2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Genre

Mystery | Sci-Fi

Director

Stanley Kubrick

Country

USA | UK

Cast

Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester, Douglas Rain, Daniel Richter, Leonard Rossiter, Margaret Tyzack, Robert Beatty, Sean Sullivan, Frank Miller, Edward Bishop, Edwina Carroll, Penny Brahms, Heather Downham, Maggie d'Abo, Chela Matheson, Judy Keirn, Alan Gifford, Ann Gills, Vivian Kubrick, Kenneth Kendall

Storyline

When a large black monolith is found beneath the surface of the moon, the reaction immediately is that it was intentionally buried. When the point of origin is confirmed as Jupiter, an expedition is sent in hopes of finding the source. When Dr. David Bowman (Keir Dullea) discovers faults in the expeditionary spacecraft's communications system, he discovers more than he ever wanted to know.

Opinion

Unpopular opinion coming in 3, 2, 1... "2001: A Space Odyssey" isn't perfect as people say or want you to believe. To be honest I just found the whole thing dreadfully tedious.

Some aspects of the film are arguably perfect, or almost. I'm talking about the objective aspects. The film indeed has gorgeous, out-of-this-world cinematography, breathtaking special effects for its era, a glorious, sublime musical score, dazzling colours and fine acting.

That sure is something, but it's not enough. The screenplay seems to be an optional, because I wasn't able to find one. Well, there is one, a very, very, very short one dragged on and on for two hours and a half.

A visionary tale for a 1960s film, the story is simple but I guess it's supposed to be profound. According to those who have understood the film, one is supposed to ask oneself a lot of questions, like what are those mysterious black monoliths, where did they came from, and what do they do, but I just didn't care neither about the answers nor about the questions.

Kubrick wanted to warn about the destiny of man in space, but we all know when films try to predict the future they always fail. Nowadays science is too busy trying to save the Earth from an environmental catastrophe to organize trips to Jupiter. Still I'm not saying it wasn't a great idea back in the '60s.

The evolution of monkeys, and seeing how these animals slowly learn to use a bone as an object surely is interesting. But like I just said it happens slowly, and for slowly I mean it takes the damn monkey about 20 minutes. In the meantime they also try to fight the monolith.

I can't wait to know what you think about this masterpiece.

The Martian (2015)

Genre

Drama | Sci-Fi

Director

Ridley Scott

Country

USA

Cast

Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels, Michael Peña, Kate Mara, Sean Bean, Sebastian Stan, Aksel Hennie, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Donald Glover, Benedict Wong, Mackenzie Davis, Eddy Ko, Chen Shu, Naomi Scott, Nick Mohammed

Storyline

During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Millions of miles away, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring "the Martian" home, while his crewmates concurrently plot a daring, if not impossible, rescue mission.

Opinion

Following the uproar that has accompanied "Gravity" and "Interstellar" in the past years, Ridley Scott too rides the trend of the sci-fi film set in space. And although he doesn't reach neither the level of Cuarón nor that of Nolan, he is finally back on track with a film that deserves to be watched and overshadows his latest works.

Fascinating, and entertaining, The Martian is a sci-fi film that blends humour and emotions within its dramatic plot of survival and benefits from Matt Damon's performance.

Big credits go to Scott that managed to make interesting and engaging a story that could have easily bored. Also crucial is the decision to give more importance to human life and its preservation than science fiction, and the film moves on a double track on this: on the one hand a man doing his best to survive; on the other hand a group of scientists trying to bring him home.

Based on novelist and software engineer Andy Weir's novel "The Martian", the screenplay perhaps does not sprinkle originality -- "Cast Away on Mars" could have been the title for this --, but it is surprisingly funny, especially coming from "Daredevil" creator Drew Goddard. The film is hilarious in some parts - funnier than most comedies of the past year -, and what makes the film special is Watney's optimist point of view... and sense of humour of course.

And now the bad. The dialogue isn't brilliant, and a ton of scientifically accurate or inaccurate things are said I was like "in English?". The character development is pretty poor. Also, unfortunately for the film, its special effects are overshadowed by the spectacle of "Gravity" and the beauty of "Interstellar".

Although Mark Watney did not like his commander's disco music playlist, I really loved the soundtrack that includes great names from the music industry like Gloria Gaynor, David Bowie and the ABBA.

Once again in the need to be rescued, Matt Damon probably gives his best performance, charismatic as usual, in the role of astronaut Mark Watney. Maybe he should have lost more weight for a role where he is supposed to nearly starve to death, but okay. The rest of the cast provides a good support.

