaps I will update this review after a few more viewings.

The movie is interesting, though the plot is not quite as compelling as the original. For that reason, I give it four stars rather than five. The main reason I purchased this Blu-ray was a home theater review extolling the quality of the audio, particularly for those who have a Dolby Atmos setup. That review was spot on. The audio mix sounds amazing on my home theater system. The Blu-ray version of the movie's video is in HDR-10, but the digital download comes in Dolby Vision. The Dolby Vision video pops just a bit more on my OLED display, which makes for truly stunning visuals. If you want an interesting movie that is visually stunning and includes one of the best Atmos surround sound mixes I've ever heard, I highly recommend this title for your collection.