Sunshine [Blu-ray]
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Movie Reviews of Sunshine [Blu-ray]
Movie Review: A fantastic sci-fi epic that falters in the finale.
Summary: 4 Stars
In the realm of science-fiction cinema, rarely does a film exhibit new ideas regarding plot. Director Danny Boyle's new sci-fi thriller, "Sunshine," adheres to the general plotline of its predecessors "Armageddon" and "The Core," where a highly capable team is dispatched to prevent the destruction of humanity. In this case, it's to revive our dying Sun via nuclear blast. The structure is cliché, but amidst the impressive special effects and grand camera shots lays an intriguing commentary on the human condition when in dire situations.
While Earth remains crippled in a solar winter, a team of eight, comprised of mathematicians and physicists, board the Icarus II with the task of re-igniting the Sun with a massive payload. The crew struggles to cope with the responsibility of their mission, coming to question rationality and their own judgment. After a minor miscalculation jeopardizes the entire mission by diminishing the oxygen supply, head physicist, Capa (Cillian Murphy) is forced to lead an assignment to locate Icarus I, which vanished seven years prior for unknown reasons. Their plan must succeed if they ever hope to reach the payload's destination and save humankind.
Set in 2057, "Sunshine" portrays the future with numerous logical fallacies, however, everything is breathtakingly convincing through the impressive cinematography and art direction. The Sun's overwhelming, golden sheen cascades across the surface of Icarus II while its interior features a multitude of monitors, holograms, data analyzers, and lush oxygen garden. It never loses believability and will continually leave viewers in awe.
Composer John Murphy, alongside the electronic band Underworld, pieces together the trance-like soundtrack. Every ominous chord and verberation supports the dreary, tense nature of the crew's harrowing journey. The most insignificant clanks of the ship strengthens the isolated atmosphere while the cryptic, aged distress signal from the Icarus I instills a sense of dread. Each facet of design blends beautifully, creating a cinematic masterpiece.
The actors capture the reoccurring discord throughout "Sunshine," arguing and even physically fighting amongst one another. While most of their performances are forgetful when compared to the greater presence of atmosphere, Cillian Murphy is incredibly convincing as Capa. Through the desperation in his voice and actions, Murphy embodies the dedication of the crew and portrays the caliber of their mission.
Much of "Sunshine" is slow paced, building up to the conclusion, which is ultimately quite disappointing. The themes emphasized earlier in the film become convoluted in the final act, relinquishing them for a god-complex. Also, an antagonist is introduced when the film clearly doesn't need one. The oppressiveness of the circumstances themselves is enough. Although the initial aspirations of "Sunshine" are lost in its B-movie, slasher-esque finale, the film does tie up nicely. It's just unfortunate that an essence Boyle's 2002 zombie-thriller "28 Days Later" somehow nudged itself into this film.
"Sunshine" is an ambitious film, rampant with atmosphere and featuring a compelling look at human nature. Although this ambition is detrimental to the last quarter of the film, it still manages to form a provocative piece of cinema that will undoubtedly appeal to those who want substance with their visual flair.
Movie Review: Walking on the surface...
Summary: 4 Stars
Take out the alien from Alien, the monolith from 2001, the surfing from Dark Star and you end up with Sunshine, a movie where no one is safe. This review contains spoilers.
Sunshine is about the last gasp of the human race. In an effort to reignite the dying sun, the crew of the Icarus II plans to deliver a star-igniting bomb to its core. The odds are grim - there's no guarantee that the plan will work, as evidenced by the disappearance of Icarus I. On the way to their destination, the astronauts face a series of hostile environments, including each other.
The cinematography in Sunshine is interesting. Horror movies work well in theaters because they are dark, so the audience can actually feel what it's like to be immersed in darkness. In contrast, Sunshine is a bright film, with light pouring out of every frame. My tiny television simply did not do it justice, although I would have serious concerns about migraines watching Sunshine in a theater.
The movie parallels are apt. Sunshine's down-to-earth astronauts are tiny beings on a vast ship, just like in Alien. When the crew discovers the distress beacon of another ship, it's a test of their resolve. Each crewman has a specialty, and as circumstances break down beyond their control, the chain of command messily reorganizes itself until true leaders arise.
Like 2001, space is an unforgiving place. Sunshine is slowly paced, punctuated with moments of sheer terror. The environment itself is an enemy, and the astronauts are drowned, frozen, burned, asphyxiated, strangled, stabbed, and bludgeoned to death. There's also a battle between man and machine as the computer on board Icarus II makes decisions (or withholds information) without the consent of the crew for the greater good. The painstaking accuracy that director Danny Boyle infused in the film is Kubrickian in its level of detail. Although fantastical elements are included, Boyle consulted with many experts, subjected the cast to several immersive techniques, and basically treated this film as if it were an epic release worthy of scientific critique.
And finally, like Dark Star, this film features a giant bomb.
Sunshine is dense with important details. Unfortunately, many of these details are lost by poor editing. There is a narrator that's hard to hear, muttering by characters in thick accents that are hard to understand, and the design of the ship isn't always apparent. There are jump cuts to scenes that break continuity, such that it becomes difficult to tell where the astronauts are in relationship to each other and the ship.
Sunshine's conclusion tries to have it both ways: human enlightenment transposed with a Freddy Kreuger-like psychopath on the loose. The titular bad guy, Pinbacker, is something of a science hobgoblin. Sunshine works overtime trying to explain everything...until a burned, naked, shimmering, ship-jumping fundamentalist starts murdering people. Your mileage will vary according to how much you value scientific accuracy.
I liked it.
Movie Review: Spoilers Below
Summary: 4 Stars
Sunshine seems to have been created as part of a contest to see how many genres a director could fit in one movie. It's got its summer blockbuster special effects, its sci-fi atmospheric thriller moments, and even some slasher horror bits thrown in.
