Blade Runner 2049 did the impossible. It literally recaptured the original in every way. It's critical reception, the themes of the original, the world and even the box office flop.

I saw this movie in IMAX with 3 of my friends and we joked before that even if it's "probably" bad it will be fun to see such a mess. After the film, we quietly walked over to a nearby diner and all sat in silence looking at the menu until one of my friends said "So...that movie was fucking amazing, right?" and then we all gushed over it for hours. Such a stunning piece of art that had so few people see it.

“Dying for the right cause is the most human thing we can do” is a line from the film. K dies for a good cause which makes him (in the film’s eyes) the most human of everyone in the story. He wanted to be the child, a human, the whole movie which he wasn’t, but in his last moments laying on the steps after helping Deckard reach his daughter he feels human and to him that was enough. He ultimately found what he was searching for.

Missed opportunity to have the video be 20:49 just had to pad it 48 more seconds

The part that floored me about this movie was that Kay found his free will just by THINKING he was the special. Whatever he does after he learns that he wasn't Deckards' son was less impressive to me than the fact that he, who was supposed to follow orders and be a robot, was able to lie to potentially protect others and to find the truth about himself. All it took was for him to think he was naturally born, and that's amazing. I did woo-ooh..... Do Sicario... I think we all need more Villlenuve. My fav director alive and working today.

My interpretation of Joy is that she *wasn't* a free thinking individual, but she passed as one. She's programed to behave like a free thinking individual but her prime directive is to make the person who buys her happy. she has a personality and is capable of having and executing on ideas but it's all designed to give the allusion that she's a forreal girl and you fall in love with her. K buys in and through her charm and charisma so does the audience. But her prime directive is dictating that she must make K happy and she ques into the fact that being a born person would make him happy, so she sets out to foster that seed of hope, even giving him a name, Joe, that eventually gets them both killed. After she gets stomped and K learns definitively that he's no the child, his lowest moment, he encounters that giant Joy hologram add (who calls him Joe (because that's her programed default name for dudes)) and he realizes that he was brought to this point because he was convinced by apparent personhood that was ultimately false. He now faces the question of "if she was so convincingly sentient and yet ultimately was not, what does that mean for me, an also manufactured person? Are my feelings of self awareness just built in smoke and mirrors to create a better user experience?" Maybe the answer is if you can't tell the difference between real and artificial intelligence, does it even matter? So I guess in a way I guess Joy was a free thinking individual and I just convinced myself out of my own thesis.

My family hated this film. I was ugly crying at how insanely sad, while at the same time uproariously joyful the ending was. To them it was a boring movie where people got hurt and not much happened. To me it was a visually beautiful movie that said some metaphorically beautiful things. I already loved this movie, but with the additional layer of the message *to itself* that I never even considered, I think Mikey made me love it even more.

This guy gets it! To me the most important line in the film is when K asks if Deckard's dog is real (that reflexive question people obsessively ask in both films about every animal) and Deckard just shrugs and says 'I dunno, ask him.' He, like the film, doesn't just leave the answer ambiguous he outright dismisses the relevance of the question.

I think the philosophy of both movies is “it doesn’t matter.” Where they both present the idea of “What makes us human,” they both have their own distinct but equally valid and unique answers, backed up by their respective films. Blade Runner (The Final Cut) seems to say that Empathy is what makes one human. That’s why that film has such a tragic villain that is more relatable and in the right than the hero. That’s why Deckard isn’t actually that likeable in the film. That’s why they use Voight-Kampff tests, to try and gauge the empathy of the replicants. At the end of the movie, it doesn’t matter if Deckard is or isn’t a replicant; he’s human. His empathy for Roy changes him and proves that regardless of how he got there, he has the same fears and will have the same regrets and death as Roy, but he still saved him because he had a soul. Blade Runner 2049 says that Love is what makes us human. That’s why the love scene with Joi is so powerful and perfect, it’s a microcosm for the whole movie. It doesn’t matter that she’s an AI, that he’s a replicant, that they’re not actually touching; so long as they can say “I am,” their feelings are as valid as any others. Memories are merely the perceptions that bring us to be who we are now. It doesn’t matter. That’s why Niander Wallace is blind, he lacks that part of a soul to see the value in people. He doesn’t care about love or empathy, and treats those things as features of his products.Eyes are a prominent part of the themes of both movies, being the windows into the soul. Everything focuses on the soul of each person and their inherent humanity.

