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[brianmcdoogle]

I expected it to be slow and it is still even slower than I thought, because the plot is much thinner than I expected, so the film is full of long pauses to stretch the running time an extra hour. It's like the guy was given carte blanche. There is no valid reason for this movie to be over 100 minutes long. Not enough happens in it, and I'm not talking about blockbuster action, I'm talking about plot.

Out of curiosity, do you have this complaint about the original Blade Runner, because I've always felt the plot in that movie to be thin, contradictory (depending on what version you watch) and lacking when compared to the atmosphere, tone, and visuals. 2049 has a lot more "plot" to it compared to the original for me.

What time did you see the movie?

Around 12-1pm. I've seen movies earlier and later in work days (and today is a quasi-holiday). Maybe my showing was a really strange anomaly.

 

[BocoDragon]

I expected it to be slow and it was still even slower than I thought, because the plot is much thinner than I expected, so the film is full of long pauses to stretch the running time an extra hour. It's like the guy was given carte blanche. There is no valid reason for this movie to be over 100 minutes long. Not enough happens in it, and I'm not talking about blockbuster action, I'm talking about plot.

There are definitely many long ponderous shots and there is certainly another possible tighter edit of this movie that would have delivered emotionally in the same way.

I personally loved the slow realism in a sci-fi Hollywood movie for once, and for me I wasn't "being patient"... it washed over me and I was at rapt attention the whole time. But I suppose that's not true for everyone.

Would a tighter edit have saved the movie? Not likely. This movie didn't die by poor word of mouth (far from it... WOM was glowing). But it might have prevented a certain chunk of the viewers from bouncing off of it.

 

[Dash_Riprock]

He's an awful actor.

Never stopped Jason Statham.

Or Schwarzenegger, if we're being honest...

 

[Elfotografoalocado]

Here in Spain there is plenty of ads, (I walk past a huge wallpaper everyday for the past two weeks) everyone I've talked to lately has talked about the film and wants to see it, when I saw it on Sunday evening the cinema was pretty full and I plan to see it again.
Here I perceive a bunch of hype, TBH. I'll do my part too. This film HAS to suceed or we'll be so fucked going forward as far as AAA Hollywood goes.

 

[Jon Carter]

Out of curiosity, do you have this complaint about the original Blade Runner, because I've always felt the plot in that movie to be thin, contradictory (depending on what version you watch) and lacking when compared to the atmosphere, tone, and visuals. 2049 has a lot more "plot" to it compared to the original for me.



Around 12-1pm. I've seen movies earlier and later in work days (and today is a quasi-holiday). Maybe my showing was a really strange anomaly.

I haven't seen the original. I only saw this one because of my job. I was somewhat interested in seeing it anyway, though I don't think I would have paid to see it. Someone on GAF said having seen the first one wasn't necessary to enjoy this one, that it was good as its own movie rather than just as a late sequel, so I didn't think it mattered much. Especially since, frankly, at that budget, I think they were expecting most people to not have seen the original. I don't know if it would have made much of a difference in my enjoyment of it.

 

[robotrock]

Never stopped Jason Statham.

Or Schwarzenegger, if we're being honest...

You sound like someone who's never seen Kindergarten Cop.

 

[DeathyBoy]

Never stopped Jason Statham.

Or Schwarzenegger, if we're being honest...

They both have charm, comic timing and a few genuinely decent performances. Butler had none.

 

[robotrock]

Gerard Butler, Russell Crowe, Sean Bean. They're all the same person in my mind.

 

[DeathyBoy]

Gerard Butler, Russell Crowe, Sean Bean. They're all the same person in my mind.

I can't even.

Bean and Crowe are genuinely good actors.

 

[Dash_Riprock]

Gerard Butler, Russell Crowe, Sean Bean. They're all the same person in my mind.

 

[Majine]

When the movie was done, a group of guys in the half-filled theater sarcastically yelled "One more time!".

I'm guessing they were expecting Star Wars.

 

[Tevious]

It'll probably do bad internationally too since theaters are probably refusing to even show it. My local theater (in Seoul) only had one single showing of this movie so far. The theater was more full than usual, at least, but not packed.

 

[A-V-B]

When the movie was done, a group of guys in the half-filled theater sarcastically yelled "One more time!".

