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by Ira

A Little Too Bright (2008-02-18)

Sunshine is a good movie. I spent most of the time being confused, but many folks will tell you that I'm prone to such things. The acting, pacing and story were stong, but a little too convoluted. Danny Boyle, the director behind 28 days, tried a little too hard on this one. Not a bad rental, but not sharp enough for a rooster.

Brilliant Sci Fi Film... (2009-07-28)

An absorbing, ingenious film that has many multiple watching hours within it. A not too distant future that is sci fi - yet touching on our real paranoid global warming issues and planetary observations. Sunshine is masterfully directed and scripted, deserving a place in the sci fi pantheon with 2001, planet of the apes, alien and Outland.
i have watched it 20+ times and still 'warm' to it everytime!

Highly Under-rated, Deep Movie (2009-07-28)

One of my favorite movies of all time. Suggest that people who enjoy the movie look at some of the deleted scenes on youtube - particularly the end scene between Capa and Pinbacker. Word has it that if they kept that important scene in the movie, it would have been the first time in major motion picture history where the hero character who saves the world is atheist and clearly states it.

One of the Best Sci-fi Movies (2009-07-22)

This was a great movie coupled with a great score. Perhaps one of the best movie scores I have ever heard. It definitely carried the movie, especially the last scene and made a sci-fi movie emotional. All the characters in this were great, and you end up caring about what happens to every one of them.

Blu-ray: SUNSHINE' Spots One of the Most Vibrant Looking Films That Sports an Awesome Soundtrack and Hours of Special Features. (2009-07-22)

Director Danny Boyle ("Slumdog Millionaire", "Millions", "28 Days Later", "The Beach" and "Trainspotting") had been inspired by classic sci-fi films such as "Solaris", "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "Alien" and now it was his opportunity to direct his own sci-fi film.

"SUNSHINE" is a British sci-fi film released in theaters back in 2007 and featured a screenplay written by Alex Garland ("28 Days Later" and "The Beach"), music by Underworld ("Vanilla Sky", "The Beach", "Batman & Robin" and "Trainspotting") and cinematography by Alwin H. Kuchler ("Proof", "The Deal" and "Code 46").

The film would revolve around an Earth saving mission set by Earth's Icarus II who have set out towards the sun. Because the sun is dying, Earth has previously sent the crew of the Icarus to detonate an experimental nuclear bomb in order to reignite the sun. But somehow, something happened to the crew of the Icrarus and thus, two-years later, a new crew of the Icarus II need to finish their mission to reignite the sun.

The film would be different than most films as the talent would comprise of International talent which Director Danny Boyle wanted to showcase how mankind has evolved in their space programs. Also, each actor had to go undergo method acting and in the film, the crew of the Icarus II had lived together for 16 months. So, in order to capture that, the talent had to live together and take part in space and scuba training, zero G training, operating a Boeing 747 flight simulator and taking a tour through an actual nuclear submarine. Also, to watch films such as "The Right Stuff" and "For All Mankind" plus researching the effects on a ship's crew while in space .


VIDEO & AUDIO:

"SUNRISE" is one of those films that will be noted for its picture and audio quality. The film is presented on Blu-ray via 1080p High Definition (aspect ratio 2:35:1) with an AVC @ 16MBPS. Although the film takes place in the far reaches of space and there is rarely any interaction with anyone outside the ship, simply as this film is not a "Star Wars" or "Star Trek" type of film, each time Icarus or its crew are shown near the sun or interacting with the sun to crew walking through the corridors, colors are well-utilized.

Despite being in space, there is great use of certain colors, not through clothing design but through various lighting. The sun showcases the amber orange and reds, while the corridors and engine or oxygen planting areas showcase blues and greens. Blacks are nice and deep and overall, picture quality is solid. There is grain seen through the film but I would rather have film grain than overuse of DNR and this film looking soft.

As for audio, awesome utilization of audio. Great use of the front channels for the Underworld score, center channels for dialogue, LFE is heavily used throughout the film and surround channels are quite immersive. Overall, the DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack for "SUNSHINE" is exceptional and you literally hear the audio all around you.

The film is also presented in English, Spanish and French Dolby Digital 5.1.

As for subtitles, "SUNSHINE" is presented with English SDH, English, Spanish, Cantonese and Korean subtitles.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

"SUNSHINE" comes with quite a number of special features. Include are:

* Commentary by Director Danny Boyle - An entertaining commentary in which Director Danny Boyle talks about the visual and audio experience of the film and setting up certain scenes and what he wanted the talent to accomplish.
* Commentary by Dr. Brian Cox, The University of Manchester - A scientific commentary by Dr. Brian Cox who was a science consultant for the film and discusses which scenes are real to science and the scenes that are more or less not possible and made for the purpose of the film's story.
* Deleted Scenes - Featuring optional commentary by Danny Boyle - Featuring optional commentary with Director Danny Boyle, a total of 12 deleted scenes including an alternate ending which are featured in two major parts. Here is what is included:

