I think that K's relationship with his hologram girlfriend -- and the entire concept of holographic companions and their near-future technological limitations -- was one of the strongest aspects of the film, and a good example of how I think 2049 exceeded the original. Deckert's relationship with Rachael in the original never really resonated with me, and the supposed leaps in technology were more fully-realized in 2049.
Here, the actress leaps off the screen, and watching her cycle through various outfits for given tones of conversation she'd have with K, and later in that syncopated threesome they have with Mackenzie Davis, I really began to feel the implications of having the perfect "girlfriend" at my fingertips, but also with a fundamental physical disconnect.
Also, something sort of silly: Once K started developing this thought that he may have been the kid from the orphanage, couldn't he have simply checked for a serial number on his eyeball?
are you suggesting that he wouldn't have a serial number? if anything the existence of one is accounted for by the idea that they covered their tracks in hiding the child
Steve Albini wrote:Whenever there's active promotion on the part of somebody else, whenever I see somebody all dolled up for a fancy photograph and someone's handing out flyers or whenever there's active promotion for something like that, as an imposition on my day, I hate all those people and I want them to fail. I have a visceral reaction to advertising and promotion. There's just something about salesmanship that grates on me on a very base level and I react very negatively towards it. I want those people to suffer and I want their enterprises to fail.
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Sun January 11, 2026 8:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
Steve Albini wrote:Whenever there's active promotion on the part of somebody else, whenever I see somebody all dolled up for a fancy photograph and someone's handing out flyers or whenever there's active promotion for something like that, as an imposition on my day, I hate all those people and I want them to fail. I have a visceral reaction to advertising and promotion. There's just something about salesmanship that grates on me on a very base level and I react very negatively towards it. I want those people to suffer and I want their enterprises to fail.
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Sun January 11, 2026 8:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
Now I want to go back and watch the original to see if Wallace's explanation that they had engineered Rachael to get pregnant by Deckert fits with the overall plot of the movie.
I think that was more about questioning destiny vs. free will, which is just an extension of replicant vs. human from the first one. I think it fits, but Rachel was a device to show a replicant that doesn't know that it is one and to make Deckard (and us) question if he is one as well. I don't think it is that much of a leap for it to fit if that was their intention, though.
Steve Albini wrote:Whenever there's active promotion on the part of somebody else, whenever I see somebody all dolled up for a fancy photograph and someone's handing out flyers or whenever there's active promotion for something like that, as an imposition on my day, I hate all those people and I want them to fail. I have a visceral reaction to advertising and promotion. There's just something about salesmanship that grates on me on a very base level and I react very negatively towards it. I want those people to suffer and I want their enterprises to fail.
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Sun January 11, 2026 8:23 am, edited 1 time in total.
What the hell happened to the replicant uprising storyline? We're introduced to their presumed leaders, they help get K out of a jam, then they disappear from the film entirely. Are we getting another sequel or something?
What the hell happened to the replicant uprising storyline? We're introduced to their presumed leaders, they help get K out of a jam, then they disappear from the film entirely. Are we getting another sequel or something?
Steve Albini wrote:Whenever there's active promotion on the part of somebody else, whenever I see somebody all dolled up for a fancy photograph and someone's handing out flyers or whenever there's active promotion for something like that, as an imposition on my day, I hate all those people and I want them to fail. I have a visceral reaction to advertising and promotion. There's just something about salesmanship that grates on me on a very base level and I react very negatively towards it. I want those people to suffer and I want their enterprises to fail.
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Sun January 11, 2026 8:23 am, edited 1 time in total.
Steve Albini wrote:Whenever there's active promotion on the part of somebody else, whenever I see somebody all dolled up for a fancy photograph and someone's handing out flyers or whenever there's active promotion for something like that, as an imposition on my day, I hate all those people and I want them to fail. I have a visceral reaction to advertising and promotion. There's just something about salesmanship that grates on me on a very base level and I react very negatively towards it. I want those people to suffer and I want their enterprises to fail.
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Sun January 11, 2026 8:23 am, edited 1 time in total.
