Sunshine - B+

In theaters. Rated R, 108 minutes.

Sunshine opens ominously and doesn't lighten the mood for 108 minutes. The Icarus II is a spaceship headed toward the dying sun with a massive nuclear bomb onboard - the plan is to reignite it in order to save mankind. If it sounds like Armageddon, but with the sun instead of an asteroid, that's because its the same basic plot. Sunshine, however, turns out to be a visual tour-de-force with a mood and mystic overtones that I enjoyed.

Director Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, Millions, 28 Days Later) is at the top of his game conquering the sci-fi genre. The crew features several usual characters, with standout performances by Cillian Murphy (bad guy from Batman Returns) and Chris Evans (Flame-guy from the Fantastic 4 movies) as a jaunty physicist and duty bound 'flyboy', respectively. I typically don't like sci-fi movies, but the existential issues and reality based dialogue saved this one from the junk pile.

The relationship of humanity with the sun is a subtle backdrop for the film, with the character's being fascinated and some worshipping the sun. The tone of the film is heavy, because the characters know they are sacrificing themselves for the mission, and the modern instrumental music used is pitch-perfect for maintaining the mood. The first hour is great, an A-, but the last 48 minutes is a B because Boyle couldn't sustain the philosophical feel and import to the film in the third act.

The movie owes a debt to 2001: A Space Odyssey and Alien, the former for its visual framework and Hal-like computer voice and the latter for its claustrophobic space feel. The visuals dictate that this one be seen in the theater, maybe even an IMAX.

Viewing note: Standing next to generic bluetooth guy at the urinal after the movie, it was apparent that he and his similarly situated buddy in the stall next to him both hated the movie because "nothing happened". Question of the day: Why would anyone need to be wearing a bluetooth at 9:30 on a Saturday night (let alone ever)?