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2001's monoliths worked as loci of mystery and meaning in part because we had no insight into what they were or how they worked. Boyle gives us sci-fi razzle-dazzle and some undeniably powerful images, but as effective as it is for an hour or so, Sunshine ultimately settles for puzzling more than mysterious.

Talk About It

1. What is the relationship of science and faith? What does faith tell us (or not tell us) about science? What does science tell us (or not tell us) about faith?
2. What does the Bible tell us about the end of the world? Can Jesus return at any time? Will he necessarily return during human history? Or could God allow mankind to become extinct, or the universe to wind down to heat death, before beginning final judgment and inaugurating the new heavens and earth?
3. If an extinction-level event such as the sun dying did threaten mankind's survival, would it be "playing God" or "challenging God" to seek to reverse it? Why or why not?
4. What do you think of the various moral conundrums faced by the characters in the film regarding whether to divert their mission or what to do about oxygen consumption? With the fate of the human race at stake, is anything permissible? Was Cassie right to withhold her vote if doing so could mean the end of life on Earth? Was Mace right to ignore her vote?

The Family Corner

Sunshine is rated R for violent content and language. Violence includes graphically bloody aftermath of an apparent suicide and slashing or impaling attacks with sharp implements. There are also other trauma-related images, including a character who is partially crushed and frozen, a character who dies in space (and whose frozen body is partially shattered), and a long-dead corpse that collapses into dust. Language includes a few instances of Jesus' name taken in vain as well as frequent obscenity.

Photos © Copyright Fox Searchlight

© Steven D. Greydanus subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

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