Blade Runner 2049 – 4K UHD Blu-ray Movie Review

Taking place 30 years after the events of the original film, LAPD police officer K (Gosling) unearths a long- buried secret that might plunge what’s left of society into total chaos. This discovery leads him to find Rick Deckard (Ford), a retired Blade Runner who has been in hiding for years. Will K find the answers he desperately seeks…or just more questions?

Specifications

Warner Brothers Studios
2017, 2160p with HDR10, Dolby Atmos, Rated R, 2.4:1 Aspect ratio
2 hours and 24 minutes
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Robin Wright, Jered Leto & Ana de Armas
Directed by: Denis Villeneuve

Rating

Entertainment:

Video:

Audio:

Extras:

Violence: Yes
Sex: Yes
Language: Yes

I have waited a long time to see this sequel and I was not disappointed by it. It has the feel and mood of the original, yet it tells a story that is excitingly new and fresh, with just enough tie-ins to keep it grounded in the Blade Runner universe. Though you could watch this film by itself, some of the nuances will be lost on you if you did not see the original Ridley Scott version. The imagery is stunning with lots of practical set pieces instead of green screen backdrops. The music is not composed by Vangelis this time around, but it has the same familiar theme sound with deep bass and majestic synth sweeps that wash over you and leave you totally submerged in the action on the screen. There is a bit more nudity in this film, so I would not recommend this as family fare, but nothing too gratuitous.

Shot in 6.4K with a 4K DI, 2049 looks fantastic with superb contrast, depth of field and solid, beautiful colors. The opening shot is a close up of an eye and the details, not just in the iris, but the eyelid itself are stunning. The Blu-ray version doesn’t have the deep blacks of brilliant colors of the UHD counter-part and looks flat in comparison. The CGI never called attention to itself and look real and natural. The sound is wonderful and delivers quite an impact sonically and emotionally.

Surrounds and subwoofer are utilized to the fullest with crowd noises, rainfall, crunching footsteps and explosions in remarkable detail. Dialog is crisp and well centered on the screen. This is a demo disc for both picture and sound if ever one was made. If you watch movie, be sure to turn it up and let it take you along for the ride.

Besides the digital copy and Blu-ray, you also get (on the BD): The Replicant revolution, Blade Runners, The Rise of Wallace Corp, Welcome to 2049, Jois, Within the Skies: Spinners, Pilotfish and Barracudas, Designing the World and to be Human: Casting for Blade Runner 2049. Also included 3 Prologue “shorts”: 2020 Blackout, 2036 Nexus dawn and 2048 Nowhere to Run. These prologues are very complimentary to the film itself, so be sure to watch them.