Blade Runner 2049 opened in October to immense critical acclaim. The follow up to the classic sci fi original, Blade Runner, the sequel has a gripping, emotional and surprising plot, all while boasting state of the art special effects. It preserved the legacy of the first film while continuing to expand its world and characters. I saw the movie. I loved it. This is a terrible turn of events.
Typical movie plots have a beginning, middle, and end. The characters are introduced, learn and change, and by the end, they are different from how they used to be. It’s a closed circuit, a linear progression that exists in a perfect balance, with any additions potentially disrupting the story. Unfortunately, that’s exactly the threat sequels pose to existing films — destruction of the original’s purpose.
Of course, some sequels are necessary. Plenty of movies are initially conceived with sequels already planned (The Godfather and The Lord of the Rings are great examples). However, these sequels were already accounted for, and fit in with the story. It’s when a follow up is created as an add-on to a finished story that problems arise.
It’s easy to understand why studio executives do this. Creating a sequel to an already successful property is almost easier than printing money. The characters and world already exist, and there’s a built in fan base. It’s simple to add to the story — capturing the essence and quality of the original isn’t.
Movie history is littered with sequels that don’t live up to their predecessors. Both sequels to The Matrix convoluted the story and tarnished the legacy of the original (the original has a 87% score on rottentomatoes.com, the movie review aggregate website, and the sequels have 73% and 36%). Cars 2 was a huge step down from the underrated Cars (74% to 39%). The recent Robocop remake was almost a frame-for-frame copy of the first, and had little reason to exist (88% to 48%). Rushed production times, executive meddling, and higher expectations all contribute to this, but one reason dominates the others — the story has already been told. There’s no need to continue a finished product.
Blade Runner 2049 is an anomaly, but it will lead to an increase of sequels and remakes in the coming years. Several are already planned. The numbers support this decision — Cars 2 made $100 million more than Cars, and led to even more money in merchandise. Instead of encouraging creativity and new ideas, Hollywood execs will reuse existing properties and bastardize completed stories. So go out and enjoy Blade Runner 2049 — it may be the last quality sequel for a long time.
By Henry Brody
The Globe 