I'm guessing they were expecting Star Wars.

Guess that's what you get when you take a slow science-fiction epic and give it trailers with Inception music and blackout seizure editing.

 

[BocoDragon]

Guess that's what you get when you take a slow science-fiction epic and give it trailers with Inception music and blackout seizure editing.

I woulda thought Inception was a slow science-fiction epic at one point....?

Maybe this is on a whole different level of ponderousness and I didn't even notice because... you know... it was so fucking good.

 

[-Plasma Reus-]

Box office for foreign was higher than American.
Let's hope for China.

 

[Jon Carter]

I woulda thought Inception was a slow science-fiction epic at one point....?

Maybe this is on a whole different level of ponderousness and I didn't even notice because... you know... it was so fucking good.

For what it's worth, I really loved Inception and I'm not even a Nolan fan. The plot was incredible. Suspense and relatable emotional stakes from start to finish. It's a really well-written film. Blade Runner 2049 is completely different.

 

[davepoobond]

He's an awful actor.

Gerard Butler is fucking amazing, how dare you

 

[Sizzel]

I don’t watch television and basically get everything via internet...so I haven’t seen any commercials. I don’t see many people talking about it though. I loved the original, will see this 100%, but has there really been much marketing for it? I wouldn’t be shocked if you told me it wasn’t actually out yet. I guess I am saying, if it does poorly, it is a messaging issue IMO. ..or it could be the “critically acclaimed , but normal folk hate it” deal. IDK. Niche movie with AAA budget does niche numbers. Still a lot of race left to run for this flick financially..too soon to judge imo.

 

[BocoDragon]

For what it's worth, I really loved Inception and I'm not even a Nolan fan. The plot was incredible. Suspense and relatable emotional stakes from start to finish. It's a really well-written film. Blade Runner 2049 is completely different.

...it's better?

I know you're not implying that. For me, 2049 is 10x the film that Inception was (and I really like Inception), but we don't have to debate that.

 

[Majine]

I don’t watch television and basically get everything via internet...so I haven’t seen any commercials. I don’t see many people talking about it though. I loved the original, will see this 100%, but has there really been much marketing for it? I wouldn’t be shocked if you told me it wasn’t actually out yet. I guess I am saying, if it does poorly, it is a messaging issue IMO. ..or it could be the “critically acclaimed , but normal folk hate it” deal. IDK. Niche movie with AAA budget does niche numbers. Still a lot of race left to run for this flick financially..too soon to judge imo.

As I understand it, the original did poorly as well but built up a following over time. I think it's going to be the same thing for this movie.

If that's going to help or hurt Denis, I have no idea.

 

[Jon Carter]

...it's better?

I know you're not implying that. For me, 2049 is 10x the film that Inception was (and I really like Inception), but we don't have to debate that.

At least you can see the pace in Inception is much tighter, no? Regardless of which one is the better movie. I'm personally not surprised people were hooked by the plot in Inception where 2049 lost them (and me).

 

[HariKari]

If that's going to help or hurt Denis, I have no idea.

He delivered the impossible. It has already helped his case.

 

[robotrock]

At least you can see the pace in Inception is much tighter, no? Regardless of which one is the better movie. I'm personally not surprised people were hooked by the plot in Inception where 2049 lost them (and me).

Inception's pacing is way messier than 2049's. 2049 feels consistent the whole run time.

 

[ZombAid82]

For what it's worth, I really loved Inception and I'm not even a Nolan fan. The plot was incredible. Suspense and relatable emotional stakes from start to finish. It's a really well-written film. Blade Runner 2049 is completely different.

Pulling a Nolan in a Villenueve thread?
This guy doesn't even breath the same Air...
Well, different strokes, for different folks, I guess...

 

[brianmcdoogle]

At least you can see the pace in Inception is much tighter, no? Regardless of which one is the better movie. I'm personally not surprised people were hooked by the plot in Inception where 2049 lost them (and me).

My major complaint against Inception is that there is a character, played by Ellen Page, who exists to have exposition and obvious plot details dumped on because Nolan as a filmmaker does not trust his audience enough to go with his ideas. He constantly undercuts his own films by thinking he is so much smarter than his audience. See Interstellar for more proof of this. And, what's frustrating is that in his editing of Inception its made clear what is happening, but he doesn't trust his audience. He's a junior level professor thinking he's teaching at a doctorate level.

