Mike Goes To Movies

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) Kubrick's 2001 is a masterpiece that lives behind a locked door. To access it, one must open themselves up to the journey, the mystery, and the purpose of the challenging film. Especially by the nature of today's increasingly inattentive and unfocused, the incomparable potential of 2001 may be lost or missed by some viewers. However, for those that are willing to embrace Kubrick's unparalleled sci-fi vision, there is currently no other - and may never be another - like 2001: A Space Odyssey. The behind-the-scenes of 2001 is almost as interesting as the film itself - but I will not deep-dive into that here. What I will briefly mention is that Kubrick teamed up with sci-fi writer, Arthur C. Clarke, to help develop the story. Remarkably, while Kubrick was filming his movie, Clarke was simultaneously writing a novel that was also based on the story he and Kubrick came up with. The intersections and divergences between the two still remain a p...

Ad Astra (2019) Ad Astra is a profound film, one that, over time, pulls you further and further into its vast black-hole of philosophical and existential ideas and quandaries. It is that rare, elite-level of science-fiction that viscerally reflects the public consciousness of today. It is as beautiful in its presentation and visuals as it is in its thematic explorations. Though the plot works perfectly well on a surface level it is in its deeper discussion that one will reflect on the film and ponder many questions of life for long after the credits end. Minor Spoilers Below: Much credit must be given to director and co-writer, James Gray, for taking on this large-scale and, at the same time, very personal tale. The film takes place in a time when the planet is being hit with interstellar surges that threaten all life on earth. Astronaut Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) is tasked with traveling to the outer reaches of space to confront the source of these surges, which is a now-dorman...