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Sunshine (2007)

post #1 of 29
1/9/08 at 12:48am
Thread Starter 
Found a pre-release thread and a few news-related ones, but no post thread. Figured I'd just start a new one so I don't have to inviso-text everything. If you haven't seen it, this thread will be Spoiler City.

Watched this on DVD tonight for the first time. Having heard about a bad third act, I lowered expectations. I couldn't figure out what all the fuss was about - and then the blur-monster showed up. It's not that it didn't make sense "thematically" as some have argued, or that I didn't see it coming, thanks to some ambiguous warnings from people who did catch it in theaters. Rather, it's that I shouldn't have expected anything less from a movie that next to no one talked about at the end of this year.

The movie wasn't exactly 2001 or Solaris up until that point. It was however running fairly well and it just kind of copped out with a monster taking it's cues from Sam Neil at the end of Event Horizon. I guess I'm just so disappointed because it's Danny goddamn Boyle. That, and the fact that this movie looked so gorgeous.

I'll open the floor to everyone else who probably saw this hunk half a year ago.
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post #2 of 29
1/9/08 at 12:56am
That's what I was thinking when I saw the blur; I figured that it was somewhat cliche, but Boyle would throw a twist into the mix. It never came, which ruined what could of been a great movie.

And for the record, I think I am one of the few who actually liked Event Horizon.
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post #3 of 29
1/9/08 at 1:12am
I actually liked Sunshine quite a bit, blur monster and all. Well, maybe not liked; enjoyed? appreciated? not sure of the right word. Anyway, I didn't hate it. The strength of the ideas and themes over the first hour-plus, for me, made up for the decidedly weak mess of the climax. Actually, I recall thinking, during the spiral into mediocrity of the last twenty minutes, that it felt like Boyle was in a metaphorical fistfight with the script and its writer. I thought there may have been some potential in the material as originally written, but that Garland was on a vastly different page with it, and would have handled it with a radically different tone. It was almost like Boyle didn't get what Garland was banging on about, so he decided to direct the last act in a fit of pique. I don't remember the last time I saw a movie so, I don't know, so disconnected.

So, as I'm fond of saying, while it wound up not really working, it at least made new mistakes and was bad in an interesting way. And that's better than a movie that's predictably and boringly bad.
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post #4 of 29
1/9/08 at 1:17am
It looked beautiful enough, but from the beginning I figured they were the chosen few sent out to get to the sun and ignite it, sacrificing themselves in the process. It had never occurred to me that a) somebody could get 93 million miles (and return, no less) and b) They'd be able to travel in a craft (nearly) completely resistant to the sun's sheer heat and size. Meanwhile, I have no problems with the fantasy-lite world of Riddick. Maybe I was just looking for some sort of facts if it's based on things that might happen.

Speaking of, was anybody thinking "Riddick" when Cliff Curtis put on the goggles in the sun room? If only they'd had a shiv when the Blurman came.
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post #5 of 29
1/9/08 at 2:00am
It didn't feel like a shitty movie, but from the moment the computer voice said "5 members on board ship- 5th MEMBER UNKNOWN!!!" I knew it was going downhill. It seemed to degenerate into a shitty generic slasher movie suddently, except the guy only killed one person, and it was maybe the stupidest death in the entire film. And the film had only stupid deaths.

I feel like the blur character was like the The Fury from Metal Gear Solid 3. Just rambling on and on about nonsense dealing with God and space and was completely 1 dimensional. From the video recordings, I expected some quasi-Colonel Kurtz like character who believes he's the sun god or something. At least it would have been interesting. The arm ripping scene at the end sealed the stupidity.

