Europa Report [Blu-ray]

The premise was fulfilled. Take a very complex machine, newly designed and built, place several space experienced tech-nauts aboard. For the first time send humans, past the moon towards Jupiter's moon Europa, only because a robot craft had detected liquid water beneath thick ice crust. More then a year out to destination, have them deal with all the physical and mental stresses. Expect them to arrive the same people they started out as, and take their unproven machines, land safely, explore safely, discover safely and firstly, send all information back safely, then, if they can, lift off safely, return to their main ship and return to Earth.., safely. The odds of humans returning safely, under such circumstances are not high. Until many have attempted and died to 'field' test' the concepts, technology and strategies for coping with humans under alien conditions, for incredible periods of time, catastrophes will occur. Machines will fail, people will fail.The only thing in the mission that was planned well and had the highest odds of succeeding was the broadcast of knowledge back to humanity. The crew or some members were not given good odds of returning safely. Humans may be the best bio-quantum computers to send out, but they are also the most fragile and vulnerable to failure. Yes, communications did break down, but that was necessary to the plot, for it made the individuals fight harder to survive, even if they must, individually sacrifice their lives. Someone had to survive to relay the incredible news to Earth. Of course after they all perished, communications miraculously returned and the shattering news was received. Makes ya wonder, if the aliens under the ice, interfered with the transmissions, suckered the humans down to their deaths, ate them up or whatever, then released the transmissions to entice the rest of humanity to come visit their mysterious world. Humans are suckers for solving mysteries and becoming victims.., we are sooo delicious.If one is to view this realistically, the plot was sound, the personalities were reasonable. Their purpose and decision making was reasonable, and they accomplished their mission.., which is really what human endeavors are all about. Whether you're sent to dig a ton of coal or gold 1/2 mile underground or search for diamonds on Mars, your mission is to retrieve information and results for those waiting safely above. The crew must have hope of their safe return to encourage them to go, but they must have some doubts tucked away in the back of their minds, which only surface as one technical or human failure begins to occur after another.Even in the midst of impending doom, the 'lone survivor', clings tenaciously to the hope she will make it back.It was a decently produced and acted presentation of 'what if'. If you really want to make a difference for humanity 'discover' something significant. Thus, Einstein, Dawkins, Henry Ford, Darwin, Madame Curie, Pasteur, S. Jobs, Galileo, products like fire, wheels, velcro, zippers, internal combustion engines, Butter, beer, vinegar, planes, trains, cars, rockets. Discover, invent and create Something significant.., and you don't have to survive for it to make a difference for those whole are to come. Good subtle flick.

I am admittedly not fan or supporter of the Found Footage genre with only 2012's Chronicle being the exception. Since the genre's breakout hit in The Blair Witch Project the found footage genre has been boring, predictable and simply uninspired as writers and directors just cut and paste the same formula that was in Blair Witch without inspiring themselves to create something unique and different instead of the same crap that is turned out multiple times year after year simply because it is cheap to make and highly profitable, so who needs anything new or original, so I was very hesitant about the Europa Report. I enjoyed the trailers of Europa Report still I was hesitant to see it believing it would be the same old crap that I've seen dozens of times before, but after viewing the Europa Report I can happily say I was wrong about the film as it is an homage to great science fiction films of the past and a celebration of the human spirit.Europa a moon around the planet Jupiter is believed or theorized that life could be possible on the moon for decades as the moon has ice covering its surface, and believed to have oceans deep beneath the surface of Europa, and where there is water there is the possibility for life in some form. Even in recent years scientists are beginning to theorize that there is actual life on Europa. These theories of life evolving even in places with great distances from the heat of the sun has been used in many science fiction films, and Europa has been used has a backdrop for many science fiction films with the most notable being 2010: The Year we Make Contact. Director Sebastián Cordero and screenwriter Philip Gelatt use these discoveries and scientific theories for the backdrop of their Found Footage, Doc*mentary and Science fiction blended film.The script isn't original or really unique, but I don't think it was intended to be as Cordero and Homage was paying homage to films like Apollo 13 and especially 2001: A Space Odyssey as early on in the film The Blue Danube is shortly played. As always with science fiction films that don't involve aliens slowly killing off the crew of the ship some inevitably goes wrong whether it be an explosion in an oxygen tank like what happened with Apollo 13 or cross purposes programming that lead to Hal killing the crew in 2001: A Space Odyssey. The same thing happens in The Europa Report, which leads to the expected tragedy and loss. While the plot was not original it was well written. You feel as if Gelatt really believes in exploration and the human spirit to strive, persevere and overcome all obstacles to achieve a goal. Gelatt's story is also a call out to the lack of innovation and wonder to go reach father than man has gone before. As for the Found Footage element of the film I can say that The Europa Report won't change my view of the Found Footage genre I thoroughly enjoyed the Found Footage/Doc*mentary style science fiction film. The story runs nonlinear with both the astronauts and mission planners explaining their stories, and how the mission ultimately succeeded. Outside of Sharlto Copley the unknown cast added greatly to the plot helping me to become emotionally involved with the film and characters.Ecuadorian director Sebastián Cordero does a beautiful job directing The Europa Report. The budget for The Europa Report is miniscule, but it works for Cordero and The Europa Report as this isn't a film about aliens or a film with huge budgeted battles. It is a film about exploration, the human condition, the human spirit and overcome and strive to reach the stars, and Cordero filmed that nearly perfectly. Cordero focuses mostly on the astronauts on Europa One, and with the Found Footage/Doc*mentary style he adds to the isolated and claustrophobia of the crew as well as the interactions of the crew which greatly add to the film, and along with the aid of NASA has created one of the most compelling and realistic films about exploration in years.I miss science fiction films that actually try to be realistic in story and human interaction with space along with giving you a sense of wonder and celebrate the human spirit to push beyond what is believed humanly possible to achieve greatness and explore the unknown. Moon achieved some of that, and I have high expectations for Gravity; yet films like this are few and usually far between, and while The Europa Report isn't perfect it does achieve all of the above. Director Cordero and writer Gelatt to a great job bring to life a relatively predictable film that almost perfectly blends Found Footage with science fiction creating an inspiring science fiction thriller that is added by strong performances by the cast and music. The Europa Report is not a film to be missed especially if for fans of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Moon, and Apollo 13 as it is one of the best pure science fiction films in years.