Is the New Blade Runner Actually Better Than the Original?

ANA DE ARMAS and RYAN GOSLING in Alcon Entertainments BLADE RUNNER 2049 in association with Columbia Pictures, domestic distribution by Warner Bros. Pictures and international distribution by Sony Pictures Releasing International.
ANA DE ARMAS and RYAN GOSLING in Alcon Entertainment's BLADE RUNNER 2049 in association with Columbia Pictures, domestic distribution by Warner Bros. Pictures and international distribution by Sony Pictures Releasing International.

Editorial Manager

Early reviews have suggested that Blade Runner 2049 (2017), the long-awaited sequel to Ridley Scott’s seminal 1982 sci-fi epic, is even better than the original. The fact that this is even a conversation we are having is testament to the incredible achievement by director Denis Villeneuve, but are the critics right?

The list of follow-up films that best their originals is short. More often than not, sequels are hastily put together and only created to cash-in on the original blockbuster and rekindle past glories. For studios, the marketing of such films is seen as a less risky option than promoting a new property.

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Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
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1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Even if there is a clamour for a second, third or however many Fast and Furious films we’re up to now, cinema-goers rarely get the movie they are asking for.

For Blade Runner (1982), a film that isn’t just heralded as a genre-defining classic, but also a movie that has been repeatedly analysed from all angles, the sequel posed numerous problems.

Firstly, one of the big appeals of the original was the somewhat open-ended nature of the lead character. Harrison Ford’s Deckard was the eponymous blade runner, a term used for police officers tasked with ‘retiring’ replicants (biorobotic androids) in a rain-soaked future where neon advertising and carnal pleasure seem to be ubiquitous. Over the course of Scott’s staggering adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? we learn that the central character may have more in common with those he is hunting than with the rest of humanity.

The famed cityscapes of Blade Runner (1982)

The subject of Deckard’s true origins has been endlessly debated during the years since the film was released in 1982. Ford firmly believes that he was playing a human, whereas the director has since come out in favour of the theory that his protagonist was, in fact, an android. The pair reportedly clashed on set too, with Ford once saying of the film “I didn’t like the movie one way or the other…”

The perpetual scowl Ford wore throughout the movie, along with the other reported arguments with his co-stars, led many to believe that if there were to be a sequel, the actor would play no part in it. But that was not the case.

Even after persuading the Star Wars actor to come back on board, however, the other problem for the studio was in promoting the film itself. A gargantuan runtime of over 160 minutes is enough to make casual film fans think twice, and then there is the issue of spoilers.

Harrison Ford in Blade Runner (1982)

The trailers of the film give nothing away about any of the characters. The press screening we attended came with a pre-written statement from director Villeneuve, which, along with expressing excitement sharing the film, issued a polite request for reviewers not to include any plot details in their articles.

We are often asked to hold back on revealing spoilers of movies (something that, depressingly, still needs to be told to some reviewers) but we can’t recall a time when an entire plot was essentially under embargo. As the film started, we remained perplexed by the ask, but within the first five minutes it all became clear. The very essence of the plot and nature of the characters are the spoilers themselves.

It all adds up to an invigorating cinematic experience and, understandably, one that everyone should have the chance to experience exactly as we did – completely fresh. But, boy, does that make it tough to sell the movie!

Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling in Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

The fact that Ford turns up in the movie and meets Ryan Gosling (La La Land (2016)) would normally be something you would debate about revealing, but this is one of the few things we can openly talk about. It’s in the trailer, with an aged Deckard and young cop K (Gosling) sharing several scenes.

It’s hard to imagine that the original is now 35 years old. Many of the target audience won’t even have been born when it was released, but the film certainly stands up to repeated viewing. If anything, Scott’s vision of a future where capitalism reigns over humanity has become all the more relevant, and to top it all off the special effects remain some of the best ever put on screen.

So what of the new players in the Blade Runner universe? On screen we have Gosling playing an equally downbeat replicant-hunter, Jared Leto as a godlike eye in the sky and a myriad of supporting characters who all seem to be linked somehow. That’s about all we can reveal about the movie, but a more interesting cog in the machine is the director.

Denis Villeneuve, Ridley Scott, Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling

Villeneuve’s impressive run in the mainstream began with Incendies (2010) and most recently featured Oscar-nominated Arrival (2016). The sci-fi thriller about a (potential) alien invasion ended up being a far more sombre, contemplative affair than expected, and it’s that tone that the director transfers over to Blade Runner 2049. It’s quite handy, then, that the original also had a similar tone.

The other relevant film in Villeneuve’s filmography is Sicario (2015). Several scenes in Blade Runner 2049 are reminiscent of the dread-infused deserts of Mexico featuring vehicles traversing at high-speed with a thumping soundtrack to boot. The familiar synths of Greek Composer Vangelis (who scored the original) are in place, this time delivered by Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch. The director explained his decision to remove his long-time collaborator Jóhann Jóhannsson from the project as being based on a need for the new soundtrack to sound more like the original. This might be seen as a ruthless, even single-minded, move, but then so was the decision to resolutely restrict details about the film from the press and insist on a lengthy runtime.

With all these elements in place, there is no doubt that Blade Runner 2049 is a throwback to the original without feeling like a retro-fit rehash. It’s fantastically plotted, never dwelling on unnecessary exposition. It’s here that Villeneuve manages to make the runtime work, with the scenes that play out over any length of time being very rewarding to watch. The Leto sequences might be wordy, but they make perfect sense.

The only reason that Blade Runner 2049 falls short (by a fraction) of the original is that it relies so much on knowing the intricacies of the 1982 film. You can’t really view this as a stand-alone film, and that just adds more credence to the reputation of the first film.

As a one-two combination though, Blade Runner is a knockout masterpiece.

Rating: ****

Blade Runner 2049 is on general release from October 5

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