Also, Chris Evans is fucking terrible. To end on a positive note, I thought the very end was beautiful and would have meant something if the previous 20 minutes weren't shallow.
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post #6 of 29
1/9/08 at 8:58am
To me, the third act smacks of studio interference. Could be wrong, but it is so out-of-place, so at odds with the tone and feel of the first two thirds, so half-assedly (?!) realised, so tacked on...I can only imagine Boyle inserting a 'villain' at the end under duress. The fucking sun is the villain. That's the entire point of the movie. Blur-man was a spectacular misstep, and just plain destroyed something that was shaping up to be a truly great film, imho.
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post #7 of 29
1/9/08 at 10:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cervaise
Actually, I recall thinking, during the spiral into mediocrity of the last twenty minutes, that it felt like Boyle was in a metaphorical fistfight with the script and its writer. I thought there may have been some potential in the material as originally written, but that Garland was on a vastly different page with it, and would have handled it with a radically different tone. It was almost like Boyle didn't get what Garland was banging on about, so he decided to direct the last act in a fit of pique. I don't remember the last time I saw a movie so, I don't know, so disconnected.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil Connors
To me, the third act smacks of studio interference. Could be wrong, but it is so out-of-place, so at odds with the tone and feel of the first two thirds, so half-assedly (?!) realised, so tacked on...I can only imagine Boyle inserting a 'villain' at the end under duress.
From what I've read, the confused ending comes from a difference of opinion between screenwriter Garland (atheist) and Boyle (church-boy). They disagreed on what the whole "touching the face of god by looking into the sun" thing actually meant.

I really enjoyed the first 2/3. The fall from grace at the end was awful. It is worse then I Am Legend when it comes to bizarre last acts that betray the rest of the film. I still think Legend is a good film over all, despite the end, but the same can't be said for Sunshine. So much potential, so many good actors, wasted by a sub-Event Horizon ending.
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post #8 of 29
1/9/08 at 12:39pm
I couldn't get into this really at all. The best thing about the movie was the great score. Other than that, everything this movie tried to do has already been done before and better. 2001, Alien, Solaris.. hell, even Event Horizon. Where 28 Days Later re-invented the zombie genre.. this did nothing but re-hash old ideas and even scenes for the sci-fi genre.
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post #9 of 29
1/9/08 at 1:31pm
It was a re-hashing of ideas, but the re-hashing was done with such care and artfulness that I was willing to let it slide until the last third of the flick.

It kind of reminds me of how when the dude from Quicksand came out with his new band Rival Schools. Even though I listened to it and was not that impressed, I kind of convinced myself that it was awesome because I loved Quicksand. In actuality, it sounded like every crappy alterna-rock band that I had spent the previous 10 years hating.

Alas, if this movie was made by anyone else besides Danny Boyle, it would of just been seen as another appropriation of themes and ideas that had been covered in other films. But since Mr. Trainspotting was involved, we (myself included) are caught up in discussions debating the merits of the work.
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post #10 of 29
1/9/08 at 2:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gamranaut
It was a re-hashing of ideas, but the re-hashing was done with such care and artfulness that I was willing to let it slide until the last third of the flick.
My thoughts precisely. But even the bizarre final third of the film has stuff I really enjoyed, namely, the gravity-bending descent into the sun. Captain Crispy was a horrible idea, but even he couldn't detract from the imagery at work there.
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post #11 of 29
1/9/08 at 5:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Justin Clark
My thoughts precisely. But even the bizarre final third of the film has stuff I really enjoyed, namely, the gravity-bending descent into the sun. Captain Crispy was a horrible idea, but even he couldn't detract from the imagery at work there.
I concur. Ignoring the intellectual effect of a few sequences, some of this movie just captures you and doesn't let go. And screw me, because plenty of it is just fucking scary. When they get on the ship and see flashes of images of the former crew members- that shit haunts my dreams.
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post #12 of 29
1/9/08 at 6:20pm
Thread Starter 
Danny Boyle can make anything look cool and Sunshine only solidifies this statement. Just to get a little off-topic, I'd love to see the guy tackle more sci-fi - sans Alex Garland this time. If Fincher doesn't get around to Rendezvous with Rama, I think Boyle could competently take the reins.

And another thing I was wondering about: why was Fox Searchlight handling this? I guess it's because Searchlight picks up international films, certainly not because of an independent budget.
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post #13 of 29
1/9/08 at 8:02pm
I dug this. Some great visuals. It felt like it could have taken place in the "Alien" universe.
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post #14 of 29
1/9/08 at 9:29pm
This was probably disappointment of the year for me. I love, love, LOVE me some Boyle (I really have to pick up Shallow Grave on DVD as I've just about worn my VHS copy out), but once Sunshine became A Nightmare on Elm St: Freddy Takes the Nostromo, my I totally lost interest.

