Gregg Schoof

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At first, I wasn’t sure this movie was working for me. It is a little slow moving. If you’re not into mathematics you may initially find it a bit tedious. However, as the story continued it captured my curiosity. Would Derek figure out what the mathematical formulas were saying to him? Would his prof appreciate the genius of her student? Would the UFO of his childhood return yet again? What were the aliens seeking from him or from us? The increasing tension made me hang in there even though there were no creatures, no battles, no abductions as we often see in this film genre. The ending is satisfying in that it proposes a legitimate reason why aliens may not just land in front of the White House and say “take me to your leader.” They simply may see us as a race worth watching and testing but not anywhere near ready to join a yet to be created “Federation of Planets.” In their view we’re just in our infancy, technologically and intellectually. Generations may pass before the time is right.

I knew this movie was going to be “out there” but I never expected so much of Emma Stone’s anatomy to be needlessly exposed. It’s not a pleasant experience. The film started as an interesting homage to Frankenstein meets The Island of Dr. Moreau and I wish they would have pursued that further. Instead, it quickly descended into an overly wrought, lengthy and gratuitous exploration of Emma’s character finding her sexuality, in every possible, no-holes-barred way. I thought it would never end. IMO this twist was totally unnecessary for the story. It definitely was too long. Actually, it diminished what could have been a far more interesting plot. However, it may serve Stone’s apparent professional need to bare it all for shock value and publicity. In the process she lost my prior respect for her acting abilities. She should be embarrassed that she lowered herself to this level. This is definitely not a film for kids and it’s questionable whether adults should waste their time and money to see it. It’s a pointless, tasteless and twisted film that demonstrates why so many people question Hollywood’s motives and diminishing moral boundaries. In the end the film got Emma on several late night talk shows and Saturday Night Live, a program that has seen better days. Perhaps that’s all she cares about and maybe she too has seen better in her now tarnished career.

I enjoy the interaction between cast members and the tension taking place in space and on Earth. Rather than the typical monster in space sci fi story, this movie realistically shows the possible tension of space travel and its impact on individuals, families and within NASA itself. The actors are superb, including younger cast members. The story is compelling and thought provoking. It’s Apollo 13 with an international twist, as well as an examination of how a diverse crew might struggle with cultural, psychological and technical challenges a mission to Mars may someday present.