Sunshine (2007)
I just finished this one on Netflix, and at least it was what I was expecting: pretty, atmospheric, and a little gritty. Overall, it's definitely a "close but not quite" movie.
For a relatively cheap movie to make, it was gorgeous. The special effects I found very, very pretty to look at (along with the sets, etc). However, the whole movie doesn't hang together well. I think it needs someone with a fresh eye and experience editing to make more clear what is happening on screen. The editing is too rough, too confusing, any overview shots too abstracted. I generally enjoy works that are difficult to piece together (I'm an Iain Banks fan), but this one doesn't do it.
Second, the later half of the movie falls apart. They try to mix genres and atmospheres and I believe it fails. About 20 minutes should have been cut from the end including an entire final action sequence.
The movie is not spectacular, but with better editing and a smoother flow I think this movie could have been very good. That's too bad, because it's right up my alley these days (pretty and atmospheric and not overly plotted).
Interestingly enough, in all of these ways I think it's very similar to Solaris (2002). Have any of you seen either of these flicks?