(Movie) Spaced Out....a look at Interstellar

A pair of gents by the name of Connor and Ethan recently recommended this movie to me after we got talking about space and science and all sorts of nerdy things.

So, having come back to reviewing, I figured I would show them not only what I'm capable of, but what I thought of their recommendation. 

Here we go! 

Story: A former pilot leaves a dying planet in hopes of finding the people who were trying to find habitable planets in another part of the universe.

A gross oversimplification to be sure, but that is the summation of the story. Nice and simple, right?

Wrong! 

This is a Christopher Nolan movie. If you've seen Memento, Inception or the Dark Knight trilogy, you know that this movie is not going to be easy to follow.

Let's get the negatives out of the way, first.

1. The story is somewhat weak. I only found out what was truly going on halfway through the film.
2. They spent way too much time focusing on Cooper and Murph's relationship. Not to say that it didn't warrant it, considering how important it is to the movie, but I felt that it could have been handled better.
3. The writers for this film treat the audience like idiots. Andrew Stanton from Pixar will tell you, "Give them 2 + 2. let them figure out the rest." I felt like I was being talked down to and that's the last thing you want from your audience.

With that said, from what I understand, the science is pretty spot on. I also like the poetry that Michael Caine quotes (Fun fact: That poem is the basis for the Rundown/Welcome to the Jungle. Not just a pretty action movie.) The poem, by Dylan Thomas, is a perfect representation of the state of humanity and the hope that it holds on these adventurers.

Also, Matt Damon needs to stop getting lost. First it's behind enemy lines, now it's TWICE in space.

Cinematography: Like all of Nolan's films, Interstellar is visually impressive. From the lighting, to the camera angles (Key one being when it's attached to what appears to be a crashing prototype plane of some sort,) to the framing of the vast uninhabited planets that they visit.

My only gripe for this section is TARS. WHAT THE HECK EVEN IS THAT THING!? It looks clanky, impractical and makes me think of Robin Williams if you took all the humour out and turned him into a discount Rubik's cube.

Everything else, from the corn fields to that weird book room in the heart of the black hole is visually astounding.

Audio: The music for this felt as though it picked a fight with the dialogue so instead of having a decent conversation with the audience, they tried to talk over the top of each other.

Now, I'm not sure if it's just my ears, but sometimes it feels as though the dialogue is a little too soft.

With these things in mind, I enjoyed the score and felt it added to the movie's overall atmosphere. It gives you this sense of adventure and the overall innocence that comes with discovery.

Overall: While I had my grievances, I did enjoy Interstellar. As a lover of space, I felt I grew to know it a little bit better for watching this film.

I'm going to give it 4 stars.


Something I didn't explain before is that Connor and Ethan are missionaries with the intent of travelling to places to spread the word of God. A great cause, to be sure, but one that doesn't come cheap. 

If you'd like to support them, I've left links below so that you can help them out. They're good blokes and I'd like to see them get to where they need to go.

Connor and his wife Alix are headed to Greece and Germany and Ethan is going to Cambodia and Hong Kong.

Please support them if you can.


https://www.youcaring.com/connor-and-alix-bruson-391046
https://secure.ywamnewcastle.com/product/student-paymentdonation/