If only Sunshine's director Danny Boyle could pick one and stick with it, the movie could have been really good. As it is, though, Sunshine is a jumble. A really good-looking jumble.
The movie starts with such promise. It has a cool back story and enough science to satisfy and facilitate the suspension of disbelief. (The premise, and this is not a spoiler, is that Earth is slipping into an Ice Age due to a weakening and eventual extinguishing of the Sun. Eight astronauts are sent on a rescue mission to create a supernova of sorts -- to set off an explosion in the Sun and create a new star).
The beginning visuals are quite stunning, especially on a nice TV. There are frequent shots of the Sun, Mercury, and the outside of the spacecraft. And while the ship is cool to explore, the viewer begins to get a sense of dread. This is when the movie launches into its atmospheric thriller mode.
Something about space lends itself to the atmosphere of dread. Of course Alien is the standard most atmospheres are compared to, but this movie also reminded me of Descent. It must be the closed-off nature of space (and caves). Again, Sunshine succeeds. I was getting edgy watching by myself. The first time you see a subliminal image, yes, it really is there. I rewound frame-by-frame to see what the picture was, the whole time feeling like I was in a thriller myself, about to be shocked by the horror this freeze frame would contain.
This sense of dread is multiplied a hundred times when the crew is forced to investigate an abandoned spacecraft (the original mission that mysteriously failed seven years prior). I was fully prepared to be creeped out -- not startled by GOTCHA! horror. And that's where the movie begins to fall apart. All of a sudden, it turns into almost a slasher movie, complete with chases through dark hallways and stabbings.
From this point on, the movie spirals a bit out of control, although not terribly so. Chase scenes are interspliced with stop-action blurry shots of who-knows-what. The movie eventually paints itself into an ending you knew was coming, and one that leaves no room for a twist. It is a shame the movie becomes so muddled, because it had a chance to be an absolutely great sci-fi flick. (Something that The Core, for example, gave up two minutes into the film).
Sunshine is worth a see. Just don't expect too much.
Sunshine Rating: 75 / 100
Subratings
Soundtrack: 8 / 10 (surprisingly good, but one of the stranger choices for the end credits)
Acting: 7 / 10 (never felt very attached or invested in any characters, though they are forced to make some tough choices)
Sci-Fi Backstory: 7 / 10 (whole lot better than The Day After Tomorrow)
Movie Review: An intense movie except for the bad science.
Summary: 4 Stars
I got to agree with the earlier reviewer that stated this "bad science", which almost turned me off. Once you get over it then it is an excellent movie. The acting was superb and intense. Honestly, I avoid movies that feel marooned. Fresh from the "Aliens" series genre and is a lot better then "Doom". The constant setbacks the crews received is what kept me watching. It is funny that this lead to another flaw in this movie as in many other movies. Either the captain is an actor leading a mission, or makes extremely emotional decision, without looking the risk factors of his own mission. I got to believe most military top security missions are undeviating. A couple of crew members persuade the caption to deviate from the mission for a search and rescue mission of a lost ship of seven years, right? The parity about science and God in the movie, is somewhat interesting.
I have been giving blu-ray movie reviews an extra star for the great graphic and image. Personality, high definition movies have really enhanced the watching experience. This is one of the best looking movies I have seen on Blu-ray or HD-DVD and I have both. Granted there are some grainy scenes, but it looked amazing on an LCD. If I watched it on DVD, I might of rated it as a three stars movie.
The two major flaws that I had a hard time to swallow.
1. The sun will outlive any human life form from my high school education. 5-6 billions more years the sun will become a red giant, which human life are either gone from the earth or found a new home elsewhere. The sun dying in 50 years was the plot of this movie. This could have been as embarrassing like Independent Day "bad science". I think a scientist hacked the alien computer to let the force field down, so civilian's pilots can shot down the alien's mothership. IBM compatible laptop can read alien programming, but pc and apple have a hard time reading each other code.
2. Questionable or inexperience decisions making by the captain and team members is appalling for a selective group of experts to save the earth. It did keep the movie going.
Overall I enjoyed this movie, even with some major flaws. I compare it to "Contact" on term of sci-fi realism, believability. It is easier to write about the flaws then the great aspects of the movie. Visually comparable to "The Fountain".
Movie Review: Very Entertaining. Visuals and Audio Top Notch
Summary: 4 Stars
This review is for the Blu-Ray version. While we are flooded with sci-fi movies of all types these days this movie takes from some of the best of the genre and makes it all feel original.
This movie has the feel of Alien, Solaris, 2001 Space Odyssey. But while it may borrow many of the same feelings the movie does branch off into some very original looks. The look of the sets, the ship, the suits and the ship and many of the other details are very interesting from a technology perspective. While obviously you can't take flying some type of ship into the sun literally it makes for an interesting idea. The sound engineering is great the soundtrack and effects are top notch.
After seeing the DVD and Blu-Ray side by side there is the obvious low sharpness and compression on the DVD version. The HD version is very sharp and black levels are handled very well. It is also nice to have a DTSHD track on the BluRay.
This movie has some great low frequency effects, along with superb use of the surround channels. This movie is best enjoyed with a well configured sound system and large screen to enjoy the full feeling. This movie was made to be seen big and I could see how it would loose some the effect on a smaller setup.
Point being this is a perfect must have HD title to own.
This is also one of the first BD 1.1 spec disks with PIP. The PIP is just what it sounds like, you get a picture in picture box pop up on the screen during the movie. There are some other features too but nothing amazing.
The movie has its flaws with acting, character development and depth, but this movie is a visual feast and if you allow yourself to get sucked in the idea of the movie will hook you quickly. Side bonus? No overtly Hollywood ending or ridiculous love story.