JOI is one of the most compelling characters in the past few years. she takes the whole "created person vs born person" thing a step further with "genetic mind vs designed mind" and if that makes her thoughts/emotions real or genuine at all, or even a designed mind feeling something as abstract and unexplainable as loving another being. shit's wild

I have never clicked on a video this fast ever

There is an interview with Denis Villeneuve where he says he finds the question if Deckard is a replicant or not fascinating. But the answer to that question not so much.

Dammit Mikey. You took a movie that already means more to me than any other movie I've ever seen, and elevated it even higher. This movie is a once in a lifetime sort of movie, I don't think anything will come close to it and that's a damn tragedy in my book.

I like the symbolism with the snow falling on K when he dies. It's my interpretation, but bare with me: it is said that every snowflake is different from one and other, that each of them is unique and has its own shape. K is not the special, he's not unique, he's not the chosen one son, his destiny is to get buried/overshadowed by things that are more special than him. And yet... just like the tears in rain, nothing lasts forever. Because pretty as they are, snowflakes MELT. They'll be forgotten too at some point, in the infinity of time. All the historical figures, Earth's history, statues, they'll disappear and be forgotten eventually, nothing escapes that. The universe is *HUUUGE* and Father Time is brutal. He might not have turned out to be the special, but K had something that Stelline did not: a life. He could actually move around the world. He had a love interest. He actually experienced life on Earth instead of being trapped for most of his life inside a sterilized room. No matter how important Stelline is or what she'll do for the Replicant uprise... she NEVER had a life as human as K's was. At least K died after having a life.

best movie of 2017

I really think we're still going to be talking and thinking about this movie twenty years from now. What a gift that is.

I did. I did woo-ooh.

Yes this %5,000,000 my favorite movie of 2017 but can we also appreciate the fact that Ryan Gosling did this, La La Land, and the Nice Guys within like 2 years? That is a dynamic range of such breadth and quality that I don't think you can find anywhere else

This is beautiful and precisely nail why I loved this film so much. The bombshell about how light is used in the complex broke my brain and tells my why all those scenes were so powerful.

"They all think it is about more detail, but that is not how memory works, we recall with our feelings, anything real should be a mist." Maybe my favorite line in that movie.

This was one of the best movies of 2017, was waiting for this!

I love how there’s an entire other story going on behind the scenes involving a replicant uprising and it’s left totally unresolved. In the hands of lesser filmmakers, that’d probably be the main focus of the entire movie.

I'm so glad you did this episode, Mikey. 2049 is one of the most meaningful sequels in film history for me. I honestly enjoy it so much more than the original. K is so much more interesting of a protagonist, and gives the narrative so much forward thrust. For a detective, Deckard is more beat cop than actual detective. K's detective work is personal for him - it aims to answer a question of great personal significance: is he somehow special? It's such a brilliant exploration and continuation of all the themes of the original, and Villeneuve has been batting 1000. Seriously, that man has not made a single dud so far. Stoked for his take on Dune.

I for one love the trend of “20-year later” sequels. More often than not they’re more interesting than direct sequels than take place very soon after the first one. Sure they can be cheap nostalgia-bait, but A smart filmmaker can weaponise that nostalgia and use it to explore a theme or challenge a character.

Holy shit. Brought tears to my eyes while at work. Thanks. (Amazing video, keep it up!)

Your script was BRILLIANT in this one, and I wish this wasn't seemingly buried by the algorithm. I literally never found this video while looking for Blade Runner 2049 reviews, essays, analyses, etc... regardless of wording. I regularly searched for new ones 2-3 times a year since it came out. Only found this channel at all through pure happenstance by looking for Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy content. Anyway, glad I'm here now. Love your content!

As a 36 year old millennial myself, not only did I woo-ooh, but I also LOVED this film. I loved it before it came out. I loved every moment of watching it. I love rewatching it. You're correct when you say that it gives more value to the original film. It is beautiful from top to bottom. Even the ugly parts are beautifully done. I think I agree with you when I say that this film *IS* art. This is a hell of an analysis. You keep Mikey-ing 'em, and I'll keep watchy-ing 'em.

