The one thing that I have always loved about the science fiction genre over anything else, are the questions that it poses about mankind and where we are going as a species. Because that kind of exploration allows for this particular genre to examine things about our world that need to be discussed and it has also helped to paint some incredible pictures of what we could achieve if by chance we took the time to look past our differences and work together as one, and all of those elements have allowed for some beautiful stories to come to fruition.
 
Yet, while those uplifting sci-fi stories tend to let our spirits soar at the possibilities of a brighter future, I am always appreciative of a story from this genre that doesn’t always look at the bright side of things and is willing to explore the darker side of the human condition because let’s be honest, there is a darker side to our species that hasn’t been eliminated yet, which opens up all kinds of possibilities for the genre storytelling wise. And recently, I came across a sci-fi flick that digs into that darker side of humanity and the all the grey areas that come with it in Astro.
 
Now in this film, we are introduced to man named Jack Adams who has…suffered his fair share of tough times. His beloved wife Julie passed away a few years ago and following her passing, Jack prefers to keep a low profile at his ranch where he can spend time with his daughter and enjoy some peace and quiet. But Jack’s life is about to be turned upside down, because billionaire Alexander Biggs, who has built a space exploration empire has suddenly taken quite the interest in Jack since Mister Adams is relevant to a secret that Biggs is hiding from everyone; that there is life in outer space and an alien from another world is being held captive on our planet and Biggs…will do whatever it takes to figure out how Jack is connected to this extraterrestrial being…

​So, before we dig too deep into this complex and sweeping plot, I do have to more or less fire off a warning to potential viewers of this film in that…if you’re coming into this one expecting a fast-paced tale full of adventures through the stars, you may find yourself disappointed. This is a decidedly different kind of science fiction film, one that has no qualms in taking its time to properly explore who its characters are and what they stand for, so be prepared for the fact that this one is a slow burning tale through and through, which quite frankly has it merits.
 
Because this film really does explore both sides of the human condition in great depth, and I really did appreciate the fact that Jack is not a perfect Hollywood hero, but a man who is trying to atone for any mistakes he’s made in life and he is foiled nicely by Alexander Biggs, a villain that much like Jack is grounded in reality over theatrics and by grounding this film with characters that feel like everyday people, the story is free to explore something that we don’t see enough of in science fiction, mankind being the antagonist to the story since often times…it’s the aliens that are here to cause trouble and I really appreciated that this movie allowed for Biggs and his machinations to serve as the real problem at hand.
 
Yet, what’s truly fascinating about this film, is the sheer fact that it is obvious by the end that this is the grand setup to a bigger story, one that I’m sure will unfold in sequels and that’s a good thing because I won’t lie, this movie does leave you with a lot of unanswered questions. But really, when all is said and done, kudos to director and co-writer Asif Akbar for bringing forth some fascinating concepts in this story and while this film isn’t flawless by any means, because at times it is a touch too slow, it did spark my imagination and leave me thinking after it came to an end and really, you cannot ask for much more from a science fiction film.  

As we continue to explore space for other habitable planets, we are not only looking for proof of life in the universe, but somewhere we can flee to when our planet’s life cycle comes to an end. While we look to Mars as the nearest alternative, it would take many resources that may not be available to make it a livable planet once again. Not knowing when we will be forced to leave the planet to greener pastures, it would make more sense to try and find a place that has more necessities on hand rather than trying to make them out of nothing. Who knows what we will be able to find in the cosmos, but whatever it is, I hope it has clean water.
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As the Earth has fallen out of is regular orbit and continues to rotate closer to the sun, a course correction was attempted, but only made matters worse. Sending seven ships full of survivors into space to try and find another planet that can support human life, Captain Hunter and his new crew of youngsters have been on this mission for thirty-seven years and have not had any luck as of yet, but things might be looking up as his favorite kid on board has located a signal coming from the inside of a wormhole. 

Getting an away team together to head in and investigate the signal, the ship comes under heavy fire from an asteroid belt and breaks apart during entry into the atmosphere of a nearby planet. Being flung from the ship before it crashes, young Kate Mitra finds herself alone on an alien planet that seems to be hospitable for human life, but there is something sinister about this planet as she will soon find out. Being able to locate her friends and having one die in her arms, the group has little time to think about what to do next as they are attacked by the locals, along with a new breed of ‘demons’ that they have never seen before. Waking up in the demon’s lair, Kate is able to call upon her strength to escape. Not being able to get a hold of any of her friends, she is shocked when Captain Hunter is able to make contact and her journey is about to begin.

