The significance of the original Blade Runner is hard to overstate, considered by many to be one of the pinnacles of the genre it almost singlehandedly invented cyberpunk and set the standard for intelligent sci-fi in cinema.  

It is with understandable trepidation that the news of the sequel was announced, under the direction of Denis Villeneuve, best known for Arrival and Prisoners. As much as I loved his earlier work, I came to this viewing with my arms crossed and ready to be disappointed.

I wasn’t.

For those unfamiliar with the original, the central premise is that in a not too distant future, humanoid machines known as ‘replicants’ are used as a slave class. When a machine goes rogue, specialised police known as ‘Blade Runners’ track them down. These machines may not even be aware that they aren’t human, the ethical quandaries this creates building the backbone of the film.  

Set 30 years after the original, the film follows K(Ryan Gosling) a new generation of blade runner hunting down a new model of replicants. The marketing team has done a great job of not allowing to much of the film to be spoiled in trailers, suffice to say that the story quickly takes a direction I had not expected.

Blade Runner 2049 takes the thematic core of the original film, what is it to be human? And then expands to even more fundamental question- what is it to be ‘real’? 

The visuals of the film are as beautiful as they are impactful. Every frame of every shot is immaculate, those familiar with Arrival, will know something of Villeneuve’s style and it is  perfectly suited to the neon-drenched rainscape of Blade Runner.  

While CG is used to great effect throughout the film, the director takes pains to keep the movie grounded with practical effects, which was instrumental in the originals success. What signifies cyber punk has always been the drudgery of life juxtaposed with the gleam of hi-technology.

Every shot is packed with details which make the world of Blade Runner tangible, from what people eat to how they huddle in the rain, a thousand small touches ground this epic, almost 3 hour adventure.      

Sound design is particularly fantastic, from the heavy scrape of K’s gun being dragged across a desk to the deep thud of bullets smashing into concrete, the sounding of the film supports it’s impressive visual scope

There have been few films in the past ten years that I have felt demanded to be seen in IMAX, but this is surely one of them. The scale of some shot’s is enormous, and IMAX gives them a punch which left me trembling.

Ryan Gosling’s flat delivery is perfect for the role of K, and when he does eventually meet up with hero of the original film, Deckard (Harrison Ford), their chemistry is compelling.

Jared Leto as Wallace, the sinister successor the original films Tyrell, brings his own form of brooding intensity to a role that was originally written for David Bowie. While some might find his poetic murmurings a little too on the nose, overall he provides enough of a menacing backdrop to propel the plot.

Leto and Ford are both used sparingly throughout the film, both in it long enough to lend weight without overstaying their welcome.

Dave Bautista further proves his acting chops with a small but powerful role in the fims opening, setting the stage for the unfolding plot with an interesting mix of quiet grief and savage violence.  

The stand out of the cast is (Sylvia Hoeks), who gives a sleek lethality to her role as ‘Luv’, Wallace’s henchwoman. While she carries off her character’s violence and ruthlessness brilliantly, it’s her bitter touches of humanity which make the character stand out.

My single critique of the film would come in the form of its treatment of female characters. While each stands on her own as a strong character, to my mind too much of the film revolved around their interactions with the male protagonists.  While all the individual plots were justified narratively, I feel more effort could have been spent in fleshing out the female casts stories away from the central narrative of K and Wallace.

Blade Runner 2049 is overall a staggering achievement from a master film maker, which holds up both the closer you zoom in and the further you step back. It is a sequel that many people prayed would never be made, but thank god that the right person did.

The post Blade Runner 2049 (Sony Pictures – 2017) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

NOW CLOSED – The year is 2049.

Bioengineered humans called “Replicants” have been integrated into society. One of them, K, works as a Blade Runner for the LAPD, hunting down and “retiring” rogue older model Replicants.

K’s investigation into an elusive Replicant freedom movement leads him to events that were previously thought to be impossible… and changes his future, the future for all.

From the brilliant mind of Ridley Scott and the visionary Director of Arrival comes the long awaited follow up to the ground-breaking 1982 film.

Blade Runner 2049 is a stunningly gorgeous, futuristic action event film. A profound and dangerous discovery threatens to forever blur the line separating humans from non-humans. Discover the secret this October (2017).

Thanks to our mates at Sony Pictures New Zealand, STG has FIVE Double Passes to Giveaway to the ultimate Blade Runner fans.

To Enter our Blade Runner 2049 Giveaway you need to Correctly Answer the below Question:

The legendary and iconic actor Harrison Ford reprises his role from the 1982 Blade Runner to 2017’s Blade Runner 2049. What is the name of the character he portrays?

A: Rick Deckard

B: Han Solo

C: Indiana Jones

You can give us your Answer by placing a Comment below, hitting us up on Facebook, Tweet to us, or Email Us.

* Winner(s) will be randomly selected from those that Comment below / Facebook Comment / Email in accordance to the above Question. Winner(s) will receive a Double Pass ticket to Blade Runner 2049 Competition ends on the 12th of October 2017. Tickets are not transferable and users of the Double Passes need to adhere to the Conditions on the ticket. Blade Runner 2049 is rated R13 in New Zealand. This Competition / Giveaway is only open to New Zealand based entrants. © Columbia Tristar Marketing Group Inc. Alcon Entertainment LLC. and Warner Bros. Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

The post Enter to Win a Double Pass to Blade Runner 2049! appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Veteran video games publisher and developer Atari (who are the also the Godfathers of modern gaming) are on the road to make a comeback, literally in style.

Having recently announced the Atari Box, their next home console with a sketchy release date, Atari have notified us here at STG of their next product which, well, we are just not too sure what to make of it…

The Atari Speakerhat is a baseball-style cap with high-fidelity stereo speakers and microphone that can connect instantly to any Bluetooth-enabled device.

Fashionistas can connect to any smartphone, tablet, personal computer to play any music or other media content, initiate or accept phone calls, receive voice commands, etc.

Atari have stated that their Speakerhat feels natural and normal to wear for long periods of time, and achieves a balance of weight vs. sound quality and functionality. The intent is to continuously improve on design and engineering, until the technology is completely invisible.

Designed to be ultra-thin and lightweight. The technology inside consists of proprietary high-fidelity stereo speakers and microphone, V 4.1 CSR/Qualcomm cVc audio technology, 5-band EQ, Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP), Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP v1.4) and Headset Profile (HSP v1.2), rechargeable lithium Ion battery, universal control button, and LED indicator light.

Powered by Audiowear, the patented Speakerhat technology is a new listening experience, combined with Social Synchronous Broadcast technology, will allow multiple Speakerhat users to simultaneously listen to a single audio stream in perfect synchronization.

There is no official release date yet, other than Atari are aiming to launch coinciding with the film Blade Runner 2049.

The real question is, would you wear one?

The post What is a Speakerhat? appeared first on Shane the Gamer.