Best Birthday Gift ever. Tears in my eyes and no rain in sight.

2019 - the year Roy Batty died :( This movie is simply visual decadence, a luxurious artform wrapped around cutting themes. A masterpiece.

Fricken Spectacular as always mikey, Off for a second viewing now.

Watching your essays, continuously, almost without fail, make me feel unquantifiable emotions. Like 2049 to the original film, your video essays not only compliment the films they are about, they enrich them, to a degree other KZfaq content makers do not. From a fan of your work here on FIlmJoy, whether you see this, or not; Thank. You.

This is my favorite video essay

This movie has become so much more important to me in just a couple years. Around when I watched this movie was when I started questioning my gender for the first time. I was really able to sympathize with the character whose entire social existence was predicated on others telling him *what he is.* Only to follow some bread crumbs and then begin questioning his very existence. In this metaphor I think K is like a gender non-conforming ally, who realizes that it's okay to be what they are, but that he can help others. Me on the other hand.. I found I really wasn't what everybody always told me since I was born. I realized they gave me a mask, and a script, and didn't ask whether or not I wanted either. Sometimes it really does feel like the world is closing in on you. That everyone and everything is against you. But damn does it feel better to be free and fighting, than dead on the inside and staying in that little box.

What you do, Mikey, is no less beautiful than these films. You turn unexplored feelings into a weirdly-healing gut punch.

I'm so happy this video finally happened. When I first joined this channel, maybe a year ago, I kept looking for this review. Thank you.

This was the last movie I watched with one of my best friends, days before he died. I drink his favorite beer and watch 2049 every year on the anniversary of the day he died. The last few times, I've watched this video immediately after watching the movie. So thank you, Mikey, for this. For this insightful video. For helping in the grieving process. For just being at the confluence of my favorite piece of art, which has some , shall we say, complicated associations for me.

I like your new title cards, I didn't say anything last time but I find the aesthetic appealing

Dammit Mikey, stop making me tear up even more at movies I love... great vid.

This video almost made me cry. You put it all into perfect words. Thanks Mikey!

Ana De Armas is literally an angel that fell to earth. Good lord.

I saw BR2049 5 times in the theater. I'm so glad you made this video.

One of those rare films 10 years from now you'll be like ''So happy I saw this in theatres'' :P

That was so epic! One of the best and most individual reviews/analysations I have seen so far, thank you!

BR 2049 made me cry almost every time I watched it, although often in different spots. Your vid made me cry for all the joy these two films have brought to me. Thank you for making this!

damn, I love the Blade Runner films

I woo-ooed.

I have watched this analysis so many times, and it always makes me cry. It's truly amazing.

Man, this video...my gosh...thank you for this beautiful commentary on a movie i loved and given me new insights into this precious good sequel to an already brilliant movie

During this video, I was genuinely considering whether I wanted to believe if Deckard was a replicant or not. For the longest time I believed he was a replicant mostly because I wanted to accept, what was to me, the worst possible option. The whole film was very glum and I thought it would be more adult of my currently teenage self to believe that Deckard was actually not a real boy and was instead a fabrication. But upon further thought it became what should've already been clear to me that the replicants weren't really fabrications at all. The first one was fun for me to dig into and analyse but it wasn't until 2049 came out that more and more became clear. I analysed the hell out of that movie and looked deep into the themes around humanity especially surrounding K. It quickly became apparent to me that I loved it more than the first and that is was one of my favourite films ever. But it did confuse me about the Deckard replicant thing. It started to become clear to me that it morally and thematically made no sense for Deckard to be a replicant and that it served the greater story more if he were human. While watching this video, I continued to ponder whether or not I believed he was a replicant when all of a sudden, you hit the nail right on the head. It doesn't matter. He's a dad. Thank you for that Mikey. You're the best

My grandparents had that same brown patterned couch! Sorry got distracted. Loved this video Mikey!

Thank you. I'm 63 and watched the original Blade Runner in a MOVIE THEATER. Saw the new one in a MOVIE THEATER. Your comments and analysis are excellent, and build on the conversations I had with my friends about the original all those years ago. Beautiful.

there's a lot of good channels where content revolves around film analysis and critique but yours is exceptional.. thank you for everything.