Seeing that the Captain’s vitals are failing, she starts the long trek across an unforgiving terrain to try and save him. But she is not alone on this journey as the locals are trying to find a way to eliminate her from the face of the planet. Being able to fight them off and gather their weapons, Kate is also able to locate a means of transport across the landscape that will cut her time in half. Locating the captain and taking her next orders to launch the homing beacon, Captain Hunter is starting to understand where they really are. Before the captain is able to pass on his knowledge however, he is taken by the demons of the planet and Kate is forced to trust a local who does not want to seem to kill her, but assist her on her quest since his daughter was taken by the same demons.

This is an action-packed movie full of parkour, mountain climbing and sleeveless hoodies, and those are really the only things I took away from it. I mean, I made it through the entire movie, but did not really come up with anything other than Kate is a superhero and I guess that is all right. With the rigorous training she had gone through since she was born on the space ship, she was able to swim, wield hatchets, ascend ninety-degree cliffs, ride a horse, use a bow to kill and wear a sleeveless hoodie like nobody’s business. With plenty of plot holes, some great technology, lots of action, demon people and a twist when it comes to what planet they are really on, it is entertaining, but I could see a bunch of people yelling at the screen during the movie, because it really does not make any sense.  

I’m not sure what it is as of late, but I have to admit that I’ve been on quite the comedy quick. I’ve simply been pouring over my collection, enjoying a good laugh in the process, but when I get into a mood like this, it’s obvious that my wandering mind is searching for something more and really, when all is said done, it’s obvious that I’m looking for a comedy to satisfy greater criteria than just making me laugh and laugh hard, I’m in need of a movie from this genre that offers something more, perfection if you will. 
 
Granted, many have told me that such a thing does not exist, but I don’t subscribe to that. Because in most of our minds, perfection for a film means that it accomplished wonders when it was released; like winning every single major award and breaking every box office record while remaining a critical darling, and while those things are important, they don’t make a movie perfect. What does in my eyes, is when a movie is universally beloved and instantly brings a smile to someone’s face when it is brought up in discussion and one such comedy that I personally feel is perfect, and indeed brings joy to anyone when they think about it, is the 1995 laugh fest, Friday.
 
Now, that may seem like quite a bold statement to make about a comedy, but this motion picture really is perfect for several reasons. The first one being the fact, that it is supremely relatable. Because this is a film that really digs into the ‘day in the life’ notion since we are alongside Craig and his family from the get go and the hilarious interactions that this family have throughout the day, often mirror ones we’ve had in our own households and by bringing this to the table, this comedy sucks you in with its ‘slice of life’ mentality and it only gets better from there.  

​Because the other major reason that this film works on so many levels, is the fact that it features such memorable characters. Because every single one of them brings something special to the table when they’re on screen and this is one of those rare films that features writing and direction that is so strong that you instantly know everything about these characters when you first meet them and really, by having colorful characters in place and a setting that makes you comfortable, the most important element of this motion picture can come to life…the comedy.
 
If anything, it is the laughs that truly make this film so memorable because it is a damn funny flick from beginning to end and well, what makes the jokes work so well here is their timing, their delivery and their creativity, since the one liners in this film are some of the finest to ever grace the genre and this movie is so supremely quotable that often times, when one reminisces about this film with others, it’s the quotes that generate a conversation about how beloved this motion picture really is and how much it means to us and really my favorite thing about this movie, is the sheer fact that the jokes are still hilarious after all this time.
 
Which means that really, this film is timeless in its own right and an instant classic. And I love that this movie didn’t do a billion dollars at the box office and didn’t sweep the Oscars. Instead it simply resonated with people and found its way into our hearts and that is why I consider this film to be perfect through and through and if by some strange chance you haven’t seen this magnificent motion picture, do so as soon as you can, because it really is something special and I’m not sure we will ever see anything like it again. 

Film has always been a hot bed for controversy.  Sometimes it is because a movie offers up too graphic a depiction of sex. Or perhaps it delves into a realm of taboo that leaves us uncomfortable. Or it may simply provide us with a look at religion that sends some people's blood pressure through the roof. Either way, motion pictures can split our opinion in an instant.  

So needless to say, one film received all of our attention a few years back when Sony Pictures pulled it from theaters following an incredible hack of their infrastructure and I remember being anxious to finally see what the fuss was all about when I sat down to watch, The Interview.  Now, since the plot of the film was basically fawned over by every single network, I won't be wasting any time getting into a basic synopsis this go round, instead we need to look at and discuss exactly what on earth made this film so controversial and scary enough to bring about the fallout that Sony suffered.

