Back to the Future: Review of Blade Runner 2049

Blade Runner 2049

Director: Denis Villeneuve

By Alex Watson

After 30 plus years of questions, doubts, delays, and fears, finally, Blade Runner 2049 comes to our screens. Many doubted its credibility and others simply wanted to believe it was a bad idea. In the hands of Denis Villeneuve, we have been given one of the greatest sequels of all time. Still engrossed in the grimy and neon-soaked world that Ridley Scott delivered- this is a picture that has both heart and brains.

In 2049, LAPD officer KD6-3.7 (Ryan Gosling) is assigned with hunting down the obsolete Nexus 8 replicants. However, while investigating on a protein farms, K finds an old box which contains a big secret. The contents of this box could spark a war between human's and replicants and his boss Lt.Joshi (Robin Wright) is keen for it to disappear. While on the hunt for clues, K's investigation will lead him to old Blade Runner Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford).

Villeneuve has stayed true to his source material and the future he shows us is equally as bleak and haunting as the 1991's directors cut version. Veteran Roger Deakins' provides some lush and colourful cinematography which contrasts beautifully with Dennis Gassner's retro set designs. The old Tyrell corporation has gone broke and now visionary Niander Wallace (Jared Leto) creates all 'skin jobs' walking the streets. K as a character is almost like a blank slate- a dutiful officer who does his job without arguments and has a hologram for a girlfriend (Ana De Armas). Subject to hate and scorn by his fellow officers and neighbours for his 'Blade Runner' status, K is just a man doing a job. Watching him undergo a weird 'Voight- Kampff' type test will make your head spin as you hear 'integrated' so many times. His investigation begins with something so innocuous. While investigation old Nexus 8 farmer Sappar Morton (Dave Bautista)  he happens upon an old box containing bones. The secret behind them is truly mind-blowing and any preconceived notions of replicants are blown out of the water.

Anyone in a hurry to get results needs to be patient because this is one investigation that rolls along at a steady pace. Blade Runner 2049 is a movie intent on revealing the puzzle one piece at a time. We understand early on something earth-shattering is coming our way. Wallace, in particular, has his eye's on the big prize and sends his faithful assistant/assassin Luv (an impressive Sylvia Hoeks) out to stake his claim. Visually this is a stunning ride and we see such sights such as a scorched Las Vegas ruin (Deakins photography shines brightly against the neon orange glow) and a derelict orphanage in a junkyard that used to be San Diego which looks like a cross between Oliver meets Dune. Taking us beyond the rainy and snow-swept streets of urban LA, Villeneuve shows us the true decay of planet earth and how those left behind are playing the price.

Smartly the appearance of Deckard is left until almost the final act- giving us time to understand K's mission and his motives for giving chase. Very much a secondary character but still so vital to everything, Deckard still hasn't lost any of the old charms. Possibly the most beautiful looking movie of 2017, it's actually astounding just how much Denis Villeneuve has achieved with this sequel. Subtle nods to the old one are there in droves, but their presentation of life in 2049 makes for a much grittier and bleaker atmosphere. Humanity is on its last legs and is now reduced to using protein farms to avoid famine and death. In this universe, Replicants might just be the way of the future. Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch's score is one that captures the mood and emotions that go with this sequel- while also saluting the legendary Vangelis score that came before it. Few sequels will achieve this level of brilliance in the next few years.

Ryan Gosling is perfectly cast as new Blade Runner K. His air of cool gives his character a much-needed edge. On the surface, he is a barely drawn character, but underneath he is far more complex. Driven to solve this mystery, K fears just what he may find and that he might just be an important cog in the machine. Harrison Ford also boasts his strongest performance in many years. Rather than just showing up, Ford digs deep and shows us a hollowed out wreck of a man who is conflicted about past actions. Ford's screen time is simply electric and but he also stays true to the principles of this character and 30 plus years on- Deckard is still a great character.

Blade Runner 2049 is simply magnificent- Denis Villeneuve has taken this sequel to heights never thought possible. As Gaff said in the original 'They've done a man's job sir!"

