Interstellar

[GP*]

If there's already a thread for this, my apologies.

 

The film has been out for a while now -- what did everyone think? Personally I loved it...but my wife did not!

 

I grew up reading all sorts of math and physics books for fun, so it was "right up my alley." There were some holes (pun intended) in the plot when it came to the physics, but much of it was very well done. In my opinion, anything that raises awareness for the sciences (and even space travel) is a good thing, especially among our youth.

 

Thoughts? Opinions?

[taleks]

I didn't like it, cause I love science fiction and expected more of it. IMHO, Interstellar is yet another melodramatic film, not science fiction in its core, space is just a decoration.

From my point of view there was less action in Gravity, than soap opera in Interstellar. And I think there was TOO much action in Gravity.

I don't like that stance: you should cry at that point. Too much pathos.

 

There are good points, e.g.exploration of different planetes with different characteristics (icy planet, water covered planet), some relations to common theory of relativity, first 40-50 minutes of film have strong storyline and adequate reasoning of personage actions. Too predictable plot for the rest of film, although there are some nice twists in story.

 

To sum up, it is one-time-to-watch film for me. It is not bad, certainly good graphics, ideas and attention to details is good enough. Although some mentioned holes in the physics really irritate me.

It is solid film. Without doubts better than average AAA title, but I didn't like it for mentioned above reasons.

There were too few films related to space and science fiction (with accent on science) lately, thus it is worth to watch it and support with money to show other directors and cinema studios that it is profitable niche.

[Bearcat]

I liked it. It was kinf of thought provoking to me... sort of an if... then... kind of thought provoking. It definitely had some holes as far as the science goes.

[Finkeren]

My reaction was a resounding 'meh!'. I halfway enjoyed it in the theatre, but in retrospect it was neither very good sci-fi nor very good storytelling though the cinematography was the usual Nolan standard (which is very high)

 

A couple of things that really bugged me:

 

The 'unlikely hero' story arc: This is a common trope in Hollywood, in fact it's one of the worst and most illogical ones, and it's particularly agregious in this movie. You mean to tell me, that NASA has been planning this mission for years on end training and preparing dozens of potential space pilots, but then they suddenly realize, that this retired space shuttle crew member with no practical experience beyond that one failed launch, who has been working as a farmer for the last couple of decades, is just what they need to lead the mission on which the future of humanity hinges? Really?

 

Almost no thought is given to the fact, that humanity apparently destroyed the planet and rather than trying to salvage it is now looking for a new world to exploit and destroy. This practically makes humanity the same as the aliens in 'Independence Day' as far as motivation goes. It's made even more insulting by the fact, that the interviews with old people you see in the beginning are not staged for the movie but are from a real life documentary about the Dust Bowl in the 1930s - an entirely man-made ecological disaster. In the entire movie we see no animals beyond humans and no plants other than crops. No lament for the home we destroyed. Insulting to say the least.

 

The third thing that annoyed me is another common trope: The scientists who act nothing like scientists, stumble around like Indiana Jones in an ancient temple and apparently know nothing about their field, except when it suits the plot. I mean: You have a planet orbiting the edge of a black hole and not one of you were able to guess that since there was water there'd be huge tidal waves? Even I could see that coming from a mile away. Yet somehow, when it suits the plot, they're all friggin' geniuses, especially mister I-have-been-farmer-for-decades-and-should-really-not-be-qualified-to-calculate-a-slingshot-maneuver-yet-I-totally-can.

 

The one thing I did enjoy was Matt Damons character and the subplot of deliberately transmitting false positives just to ensure that someone will come pick you up. They should've made that story of human fallability the focus of the entire movie and ended on a sad note with the realisation, that the gravity problem can't be solved, leaving the crew to try to colonize a new hostile planet through their brought pan spermia.