andrewswiecicki Reviews

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

If you haven't seen the original "Blade Runner" I recommend you to see it before "Blade Runner 2049"

[7/10 · 19 November 2017]

If you haven't seen the original "Blade Runner" I recommend you to see it. It's classic considered for one of the best SF movies of all time. Watching the original "Blade Runner" is crucial to fully understand the plot of the sequel. If you don't like the original, don't go to watch the sequel.

"Blade Runner 2049" has many assets that made the original so successful.

The gloomy vision of the future and the atmosphere of the movie is really stirring. Technology replacing humans, overpopulated cities, social problems, climate change and pollution. I really entered into this world while watching the movie.

The plot is initially ingenious, but it runs out of steam in the middle of the movie and introduces many ideas known from other SF films. All in all, the sequel was neither a gem nor letdown for me and it's good. The movie could have been worse, like many other sequels.

The ending of the sequel has many open threads and unanswered questions. It suggests that the next part is to be released. I thought to myself that I won't go to see the next part. Instead, I'll read the Philip K. Dick novel that inspired the original "Do Androids Dream of Electric sheep?".

Loving Vincent (2017)

"Loving Vincent" is far from being a masterpiece, but it's still an interesting and distinctive movie

[7/10 · 11 November 2017]

I've seen several movies inspired by the life and art of a painter and now I think that it's really hard to go wrong choosing such movie. I can still remember movies such as "Goya", "Frida", "Love is the devil" or "Girl with a pearl earring" although I've seen them many years ago. Movies about painters aren't copies of other movies. The art of a painter can be an inspiration for shots and scenery of a movie. The life of a painter and his paintings can help to come up with an original plot.

"Loving Vincent" contains hundreds of animations based on paintings created by Van Gogh. I wouldn't be surprised to see it in a short music video, but in a full-length movie it really comes as a surprise. I can recommend "Loving Vincent" just for that reason.

The plot makes "Loving Vincent" a sort of a detective story. After allegedly suicidal death of Vincent Van Gogh his friend tries to establish the motives of Vincent's decision and all the events that led Vincent to the suicide. In my view that odd perspective of telling about Vincent Van Gogh and the "detective" plot of the movie are its weak points.

Overall, though "Loving Vincent" is far from being a masterpiece, it's still an interesting and distinctive movie.