Ad Astra

Ad Astra is about as art house as Hollywood cinema gets; disguising a metaphysical drama as an action-packed sci-fi adventure is a clever move for James Gray. While not perfect, its consistently entertaining whilst offering an introspective investigation on how parents influence their children. While a journey to the outer realms of our solar system, Ad Astra is also an exploration of the human heart.

• Charlie David Page

Read Charlie's full article... https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-ad-astra-a-luscious-and-meticulous-space-drama

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I love sci-fi space movies, especially when these depict the cosmos in such a visually stunning manner as Ad Astra does. Its one of those films where the visuals elevate whatever narrative is being told. If you dont get goosebumps or get excited with the opening sequence of this movie, then it might not be the film youre looking for. From the quiet but powerful sound design to the impressive cinematography, James Gray delivers a visually captivating story with an outstanding protagonist. Brad Pitt is definitely getting tons of nominations this awards season (lets not forget his amazing role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood).

His subtle yet incredibly emotional perf...

Despite some utterly absurd diversions (chase scene! horror scene! shoot-out scene!), this is a quality science-fiction narrative, suggesting the answers we seek in the stars are actually found within

macte nova virtute, puer, sic itur ad astra, dis genite et geniture deos.

• Publius Vergilius Maro; Aeneis (29-19 BC)

N = R · fp · ne · fl · fi · fc · L

where:

N = The number of civilisations in the Milky Way whose electromagnetic emissions are detectable (i.e. which are on our current past light cone).

R = The average rate of the formation of stars.

fp = The fraction of stars with planetary systems.

_ne = The average number of planets, per star with planetary systems, with an environment sui...

I like quiet moments in big action/sci-fi type movies. The family sitdown at Avengers Tower in Age of Ultron is probably the best part of that movie. The contemplative moments of John Wick are what make that character who he is. What is a little more odd, however, is when a quiet, reflective drama, is broken up by moments of big action/sci-fi type sequences. Ad Astra is certainly the latter. The majority of Ad Astra's runtime is taken up by Brad Pitt narrating environmental cosmic shots, or having quiet conversations about his father, or his mood. Then suddenly! Space pirates! It's unusual, and I don't know that it really works. Ad Astra is something different, and if that's all you're looking for, by all means, give it a chance, bu...

Ad Astra galactically depicts sorrow, proving that no one can hear you cry in space. For the past few years, dramas set in the expansive dangers of space have been my bread and butter. Devouring them during my annual breakfast as I purposefully starve myself for the taste of space traversal. Every year, the likes 'Arrival', 'Blade Runner 2049', 'First Man', 'Interstellar' and my all-time favourite film 'Gravity', have secured scores ranging from outstanding to perfect. Whilst Ad Astra may be tilting towards the former adjective, it's still irrefutably one of the best films of the year thanks to Gray's understanding, yet again, of what makes a character study captivating. After unearthing the possibility that his missing father may still be ...

• Meh.

Work hard, play later.

Once a year ever since Gravity was released, we seem to get new stories about the voyage of space where certain characters do not go gentle into that good night.

I wasnt wowed over the trailers for Ad Astra, because when you work at a cinema and spent most of your day watching trailers, well trust me when I say this didnt stand out from the rest. I originally thought it was about saving the world or something like that. For what it didnt advertise was a slow burn sci-fi movie thats on the same level as Blade Runner 2049 and the emotional side as First Man. A personal story told through a first person narrative about unresolved issues from past relationship.

Basically an art house movie with a huge budget.

...

I really did like some moments in this movie. Some of the action was intense. The pacing went from quiet movements focusing on the protagonist internal struggle to intense chaotic external action. This repeated several times throughout the movie. These undulating beats made the movie predictable and unsurprising.

While visually stunning this movie left me feeling disapointed.

Ad Astra is one of the most cerebral sci-fi films Ive ever seen. The original story from writer / director James Gray gives an intimate look at the emotional toll that comes from being just one man lost among the stars in the vastness of space. Its like a more existential version of Terrence Maliks Tree of Life, but set in the outer reaches of our galaxy.

Roy McBride (Brad Pitt), an astronaut with nerves of steel, travels to Neptune to find his missing hero astronaut father (Tommy Lee Jones). As part of a top secret mission, Roy begins to unravel a mystery and uncover truths that may threaten the survival of Earth. This may sound like a blockbuster action thriller, but its not. Instead, the film is an emotionally complex introspective ab...

This movie had some decent actors, sadly the story was disappointing and quite slow. This would be a good option for those nights when you just can't fall asleep.

One of the most emotionally impacting films I've ever seen. With its amazing cinematography and great performances it won me over.

It is hard to write anything positive about Ad Astra but I shall try.: it does look great; the visual effects are unique in their brilliance and application, except, perhaps, for Star Trek, Star Wars, Mars, Starship Troopers, Battlestar Gallactica (you name it! ). The film moves along with the pace of a an elephant trudging through fudge (or something of a similar colour) and by about half an hour in, I found myself considering the cardinal sin of the cinema - looking at my phone for messages I knew I hadn't received since sitting down. As ever with these kind of films, I am grateful that their box office viability helps cinemas to stay afloat in times when many prefer to watch on their televisions at home; but aside from this tangential be...

I should have stayed away when I heard some of the interviews about it... but I didn't.

If they had dropped the budget and not taken it so seriously, it actually would have been a fun albeit ridiculous space adventure. It really had all the makings for campy Science Fiction fun. The potential was there.

But, instead, the film took itself too seriously... so seriously that kind of lost the fun element behind it. And it took itself seriously because of the political message attached to it, and unfortunately it's kind of directed towards the "everything has to be political all the time" crowd and they take everything so seriously that nothing can be fun.

But the potential was there. It wasn't dark enough to be Sci-Fi Horror ala Alien....