When watching previews for “Blade Runner 2049,” I really didn’t know what to expect. The sequel to 1982’s cult classic “Blade Runner” starring Harrison Ford, “2049” initially displayed a world filled with intrigue and jaw-dropping visuals. I was also worried that plot and context would fall to the wayside, as trailers for the movie proved to be dominated by action sequences.

My worries were put to rest fairly quickly.

Before dropping viewers right into the events of the film, scrawls of text appear on screen to give important context into the movie’s setting. We are reminded that the world of “Blade Runner” portrays a society devoid of nature as we know it, and that artificial human beings with enhanced strength (known as “replicants”) were previously produced by the nefarious Tyrell Corporation as a source of slave labor for human businesses. After a series of revolts, the replicants were then hunted down by a special type of police officer known as a “blade runner,” and the Tyrell Corporation later plummeted into bankruptcy. “2049” also places us in a dystopian version of California which is seemingly composed of only run-down slums or barren wastelands (one character claims that she has never seen a tree in her life.) “2049,” set 30 years after the original, differs from its predecessor in that there are now two different kinds of replicants in existence: the older, rebellious replicants from the original movie and the novel, more submissive models produced by the newfound Wallace Corporation.

“2049” introduces us to Officer K (Ryan Gosling), a Los Angeles Police Department blade runner set to “retire” (note the euphemism,) Sapper Morton (Dave Bautista), an older replicant working on a Wallace-designed artificial protein farm. On the job, K unearths a long-hidden secret that has the potential to shatter the few remnants of traditional society that are left. Fearing total chaos, K’s LAPD superior Lieutenant Joshi (Robin Wright) orders that evidence of K’s secret must be destroyed. But before long, K embarks on a quest to unravel the mystery surrounding his revelation by tracking down former blade runner Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), the protagonist of the first movie who has been in hiding for the 30 years following its conclusion. However, K’s efforts are tracked by Wallace Corporation boss and namesake Niander Wallace (Jared Leto) and his attack-dog assistant ironically named Luv (Sylvia Hoeks). The rest of the film is a game of cat and mouse: K and his “companion” Joi (Ana de Armas) race against Wallace and Luv in order to discover even more huge secrets long unbeknownst to their dystopian world.  

2049 California, although downtrodden, has some stunning visuals. The film’s cinematography really shines– the LA slums still manage to pop with huge displays of neon and sprawling set pieces. Even the ruins of San Diego are grandiose, and one can’t help to wish that they couldn’t experience this immersive world in first person.

“2049” director Denis Villeneuve, who had previously hit the proverbial sci-fi ball out of the park with 2016’s “Arrival,” keeps his momentum rolling with another complex yet enthralling sci-fi film. “2049” is littered with shocks and twists seemingly in every scene, which contributes to a movie that leaves the viewer hanging on every last line of dialogue. Villeneuve also succeeds in creating a film that bucks the trends of many science fiction movies. Rather than relying on spaceships and laser beams, “2049” hangs its hat on strong acting and pacing.

Both the leads and supporting cast of “2049” prove their mettle as they not only command a thoughtful script, but use their facial expressions and body language to convey powerful emotions. Probably the best dialogue in this movie is unspoken, as seemingly every actor gives insight into their character’s thoughts and feelings with subtle yet effective mannerisms. Gosling and Ford also have incredible chemistry, and their scenes together were my favorite of the entire movie. However, since so many actors turned in great performances, I left the theater wishing that I could see more of some characters. For example, Leto builds such an eerie and unsettling character in Niander Wallace, but he has far too little screen time. I appreciate that the movie focuses on K’s quest to learn more about himself and the world around him, but further showcasing strong supporting characters like Wallace and Morton would’ve added even more layers to the film.

The deliberate pacing of “2049” was also something to behold. The film’s scenes progressed slowly, but were also jam-packed with detail. Because of this, “2049” is a movie that needs to be seen more than once. However, this slow progression isn’t for all moviegoers. I witnessed a great example of this phenomenon in the two people I saw the movie with: my neighbor to the right was on the edge of his seat, constantly theorizing about the film’s ending (to my chagrin) while my friend on the left was scrolling through Snapchat only an hour into the movie. If you go to the movies for abundant explosions and fight scenes, then “2049” really isn’t for you. Although the film’s action sequences were jaw-dropping, “2049” prides itself on meticulous detail in its scenes (and a reasonably justified run time of almost three hours.)

Overall, “Blade Runner 2049” maintains the plot-driven narrative of the original film while adding on to its legacy with stunning visuals and insane performances by both its lead actors and supporting cast. “2049” is by no means a jovial thrill ride: the movie’s slow pace allows it to explore themes and ideas that one wouldn’t really expect of a sci-fi flick. But if you want a movie that challenges you and forces you outside of your comfort zone, look no further than Villeneuve’s newest sci-fi masterpiece.