Great video, as usual! I love both movies. One key point you glossed over or entirely missed, however, is that the second movie has a very strong central theme about LACK of free will - everyone is programmed. This is brought sharply into focus when we (and K) see the advertisements for Joy using all the same mannerisms and catchphrases that trigger our (and K's) expectation of a genuine feeling of love/emotion. Joy is programmed. Everyone who purchases her program gets essentially the same person. K is programmed with implanted memories. We natural humans are programmed by our experiences. There is no free will, but we have no choice but to act/perform as if free will is a thing...

Love your stuff, love MwM, but I completely (and respectfully!) disagree with you on Tron: Legacy. I respect your feels on it, but I feel it's one of the, if not *the* most underrated sci-film of the last decade. Consider my POV, if you will... ****SPOILERS FOR TRON & TRON: LEGACY**** After watching Tron: Legacy the first time, I immediately went back and watched the original. And the first thing that hit me like a hammer was that the original Tron does. not. hold. up. For me, anyway. I *definitely* remembered it being more epic and, well, narratively solid than it did on my now-as-an-adult rewatch. The original has its moments, to be sure. It's ambitious. It still looks hella cool. It introduced a radically different world and a new place to tell stories in. But wow, is it an inconsistent mishmash of moments in search of a coherent story. The tone is everywhere both in the real world and on the old grid, and while its charm and visual novelty are what makes it so enduring, I feel like that's ALL it's got going for it. Ironically, I thought Tron: Legacy had *way more* to say than the original, and was a tighter, leaner, and driven story overall. The original had pretty much two main threads: overthrowing Sark in the real world, and Flynn/Tron trying to take out the MCP and save the grid/help Flynn escape. And... that's kinda it. Tron: Legacy? There's a LOT going on here, all organically intertwined, and none of it felt like nostalgia porn. First, its story is more propulsive and organic in how it builds its momentum than the original. The original really mosies along, from start to finish, and there's not nearly as much build to its climax as the sequel. (Watch the two back to back if you haven't already; you'll see what I mean.) Next, you've got the doozy of the concept that Flynn tried to achieve perfection, but saw it blow up in his face with the rise of Clu and was *trapped indefinitely* by his own folly as a result. Some heavy stuff that the first one didn't touch. You've got Sam trying to reconnect with a father who wishes he'd focused more on his son than the world he built. You've got a crystal-clear deep-dive into what Flynn was trying to accomplish--building one world to help save ours--and discovering a wholly unexpected outcome of that (the Isos/Quorra). Even the look of the film is more different than the original than you might think. It's dark and blue/orange glowy, sure, but WOW does it push it in so many other directions. Other than a few callbacks here and there, I never felt like it was a nostalgia play. This world had a more coherent geography to it, and enough peripheral details--Flynn is worshipped as a god, the existence of differing status levels within its society, etc.--to hold it together. And having Flynn die to save his son (and possibly both worlds) instead of escaping a prison of his own making? That's some emotional weighted storytelling there with stakes beyond the first film. And I haven't even gotten to the supporting cast! Olivia Wilde and Garrett Hedlund are solid--they didn't blow my socks off, but they didn't hurt the film, IMHO--but James Frain as Jarvis and Michael @#$%ing Sheen as Caster/Zeus knock it out of the park with some unexpected turns. Frain adds unexpected humor and depth with what's essentially a toadie role, and Sheen steals the whole thing with his WAY-out-of-left-field performance. He's worth the price of admission alone, and, frankly, *the* example of how the film isn't about retreading the past, but cooking up interesting extrapolations of where that past can lead. Finally, the look of the film, from the interiors and exteriors of the grid to the costume design. My GOODNESS it is next level. There are few films I'll watch sometimes just to LOOK at it without the sound out, but this is one of them. It has its faults: the CG young Jeff Bridges face (both in flashback for Flynn and for Clu in the new grid) isn't where the MCU's de-aged Marvel faces are at. The dialogue is a bit clunky in places though, really, it's not much worse than the original. And there's even less about Tron the character in this, though they try like the dickens to shoehorn in his importance. But I can live with all of that. It's my top "have it on while you're cleaning the house" movies. It's got an inspired performance by Jeff Bridges, it moves at breakneck speed, and above all, it speaks to me on a lot of levels I never thought it would.

