Review of Ad Astra (2019) by Rebecca31 — 24 Sep 2019

Alright we all know space movies are not for everyone, if there’s no aliens they can be a little boring for some people. I wasn’t enamoured with Intersteller or 2001: A Space Odyssey and before you attack me I’m not hating on those movies, they were good, they looked amazing but I didn’t love them. My idea of a good space movie usually features a xenomorph and Sigourney Weaver but each to their own. I liked Ad Astra, I found the story intriguing and we got another great performance from Brad Pitt this year so kudos Brad for picking the right movies for a change. It seems many people are bored by space movies and that’s fine, maybe Ad Astra isn’t for you but don’t go hating on it just because you found the story too slow. It certainly isn’t deserving of some of the harsh reviews it’s receiving online.

Astronaut Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) is sent on a mission to the outer edges of the solar system to find his father (Tommy Lee Jones) who went missing on a mission 30 years ago. Gives us something a little different than your typical “let’s explore space” movie with scenes full of tension. I wasn’t always sure what was going to happen next and I was fully engaged with the story. As with a lot of space movies it’s very pretty to look at with a beautiful soundtrack to go with it. Music is essential for any film but space movies particularly needs a memorable score to compliment it. Ad Astra is a lot more emotional than I ever expected it to be and you may leave the cinema feeling sadder than when you went in but it’s a movie and it’s going to make you feel something or else it didn’t do its job. Recommended for all you Brad Pitt and/or Sci-fi fans.