After recently watching Slumdog Millionaire (which was fantastic btw), I came back from the theater and decided to watch Sunshine, which was also directed by Danny Boyle. I’ve really liked his other movies Shallow Grave, Trainspotting, and parts of 28 Days Later (not a big fan of Life Less Ordinary). Then previously having heard strong opposing opinions on the sci-fi movie (passionate love or extreme hatred), I was extremely intrigued to see where I would fall on the debate.
(SPOILERS AHEAD – DON’T READ IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN SUNSHINE)
Well after finally seeing it, I have to say it was fantastic, and so very close to being one of my favorite sci-fi movies of all time (there’s that annoying super natural horror element in it that comes at the end).
The movie makes you think about many themes like sacrifice vs selfishness, logic vs duty, life/death, and more. The funny thing about this movie is that in concept it’s similar to the Michael Bay movie Armegeddon. A team of astronauts are sent on a suicide mission to the sun to deliver a nuclear payload to ‘re-ignite’ the dying sun in order to save the Earth.
However as opposed to a over the top action combined with sappy romance. Boyle establishes the isolation and claustraphobia of space travel very well. The special effects in the movie combined with set design and direction make it one of most realistic depictions of future space travel.
Yes, there is the strange inclusion of the stalker/killer character at the end, which I can only imagine was included because of Boyle’s previous success in the zombie/horro movie 28 Days Later. Perhaps because I had been warned about it and since the rest of the movie is so fantastic, I overlooked it without too much of a problem.
To me, Sunshine was an undiscovered sci-fi gem of 2007, that was highly underrated and overlooked. If you haven’t seen it I highly recommend seeing it, and if you have already seen it I would love to know where you fall on the debate. Please comment below so I can read your take on the movie.
- Dennis
I really like Sunshine, too, for pretty much the exact reasons you listed. I like that it focuses more on the psychological issues rather than EXPLOSIONS! or HOT CHICKS! or CRAZY TECHNOLOGY! or whatever Michael Bay might have focused on. I was a bit surprised when I first heard about the film… I’m used to Danny Boyle as that guy who makes quirky Scottish films (I’m a big fan of Shallow Grave and Trainspotting, but I haven’t seen 28 Days Later), so science fiction seemed like an odd choice. I’m glad I netflixed it, though. I ran out and bought a copy the day after I watched it.
Thanks for the feedback, I’m also suprised that the movie was barely a blip on radar in the Sci-Fi world. I can understand why the mainstream movie going audience didn’t go for it (like you said, no crazy explosions, hot chicks, etc.). What did you think about the ending stalker/horror scenes? Did they bother you at all?
I though Sunshine was a beautiful movie, in it’s own way. I was glad they didn’t really make the love interest thing a huge part of the story, like the “obligatory love interest” thing that pops up in every single Hollywood movie. That would’ve ruined it.
Yeah I’m glad they didn’t do a cheesy romance story too. Michael Bay did that with Armegeddon and Pearl Harbor. Why is there a love story in those movies?
Wow, I would have thought you would’ve hated Sunshine because you and I have such differing opinions on things. I totally agree that this movie is grossly under-appreciated; to me it is one of the most beautiful Sci-Fi, hell, most beautiful films period, ever made. And I was never too crazy about Trainspotting – I have yet to see any of his others. Welcome to the dark side, D.
I wasn’t bothered by the monster at the time, because it seemed natural to the progression of the story – there needed to be conflict, and something had to come of boarding Icarus I – although in hindsight, I bet there could have been a better way to convey the conflict, without the monster aspect. All-in-all, I’m able to look past it as a plot element, though, and appreciate the film for its gorgeous cinematography, great acting, and poeticism.
I think they hinted at the horror element earlier in the movie which helped prepare me, though I thought it was out of place, it didn’t bother me hugely.
I also heard you came over to my dark side about Heroes, finally realizing the crap that it is.
Wait until you see the video we did for it.
The horror scenes at the end did seem a bit misplaced. I kind of expected the stalker stuff; it was building throughout the movie, so I think it fit. But the hideously burned villain (I kept thinking of Hugo Weaving’s V) seemed out of place, like TPTB thought the movie needed to be more than a psychological, cerebral film and tossed in a creepy bad guy at the last second. I might have liked it more if one of the Icarus II’s crew was the saboteur, or if they’d built up the idea of a cult on Earth that believe humanity’s destruction is God’s will, something like that.
@ The Discriminating Fangirl
I like your idea of one of the own crew be the saboteur. Or even have the captain from Icarus 1, be found and kind of crazy, but the whole burned man/stalker thing was off.
Such a great movie, that could have even been better if they just changed something that easy.
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What the hell was with the burnt man? I think that ruined the film!