Blade Runner 2049 - Part 3

[Blitzkrieg]

I remember wincing when I heard the budget for 2049. Blade Runner wasn’t a commercial success at all. And yet they threw the kind of cash at the sequel that you’d expect after a highly successful first film.

I think people started to get a little carried away with the romance of a Blade Runner sequel, without thinking more about the bottom line.

I don't mind the astronomical budget because it seems that the money was put to good use. Plus I want big movies to have huge production values. So bigger the budget, the happier I am at the prospect seeing it's results on the big screen. I love following box-office but I got no skin in this (finances of Hollywood movies) so I just want to see fat load of dough thrown on screen for good measure. I'm just stunned at how things unraveled after really promising signs early on.

But this was not a good business decision on the part of the parent studio. It is still premature to call preach doom and gloom but the early signs aren't good at all so I hope Alcon can recover.

 

[The Endless]

At the end of the day it was a huge risk giving this film a 150 million budget. Everyone knew that. Same with Mad Max Fury Road. Difference is Fury Road is a more crowd pleasing movie just by it's very nature.

Still, I'm glad both Villeneuve and Miller got to make the films they wanted to make and the studios backed their visions with big bucks whilst knowing they were risking.

Having said all that I haven't seen BR2049 yet... I might hate it lol.

 

[jmc]

I saw this. I lovely slow burn, albeit about 20-30 mins too long. Visually breathtaking!

 

[Infinity9999x]

I really enjoyed the film. Villeneuve captured the spirit and world of the original film while making it his own. My only complaint is that Leto's villain is fairly one note, and doesn't come close to the sympathetic villain/antihero that Roy was in the original.

I'm disappointed in the box office, but at the same time not all that surprised. The original BR was not a mass crowd pleaser. It's a slow scifi noir that examines questions about the nature of humanity, and this film does the same. And while they're both damn fine films, they're not the most pleasing to the general audience.

 

[Flint Marko]

Friend of mine whose taste I generally trust texted me saying this was the best movie he's ever seen, which I've never heard him say after one viewing. I'll definitely get around to watching this when I have time. Shame about the box office though.

 

[Consona]

Man, I hope they'll give the Dune huge budget even though it's a similarly niche thing.

 

[Consona]

Friend of mine whose taste I generally trust texted me saying this was the best movie he's ever seen, which I've never heard him say after one viewing. I'll definitely get around to watching this when I have time. Shame about the box office though.

I'm actually not surprised hearing it. The film is something very peculiar and if that thing is what resonates with you, you'll totally love it.

I cannot wait to see it for the second time this week.

 

[jmc]

In terms of the box office, I kinda don't know what the studio thought was going to happen. The original didn't exactly set the world on fire. As good as this film is was anybody really asking for it?

 

[Flint Marko]

I'm actually not surprised hearing it. The film is something very peculiar and if that thing is what resonates with you, you'll totally love it.

I cannot wait to see it for the second time this week.

I've never seen the original but the trailers really piqued my interest and I've loved the past two Villeneuve films I've seen. I think it's a safe bet that I'm going to really enjoy it.

That said, maybe spending $150 million on a sequel to Blade Runner was never a great idea from a financial perspective.

 

[Consona]

That said, maybe spending $150 million on a sequel to Blade Runner was never a great idea from a financial perspective.

It probably was not, but to me it's the same thing as with BvS, I'm so glad they pumped so much money into the film I really enjoyed.

 

[Flint Marko]

It probably was not, but to me it's the same thing as with BvS, I'm so glad they pumped so much money into the film I really enjoyed.

I hear ya There's something to be said about handing over an insane amount of money to an auteur film-maker and letting the chips fall where they may.

 

[DeadPresident]

I suspect they thought that the fact that retro 80s/90s properties are now suddenly making a comeback coupled with the cult following would be sufficient to pull it through. And since it’s a continuation of a classic it’ll probably rack up DVD/streaming revenue over a prolonged period as newer generations get exposed to the first and now the sequel.

 

[I Am The Knight]

Ehhh I don't know about that, man. [BLACKOUT]I think I heard that they used a model to play her but Young was in the credits because they used her likeliness. [/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]Yes, in the credits they list both Young and also someone else as Rachael.[/BLACKOUT]

 

[terry78]

Yeah, they used a model for the body and what not and used Young's features via CG enhancement apparently.

 

[guitarsingerguy]

I'm stoked that the movie is getting the critical and fan response we had all hoped for, but just like I was afraid of, the money just isn't there.

 

[terry78]

Well, there are no Marvel characters in it for one. There's your problem right there.

 

[DeadPresident]

It shouldn’t be surprising or disheartening, it’s a carbon copy of what happened with the first except at least now fans of the first are going to see 2049. If anything audiences are even less receptive to this kind of thing now than they may have been in the 80s.

 

[guitarsingerguy]

Well, there are no Marvel characters in it for one. There's your problem right there.

You do realize you just cracked the code for any struggling or failing movie right? Someone needs to cut you a check immediately.

 

[guitarsingerguy]

It shouldn’t be surprising or disheartening, it’s a carbon copy of what happened with the first except at least now fans of the first are going to see 2049. If anything audiences are even less receptive to this kind of thing now than they may have been in the 80s.

No, it's exactly what I was expecting, but I was hoping the positive WOM would help it have some legs.

 

[Link]

It's selling like crazy here so I imagine the international numbers are going to be good overall. It's not a blockbuster film so the budget was always going to be risky. So glad it got made.

 

[guitarsingerguy]

It's selling like crazy here so I imagine the international numbers are going to be good overall. It's not a blockbuster film so the budget was always going to be risky. So glad it got made.

You know, I'm not sure what I'm concerned about. It's not like I was hoping for a bunch of sequels and spin offs and some whole goddamn universe built off of the films. I got exactly what I wanted which was an excellent sequel to a fantastic film with PLENTY to talk about, discuss, and dissect, so in a way...it's perfect.

 

[DeadPresident]

No, it's exactly what I was expecting, but I was hoping the positive WOM would help it have some legs.

Yeah, I’m a little disappointed that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Unfortunately for blockbusters these days emphasis on visual spectacle, expository narrative and quickly paced run time are basically necessities in some combination of the three.

 

[Link]

You know, I'm not sure what I'm concerned about. It's not like I was hoping for a bunch of sequels and spin offs and some whole goddamn universe built off of the films. I got exactly what I wanted which was an excellent sequel to a fantastic film with PLENTY to talk about, discuss, and dissect, so in a way...it's perfect.

I agree. What concerns me is that Denis might not get a budget like this again if it doesn't break even. If he was to get a large budget for Dune, I can't even imagine the visuals. Another concern is that this underperforming might send a message to the studios that there's no point to spend in auteur cinema, when you can get a quick buck for something half baked.

 

[Consona]

I agree. What concerns me is that Denis might not get a budget like this again if it doesn't break even. If he was to get a large budget for Dune, I can't even imagine the visuals. Another concern is that this underperforming might send a message to the studios that there's no point to spend in auteur cinema, when you can get a quick buck for something half baked.

Yea, that's my main concern. I want more big budget films like this.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

I agree. What concerns me is that Denis might not get a budget like this again if it doesn't break even. If he was to get a large budget for Dune, I can't even imagine the visuals. Another concern is that this underperforming might send a message to the studios that there's no point to spend in auteur cinema, when you can get a quick buck for something half baked.

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