Blade Runner 2049 - Part 3

[Blitzkrieg]

It seems like Warner Bros. made it the best out of this co-production deal.

Yup. They'll get (10-20)% of the theatrical revenue from the domestic markets plus the distribution fee. Plus against a 'Minimum Guarantee', they'll get pretty much most if not all of the physical rental sales, i-Tunes, VOD, streaming money and more from North America. Not a bad deal for Warner Bros.

 

[Mandon Knight]

Watched this today. Absolutely hated it. Maybe its because I haven't seen the first movie but I nearly fell asleep. A total snore fest.

I imagine a lot will hinge on whether people have a) seen the original and b) liked it, they are not sci-fi 'actioners', they are effectively Phillip Marlowe 'gum-ball' detective noir set in a science fiction universe, naturally slow burns with much to contemplate and dwell on. They are not supposed to be fast paced blockbusters.

 

[FunkMiller]

Not sure if people have already talked about their favourite scenes yet, dont want to spoil too much as its still opening weekend but I loved the start of this with K and Bautista's character really flipped things around and set the film off on a different path to what I was expecting straight away.

I was frankly quite stunned how they managed to keep that spoiler under wraps as well as they did.

 

[Mjölnir]

Which independently financed movie has a bigger budget than this DS? I mean we're talking north of $120m here to start off.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. Closer to 180 million.

 

[Fallen Angel]

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. Closer to 180 million.

Yeah that one is bigger but that is being produced and financed by Luc Besson's EuropaCorp. BR2049 isn't a studio movie. WB and SONY are just in distribution deals on this.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

I was frankly quite stunned how they managed to keep that spoiler under wraps as well as they did.

Warner Bros kept a tight lid on all things as Alcon and Villeneuve didn't want to give the audience the slightest clue as to what was going to happen in the movie. The secrecy behind this project was deliberate and the embargo was fiercely handled by WB. The draconian nature of the screenings actually put off the critics.

 

[DeadPresident]

On that particular score **** the critics, they're on a massive power trip because they know if they feel like being malicious they can cut any movie off at the knees because of how much circulation their drivel gets.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

On that particular score **** the critics, they're on a massive power trip because they know if they feel like being malicious they can cut any movie off at the knees because of how much circulation their drivel gets.

....what?

 

[Fallen Angel]

Wha? It's got very good critical reviews mate.

 

[DeadPresident]

Warner Bros kept a tight lid on all things as Alcon and Villeneuve didn't want to give the audience the slightest clue as to what was going to happen in the movie. The secrecy behind this project was deliberate and the embargo was fiercely handled by WB. The draconian nature of the screenings actually put off the critics.

....what?

The request given to critics to not spoil specific details seems like a reasonable one, but some seemed to cry foul and insinuate it's some kind of censorship or overreach from the studio, which I don't agree with.

An artist trying to preserve their art or have it be experienced in a particular way seems like a reasonable request, I don't understand the overreaction of some critics.

As per my other point, I think many critics feel like they've got license to do or say whatever they want because internet outlets that publish their reviews or opinions have a massive amount of sway over the word of mouth or reception of releases.

 

[DeadPresident]

Wha? It's got very good critical reviews mate.

I'm not talking specifically about Blade Runner, I mean in general it seems like critics are rather full of themselves and the amount of influence they can have over the trajectory of a release, so I'm really just talking about some people's reactions to being asked not to spoil certain things.

I know its reviews have been positive, I mean their response to the studio's request seems unwarranted in some cases.

 

[BlackFox]

I was frankly quite stunned how they managed to keep that spoiler under wraps as well as they did.

Yeah it was a nice change from the original that sets it apart while still very obviously set in the same universe, allowed the film to explore some different themes and ideas from the first film too.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

On that particular score **** the critics, they're on a massive power trip because they know if they feel like being malicious they can cut any movie off at the knees because of how much circulation their drivel gets.

I mean I wouldn't be so harsh on them because a lot of them are actually giving these movie lots of free press and coverage on their website/blog/podcast. They expect to be kept in the loop of these movies and get special treatments from the studio like exclusive interviews, early screening invitations etc. But as you said, there is a sense of entitlement from these journalists and bloggers that comes from a place of massive ego. Glad to see Warner Bros. putting their foot down and respect the choice of the filmmaker and not succumb to pressure from the blogosphere.

 

[FunkMiller]

One thing I will say that I loved about 2049, is that it essentially

Spoiler

has the same ending for Deckard as the original.