I absolutely love the work you put into your videos, they bring a lot of stuff into perspective and just in general make me happy. Thank you.

First time I've watched any of your videos and that Review/analysis was absolutely brilliant. Thank you.

I watched this movie specifically for MwM having never watched a single Ryan Gosling pic and I thought to myself "Hey, he's pretty good. Let's watch more of him." So I watched Drive and The Nice Guys back to back and if you want to give yourself performance whiplash, go ahead and do that. But all three of those movies are great and you should watch them. Which you've already done for one of them, or why are you here? Also, I woo-ooh'ed in my head and when my wife watches this later tonight not only will she woo-ooh out loud, she will sing the next verse.

10:47 - finally seeing someone fully embracing the "noir" element of this cyberpunk noir by dressing the footage in all black and white - this makes my heart happy.

Three years and change, and damn this essay still hits like I first saw it yesterday, or something. What a beautiful video loveletter, thing. You're precious Mikey!

This is honestly the greatest video I have ever seen. This was amazing. Thank you

I have this video paused at 16:13. "Is Deckard a Replicant?" I have seen many takes on this question before. I have seen both sides of the argument, yes and no. I love your videos. They are always ridiculously thought-provoking, and, probably far more than I would like to admit, tear-inducing. I always look forward to your usually-unique takes on all things movie. But from the rest of this video's message, I'm not sure I want to hit 'play' again. The moment those words appeared on screen, my instant reaction was "it doesn't matter." I'm about to hit 'play.' I now honestly expect that the next three words I hear you speak are "It. Doesn't. Matter." Edit: Thank you. I was close. Different inflection, same meaning.

man I need to watch the goofy movie again

God damn Mikey- you got me good with that last “Interlinked” match cut...you got me good with the whole thing. Don’t ever stop creating things like this

The high quality of your vids are breathtaking! They're like mini documentaries, but more down to Earth. Great work, as always!

"Human memories, washed away, 'like tears ... in ... rain.'" I love you but I hate you.

Only this summer I saw both of the Bladerunners back to back. I rented them both and committed a Sunday to it and it was fun. Bladerunner was fun, the visuals were nice and the action was fun... that's about it, I didn't like it too much, all the scenes and stuff with the villain were, in my opinion, the best parts. It was like eating veggies, but 2049 was awesome, I loved it from start to finish, I loved the music and performances and visuals and everything.

Been waiting for this video for a while. Thanks so much man

Best youtuber of 2018. Time after time you make me understand things i love and subsequently love them ever more. Do you realize these are the most heartfelt and fascinating words I hear all DAY?!

4:20 I did not oo-woo-oo, but I _really wanted to._

He's not a special k....

Thank you for making this video. Just... thank you, it's so beautiful.

Nicely done! Your video commentary enhanced my already substantial enjoyment and appreciation of the two film masterpieces.

Mikey, Mikey, Mikey. You made a mistake I usually see from people my age. You think domestic box office is all movie studios count? Did Pacific Rim teach you nothing? It had a budget of $19O million and only made $101 Million domestically, but made $411 Million world-wide. This Pacific Rim 2 was born. Now Blade Runner 2049 did an over all $259 million, but it’s comfortable enough to have at least a possibility of another sequel. You can no longer discount overseas box office, bub.

BR 2049 - should i dare to say it?? better than the original??? i mean i luv all 20 versions of the original BR, but BR 2049 was pure sci-fi nerd porn!!! not that the original wasnt, BR 2049 was BR turned up to 11 with a bit better writing!! sure a couple writing issues here and there, but not quite as many as the original and wow, did not know there were so many miniatures, thought it was all CGI, now i luv BR 2049 even more

Brilliant, Mikey. I'm not sure how your videos always make me teary, but you have discernment and clarity and, man, your positivity is an enormous encouragement for living life, loving stuff, and we are all important, and why don't more people express all this?! You do, and you are a keen and wise and gentle deliberate soul wrapped in a genius drunken poet, and I love you for it. Interleaving footage from both films in b&w was quite clever. It highlighted the continuity of their vision (odd to say with the one movie with so many different cuts) and visually really brought your thesis together as you talked. Excellent new sort of punctuation you invented there.

