I think people lock themselves into wanting everything from every movie in every movie. The knocks on Fast and Furious in here are like that not from an opinion standpoint - everyone has there own and god knows I've hated movies that others loves, that isn't the point - but from the standpoint of what to expect from certain genre's. The F&F movies aren't going to have Oscar worthy scripts, and because there is a ton of action there is going to be CGI used in this day and age - just to hit two of the attacks. Within the confines of the genre of the movie, or its subset from its normal genre - that is fine for me and if you accept that you should be able to enjoy the truly mindless entertainment that F&F is - if you like mindless entertainment video game style like that to begin with.
BR2049 might end up being the same kind of movie for different reasons. It is not wall to wall 2 hours of action like some want in science fiction - like how we've turned Star Trek into a perpetual war battle universe when Roddenbury always wanted it to be about people and relationships and bigger issues. I think the point of the BR universe the size, scope, futility, and sound of it. The best moments of the story almost all were non speaking flyovers and sound effects of the changing landscape and mood. The metallic engine style noise of the cars and the overbearing music for mood setting that sounded sometimes more depressing-dystopian-techno than actual music was perfectly done in every way. This was artistic science fiction - you are right about that. And it was amazing. The landscape of Las Vegas was breathtaking. I want a movie just about Vegas and the statues that littered the waste and why it was so destroyed.
I think engrossing was the right word I used. F&F isn't engrossing, it's just video game fluff fun. But BR2049 was engrossing. Masterpiece isn't the wrong word to use for it. And man, the sound.