• Latest

Ad Astra

October 1, 2019
5th Annual Vermont ATHENA Leadership Awards Gala

5th Annual Vermont ATHENA Leadership Awards Gala

December 7, 2023
Whale Sized Donation from Local “Whales Tails” Sock Fundraiser

Whale Sized Donation from Local “Whales Tails” Sock Fundraiser

December 5, 2023

Heating System Safety

December 5, 2023

Poll: Vermonters Overwhelmingly Support Ending the Sale of Flavored Tobacco

December 5, 2023

Temporary Direct Housing Assistance Is Available for Eligible Survivors of Vermont’s July 7-21 Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides and Mudslides

December 5, 2023
African Queen (1951)

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

December 5, 2023

Statement from the Vermont Congressional Delegation on the Montpelier Post Office

November 28, 2023
The 4th Annual Cabot Village 12th Night Celebration January 5th and 6th, 2024

The 4th Annual Cabot Village 12th Night Celebration January 5th and 6th, 2024

November 28, 2023

National Life Group and Sodexo Give Away Over 1,200 Free Thanksgiving Dinners In Washington County

November 28, 2023
African Queen (1951)

Funny Girl (1968)

November 28, 2023
Just Some Thoughts

It Won’t Happen to Me

November 28, 2023
African Queen (1951)

All That Heaven Allows (1955)

November 21, 2023
  • Home
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
Saturday, December 9, 2023
The World Online
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • World Rates and Ad Sizes
    • World Distribution Map
    • World Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • World Rates and Ad Sizes
    • World Distribution Map
    • World Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
The World Online
No Result
View All Result

Ad Astra

vt-world by vt-world
October 1, 2019
in Local News, Max's View
0

(1.5 Stars)

Once upon a time, Stanley Kubrick made the mother of all science fiction films: “2001: A Space Odyssey.”

Whether you love it or find it impossibly pretentious, “2001” is undeniably unique.

Kubrick starts at the Dawn of Man. An ape man sees a monolith that proves that there is intelligent life in the universe. Inspired by this revelation, he uses a tool to beat a rival ape man to death.

Fast forward 100,000 years or so. An astronaut is on a mission to Jupiter to rendezvous with the same alien civilization that created the monolith. Along the way, the astronaut has to battle with his spaceship’s computer, which has become sentient and murderous.

Upon reaching Jupiter, the astronaut is transported to the alien home world across the galaxy where he lives the rest of his days as a zoo exhibit.

Stanley Kubrick tells a simple but bizarre story. And he tells it in the most artsy and cerebral way possible – with no explanations, very little dialogue, and a soundtrack of classical music.

I applaud James Gray – the writer and director of “Ad Astra” – for even trying to make a space film as beautiful, artful, and ambitious as “2001: A Space Odyssey.”

That said: he failed big time. Do not let the good reviews fool you; you are not going to like this movie.

[Spoiler Alert: I am going to reveal as much of “Ad Astra” as I can to encourage you not to see it]

“Ad Astra” starts strongly. Brad Pitt is Major Roy McBride, the most fearless astronaut in the military. He’s cool under pressure and a stone-cold killer.

Plus he’s the son of Earth’s most famous space explorer. H. Clifford McBride (Tommy Lee Jones) disappeared decades ago near Neptune while on a mission to find extraterrestrial life.

The story gets intriguing when Roy learns that his father is alive. And there are waves of anti-matter coming from Neptune which threaten all life in the solar system.

Roy’s mission is to save humanity and find closure with his long-lost father. And possibly uncover proof of intelligent alien life.  

The first 90 minutes of “Ad Astra” is slow, but I was intrigued. I thought that the story was building to a mind-blowing sci-fi climax.

Well, I was wrong. There’s no aliens. There’s almost no explanation of the anti-matter waves. There’s an idiotic, undeserved happy ending that makes no sense scientifically or logically. Major McBride hijacked a military spaceship and murdered the crew! Wouldn’t he at least get court marshalled?

Science Fiction is supposed to be intellectually stimulating. Sci-fi is where the great nerd philosophers of our society get to explore their deepest ideas. The message of “2001: A Space Odyssey” is that man uses his gift of intelligence to find increasingly inventive ways to kill his fellow man. The message of “Ad Astra” is that guys should love their families.

Come on, James Gray. You had to do better than that. You promised us sci-fi; but you gave us a Hallmark Channel movie of the week.

If you are in the mood for a weird, slow sci-fi movie, watch “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Or ignore me and watch “Ad Astra.” You won’t like it, though.

Previous Post

An Uneasy Start To The School Year Makes Gun Safety Top Of Mind

Next Post

Fall Foliage is Worth Millions to the Vermont Economy

Next Post

Fall Foliage is Worth Millions to the Vermont Economy

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This Week’s Ads

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
The World
403 US Route 302
Barre, VT 05641
Phone: (802) 479-2582

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

No Result
View All Result
  • Art Exhibits
  • Audit and Reader Surveys
  • Births
  • Calendar
  • Contact Us
  • Daily Horoscope
  • Fall Guide 2023
  • Food & Recipe
  • Home
  • Obituaries
  • Ongoing Events
  • Pay Your Bill Here
  • Senior Living Edition
  • Showtimes
  • Submit Birth Announcement
  • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
  • Submit Engagement Announcement
  • Submit Listing to our Local Directory
  • Submit Sports News/Photo
  • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Testimonials
  • Weather Forecast
  • World Coupons
  • World Deadlines
  • World Distribution Map
  • World Rate Card
  • World Rates and Ad Sizes
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • About Us
  • Vermont Lottery
  • Advertising Information
  • The World Staff
  • Advertising Inquiry
  • Submit Letter To The Editor
  • Local Directory
  • Poll Results
  • Local Deals
  • Classifieds
  • Submit An Article To The World
  • Events
  • The World – This Week’s Online Digital Edition
  • The World Auto & Sports

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In