Steve Albini wrote:Whenever there's active promotion on the part of somebody else, whenever I see somebody all dolled up for a fancy photograph and someone's handing out flyers or whenever there's active promotion for something like that, as an imposition on my day, I hate all those people and I want them to fail. I have a visceral reaction to advertising and promotion. There's just something about salesmanship that grates on me on a very base level and I react very negatively towards it. I want those people to suffer and I want their enterprises to fail.
Last edited by tragabigzanda on Sun January 11, 2026 8:22 am, edited 1 time in total.
durdencommatyler wrote:This thread sucks when you haven't seen the movie and don't want to click spoilers. But thank you guys for tagging. I appreciate it.
Blade Runner 2049 is a great movie and I hope you see it!
durdencommatyler wrote:This thread sucks when you haven't seen the movie and don't want to click spoilers. But thank you guys for tagging. I appreciate it.
I feel the same way. One of buddies and I vowed to see this together, but he's been out of town for the past two weekends.
This movie is outstanding. Every frame pops. Every frame is vital. It's such a gorgeous film, too. Absolutely see this in a theater if you can. It's one of the rare sequels that can totally stand on its own but also revitalizes and enhances the original. Very few complaints/issues with this movie. It's stunning, stellar, and smart. And I'll echo earlier comments that it has more heart than the original, too.
durdencommatyler wrote:This movie is outstanding. Every frame pops. Every frame is vital. It's such a gorgeous film, too. Absolutely see this in a theater if you can. It's one of the rare sequels that can totally stand on its own but also revitalizes and enhances the original. Very few complaints/issues with this movie. It's stunning, stellar, and smart. And I'll echo earlier comments that it has more heart than the original, too.
Glad you liked it. I just saw it for a second time on Monday, wanted to see it one more time in the theater to see if I missed anything. After second watch:
The scene between K and the girl that ends up being the daughter. When she watches the memory that K shares with her. Her reaction and the way she says "this is definitely real" is really a great foreshadow. Probably my favorite scene after second watch.
Also, I know I was expecting great cinematography from Villeneuve, especially after Arrival, but man, he really blew it out of the water here. And the score. Man. I want to see it a third time.
durdencommatyler wrote:This movie is outstanding. Every frame pops. Every frame is vital. It's such a gorgeous film, too. Absolutely see this in a theater if you can. It's one of the rare sequels that can totally stand on its own but also revitalizes and enhances the original. Very few complaints/issues with this movie. It's stunning, stellar, and smart. And I'll echo earlier comments that it has more heart than the original, too.
Glad you liked it. I just saw it for a second time on Monday, wanted to see it one more time in the theater to see if I missed anything. After second watch:
The scene between K and the girl that ends up being the daughter. When she watches the memory that K shares with her. Her reaction and the way she says "this is definitely real" is really a great foreshadow. Probably my favorite scene after second watch.
Also, I know I was expecting great cinematography from Villeneuve, especially after Arrival, but man, he really blew it out of the water here. And the score. Man. I want to see it a third time.
LV can poop on him all he wants, but Roger Deakins is so fucking good, it's sickening.
durdencommatyler wrote:This movie is outstanding. Every frame pops. Every frame is vital. It's such a gorgeous film, too. Absolutely see this in a theater if you can. It's one of the rare sequels that can totally stand on its own but also revitalizes and enhances the original. Very few complaints/issues with this movie. It's stunning, stellar, and smart. And I'll echo earlier comments that it has more heart than the original, too.
Glad you liked it. I just saw it for a second time on Monday, wanted to see it one more time in the theater to see if I missed anything. After second watch:
The scene between K and the girl that ends up being the daughter. When she watches the memory that K shares with her. Her reaction and the way she says "this is definitely real" is really a great foreshadow. Probably my favorite scene after second watch.
Also, I know I was expecting great cinematography from Villeneuve, especially after Arrival, but man, he really blew it out of the water here. And the score. Man. I want to see it a third time.
LV can poop on him all he wants, but Roger Deakins is so fucking good, it's sickening.
Yes, I should have given him credit as well. The Vegas scenes were fantastic.