The Force Will Be With You Always: Review of Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Director: JJ Abrams

By Alex Watson

You cannot express in words just how great it feels for Star Wars to be back on the big screen. JJ Abrams has brought the Lucas universe to life again in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Sporting the lightsaber battles and the powerful war between the force and the dark side, we have a reason to believe again. Giving us a good selection of our old and loved favourites mixed in with an interesting new batch of players, Abrams ensures there is a new lifeblood to carry things forward.

30 years after the collapse of the Empire, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hammill) has gone missing and has become like a myth spread among the planets. Finn (John Boyega) is a Stormtrooper in the newly assembled First Order who is having a conflict within himself. Rey (Daisy Ridley) is a scavenger on the desert planet Jaaku while Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) is the top pilot in the Resistance army led by General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher). Together each of these characters will come face to face with Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and be witness to the uprising of the powerful First Order Jedi Kylo Ren (Adam Driver).

From the first frame, Star Wars: The Force Awakens simmers into life and the ride from there on is the most fun we have had in ages. Beginning with the First Order forces arriving on Jaaku, we are given a potent introduction to the dark side's new favourite, Kylo Ren. A forceful and lurking threat, Ren is very much a disciple to Vader who has not only been seduced by the Dark Side but absolutely loves it. As a villain though he is possibly one of the most impressive ones that the franchise has produced. Sporting a cold-blooded malice without equal, we get the sense that this one conflicted kid has firmly buried his old past. The new recruits are not given as much depth as we may have liked, but there is room to work with. During Finn's first battle, his horror behind the mask is felt immediately as he reluctantly commits atrocities. Finn is the best-developed lead of the lot and having being groomed as FN-1287 by the Order since birth, he is keen to break free.

Rey comes off less well in this piece and despite being a tough and capable female (along with skillfully piloting the Falcon), there isn't enough depth for this installment. Dameron with limited screen time comes across with an effortless swagger that remind us of a young Han Solo with an X-Wing. The taste may feel undercooked, but give it another installment these three may just transpire into something special. Having Han and Chewie back together again is something very special indeed, "Chewie, we're home!" smiles Han as he reboards his beloved ship. In this episode, the old smuggler is a shadow of his old self and still clings to his old reputation. His wisdom, however, is unbeatable and he becomes almost a surrogate father to abandoned child Rey. Luke is more like a ghost figure than man in Force Awakens and there are Alec Guinness-like echoes all around. Leia thankfully has formed into the leader we always wanted. She is scarred from her constant warring both at home and the past (spoilers to be withheld).

Despite blips in storytelling, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is still a fine piece of work. Abrams never fully explains the intentions of the First Order. They are big and evil and appear to mean business but just what does Grand Master Snoke (Andy Serkis) want? We are given an interesting duel for power between Ren and the sneertastic General Hux (Domnhall Gleason). Both men are wanting different kinds of power which leads to a mini civil war. Their ruthless streak, though, makes them the perfect heir to the Empire. Seeing them destroy several planets in 'one swift stroke' is a chilling prospect. There are some finer things lead that need to be ironed out, such as nailing a great lightsaber finale but there is a new hope surrounding this franchise. Best of all, there is no Jar Jar in sight fans.

John Boyega, Daisy Ridley and Oscar Isaac all prove they belong in this universe with a trio of decent performances. Boyega in particular in able to summon the courage and charm that Attack The Block promised us. Harrison Ford is the real tour de force in this piece and you forget just how well Han Solo fits him. Sweeping in without missing a beat, it feels like the old pirate never left us. Top honours, however, go to Adam Driver. Firmly filling the void that Vader left us, Kylo Ren is the most intriguing the Jedi have had to deal with in some time. A gangly menace desperate to escape his one loving past, Ren is very much a product of the Dark Side. Driver is able to give us a bad guy who doesn't just frighten us, but makes the film sag whenever he is off screen. The groundwork has been laid, now the cast needs to do the rest.

Finally, we get the 21st century Star Wars we have always wanted. Star Wars: The Force Awakens is not only a throwback to the original trilogy, but it is the start of something special. Disney might be taking the reigns now, but the force still lives on.

Top 5 Movie Escapes

The Shawshank Redemption

The most iconic escape on this list see Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) conduct what is the most unlikely plan. Who would have thought that scraping a wall with a rock hammer would prove so effect? Well that and a giant poster. But Andy's break for freedom is picnic, just listen to the Morgan Freeman narration. However, as we see the famous image on Robbins stood bare chested in the rain, it is a moment that uplifts our hearts.

