Ad Astra [DVD]

"Ad Astra" is a mesmerizing journey into the vast unknown of space and the even vaster depths of the human psyche. Directed by James Gray and starring Brad Pitt, this 2019 film is an emotionally charged, visually stunning exploration of the cosmos and the complexities of human connections.Brad Pitt delivers a masterful performance as Major Roy McBride, a stoic astronaut on a mission to uncover the truth behind his father's (played by Tommy Lee Jones) mysterious disappearance on a mission to Neptune. Pitt's portrayal of Roy is nuanced and compelling, capturing the character's internal struggle with isolation, duty, and his complicated relationship with his father.Visually, "Ad Astra" is breathtaking. The cinematography by Hoyte van Hoytema is nothing short of spectacular, with every frame meticulously crafted to immerse viewers in the vastness and beauty of space. The film's visual effects are top-notch, providing a realistic and awe-inspiring depiction of space travel. From the stark landscapes of the Moon and Mars to the eerie, silent void of deep space, the visuals alone make this film worth watching.But "Ad Astra" is more than just a visual spectacle. Its narrative delves deep into themes of loneliness, existentialism, and the search for meaning. The film's pacing is deliberate, allowing viewers to fully engage with Roy's introspective journey. It's a contemplative film that raises profound questions about humanity's place in the universe and the personal cost of our unending quest for discovery.The supporting cast, including Ruth Negga and Donald Sutherland, provide strong performances that complement Pitt's central role. The sparse but impactful dialogue adds to the film's introspective nature, making each word and interaction feel significant.One of the most impressive aspects of "Ad Astra" is its sound design. The use of silence and ambient noise effectively conveys the isolation of space, while Max Richter's haunting score underscores the emotional weight of the story. The soundscape enhances the immersive experience, making viewers feel as though they are truly part of this epic voyage.While "Ad Astra" may not be for everyone due to its slow pace and philosophical undertones, those who appreciate thoughtful, character-driven stories will find it deeply rewarding. It's a film that lingers in your mind long after the credits roll, inviting reflection and discussion.In addition to the main feature, the Blu-ray/DVD release includes insightful special features, such as behind-the-scenes footage, director's commentary, and interviews with the cast and crew. These extras provide a deeper appreciation for the film's meticulous craftsmanship and the thematic depth explored by its creators.Overall, "Ad Astra" is a cinematic gem that combines stunning visuals, a powerful performance by Brad Pitt, and a thought-provoking narrative. It's a must-watch for fans of serious science fiction and anyone looking for a film that challenges the mind and touches the heart. Highly recommended!

Great movie. It really itches the hard-core sci-fi part of the brain. There’s a high-speed chase on the moon. Check it out!

