Nolan's 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Rating: 7/10 (5 December 2014)

2001: A Space Odyssey revolutionised the way sci-fi films are made and the way audiences view them. So naturally over the last 46 years, many film makers have tried to recreate the magic of 2001: A Space Odyssey, however in my opinion I do not believe any film maker has achieved the magic that Kubrick created back in 1968.
However when I heard that Christopher Nolan would be creating Interstellar, a new and original film about space and humanity, it became clear that Interstellar would be paying homage to 2001: A Space Odyssey throughout the whole film. However i am not saying that Interstellar is just a direct homage, it is in it's own, an original film that shows themes that 2001: A Space Odyssey did not. The theme of love is a key element in the story, the theme of survival is also a key element in the story, both these themes distinguish Interstellar from 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Interstellar is a great film about humanity, survival, love, exploring the unknown and the human experience, all these themes are given the respect they deserve and provide the audience with a clever and complex plot that provides for great cinema. Unfortunately, some of the magic of the film is lost through Nolan's exposition where he spoon-feeds the audience everything they need to know and more. This defeats the mystery and edge the film should have, instead we are given so much information that the story actually begins to drag.
On the other hand, Interstellar makes up for this by providing the audience with a visual experience worth watching on the big screen in its highest quality. The blend of visual and practical effects provides the audience with a space that looks believable and awe- inspiring. Nolan presents his visual masterpiece in such a professional and interesting way that the audience is kept entertained with the visuals even if the story begins to drag.
The acting in Interstellar was great. Anne Hathaway provided a great performance along with Michael Caine, Matt Damon and John Lithgow, but the real magic of the film came from the father-daughter relationship between Matthew McConaughey's character Cooper and Mackenzie Foy's character Murph, their relationship was what kept me and invested in the film, i wanted to see if they would ever see each other ever again, i wanted the two to come back together. Their relationship is what drove the movie and allowed the audience to connect to the characters in Interstellar's complex plot.
To sum up, Interstellar is a good film that could have been great with a little bit of tweaking, not Nolan's greatest film but without a doubt one of his greatest visual achievements that everyone should definitely go and watch on the big screen to enjoy the cinematic experience that is Interstellar. Therefore Interstellar is receiving a 7/10.