Interstellar (2014)

Genre

Adventure | Sci-Fi

Director

Christopher Nolan

Country

USA | UK | Canada

Cast

Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, David Gyasi, Wes Bentley, Bill Irwin, John Stewart, Jessica Chastain, Mackenzie Foy, Ellen Burstyn, Michael Caine, Casey Affleck, Timothée Chalamet, John Lithgow, LEah Cairns, Topher Grace, David Oyelowo, Collette Wolfe, William Devane, Elyes Gabel, Matt Damon

Storyline

With our time on Earth coming to an end, a team of explorers undertakes the most important mission in human history; traveling beyond this galaxy to discover whether mankind has a future among the 

Opinion

I have been avoiding this film for the past months because I thought I would have had a hard time watching it because I can't stand the way McConaughey talks. Having said that, I'm actually surprised by how much I've enjoyed this film.

Very lengthy and slow paced, Interstellar is a thrilling, epic space travel, a splendid sci-fi film, that demands you for concentration, but it gives you back a mentally stimulation.

Nobody but Nolan could have directed this film. He is a master in creating complex, and impressive gears, leading to a final answer, without leaving anything suspended - perhaps with the exception of "Inception".

The writing is fantastic. Although sometimes I didn't quite understand what they were saying because they exceeded my poor scientific knowledge, the dialogue is just brilliant, definitely some of the best dialogue in a sci-fi film. The script continually pours emotions.

The first half of the film, mostly focused into the characters, and on the dying Earth, is brilliant and one of Nolan's best works. The second half is not as strong, the plot goes a little absurd at times, and some parts feel too rushed, yet it still managed to keep me on the edge of my seat. 

Also, the film is a visual masterpiece. The visual effects are some of the best to date, and of the year. The wormhole is spectacular, and being able to see a black hole in such a way is just amazing. The musical score by Hans Zimmer is one of the most beautiful ever heard in a sci-fi film, and it's completely in symbiosis with the film, delivering that extra portion of emotions.

Then, of course, the acting. As I mentioned before I'm not a fan of the man, but he is undeniably an outstanding actor. Not as good as he was in "Dallas Buyers Club", still Matthew McConaughey delivers a spectacular performance, filled with every single emotion we feel during the film. Anne Hathaway is pretty convincing. The supporting cast is outstanding. Michael Caine, Jessica Chastain, Casey Affleck, Wes Bentley, Matt Damon. All of them. 

Quotes

Cooper: We used to look up at the sky and wonder at our place in the stars, now we just look down and worry about our place in the dirt.

Dr. Brand: Do not go gentle into that good night; Old age should burn and rave at close of day. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Gravity (2013)

Genre

Sci-Fi | Thriller

Director

Alfonso Cuarón

Country

USA | UK

Cast

Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris, Orto Ignatiussen, Phaldut Sharma, Amy Warren, Basher Savage

Plot

Medical engineer Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) work together to survive after a catastrophe destroys their shuttle and leaves them adrift in orbit.

Opinion

Gravity is a flawless, astonishing, beautiful, emotional, thrilling and absorbing film that makes you forget you are watching. Instead, it feels like experiencing. 

The film, extraordinarily realistic, makes the audience feel in a constant state of anxiety, anguish, hope, fear and desperation.

However, the reasons that makes of it the great science fiction film it is are others. Most of the credits goes to the brilliant screenplay written by Alfonso Cuarón and his son Juan, the stunning special effect - basically everything you see on screen is fake, but it never feels like it -, but most of all the outstanding photography - the opening shot of earth and space is absolutely stunning. 

The acting is great. While George Clooney gets very little screen time, Sandra Bullock has the chance to shine, and she does throughout the whole film. She perfectly conveys each of her feelings, and seeing her alone out there makes you feel alone out there too.

I do really regret not watching it in 3D in theaters back in 2013.

Quotes

Matt Kowalski: You've got to learn to let go.

Matt Kowalski: So, what do you like about being up here?

Ryan Stone: The silence.

Matt Kowalski: Listen, do you wanna go back, or do you wanna stay here? I get it. It's nice up here. You can just shut down all the systems, turn out all the lights, and just close your eyes and tune out everyone. There's nobody up here that can hurt you. It's safe. I mean, what's the point of going on? What's the point of living? Your kid died. Doesn't get any rougher than that. But still, it's a matter of what you do now. If you decide to go, then you gotta just get on with it. Sit back, enjoy the ride. You gotta plant both your feet on the ground and start livin' life. Hey, Ryan? It's time to go home.