This movie begins with astronauts, one of them Pitt's character, on a ground-based space antenna. They are doing some maintenance work when a power surge originating from space impacts the antenna and knocks some of them off the structure, killing a few except for Pitt who parachutes safely back to Earth. Why the workers weren't all clipped onto the structure per the usual work-safety practices we have here on Earth is a puzzler, but it was probably just to set up the scenes showing you that Pitt's character can keep his heart rate at Zen monk-levels even when falling from ultra-high altitudes. That's important because.... Well, let me know if you find out.The space antennas are providing energy to Earth and now National Security demands we find out what's causing these surges so they can be stopped. The government finds out that a long-lost mission to Neptune's orbit (in order to search for intelligent life outside the solar system ) is the culprit! And Pitt's dad was in charge of it! They thought he was dead, but no! His crew mutinied, wanting to come back home after feeling that their search was fruitless, and he put that down by killing them because he felt the mission was important. And so, Pitt's character is sent out to send message to the Neptune mission, not knowing if his dad is actually dead or really alive, and make the power surges stop, lest the Neptune mission have to be destroyed with a nuke.A friend who saw this is the theatre said it was "Apocalypse Now" in space and I guess that's pretty correct.Anyway, Pitt has to go to the moon first, and there's some fun scenes about how more commercialized moon travel has become. The scenes depicting travel to the dark side in rovers are great because the horizon on the moon is so much closer and you might keep thinking that there is more to see just over that ridge or that other one and all the while, that IS the horizon. It's a little jarring, and perfect because it's likely the exact effect you'd feel on the moon. The contrasts of light and dark on the surface are done well, and when the rovers cross the terminator to the dark side, and stars fill the sky, that's amazing."Car-chase on the moon" didn't need to be included, but it was 'necessary' to bump off a character that couldn't go along on the Mars mission. Pitt has to go from the moon to Mars in order to get to a secret base and launch the rest of his mission from there because no one is supposed to know he'll be talking with his dad because reasons.So, after a trip to the moon with a car chase and laser-gun fight, there's a trip to Mars with an unplanned rescue mission en route and this involves a baboon attack! A mayday call went out but none of the crew mentions anything about baboons attacking. Thanks, crew, for having other people waste fuel and risk lives and get no idea of what the problem is. Blame the writers for thinking this is OK. It was an expeditious way to kill off crew members.On Mars, Pitt completes his given mission to contact dad via secure laser communication because no one else can know he's actually alive. On Earth, dad is a hero of space exploration, not a guy who went nuts and killed his crew and might have to be destroyed, so it's all hush-hush. At first, Pitt sticks to the script that the gov't gives him but then resorts to actually talking to his dad to try and get a response. The gov't won't tell him whether or not Dad answers back. When Pitt goes off-script, the gov't tells him "thanks but you can go home now, see ya". Pitt figures out that they did get a response. His dad IS alive, after all! Well, hell, he's not going to be sent home, no way! He resists and is cuffed, to be forcibly placed on the next ship back home.With help of a Mars base employee (whose family was killed by Pitt's dad on the Neptune mission) he escapes detention and is helped out of the base to an area outside on Mars where we see a hatch on the ground. He is told that's how to get himself on the ship headed for Neptune. The hatch apparently leads to a fuel line tunnel. Mars habitat suits are super durable and stand up perfectly to long periods of immersion in whatever fuel the rocket is using, because Pitt has to swim through it for quite a long distance. Good thing there were no filter assemblies in the way.And then he has to climb up toward the ship hatches just past the engine nozzles just as the ship is taking off. Somehow THAT doesn't result in death, and then he has to open the hatch during takeoff, which causes all kinds of alarms to go off but takeoff isn't aborted because reasons.To make a long review short, you will be asked to suspend belief through the whole movie. The cinematographers and post-production folks help you a lot by doing a lot of the "flare" effects, making your brain think there really is a crew filming from space. It's nice. It's appealing. I WANT TO enjoy a sci-fi movie and experience things I never really could expect to. But then they throw in these distracting scenes that don't make sense, like the baboon attack and the laser gun car chase and the Mars-ship stowaway.This should be hard sci-fi. But it's not. I'll let you find out for yourself what becomes of Pitt's dad. But if you were paying attention, know you will suffer the disappointment of going through this whole movie and not having a key question addressed.The thing that kick-started this whole adventure was the power surges, and not knowing what caused them. Was it the Neptune mission? What were they caused by? For what purpose?This movie ends without an explanation for any of that.A story is supposed to lead somewhere and answer questions that the reader/viewer develops as the story unfolds. The writers seemed to forget about this important part to building a satisfying ending. It's a visually dazzling movie, exciting in parts, but leaving out the answer to the question that started this whole adventure?It made me wonder what the hell is wrong with Plan B. I still haven't forgiven them for utterly ruining World War Z. Now this.

I'm a big sci-fi fan and this movie, while slow at times, is great! I enjoy re-watching it from time to time and recommend it for anyone who is a fan of sci-fi and Brad Pitt.

I just loved the way they took Joseph Conrad's book HEART OF DARKNESS (which also became "Apocalypse Now") and made it into a search for a astronaut father who's gone rogue. Ultimately, this is a film about what it means to be human within a human community. Brad Pitt's character is so shut down at the beginning that he can fall to earth from the edge of outer space without an increase in his heart rate. The fractured father-son relationship at the heart of the wound that caused this condition and it drives the plot, as Brad Pitt's character strives to reconnect with the father he'd thought was dead. Viewers looking for a sci-fi adventure film may be disappointed. But for those of us who enjoy the satisfactions of real characters with very human emotions to manage and truths to discover, this is a stellar example of a hero's journey: Brad Pitt's character travels far from home, discovers the truth about his father, suffers, realizes what was important all along, and re-connects. There's a clear arc of internal character movement from the opening words to the very last syllable. The ending is clear and the questions raised at the beginning are answered. But you have to grasp what has happened to the inner lives of the character to comprehend it. Brad Pitt's expressions--both verbal and facial--brilliantly portray his character's transformation. The message seems to be that this is a transformation that would benefit us all.

Buena calidad 4K, gran sonido y en general una historia muy interesante.

There is some action in it. It is very slow moving as the main character travels from earth to Mars. I didn't get to the end so I will give it another try.

1 van de weinige films van Bradd Pit die ik goed vindt

Ad Astra , sublime voyage galactique et intérieur qui revisite les relations père fils dans un environnement hostile , l'espace. Des images sublimes en 4k qui vous donnent envie d'aller sur la Lune ou Mars immédiatement ! A voir et revoir sans modération !

Good film