 

[BocoDragon]

At least you can see the pace in Inception is much tighter, no? Regardless of which one is the better movie. I'm personally not surprised people were hooked by the plot in Inception where 2049 lost them (and me).

Sure I do. There's something more traditionally Hollywood about Nolan's movies. Which is funny because I used to think of him as a kind of auteur outside of traditional Hollywood sensibilities who is somehow in the system. But by way of contrast compared to Villeneuve, Nolan's movies do strike more traditional story beats.

 

[robotrock]

Pulling a Nolan in a Villenueve thread?
This guy doesn't even breath the same Air...
Well, different strokes, for different folks, I guess...

I just watched Prisoners for the first time and I think they breathe the same air. Prisoners ain't great. Checking out Sicaro next.

I do enjoy Arrival and BR2049 more than most of Nolan's output though. BR2049 maybe above all of his output, god that's a good movie

 

[ZombAid82]

My major complaint against Inception is that there is a character, played by Ellen Page, who exists to have exposition and obvious plot details dumped on because Nolan as a filmmaker does not trust his audience enough to go with his ideas. He constantly undercuts his own films by thinking he is so much smarter than his audience. See Interstellar for more proof of this. And, what's frustrating is that in his editing of Inception its made clear what is happening, but he doesn't trust his audience. He's a junior level professor thinking he's teaching at a doctorate level.

Wow, that's a pretty good summary about Nolan.

 

[ZombAid82]

I just watched Prisoners for the first time and I think they breathe the same air. Prisoners ain't great. Checking out Sicaro next.

I do enjoy Arrival and BR2049 more than most of Nolan's output though. BR2049 maybe above all of his output, god that's a good movie

I can really recommend Incendies, Villeneuve's best work IMO.

 

[carlsojo]

Inception's pacing is way messier than 2049's. 2049 feels consistent the whole run time.

Consistent like a glacier, sure.

 

[ShirAhava]

Most people don't like or even 'get' Blade Runner.

 

[robotrock]

I can really recommend Incendies, Villeneuve's best work IMO.

Awesome, was wondering how that one was. Will definitely check it out.

Sounds like it's up my alley.

 

[brianmcdoogle]

Wow, that's a pretty good summary about Nolan.

The frustrating thing about Nolan is that he has the talent, and I think you can see it in Memento, The Prestige, and Dunkirk. But, he undercuts himself (Hey, let's have a ticking clock movie like Dunkirk have a score that features... a literal ticking clock!). And it bothers me endlessly that he gets compared to Kubrick who trusted his audience. "They'll figure out the obelisk, the ending, of 2001. They'll get the wry humor of Barry Lyndon, or the madness of The Shining" or whatever. Kubrick made his movies and trusted his audiences to get it. Even Spielberg will lead his audience to water, but not shove it down their throat. Nolan will install a funnel and force it down like foie gras.

 

[Einchy]

Sometimes I actually wonder. Do you think the thing that makes his cinematography so amazing to many people is the same thing that holds him back from recognition from the Academy? When every shot looks like something you can frame as a painting, it becomes a thing onto itself. By calling to attention how great it looks at all times, some could see this as an artificial and distracting contribution to a film.

There's an interview where he specifically talks about just that and how he avoids doing it. He says that flashy cinematography takes away from the story so he tries to make his be completely seamless. He sucks at going unnoticed, though, which I think is a good thing. I'd hate to hate a Deakins movie and not think every frame is beautiful.

 

[HariKari]

Consistent like a glacier, sure.

I can't help but imagine people that constantly need keys jangled in their face every five minutes to pay attention when seeing these comments. Is the world as presented to you by Deakins really that boring? Nothing about it causes any kind of wonderment or raises any questions in your mind? Does everything need to be explicitly stated?

 

[Zampano]

Can someone who’s up on the film business help me understand something? Do directors get part of the blame for box office performance? Here we have a film almost universally loved by critics, only dumb dumb audiences not liking it, yet it’s a bomb. Will Denis be considered a factor or will it be put down to marketing/the business end/poor research around what audiences want these days?

 

[Aztechnology]

I saw BR at a 7pm showing on Thursday and it was packed lol.

