There’s a certain expectation to be met with sequels. Especially so with sequels to films as iconic as Blade Runner. The legacy of the original must be respected, while breaking new ground to keep things fresh. Thirty-five years on, Blade Runner2049 stands as a testament to how much this Blade Runner mythos still resonates. But with it came the obvious need for an update. And not just thematically either.
Blade Runner 2049 has been applauded by critics and fans alike for its masterful execution of both story and spectacle. Cinematic talents, writer/director Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Sicario, Prisoners) and cinematographer Roger Deakins (Skyfall, No Country For Old Men, The Shawshank Redemption) managed to recapture the atmosphere and emotion of the original while making it essentially modern.
In a side-by-side comparison below, we see how key elements of the original’s mise-en-scene have been replicated. A dignified nod to the past, if you will.
