Audiences have become so accustomed to so-so reboots and belated, underwhelming sequels that it's often a shock when one of them turns out to be good.
That seems to be the general reaction to Blade Runner 2049, which held its first industry screenings overnight, leading countless journalists to emerge fromauditoriums in starry-eyed disbelief that the neon-soaked sequel might be, could possibly be, even better than the first.
Ana De Armas and Ryan Gosling in Blade Runner 2049.
"I think this Blade Runner is better than the original," tweeted Fandango.com founder Erik Davis, while USA Today critic Bryan Alexander revealed that it unexpectedly moved him even more than its predecessor.
Watched entire #Bladerunner2049 twice, 2hrs, 43 mns, inclding credits. Moved me even more than classic original. Didn't think that possible
BLADE RUNNER 2049 is sci-fi masterpiece; the kind of deep-cut genre film we don't see anymore. Visually mind blowing, absolutely fantastic pic.twitter.com/A1d6ohmj3s
Others have praised its visuals, which are said to evoke and build upon the groundwork laid down by the original film, and could score Roger Deakins that much-delayed Oscar.
Ana De Armas and Ryan Gosling in Blade Runner 2049.
The British cinematographer has been nominated 13 times across his long career, for films including The Shawshank Redemption, No Country for Old Men and Skyfall, but has yet to win.
So Roger Deakins may land his Oscar at last after seeing Blade Runner 2049, which is STUNNINGLY beautiful.
.@BladeRunner 2049 is phenomenal. Visually mind-blowing sci-fi w/ noir roots shining through in a tight, twisty mystery. Best of 2017 so far pic.twitter.com/kT4ZzWWlOQ
But most shocking of all, the film reportedly manages to overcome the potentially destructive handicap of method acting gremlin Jared Leto, who is apparently completely decent.
When filming the original Kingsman: The Secret Service film a technical error saw the set flooded with water, leaving cast and crew struggling to escape the deluge. The scene was included in the final cut, with director Matthew Vaughn saying: "Those actors weren't acting, they were absolutely terrified."
