Excellent and affecting science fiction, unusually sophisticated for high budget blockbuster

Rating: 8/10 (14 April 2013)

Excellent fusion of romance and sf, slightly over-length but utterly engrossing and beautifully filmed by 'Life of Pi' cinematographer Claudio Miranda, very affecting performances. A few clichÃ©s enter film in second half but overall it's a sophisticated mix of sf and action as most of the serious US critics recognised. It is difficult to discuss this film without spoilers but it combines a number of sf themes and ideas in a way that is extremely satisfying. Elements of 'Solaris', 'La Jetee', 'Moon' and much more. So great to see a big blockbuster as intelligent as this. It's like a consolidation of themes and ideas from the past decades of science fiction.