He is about to die, only to be saved at the last minute by a replicant who exhibits more humanity than the actual humans around him, who then goes on to die a sad and lonely death. Tears in rain, and in snow.

The film is too long, but I found this parallel between the two films absolutely delicious.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Which independently financed movie has a bigger budget than this DS? I mean we're talking north of $120m here to start off.

Just adjust every SW prequel, or Empire and RotJ. All cost a lot more. Valerian did as well.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

I'm really just talking about some people's reactions to being asked not to spoil certain things.

I know its reviews have been positive, I mean their response to the studio's request seems unwarranted in some cases.

Yup, this.

 

[DeadPresident]

I mean I wouldn't be so harsh on them because a lot of them are actually giving these movie lots of free press and coverage on their website/blog/podcast. They expect to be kept in the loop of these movies and get special treatments from the studio like exclusive interviews, early screening invitations etc. But as you said, there is a sense of entitlement from these journalists and bloggers that comes from a place of massive ego. Glad to see Warner Bros. putting their foot down and respect the choice of the filmmaker and not succumb to pressure from the blogosphere.

Sure that's true, and I'm not aiming any criticism at the reasonable ones, but the people who "bristled" at WB's request need to get their heads out of their asses.

Regarding the bolded, that's the main thing I'm referring to. Critics and reviewers are only too aware of the power that most movie news/review platforms like IMDB, Metacritic and RT currently have, and I'm sure they feel like they can hold their input as a sword over a movie's head by extension.

At the end of the day we get to see good movies because artists feel it's worthwhile to produce good art, that becomes less likely if artists feel like their reasonable wishes will be ignored because a few people are inconsiderate, and then soon after their special treatment would likely go out the window too.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I'm not talking specifically about Blade Runner, I mean in general it seems like critics are rather full of themselves and the amount of influence they can have over the trajectory of a release, so I'm really just talking about some people's reactions to being asked not to spoil certain things.

I know its reviews have been positive, I mean their response to the studio's request seems unwarranted in some cases.

Still confused.

 

[DeadPresident]

I'm not sure how I can be more plain?

Reviewers seem too in love with their own ability to influence perception surrounding a movie and appear to have some sense of entitlement they brought to bear when the studio asked them not to spoil things? I'm criticizing reviewers who appear to be on a bit of a power trip regarding what seems like a fair request by the studio not to spoil details that could heavily affect someone's enjoyment of the movie.

 

[DyeLorean]

A couple of people walked out from my screening.

 

[Mjölnir]

Yeah that one is bigger but that is being produced and financed by Luc Besson's EuropaCorp. BR2049 isn't a studio movie. WB and SONY are just in distribution deals on this.

I saw reports saying that Blade Runner was going to be produced for Alcon Entertainment before production started. Did I miss anything?

Both Alcon and EuropaCorp are independent studios as well so their produced films become independent films.

 

[Consona]

It's all music.

In this post-modern world, you can call any sound "music". But there's a difference between something really musical and vast planes of just sound design. There was literally nothing "musical" like this in BR2049:

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You can hum the melody, it can stuck in your head, you can whistle it a week, a month, a year after you listened to it. There's no such thing in the whole BR2049 soundtrack, except where they took the Vangelis' melody and put it into the score.

 

[kguillou]

I know what you mean, Consona. I really got into Zimmer's work but I think a proper tribute to Vangelis', jazzy, melodic, synthy music would've enhanced the film even more, especially during the quiet tender moments. And it really would've given it the "film noir" feel.

Its funny, I could literally feel the people in my theater waking up during the parts where the music was blaring during those landscape shots.

 

[Fallen Angel]

Just adjust every SW prequel, or Empire and RotJ. All cost a lot more. Valerian did as well.

Hmm possibly. But wasn't Fox involved with the original trilogy financing? Not into SW history dude.

I saw reports saying that Blade Runner was going to be produced for Alcon Entertainment before production started. Did I miss anything?

Both Alcon and EuropaCorp are independent studios as well so their produced films become independent films.

Alcon are the rights holders and they were the ones who brought Denis in because they also worked with him on Prisoners. Only reason WB are involved is because they have a distribution deal with Alcon in North America. Sony became involved later as WB didn't want to put all of the money up for this seeing as its' not one of their 'in house" movies so to speak.

 

[Consona]

Its funny, I could literally feel the people in my theater waking up during the parts where the music was blaring during those landscape shots.

Yea, those Zebra blasts were something spectacular. t:

I loved the soundscapes of the score but those noir-ish melodies were just missing.