Movie Review: Sunshine
Published April 28, 2008
The movie is technically sound. All the effects and the set design of the ship are quite good. The horror elements of the movie are even executed well.
The problem is the script. Character personalities vacillate wildly. Capa seems like the moral compass of the crew at first, and then the voice of reason, and then just some guy trying to finish his job. Michelle Yeoh plays Corazon, the ship's botanist. She is very tender towards her plants, but suggests killing off other crew members to save oxygen. Chris Evans plays Mace, who at times seems like Capa's rival and at other times his best friend. Sometimes he is the voice of reason on the ship, sometimes he is a hothead who only thinks about himself. Perhaps Boyle was trying to say something about how prolonged periods away from civilization change you. If so, he did not do a very good job.
The movie did have some things going for it, but every time it seemed like it was going somewhere, the tone changed drastically. While watching it, I could not help of think of better movies that explored similar themes or territory better. 2001: A Space Odyssey used space travel to convey the meaningless of man in the universe better, Apocalypse Now used Vietnam to convey the degradation of humanity in the absence of civilization better, and Alien explored what a horror film would be like in space better. Oh and, all those films were not deathly boring.
- Movie Review: Sunshine
- Published: April 28, 2008
- Type: Review
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: Thriller, Video: SF, Video: Drama
- Writer: Mark Kalriess
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MOST people I'm sure fell asleep, as I almost did. The plot isn't terrible, it has somewhat of a focus, perhaps it would have been better in a book.
Odd that you mention Apocalypse Now as I flashed on that movie as well while watching Sunshine. I agree with many of you character points in that it was hard to find locate the moral direction of each. I do like this filmaker though and felt that much of this movie was executed very well. It misses on plot believability, misses in the motivation behind much of what transpires and leaves very intriguing questions that arise during the movie completely unexplored. I look forwar to whatever comes next from him but by no means did I find this boring.
For me, as a SCI-FI fan, the most important part of the movie was the end, when Capa is on the surface of the sun. In the middle of the movie the other burnt ship Captain talked about his closeness with God. I always thought he referred to the sun, like the Egyptians. After all, it is the creator of all life. If you watch the movie realizing the sun as an entity, there is the emotional sense you see in drama movies, like when a father sees his children he has never known, for the first time. The sun created life a billion years ago and is getting old and tired. The sun is so close and yet so far and alone in the universe, until mankind makes the trip to its doorstep and reawakens the fire within.
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This was a GOOD movie! I suspect that, MOST ppl would behave erratically when faced with certain death. The 'SFX' were quite good & believable. The imagery was superb, as-well-as, the sets & video-graphy. The score was good & 'fitting'. I could relate to, & sympathize with all of the characters--it was (emotionally) a 'moving' experience. It was about saving, ALL 'life', on our world, & showing the day-to-day difficulties of interpersonal relating, but that the sacrifice--is worth it; & that, some ppl can actually 'see' the 'big' picture. How could anyone 'not' appreciate their mission/curse? This was a GOOOD movie. I just wish more (like it) would be produced.
KBR