Derivative, but recommended for fans of sci-fi who like to use their brains.

Rating: 7/10 (19 July 2009)

Derivative (adj.) 1. Not the original; Copied or adapted from others. Moon looks and feels like so many other films before it, with certain elements that appear to be directly copied from 2001: A Space Odyssey, Solaris, Alien and more. However, all of the cloned bits in this film serve the purpose of setting up the viewers expectations for one thing and delivering something else instead. The upshot is that this film is a more than welcome entry for a sci-fi genre that is mostly dominated these days with shockingly high budgets poured into creating mindless violence and excessive special fx served up at brain-numbing speeds -- all intent on giving you absolutely nothing to think about. Sam Rockwell gives superb performances, as always. And Duncan Jones (David Bowie's son), despite several loose ends and questionable choices that in other films might have ruined the movie for me, makes a promising feature film directorial debut. I recommend the film for fans of sci-fi who like to use their brains.