I'm glad anecdotal evidence is piling up. BR will be in the money in no time!

 

[Always-honest]

Gerard Butler, Russell Crowe, Sean Bean. They're all the same person in my mind.

Yeah, that's just you though.

 

[robotrock]

Can someone who’s up on the film business help me understand something? Do directors get part of the blame for box office performance? Here we have a film almost universally loved by critics, only dumb dumb audiences not likening it, yet it’s a bomb. Will Denis be considered a factor or will it be put down to marketing/the business end/poor research around what audiences want these days?

Edgar Wright made Scott Pilgrim and that bombed incredibly hard, but was well received critically. Next, he was lined up to direct Ant-Man but he ditched in the first week of shooting. Somehow, only a year or two later, he got a deal to direct his own original movie with Baby Driver.

Basically, if Edgar Wright stayed hireable, my bro Denis will too.
edit: just realized I forgot the worlds end. Weird

Yeah, that's just you though.

It’s like I suggested that in the post, or something.

 

[HariKari]

Can someone who’s up on the film business help me understand something? Do directors get part of the blame for box office performance? Here we have a film almost universally loved by critics, only dumb dumb audiences not likening it, yet it’s a bomb. Will Denis be considered a factor or will it be put down to marketing/the business end/poor research around what audiences want these days?

It's only a sign that his name alone isn't enough to carry a movie yet. But his output in terms of speed and quality is pretty remarkable. I think most studios (at least those willing to relinquish control) would love to work with him.

 

[bender]

Saw it on a whim tonight (thanks, MoviePass). It was an 8:30 showing and the theater had five people total (me and two couples). I've tried and failed to watch the original three of four times but it has never grabbed me. For what it is worth, I enjoyed the movie. It moves a little slow but the cinematography kept me engaged.

 

[Mr. Tibbs]

Yay, 2049 opened to £6m in the U.K., double what was expected given the U.S. numbers.

Sony’s sci-fi sequel landed with a decent $8m (£6.1m) from its 630 sites, including $1.18m (£900,000) from Thursday (October 5), marking a healthy site average of $12,696 (£9,683).

Going by the industry-accepted rule of a UK opening being 10% of a US bow in pounds, Blade Runner 2049’s bow was some way ahead of the £3.15m debut that would be expected from the estimated US bow of $31.5m

 

[wwm0nkey]

So far it is sitting at 81mil world wide

 

[Truant]

Seeing it tonight, can't wait!

 

[Fallout-NL]

I mentioned in the official thread, but I saw the movie today and I was the only person in a 400+ IMAX theater. Granted, I see movies at showtimes most don't go to, but it felt strange being in that giant theater all by myself. I've seen many movies where I'm the only one in the theater, but this was the biggest theater I've been in where I'm all alone.

Man, I'm jealous. That must've been great.

 

[LegendofDragoonLives]

I find it amusing how the slow pace has turned into some pretentious level of great directing on gaf. The pace was a little bit slow for 80% of the movie and then went into an awkward hyper-drive the last 20% where everything happened making the movie have a really weird balance. Here's 30 minutes of K finding something out for most of the movie, here is K turning into Batman and knowing location of characters without all investigation being done offscreen at the end because we need to wrap this up.

So far it is sitting at 81mil world wide

Thank God it isn't bombing. Might even hit 200m+ at this rate

 

[ec0ec0]

!!!

i promise that i was (am) going to watch it. It's just that i needed a couple of family members to watch the original blade runner first. I'll fix this ;_;

 

[Shake Appeal]

Blade Runner 2049 is better than Inception, but how is this even a comparison people are making? Inception is just a clockwork wind-up toy with arbitrary rules Nolan made up to please himself. It's onanism. Kinda entertaining while it's happening, but also pretty dumb. They're not even in the same wheelhouse or genre unless "weird stuff happen while Hans Zimmer bass notes blare" is a genre.

 

[RS4-]

Man some people expect 2049 to have a COD MP type of pacing. Something happening every 5 seconds, even if it means getting shot in the back 90% of the time.

 

[Triggerhappytel]

So far it is sitting at 81mil world wide

So, about a fifth of the way towards profitability?!

I might take some leave tomorrow afternoon and go and see this. I need to clear it with my manager first.