Can you believe it’s been 6 years since the release of Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar? Yes, the director already released his 2020 project, Tenet but Interstellar remains one of his finest works to date. It has also been a bit over 4 years since No Man’s Sky was released. The development was quite a journey. For reference, do check out Internet Historian’s retrospective.
Interstellar And Space Exploration
But interstellar travel was already on my agenda. Before my post about Interstellar. I’ve had a post solely about movies that contain Space exploration in the plot (make sure to check it out). Oh, and posts that feature some aspects of it. Like space stations and special space grafts. Take a look at them here.
And you know which video game brought us to Interstellar? The one and only No Man’s Sky. Yes, the No Man’s Sky video game is just a few years younger than Interstellar but just as good and interesting. And yes, both of them share plenty of similarities. Which is why we’ve selected both of them for our next post.
Space Exploration In Both Interstellar And No Man’s Sky
And that’s what was so appealing about No Man’s Sky and Interstellar. Both of them offer space exploration, and survival but in very different settings. And while I’m at it, let me just mention that No Man’s Sky is part of our IndieGala sale. However, that sale is ending pretty fast and is not going to last that much longer. So hurry up and get it while it’s still hot.
And What’s No Man’s Sky All About?
Developed and published by Hello Games, No Man’s Sky is an exploration real-time strategy survival game in its bare essence. And the game is built around four pillars: exploration, survival, combat, and trading.
Furthermore, the player takes the role of a specimen of an alien humanoid planetary explorer, known in-game as the Traveller, in an uncharted universe. Not to mention, the galaxy is a living, breathing place. Every other player lives in the same galaxy, and you can choose to share your discoveries with them on a map that spans known space.
Finally, your voyage through No Man’s Sky is up to you. Will you be a fighter, preying on the weak and taking their riches, or taking out pirates for their bounties? Or a trader? Find rich resources on forgotten worlds and exploit them for the highest prices. Invest in more cargo space and you’ll reap huge rewards.
Or perhaps an explorer? Go beyond the known frontier and discover places and things that no one has ever seen before. Upgrade your engines to jump ever farther, and strengthen your suit for survival in toxic environments that would kill the unwary.
Interstellar Is One Of The Finest Space Exploration Movies
And I’m dead serious about this. It truly is one of the greatest movies not just about space exploration. In general as well. But Interstellar is so much more than a movie about Interstellar travel. It’s a story about saving humanity and it’s survival on the long run. Why? Because at the very beginning we are quickly made aware that we don’t have that much time left on Earth.
The planet is decaying and it’s getting harder to sustain us. So, when a wormhole opens near Saturn, it also opens a path for Endurance. A spacecraft with Joseph Cooper (played by Matthew McConaughey) as the main pilot, that should check out the planets discovered by the previous astronauts. Three such planets showed promise that could be hospitable and eventually colonized, and the crew must inspect their let’s say hospitality. However that will take much longer, and what they’ll find on those planets will surprise even the crew of Endurance.
I just love a movie in which the culprit for the end of our civilization is not an external influence. Nor an alien invasion, or cataclysmic event like a deadly asteroid. Just life as we know it on Earth will end because of our own mismanagement. And stupidity. And greed. Nolan is explicitly saying that the poor state of the Earth is entirely our fault, and basically our only option is to find another planet. I had the pleasure to watch Interstellar right on the premiere date back in 2014, but I saw it again just recently.
The Movie Picks Up Speed Half Way Trough
One other thing I loved about Interstellar (besides how well crafted, well-acted and incredibly directed movie it is) is how it makes a swift shift in tone. And style I might add. In the first half, the movie is your regular drama but after the team heads out into deep space it’s full-on Science Fiction. And a damn good one. But even in the second half, there’s a dash of sincerity. Not to mention a hidden critique aimed at us. Just think. Matt Damon’s character is called Mann in this movie. Mann. My theory is that Man (metaphorically disguised as Matt Damon) will sabotage humanity’s salvation. The common man will be responsible for our downfall, just as it was the case with the end of Interstellar.
Great Acting, Fantastic Direction And Top Notch Cinematography
And the great acting that I mentioned is not coming solely from McConaughey. Far from it. Jessica Chastain is incredible as well as the older Murph, and so is Anne Hathaway as Amelia Brand. But the thing is, the direction from Nolan and the cinematography from Hoyte van Hoytema are complementary to each other. They really create a spectacle of the outdoor filming locations and set pieces as well.
Every single one of the performances is given space to be restrained and professional, but at the same time emotional when the time and situation calls for it. Yes, I’m very well aware that a lot of memes were born from Matthew’s crying scene but it’s highly emotional as well. And the thing is, a lot of the scenes are too. Who’s to say that a Si-Fi movie should be buttoned-down and serious? Not to mention devoid of all emotions? No, and I’m glad that that’s the case in Interstellar. It’s a thought-provoking movie that doesn’t shy away from showing fear, danger, loss and internal struggles in the characters.
Final Verdict
Interstellar takes time to pick up steam, but when it does you’ll be able to witness some of the greatest Sci-Fi movies ever made. A movie that’s a cautionary tale for us and our planet. And at the same time a critique of what we’re doing to our planet. We’re responsible for the destruction of Earth, and we may have to find another place to live very soon. It’s not far from our potential reality, and Nolan is reminding you of that.
But on a different note, did you enjoy No Man’s Sky as well? Tell us your thoughts and impressions of both Interstellar and No Man’s Sky. We’d love to know all about them.
