Sunshine: A Bright Future
Sunday, August 12th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
That is exactly what we WON’T be having, according to the makers of Sunshine. Imagine how the world will be 50 years from now. Much the same? Well, how about a century from now? Have not given it much thought. Mostly, the human race might not be there. Or maybe we will be like The Jetsons. This thought has fueled the imagination of countless film makers and one thing they all seem to agree upon is that it’s not getting much better. Films like The Matrix tell us how the machines are going to make us their slaves. Movies like Minority Report tell us that the world will become more of a global village. Then there are movies like Sunshine which tell us that we will be frozen to death.
Rating: 2/5
A still from Sunshine
Danny Boyle has directed a commendable science fiction movie in which the sun is dying. Because of the loss of the sun’s energy, the earth is dying too-there is no oxygen, no light and hence, no hope. In such a crisis, the world unites and sends a ship on a mission to the sun – to re-ignite the dying embers and give light to the suns by means of a nuclear bomb. This ship, Icarus I, is going to create a déjà vu for our solar system by replaying the big bang; only, it won’t be so big. So all the nations pool in their best people and resources because if this does not work, they are doomed. Unfortunately, the ship looses contact with earth and is basically lost in space. 7 years after this catastrophe, they once again muster all they got for a last try. This time, Icarus II is filled with an assortment of people.
Cillian Murphy, Benedict Wong, Chris Evans, Hiroyuki Sanada, Troy Garity, Michelle Yeoh, Rose Byrne in Sunshine
Kaneda (Sanada) is the captain of this mission. He finds his front man in Mace (Chris Evans). Then there is Cassie (Byrne), who is the softie and Corazon (Yeoh), who is in charge of the oxygen garden on the ship. Since these guys will be together for around 8 years, there is bound to be a lot of pent up frustration. For this purpose, they have their very own psychiatrist Searle (Curtis). These and a couple of other round off this team of eight. Once the ship reaches Mercury, they lose contact with earth. Around the same time, they start getting distress signals from the Icarus I. In a fix, they don’t know what to do. They elect to go ahead with the mission but then problems in their ship force them to go in search of the Icarus I (Event Horizon, anyone?). Here, there is a complete turn about and as all sci-fi thrillers go, there is a murder rampage and then there were none scenario is on.
Michelle Yeoh in Sunshine
About the film, well, there is no denying the special effects and the cinematography, which is striking and realistic. Even the character development is skillfully done with the eccentricities of all the characters and the inner tensions within the team. The pace too is maintained. Its only when the thriller quotient comes in that you felt is forced. I mean, till a certain point it all makes sense, but then it goes on a complete tangent and become predictable like every other movie in its genre.
Chris Evans, Rose Byrne in Sunshine
Though the climax is a little disappointing, the film is worth at least a watch and sci-fi fans will be happy with this one.
Rating: 2/5
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