I also really liked some of the smaller supporting characters. Deckard doesn't appear till later in the movie but he remains interesting and what they decide to do with him makes his appearance worthwhile. Officer K isn't the most lively protagonist but he gets an eye-opening character arc that kept me involved. Blade Runner 2049 returns very few of the characters from the original film but they manage to breathe life into this movie through the new ones they created.

I don't hesitate to praise when a movie looks good but this is an exemplary example of using visuals and atmosphere to help build on a strong story. My favourite scene might have been a shootout in a defunct club where the lighting and the background show are turning on and off. in 2049 they decided to go with isn't completely distinct but it was a little more understated (I'd compare it to the 2017 Ghost in the Shell but less fantastical). That was continued here if not improved upon. The original was noteworthy with the special environment that Ridley Scott and his creative team brought to the screen.

The biggest star of this movie is the cinematography and the excellent work of Roger Deakins. They also create some compelling subplots which is something that few movies get right. They made the right decision to not repeat the formula of the first one and take the story to a new place. The movie pulls an excellent bait and switch at the end that really surprised me. It's a well put together mystery, I found that they constantly took the plot in unexpected directions and other than the trailer spoiling the return of Deckard, I was always excited about what was going to happen next. I mention this because even though I'm not a die-hard fan of Blade Runner, I still found the plot of 2049 engrossing. I liked it but I just haven't got around to revisiting it. I've only seen the original Blade Runner once and it was a long time ago.

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