Sci-Fi lovers have just mere days left to immerse themselves in one of the most-loved modern science fiction films, which has been described as a “masterpiece in every sense of the world”.
Visionary filmmaker and soon-to-be James Bond director Denis Villeneuve wowed fans in 2017 when he created the highly anticipated sequel to Ridley Scott’s cult-classic Blade Runner.
The sequel that many fans prefer to the original has been available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer, but that will soon come to an end as they will lose the streaming rights in just a matter of days.
The 2017 reboot picks up three decades after the original, plunging us back into a dystopian, rain-soaked Los Angleses riddled with androids and what it means to be living.
Ryan Gosling gives a stand-out performance as K, and despite the film not relying on lots of exposition and dialogue, he manages to make you think about what it really means to be human.
Along his journey, he finds himself with a truly great supporting cast alongside the likes of Harrison Ford, who reprises his original role, as well as strong performances from Ana de Armas, Dave Bautista and Jared Leto.
The film was a big hit with critics, too, with legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins picking up an Oscar for his work, while the film also scooped the prize for best visual effects alongside nominations for its sound and production design.
The soundtrack for this film deserves particular attention, with the synth-laden score by Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch filling fans with Sci-fi nostalgia and paying homage to the classics.
With a “Certified Fresh” score of 88% by both critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, fans are recommending a watch. One audience reviewer wrote: “A masterpiece in every sense of the word. The acting, the visuals, the story. It’s damn near perfect. I like the original Blade Runner, but this is so, so much better in every way… The peak of modern cinema.”
But don’t worry if you never got around to watching the 1980s original, as one critic wrote: “2049 is able to exist both as a masterful sequel and/or stand-alone film in the universe, which showcases Villeneuve’s massive skill as a storyteller and further validates him as one of the best visionaries of our generation.”
This was agreed by critic Josh Wilding, who added: “A masterpiece pure and simple, Blade Runner 2049 does not disappoint and will keep hardcore fans and newcomers alike equally happy with what they’re seeing.”
The film is currently still available to watch for free on BBC iPlayer, but with it leaving on August 25, you have just days unless you want to fork out on paying for its rental or an often expensive streaming subscription.