1. PART 1 - Play Chess "It Really Takes It Out of You"
2. PART 1 - Washing carrots in the oxygen garden
3. PART 1 - Coolant Redirection
4. PART 1 - Cooking
5. PART 1 - Wake-Up
6. PART 2 - Demolished Oxygen Garden
7. PART 2 - Searle Meets Capa
8. PART 2 - In Deeper Space Than We Are
9. PART 2 - Prepping for Docking
10. PART 2 - Rough Docking Procedure
11. PART 2 - Fight and Then We Die
12. PART 2- Alternate Ending

* Web Production Diaries - Featuring a total of 22 web production diaries (ranging from 2-5 minutes long). Featuring interviews with Director Danny Bole, the cast and crew and involvement with "SUNSHINE", especially the training and experience the cast had to go through. You can play all or watch each web production diary separately. Included are:

1. Danny Boyle Introduction
2. Danny
3. Zero G Flight
4. Cillian
5. PRe Viz
6. Science of the Sun
7. Hiroyuki
8. Troy Garity Harvey Introduction
9. Voice of Icarus
10. Michelle and Oxygen Garden
11. Anita Screens
12. Alwin Kuchler
13. Cliff Curtis
14. Bumps and Stunts
15. Benny
16. The Science of Space Travel Physiology
17. Space Suit
18. Rose Intro
19. Love Letters
20. Chris Evans
21. VFX
22. Big Bangs
23. The Science of Sun Death

* Short Films -(7:35) Two short films which include "Dad's Head" directed by Chris Shepherd and "Mole Hills" directed by Dan Arnold. Director Danny Boyle talks about how he likes to utilize short films on special features and give these shorts some recognition.
* A Brilliant Vision: Enhanced Viewing Mode with the Filmmakers of Sunshine - This feature is only for Blu-ray players that have picture-in-picture enabled and during the playback of the film, people can watch various behind-the-scenes footage and interviews. (note: If your Blu-ray player is set to bitstream, you will need to manually change the audio to LPCM to get audio for the picture-in-picture segments). Included are:

1. Icarus Kitchen
2. Designing Icarus/Kaneda's Room
3. Zero Gravity Rehearsal
4. Oxygen Garden Fire
5. Stunt Jump Through Space
6. Cast Preparing for the Film
7. Pinbacker's Makeup
8. Mace Fixes Mainframe
9. Space Suits
10. Payload Shutdown

* Journey Into Sound: Surround Sound Enhancement - This feature is only for Blu-ray players that have picture-in-picture enabled and allows the viewer to manipulate the dialogue from four different scenes: Searle in observation room, Capa speaks with Icarus, Capa discovers Pinbacker and Capa battles Pinbacker.
* Theatrical Trailer - Included are the theatrical teaser (1:54) and trailer (1:59).
* Fox on Blu-ray

"SUNSHINE" is an interesting film. One one side, it's quite creative of how the scenes are cut, some may find it creative, so may find it annoying.

The storyline is the same. The first half of the film features a clear plot of the crew trying to survive and accomplish their mission, the story switches gears in the second half of the film as it goes from survival film to horror/slasher film.

In a way, when I was watching the film, I was expecting a cross between "2001 and even "Solaris" but the film changed and next thing you know, things just change and everything becomes dark and bleak.

As a Blu-ray release, "SUNSHINE" has so much going for it. Awesome picture and audio quality and hours of special features. But as a film, knowing the kind of films that Danny Boyle has done, I guess you can say that there are surprises in store for the viewer.

But for those expecting a film about a crew trying to defy the odds and survive their mission, as the first half of the film seemed as if "SUNSHINE" was heading that direction, Danny Boyle rips the carpet right under your feet and gives you something different for the second half.

Some may be upset of how the film just changes to a horror/slasher film but I think that for those who enjoy Danny Boyle and Alex Garland's work, it's best to assume that they know quite well of how to change the situations of their films and give us a darker side to the characters or their environment.

With that being said, "SUNSHINE" is such a beautiful film that is meant for a High Definition release and its immersive audio soundtrack enforces that. But it all comes down to the viewer and what they're open to. I personally enjoyed the first half of the film but the second half was not what I was expecting and thus, became disappointed because of the change of direction. But I should have known better, knowing that Director Danny Boyle was at the helm, Boyle is one of the top director's known for his film and surprising audiences. So, it's never good to feel that the characters will always be safe and there always has to be some sort of uneasiness on the viewer's part that bad things are more than likely going to happen.

And those who appreciate Boyle's previous work and want a near perfect transfer of the film, will definitely enjoy this Blu-ray release. "SUNSHINE" is one of those love it or hate it films. It's hard to deny a film that looks and sounds great and comes with so many special features and all that went on behind-the-scenes. This is a solid Blu-ray release but it all comes down to a person's overall view of the film and how they take it all in.

But I do feel that fans who appreciate and love Danny Boyle's work will definitely enjoy this film and this Blu-ray release.

Great!! (2009-07-16)

Interesting to see how people could live in space and have it all be self containing.

also what it does to the human mind.

plus cillian murphy rules.

