Michael's Movie Grade: B
A very entertaining sci-fi disaster movie from China.
Though this film's premise is very similar to that of many other Sci-Fi disaster movies, including disasters that may easily destroy the Earth (here the sun is about to burn out), where the movie really shines is that it has a stronger emotional connection for us than most similar films do. A major part of this movie's plot is about a man trying to bring back his dead daughter through technology. This part is handled beautifully and is not only very emotionally involving but also quite thought provoking. It is fascinating to stop and think about the implications of this and whether or not this is something moral, or whether or not this would still be the same daughter that had died. There are many scenes with him interacting for a few minutes with a version of his daughter on a computer screen. These scenes are heartbreaking, while also giving the audience an uneasy feeling. An incredible scene comes when one of his friends notices him talking to his dead daughter on the screen and at first unsure of how to react to this. Yet in every scene dealing with this we can feel and understand the pain he is feeling. Honestly if this where the whole movie, I would have given it an "A." There is another subplot involving a man having to leave behind his child and dying wife, when he is stationed off planet. While this subplot is not hugely developed, it is easy to relate to and can tug on your heart strings. This movie also does a great job at world building and making this sci-fi world seem real. The technology and how it works is explained quite well and much of it is very imaginative and interesting. Also adding in the social issues of this world and how others react to it (protestors against much of the technology is very prevalent), also makes this world feel more real, while adding some pretty good social commentary that reflects similar issues today (such as machines taking people's jobs).
The action scenes here are fine but hardly stand out. They do their job well and provide some exciting moments. However they feel very similar to action scenes in other movies and in many of those films they are even better. There is nothing really wrong with these scenes, it is just that they aren't going to stick in your mind much after the movie is over.
This movie is near three hours long and there is no reason for it to be that long. There are times when the film can really drag and moments that simply don't add much to the story. This movie also has too many characters. Because of this, a few of them come across as really interesting and relatable, while others are simply bland and one-dimensional. Because of this too, many of the characters will simply run together in your mind as you watch the film.
This is a well made movie and will delight fans of Sci-Fi.
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