Absolutely stunning work on this video Mikey. What a treat!

To bad this movie made little to nothing at the box office compared to other movies that came out that year.

Sucks that I have to write here to respond to your most recent video. I think you made some really valid points about abuse seemingly equaling love and how the movie is unrelentingly dark without much of plot. Still though you made strong points about film in general and mental health that I assume people would want to talk about. I don’t think you should attempt to shut down conversation about some very interesting ideas you proposed just because some people might not agree with you. Even though I think your most recent video was one of your best and you bring up good points about a largely uncriticized film, you’ve lost a fan because of your fear of criticism and unwillingness to hear opposing viewpoints.

This movie is a peace of art. You can even enjoy the movie without sound ...... or the music without the movie .... and still have the same goose bumps. Perfect all around, watched it more than 100 times by now.

Mikey. I have appreciated coming to see films through your specific viewpoint. I am glad you take the time to share with the Internet.

Mikey, you seem like a nice guy. I generally enjoy your videos even when I disagree (the Thanos video and your take on TLJ come to mind). You shouldn't release a knowingly controversial video and then turn off the comments. If people want to disagree, they should have a forum to do so. Otherwise disapproving comments will just bleed into other videos and mediums. Hopefully you'll turn the comments back on in spite of those who disagree with you.

Duuuuuuude, I'm a bit annoyed that I have to write this here, but why did you turn off comments on the Thanos piece? I have...a lot of opinions on what you said, like....a lot!

I was actually thinking/hoping that you would do a video on this film. Thanks! As per usual, you made me think of things that I hadn't considered... Double thanks!

Great video, it hits the nail squarely on the head and gels perfectly with my own thoughts on this criminally underrated film and its 1982 older sibling.

I find it really bizarre that you would disable comments on your Thanos video before you even upload the video. You don’t disable comments on “positive” videos, so it seems like you wanted to put this “negative” view out in the world but refused to hear any other point of view. I genuinely love your videos but this has made me lose a lot of respect for you as a creator. Also, just because the villain equates abuse with love doesn’t mean that the movie itself or Marvel agrees with this sentiment. And your “think of the children” argument doesn’t hold up. Think of the time when Loke stabbed Thor in Avengers. Did that teach the children watching that they should stab their siblings? What about all the killing that goes on in these movies. Are they teaching us that killing is okay? No. Personally, I think that the terrible events on Infinity War were an exciting breath of fresh air. I have a feeling that it will make the resolution in Avengers 4 that much more satisfying. Please reconsider your decision to disable comments in the future. That would be much more respectable.

I'VE BEEN WAITING SO LONG FOR YOU TO DO A VIDEO ON THIS

@Mikey I absolutely love your treatment of this film. Beatifully done. Subscribed for life.

Jesus you just made my favorite movie of the last decade even better. This is why I am subbed to you my dude.

Sir you've just earned a passionate subscriber! Thanks for this 20 min of unrivaled greatness! Love ya!

Just found your channel, great stuff, binging them now.

Scrolling on KZfaq I found your video about Road to perdition and then you got my curiosity. With this one ,now you have my attention.

You get the emotions from me EVERY TIME. Thank you so much for doing this movie 😁😭

Even more awesome work from you dude, this was a movie that I absolutely loved because of the stunning establishing shots, and I'm glad that I learned that it was mostly practical.

Well that was beautiful and amazing! Thanks for your hard work, man. 2049 is, I think, my favorite movie of all time. Every single scene is beautifully shot and full of meaning, it’s almost overwhelming to watch. Great work dude, subbed, looking forward to seeing more from you!!!

This is such a phenomenal video, well done.

Awesome. I'm really looking forward to your next deep dive

Your work is always inspiring to rethink a film, or even to carry my attempts at art from your commentary. Thank you.

Ahhhhh. Just binged your videos on some of my favourite films - The Fountain, Interstellar, and now this. I loved the first film, for all its flaws, and I love the book too. I was fully prepared to be disappointed by this but instead I was blown away and offered something I didn't even know I wanted. It is an incredible piece of art, I agree. Thank you

Outstanding video. Now subscribed. Can’t wait to see more!

Just got around to seeing this one vid, and DAMN! Your argument, has made me want to rewatch the sequel! For MORE than just the production, and the shorts!