The Silence of the Lambs

Hannibal Lector's (Anthony Hopkins) escape from Memphis Police Custody is by far the most terrifying on the list. What starts as a routine check becomes something scary as hell. Who would have thought the most banal object could have the biggest effect on lives? What comes afterwards though, is clever trickery by director Jonathan Demme. "After you Sergeant Pembrey!"

The Great Escape 

 One of the 1960's truly great escape plans sees the Allies outsmarting their German captors at every turn. Seems their idea to put all the great escape artists into one camp was one that backfired spectacularly. But of all the various escapes on show, it is Virgil Hilt (Steve McQueen) and his daring motorcycle ride that amaze the most.

Ocean's Eleven

The finale of Steven Soderbergh's excellent remake is one to savor 14 years after release. The thing that makes this robbery so memorable is the misdirection that fools Bellagio owner, Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia). His quiet horror at realizing just what video tape he has in front of him sets up a cunning dupe by Danny Ocean (George Clooney).

Raiders of the Lost Ark 

Steven Spielberg started this legendary franchise with a bang back in 1981, and his breathtaking opening still stuns us to this day. Watching Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) risk life and limb to recover his precious artifact whilst the entire temple shakes is death dying stuff. But just when you think he safe, the ultimate challenge arrives- a huge rolling boulder!

Expendables 3: An Action Hero Too Far

Firstly a disclaimer; I love a good dumb film. I like switching my brain off for two hours and being entertained by explosions and one-liners. I am Michael Bay's target audience.

The Third instalment in the Expendables trilogy was released in the UK last week, and on the internet ages ago. Whoops. Despite being the school holidays and the movie having a 12A, I was at least 25% of the whole theatre audience.

The movie opens with Stallone and friends assaulting a prison train to rescue former team member Wesley Snipes because subtlety isn't the point of this movie. If you've seen the trailer, you'll know that the train then crashes into a prison and explodes. Dumb fun.

If this movie is anything to go by, Snipes has recently watched a ton of free-running videos as his character Doc leaps about like Super Mario on springs. There's a lot of this.

It's then straight into another action sequence and Terry Crews turns up to add some humour. Sadly this is the only real sequence Crews had as shooting commitments clashed with Brooklyn Nine Nine. This harbour fight sequence is fun, as it also introduces the movie's baddie, Mel Gibson.

To make a long story short (and it's the longest of the trilogy), Gibson's character, the improbably named Stonebanks injures one of the team and escapes, so Stallone goes off to take revenge. However, realising that his team of veteran soldiers is getting on a bit, he leaves them at home and recruits a new, young team, probably the main characters of the next movie. This is where Kelsey Grammer comes in as a man with a lot of phone numbers. Montage-tastic.

While Statham, Snipes, Lundgren and Couture stay at home and watch TV, Stallone and the Junior Expendables nip of to Bucharest to try and nab Gibson. Things go wrong, the kids are kidnapped and it's up to Stallone and the old guard to rescue them.

Cue explosions, more explosions, helicopter chases and a final set piece that pitches the new and old Expendables facing off against an army from a made up country. There's also the obligatory fight at the end between Stallone and Gibson.

Good points;

* Although the score is largely recycled from the last two movies, Brian Tyler's punchy strings still carry the action nicely and you'll leave the theatre humming the main motif.
* The rapport between the characters is fun, you'll probably hate the youngsters but the banter between the elder members of the group is well written.
* Harrison Ford's last minute inclusion works well.
* The location scout deserves a raise. A lot of the location work was beautiful.

Bad points;

* Jet Li! I'm a huge Jet Li fan but despite top-ish billing, he has less than five minutes of screen time and he does no martial arts at all.
* The cast was too big. Not enough time to develop the youngsters which just made them easy to dislike.

Should you watch this film? Yes, as dumb action films go, it's fun but it's not as good as its predecessors. It's also not as good as Transformers Age of Extinction which in turn is nowhere near as good as Guardians of the Galaxy. All of which are still in theatres. I watched it on a Tuesday because tickets are only £5 at Odeon. I'd be less happy if I'd paid full price.