space – MickRed

Interstellar – Movie

Why did it take us so long to post about Interstellar? Yesh!

This movie was incredible. Science was spot on and Artistic representations were as good as it gets when trying to conceptualize concepts that are only theory in humanity’s grasp. Interstellar covers Black holes, Wormholes, String Theory, Multi-Dimensional existence, Time Dilation and much more. We loved this movie!

Interstellar was directed by Christopher Nolan and the script was written by his brother Jonathan Nolan. The cast includes Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, and Michael Caine as well as a slew of other well known actors to include Matt Damon.

Facts
- Jonathan Nolan studied relativity at the California Institute of Technology while writing the script to gain scientific insights
- Science adviser was Kip Thorne, a well known theoretical physicist
- The story behind Interstellar was dreamed up by film producer Lynda Obst and Science Advisor and theoretical physicist Kip Thorne.
- Lynda Obst & Kip Thorne collaborated on the 1997 film Contact based on the story created by Carl Sagan.
- Back in the day Carl Sagan set up Lynda Obst & Kip Thorne on a blind date.

Mick when you see this feel free to add more.

[rating=7]

Gravity – Movie

I freak out about space stuff. If there is any thing going on that has to do with space, chances are it will have a great deal of my attention. However , when I first saw the trailer for this movie a few months back for some reason my skeptical brain clicked on and told me that it was probably going to be terrible. I knew Hollywood would screw it up, and all of the inaccuracies that would surely be there would completely keep me and any other other space geek from enjoying the movie.

Let me be the first to tell you I was wrong, very very wrong. No, not about their being inaccuracies – there were plenty as Neil DeGrasse Tyson let us know – I was wrong about not being able to enjoy the movie. It was a complete roller-coaster joy ride the entire 91 minutes.

“Gravity” is the most unique cinematic experience I can remember. I simply cannot remember another movie that was anything like this. First, it captured the awe and wonder that I feel about space multiple times. There were many moments were we were able to see the Earth like only an astronaut could, and there were times when you could look into the vast, lonely, emptiness which is also beautiful.

The tension was so tight throughout most of the movie that breathing became a voluntary action. The only times that it let up was to try and pull the tears from your eyes with either beautiful shots or surprising character moments.

You must go see this movie while it is still in theaters, preferably in 3D

[rating=5]

Ender’s Game

[rating=5]

A brilliant scifi novel written by Orson Scott Card about children that are raised to be soldiers from birth in preparation for an anticipated invasion from an insect like alien race. In this story we follow a young boy named Ender Wiggin as he is raised and trained to be not only a soldier but a leader.

I love everything about this book, from emotion, the action, futuristic tech and everything in between. For what started as a short story released in 1977 and a book released in 1985, Card has an amazing almost foretelling view of the future to include detailed uses of the internet and iPad like devices.

A buddy of mine has been bugging me to read this book for years and I finally made a point to do so over the summer. An additional kick in my butt to go ahead and read this is that I heard about the movie being made. With that said I really wanted to read the book before watching the movie for which I plan to review with Mick.

You can find the book Ender’s Game on Amazon.