12 Movies That Aren't As Pretentious As You Think
5. Blade Runner 2049
Though Denis Villeneuve's belated Blade Runner sequel scored largely positive reviews and went down a treat with most fans of the first movie, the response from general audiences was decidedly more indifferent.
Criticism was levelled against the slow, "ponderous" pace and accusations of a style-over-substance presentation, where visuals took precedent over a nuanced script.
To call Blade Runner 2049 pretentious once again feels like an all-catch complaint to tear down a movie that simply wasn't one's speed.
It's in no rush to tell its tale, that much is undeniable, but Villeneuve's slow approach does a wonderful job allowing the audience to soak in the world he has created, accompanied by stunning production design, cinematography and music.
This is categorically not a movie that needs to dart around at a breakneck pace: there are countless other sci-fi movies with that in mind (Alita: Battle Angel, anyone?).
And considering that its narrative is arguably more satisfyingly character-driven and less problematic than its predecessor, calling it a shallow, self-effacing movie doesn't really hold water either.
Blade Runner 2049 certainly could be shorter, but given that every frame is basically a painting, would you really want it to be?