Before I go into any specifics, right away I'm going to say that you should go to see Blade Runner 2049 as soon as you can. The film has been disappearing from theaters everywhere because it simply isn’t pulling in enough money to make it worthwhile despite the fact that it is an excellent film. So even though I won't spoil anything, if you were on the fence about going, rest assured, if you like movies you'll like this one and you shouldn’t just wait to catch it on whatever streaming service it’s coming to; this one is for the big screen.

Unsurprisingly, the coveted original "Blade Runner" made in 1982 and directed by Ridley Scott (yes the same one who did Alien, he's pretty good at this stuff) has a huge influence on the entirety of Blade Runner 2049. The original was a cult classic; it performed poorly in theaters (sound familiar?) but it has been loved by millions in the years following its release. Touching dystopian themes of man vs machine and the relevant topic of the blurred line between humans and artificial intelligence, the story is built in a near-future reality that feels very foreboding. The story of the new installment touches on many of the same themes established in the original while simultaneously building in more layers. Not only do both films talk about dystopian topics that are becoming more relevant by the day, but they also touch on very human topics that are universally relatable such as love, loss, and hope.

Now at this point, you might be thinking “Sci-Fi movies aren’t my thing, I think I’ll skip this one.” But don’t let the heavy sci-fi nature of the film scare you away! Although it is set in the future, like many other sci-fi movies, the themes transcend its genre. If you take the time to look deeply enough into the story, there are things to learn from every single frame. The way director Denis Villeneuve brings emotion and meaning through each and every shot is astounding. And the way in which he has the ability to weave the story together is beautifully reminiscent of his recent film "Arrival". The viewer ends up feeling so emotionally connected with the characters that one forgets all about the surrounding circumstances to focus solely on the relatable characters.

Perhaps most importantly, Blade Runner 2049 makes the audience think. A lot of films don’t require much thinking and there is nothing wrong with that, but when a film comes along that keeps you thinking about it for weeks after the credits roll, you know there is something special about it. Do yourself a favor and don’t just watch the movie, but think about it and experience it. Films as a method of artistic expression have come a long way in their relatively short history and "Blade Runner" is an excellent example of what the medium has to offer. A thought-provoking experience that prompts the viewer to think about every aspect that went into making such a great movie, Blade Runner 2049 is an important film that everyone should make the trip to see in theaters. Aside from the fact that seeing the film in theaters is the best way to support it and to see more films like it in the future, it takes the grandeur of a theater to appreciate the beauty of every frame to the fullest potential.