How Does a Movie This Well Done Not Get Noticed? (2009-07-16)

Science vs Movie; Folks, Please, it's a movie. Where the science strays from "reality" is neccessary for cinematic purposes. That's good. It's not a documentary. The combination of great cast, Danny Boyle and excellant behind the scenes work make for a visually stunning, thought provoking spiritual journey even for scientists, like me. I'm not sure that a scientist can criticize this film from a scientific perspective. We are far from understanding the science neccessary to approach the theme of this film. However, as a film, it's another excellant piece of work by Danny Boyle et al. Enjoy the wonder!

Ain't No Sunshine In This Movie, Unfortunately (2009-07-04)

Sunshine's plot is Armageddon meets Alien, where the sun is dying, you have to get a bomb to restart it, then a creature comes and messes the whole thing up, making an already hard job, that much harder. Chillian Murphy is as good as always, but really the standout actor/character in this film is Chris Evans, who audience might know from the "Fantastic 4" series of films, and here he plays a brave and logical engineer, who in my opinion, really elevates the movie.

Sure, the rest of the crew are idiots from going off track with the mission, chasing an extra bomb that may, or may not work, but you're into it, aside from most of the character's sheer stupidity. But making the characters not that bright in seeing the potential consequences that could happen, it's like they're almost asking for something to go wrong. It's not enough that it turns into a suicide mission, but due to a insane madman that wanders onboard, it turns very badly, with people being murdered left and right. And yes, the critics are right, all the built-up momentum the movie has going for it falls off from here. It's almost like the writer didn't know how to extend the movie, so he put a mad slasher character in there.

To make matters worse, this film is really below Danny Boyle, and if this was the first time you were seeing the work of this fine director, you will be sorely disgusted as my father was. Because, for whatever reason, Boyle feels the need to use slow motion, shaky cam and blur effects whenever the scarred madman is on screen, which is very distracting, not to mention disorienting. Did they not have the budget to show the full figure?

In either case, Sunshine is a good concept gone bad, like the mission shown in the movie. Sure, it has its likable elements, but it just takes the wrong turn, then things start to get ugly. Not to mention it's a pretty forgettable work.

Boyle Channels Tarkovsky and Surprisingly Gets It Right. (2009-07-04)

Sunshine (Danny Boyle, 2007)

I have to say that at the beginning of his career, I loathed Danny Boyle's output. If a movie had his name on it, I could be guaranteed it would be overwrought, overbearing, overacted (thanks to Boyle's overuse of Ewan MacGregor), and overdone, like a soft-boiled egg that cracks when you try to take the shell off. But then, magic happened when Boyle teamed up with Alex Garland, whose first two novels, The Beach and The Tesseract, were turned into films that were at most a pale shadow of the greatness of the books upon which they were based. I don't know what it was about pre-Garland Boyle that attracted the writer, but when they got together, the result was 28 Days Later..., one of the best films of the past decade. Not content with that, the two of them immediately put their heads together again for something a little more up Garland's alley, the sci-fi picture Sunshine.

The story revolves around a group of scientists sent into space to try and revive the sun, which is slowly burning itself out. A previous team had been sent to do the same job, but were never heard from again, and this batch are the Earth's last hope before the sun becomes too weak to sustain life on Earth. While there is no real main character--this is pretty much the definition of an ensemble cast--recognizable faces in the crowd will include Cillian Murphy (28 Days Later...), Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), Rose Byrne (Wicker Park), Benedict Wong (Dirty Pretty Things), and Cliff Curtis (Whale Rider), though that is by no means an exhaustive list. As the crew drifts through space on their course towards the sun, interpersonal tensions begin to take hold, aided by a ship's computer that may or may not be entirely objective. Things come to a head when a major discovery in space (we'd be getting far into spoiler country) changes things overnight and puts the entire crew in danger.

Astute viewers will recognize a number of different allusions in that plot synopsis, most notably to Alien and Solaris. The movie does reference both of them, as well as Event Horizon, but it never fails to be its own movie. Because it's an ensemble movie in which not much happens during the first half, the entire success or failure of the film lies in its cast, and as you can tell, the cast here is a strong one. Once the pace picks up in the second half, the case remains strong, but the success of the movie is transferred over to the script; Garland is, of course, as fine a scriptwriter as he is a novelist, and there is no failure in that regard either. Those looking for an action-packed sci-fi thriller would be best advised to either revise their expectations or look elsewhere, but if you're interested in a thoughtful film chock full of excellent characters and well-constructed incidents, Sunshine is worth your time. Check it out. *** ½

The Best Sci-fi Thriller Since ALIENS (2009-06-28)

SUNSHINE is another excellent film from director Danny Boyle, which is as exciting as it is visually arresting. Almost every shot in the film looks like it could be a beautiful painting. SUNHINE is also a very intense "edge of your seat" type of thriller. It borrows a lot of elements from the first Alien movie and Boyle's influence is very apparent if you are familiar with his previous film 28 DAYS LATER. I would highly recommend SUNSHINE to anyone who wants an intelligent and exciting cinematic experience to add to their library.