So I saw "Sunshine"...

[JacksonArcher]

And yeah, my sentiments are probably going to mirror most of those who have seen the film and posted them months and months ago.

Still. The film had a lot going for it. It had a great concept. A great cast. A great director, writer, and production team. The minds behind 28 Days Later want to make a science-fiction film? Sweet. And for the most part, the results were fantastic. The story was engaging, the characters were engaging, and many of the themes and evolutions of the characters were provocative as well.

But...

....that damn last act. What the friggin' hell! It was like Danny Boyle and Alex Garland took a page directly out of Event Horizon. I half-expected to start hearing Sam Neill's voice. The ending almost redeemed the last twenty or so minutes, but the film builds from this fantastic character-driven story with stunning visuals to a straight-out horror film. The transition is sloppy, needless and comes completely out of nowhere. It seriously dampened my enjoyment of the flick. I was going to give it high marks -- as possibly the best science-fiction film in a long while -- but that last act nearly ruined it for me.

Can anyone explain why the film deviates as so?

P.S. The score by John Murphy -- pure brilliance. One of the redeeming qualities about the film. I managed to download it and I've been listening to it ever since. Pure artistry.

 

[James Bond]

I couldn't agree more with your review. I loved Sunshine, but the psycho-slasher last act almost ruined the film for me. Fortunately, the rest of the film was so brilliant, that it managed to hold on, and come out on top.

 

[Faldor]

I couldn't stand sunshine, it was appalling. if you want to do what Danny Boyle described as 'hardcore science fiction' then do so. Don't make a film about the sun being on the blink and flying up to it with a bomb to jump start it.

I found the characters to be pretty bland and silly, and the fact one managed to turn the ship around but not the shields so everything broke was just... weak plotting.

shame really because it had so much potential.

 

[Ethros]

Trek BBS Law #54563-
All who see the movie Sunshine must make their own new thread on the matter, and make the sentiments it was great until the third act where it turned into Event Horizon

 

[Mutara Nebula 1967]

Despite the ending it is one of the best sci fi movies to come along in ages.
I even saw it twice at the theatre and that is something I almost never do anymore. Very well done.

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

Trek BBS Law #54563-
All who see the movie Sunshine must make their own new thread on the matter, and make the sentiments it was great until the third act where it turned into Event Horizon

Right up there with FIREFLY/SERENITY sequel rumors.

 

[Scout101]

Or the random "well, just watched Firefly for the first time" thread about every other month...

 

[davejames]

I couldn't stand sunshine, it was appalling. if you want to do what Danny Boyle described as 'hardcore science fiction' then do so. Don't make a film about the sun being on the blink and flying up to it with a bomb to jump start it.

I found the characters to be pretty bland and silly, and the fact one managed to turn the ship around but not the shields so everything broke was just... weak plotting.

shame really because it had so much potential.

Agreed. I didn't care for the FIRST three-fourths of the movie either. I'm all for quiet, introspective scifi dramas (I didn't actually mind the Solaris remake)... but this one was all style and zero substance.

 

[firehawk12]

This, and Mission to Mars, went for the 2001 feel. Personally, I don't mind procedural SF. It works for me anyway... but yep, when it went stupid crazy, it was kind of annoying... but maybe it's because I hate horror/monster movies.

 

[FalTorPan]

I finally watched Sunshine last night, and... I liked it. It isn't a great movie, but it's an enjoyable movie.

 

[Ethros]

^ Dude, don't you know the rules?
You should have made a new thread for that comment, and said the ending reminded you of Event Horizon

 

[Admiral_Young]

I loved "Sunshine" up until the damn final act where it swerved from a fantastic science fiction film in the tradition of "2001" and became suddenly a horror film trying to make somekind of statement on God. At least that is how I took the ending to be...faith and God and all of that stuff. The final scene though makes up for the mess that is the final act...but the first half of the movie...fucking awesome.

 

[mr.peany]

Yeah just saw this movie the other day, brilliant. Except for the final act. Was it just me or did it remind anyone of Event Horizon?

Perhaps a new thread should be started to discuss this matter further.

 

[Dream]

Ugh. If I never hear again about how great Sunshine is in the first half of the movie and how much it sucks in the final act it'll be too soon.

 

[mr.peany]

Ugh. If I never hear again about how great Sunshine is in the first half of the movie and how much it sucks in the final act it'll be too soon.

In all seriousness, the final act didn't bother me that much at all. Sure, it wasn't what I expected, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. People harp on it a bit too much. Was it cliched? Yeah. Did it detract from the overall quality of the film? Not so much. IMO, of course.

 

[FalTorPan]

Ugh. If I never hear again about how great Sunshine is in the first half of the movie and how much it sucks in the final act it'll be too soon.

In all seriousness, the final act didn't bother me that much at all. Sure, it wasn't what I expected, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. People harp on it a bit too much. Was it cliched? Yeah. Did it detract from the overall quality of the film? Not so much. IMO, of course.

I think the movie was fairly good all the way through, although the story could have been much better had there been no Icarus I/Pinbacker subplot at all.

On an unrelated note, when I heard the first reference to "Pinbacker," I half-expected Icarus' computer to inform him that it was time to feed the alien.

 

[the_wildcard]

Trek BBS Law #54563-
All who see the movie Sunshine must make their own new thread on the matter, and make the sentiments it was great until the third act where it turned into Event Horizon

Hahaha, you can hear the cliche "errrrzzzzzruhp" sound of a record scratching when the movie changes direction.

 

[Admiral_Young]

People harp on the second half of the movie because in all honesty it comes out of no where, has nothing to do with their mission, and seems placed there in order to create some action where there isn't a need for any. I was taking in "Sunshine" as a visual spectacle...if you needed to throw in some tense dramatic moments you could've done so without having it turn into a damn horror flick. The mission in its self was pretty damn tense to me...

 

[Twilight]

First 90% of the movie: love love loved it.

Last 10%: WTF? Why is there a crispy monster ruining the final act of this otherwise awesome movie?


I prefer the merciful interpretation that the "villain" in the end of the film never in fact existed, and was purely imagined by the crew in their "descent into madness". I know that's a shlocky interpretation and probably not what was actually intended, but it makes the movie a tad better.


And yes, the Murphy score is brilliant. I recommend the soundtrack to all - you can hear all of it on YouTube, in fact.

 

[Admiral_Young]

^ That would work except for the fact that they had physical contact with the deranged Captain. Is the soundtrack even available to buy yet? Last time I heard there were rights problems for release in Region One or something like that.