Quote:
Originally Posted by banacheq
Beautiful movie, totally forgettable.
Agreed 100%. I want so bad to give this a second chance (blown away by the incredibly stunning visuals) via Netflix rental, but the bad taste of Slashy McBlur is still in my mouth.
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post #15 of 29
1/12/08 at 12:41pm
I didn't really have a problem with the third act, myself. It wasn't a perfect idea, really, but I'm unsure how a better climax could have been done easily.
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post #16 of 29
8/10/12 at 11:41pm

Thought I'd revive this thread...John Murphy's score is wonderful, and my distaste for the 3rd act has ceased a lot since the first time I watched it. It's a combination of 2001 and Alien, and while not as great as those films, I've revisited it a lot.

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post #17 of 29
8/10/12 at 11:46pm

The failure of Prometheus makes one appreciate Sunshine in a new way.

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post #18 of 29
8/10/12 at 11:56pm

I still haven't seen Prometheus, but reading reviews, I feel I would compare it more to this than Alien.

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post #19 of 29
8/11/12 at 1:39am

Absolutely. And Sunshine tackles those big questions with far greater success. 

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post #20 of 29
8/11/12 at 6:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Art Decade View Post

The failure of Prometheus makes one appreciate Sunshine in a new way.

 

YES.  I updated another Sunshine thread saying the same thing a few months ago.

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post #21 of 29
8/11/12 at 7:02am

I finally got this movie on bluray (I love the flick and have no problem with the third act - the insane captain is a religious extremist! they ride a city-sized bomb into the sun! whats not to like?!) ...

the disc is actually bugged on certain bluray players (including the PS3), so that the Picture-in-Picture commentary comes on and you CANNOT TURN IT OFF.

 

I struggled with this for a good half hour, my wife remarking upon my technological incompetence, before I gave up and googled it. First hit.

 

(if anyone else encounters this problem, you can call FOX customer support and they'll make arrangements to send you a new disc)

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post #22 of 29
8/11/12 at 7:17am

Absolutely. Sunshine's a hugely  enjoyable film, goofy ending and all. At least its tonal moodswing is a lot more subtly handled than in Prometheus, and essentially keeps to the same ideas it had in the beginning; it's just the 'Deep Fried Mark Strong Slasher Hour' stuff that lets its down, and it's easily forgivable if you don't subscribe to the standard internet movie geek 'black and white expectations' crap.

 

On a side note, ACMI here in Melbourne had one of the space suits from this film on display for a few months. It was every bit as cool-looking in real life as in the film, and testament to the movie's marvellous design work.

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post #23 of 29
8/11/12 at 7:38am

I've been a huge Sunshine supporter since the beginning. I think it's a remarkably effective film. You really get a sense of just how far out they've traveled, how big the stakes are and the awe of coming face to face with the sun itself. It makes sense that the farther from civilization humans get and closer they are to the primordial god that is the sun, their psychology comes under strain, and some lose all perspective and even their sanity. Give me a giant ball of fire over an unmasked Space Jockey any day: it's dealing with the same themes and ideas as Prometheus, but tackles them in a far more interesting and cohesive manner. Mark Strong's villain is extremely creepy, and I'm not sure I can even think of another way the film could have ended.

 

The music is fantastic, and the shield repair sequence is one of the best pieces of film from the last five years. So much about this movie is elegantly handled and fantastically inventive (the very idea of a sunsuit is frightening). The sound of the Icarus One beacon is perfectly unnerving. Great sound design!

 

"It was beautiful..."

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post #24 of 29
8/11/12 at 10:23am

I said it in the other thread, but in addition to handling the Big Ideas better, the contrast between the handling of Chris Evans' character and Charlize Theron's (who I think gives a good performance with the scraps she's given) really makes Prometheus look shitty.

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post #25 of 29
8/11/12 at 11:36am

It's a shame that people decided Prometheus was the film worthy of numerous dissertations, while Sunshine gets shrugged off as the one with the lousy third act.

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post #26 of 29
8/11/12 at 12:35pm

If only it had been produced as an Alien prequel.  Heheheh

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post #27 of 29
8/11/12 at 1:51pm

Either way, Benedict Wong is gettin' paid.

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post #28 of 29
8/11/12 at 4:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Art Decade View Post

Either way, Benedict Wong is gettin' paid.

 

With HANDJOBS!!!

 

I love the Wong-arc between Sunshine and Prometheus.

 

He fucks up big time, but gets to redeem himself in a blaze of dumb glory!

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post #29 of 29
8/11/12 at 5:51pm

Then, of course, there's this:
 

700700

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