Now is it a funny comedy? You bet. Is it something extremely different for Seth Rogen and James Franco? Absolutely. But at no point did I see anything that left my jaw dropped in shock because of some earth shattering revelation about North Korea and its reclusive leader.  If anything, since we know so little about the man, the film takes as many liberties that it can when it comes to parodying Kim Jong-Un and his regime and that works out just fine for the viewer and for the movie.   

​If anything, the only real surprise that I found in the film was the fact that at its core it is a whip smart satire. Not so much at the North Korean regime and its people, but at Americans and our ability to sensationalize everything and it even takes a few stabs at our bravado from a military standpoint. Granted, the stakes are a little higher in this film since Kim Jong-Un is flaunting nukes that could reach our shores (and the irony of how that turned out in real life is not lost on me), but the characters are the key to the satire and all the wild news reporting we see on the airwaves now is embodied by James Franco's portrayal of Dave Skylark.  

But the satire is dead on to say the least and it works quite well for the plot and well, in the end you're left with a solid comedy that holds hope for a better life for North Korea and that goes back to the original concern revolving around this film...what exactly makes this story so controversial?  The answer that I found...is nothing. I'll never understand how this film made an attack on the studio worthwhile with its message of hope and its magnifying glass pointed more so at sensational American media.  

Either way, it's one you should watch for a laugh. You get a fine fish out of water story, some solid performances along the way and quite frankly, you should see it on principle alone. For no film should ever be yanked from theaters for its message or its setting because in the end it is a fictional tale, and if we can no longer tell the difference between reality and fiction, then that's a scarier prospect than any enemy we will ever face.  

Small towns are some of the greatest places on earth, just ask anyone that lives in one. Being able to leave your doors unlocked, knowing everyone in town and knowing who the trouble makers are, there is not much better. But there can be an underbelly to these benefits, especially when something bad happens. When you have the usual suspects for the petty things, what happens when someone is murdered, and the killer does not leave a shred of evidence? This is something that Cold Moon outlines very well, along with the fact that you need to keep an eye on those heavy boozers.
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Trying to keep his grandma from seeing all of the past due notices from the bank, Jerry Larkin is worried that the next blueberry batch will not be enough to keep the farm much longer. Seeing that this is very upsetting to her grandchildren, Evelyn is just happy that they are still a family and will do what she can to get the bank to grant another extension on the loan. Wanting to head out for the day, young Margaret Larkin gets permission to head into town and help out her favorite teacher at school. As long as she is home before dark, there is no problem from Evelyn, but as the hours pass, the old woman starts to worry that something bad has happened.

As the following day comes about and there are still no signs of Margaret, Evelyn and Jerry finally get the sheriff involved in the hunt, but he is not needed when a local fisherman pulls the young girl’s body from the river. Being beside herself, Evelyn cannot calm down from the loss of her granddaughter and is given a sedative that releases a vision in her mind that helps her know exactly who killed her. But there is a problem with this, as the man Evelyn names is Nathan Redfield who not only runs the bank, but owns most of the town and nobody will look into the claims. Telling the sheriff what his grandmother believes, Sheriff Tom has some news for Jerry as well and the news that Margaret was with child when she was killed opens a sinister box that nobody in town wants to see.

With nobody in town willing to look into her claims, Evelyn Larkin is forced to look for some outside help and finds a lawyer in the town over. Hearing this news distresses Nathan who believed he had a good thing going and after heading out on a booze run, he returns home and gets his little brother Ben to join him on a little venture. Being able to flag down Jerry’s car with his grandmother inside, Nathan has his shot to put this ludicrous story to rest. Killing off the remaining Larkin’s and dumping them in the river, along with planting the murder weapon on the school teacher, Nathan has no idea that with all of his power and connections that the trusted Sheriff Ted would be looking to him for answers, but he is.

Pretty good story about power, money and deceit when all was said and done. Watching as Nathan knows of ways to make the problems go away, he is shocked when anyone would question him, since he has kept his motive very quiet over the past few days. Sheriff Ted Hale really did a bang up job at following all of the clues that were left throughout the hunt for a killer, even when they seemed to be leading him in the wrong direction. The only thing that I found a little bit off about the storyline is that nobody checked anything for fingerprints, I know this was taking place in 1989, but there was still finger print technology back then. With a murder, a mystery, an affair, an old Christopher Lloyd, a family promise, greed, cover-ups and a sheriff that is a little bit smarter than the villain thought, this is a pretty good way to kill ninety minutes. I enjoyed that some of our greatest vices were highlighted and it is important to take note that none of these are worth killing for.