The Sun is dying, and eight improbably youthful scientists and astronauts must travel 92 million miles on board the pessimistically-named Icarus II (perhaps ‘Prometheus’ would have given our heroes more confidence) to save humanity.

Let me start with what this film does well.  It is one of the most visually arresting movies I have ever experienced.  The visual effects come courtesy of the Moving Picture Company, and they have succeeded in realising an absolutely beautiful vision of the sun as a dominant character in itself.  The star hangs in space with malevolent indifference, unaware of the carnage its enormous power is wreaking on our heroes.  There are a few truly astonishing shots, notably when we get to see the transit of Mercury across the face of the Sun, and when Cillian Murphy hangs alone in space between his bomb and the ship.  These images alone are worth the price of admission.

The first hour of the film is a taut, and relatively closely plotted, exploration of the psychological impact on the crew of the long space mission as they come to terms with their fate.  We are treated to some exceptionally well written scenes (thanks to Alex Garland) probing the tough decisions the cast must make as the mission spirals out of control.

This portion of the film belongs squarely in the ’serious sci-fi’ canon along with 2001, Alien, and Solaris; films that have obviously influenced Boyle’s vision significantly.   It is unfortunate, therefore, that the discipline exhibited here could not have been carried through to the close of the movie.

The laws of physics appear to be suspended for the last 40 minutes of Sunshine as it goes the way of the Matrix trilogy by severing its connection with reality.  The film seems to flounder about desperately in search of ultimate meaning as we are led through a bewildering pseudo-philosophical hodge podge of thematic indecision.  Is this film a reminder to remain humble in the face of the power of science?  Is it about the battle of science versus God?  Is it about the triumph of the human will over nature?  We’re never really quite sure.

But perhaps I’m being too hard on Sunshine.  Danny Boyle has crafted a beautiful film that really tries hard to be about something important; it’s just that it never quite pulls all his ideas together into anything truly compelling.