Why I, who am not a fan of sci-fi, cried at 'Project Hail Mary'
I'll be honest.
I'm not really a fan of sci-fi movies.
I like films like 'Interstellar' and 'Gravity', but
every time I watch them, my head gets so full,
'That was interesting, but I'm a bit exhausted...'
is the type of person I am.
There's too much jargon,
the science is difficult,
and before I know it, I've been left behind—.
'So, I guess sci-fi just isn't for me.'
That's what I used to think.
That's why, at first,
I thought 'Project Hail Mary' might be,
'It looks interesting, but is it going to be a difficult sci-fi movie?'
That's what I was thinking.
But the feeling that remained after I finished watching it wasn't about 'space' or 'science'.
'Rocky, let's meet again.'
That was the feeling I had.
Table of Contents
Even though it's a sci-fi movie, I couldn't get up from my seat after it ended
This is a movie about 'friendship with an alien'
3 reasons why it's easy to watch even if you don't like sci-fi
A relationship born precisely because they were 'lonely'
Recommended for people like this
Even though it was a sci-fi movie, I couldn't get up from my seat after it ended
When I watched the trailer, this is what I thought.
“So it's a story about Ryan Gosling saving humanity in space. Is it an action hero movie?”
But, after I finished watching it—
Even though the end credits were rolling, I couldn't get up from my seat right away.
It was because I couldn't stop crying
and I was thinking about the 'certain decision' Grace made at the end
.
I never thought that I, who used to say 'I'm not good with sci-fi movies,' would be so moved.
This is a movie that depicts 'friendship with an alien'
The story begins with the awakening of a man sent into space to save Earth, which is heading toward destruction due to an anomaly with the sun.
The protagonist, Ryland Grace, wakes up on a spaceship with no memory.
Why is he in space? Why aren't his fellow crew members moving? And what is happening to humanity?
While gradually regaining his memories, Grace faces his lonely mission.
And what he encounters at the edge of the universe is—.
…From here on, I really want you to see it in a movie theater.
The only thing I can say is that this movie was a work that depicted 'people understanding one another.'
And before I knew it, I found myself wishing,
“I want these two to stay together forever…”
.
3 reasons why it's easy to watch even if you don't like sci-fi
1. Explanations of technical terms are fully contained within the story
It's designed not to leave the audience behind.
Even difficult terms are explained by
Grace himself, who summarizes them by asking, "So what does this mean?" so
you can understand them naturally.
2. The mysteries are revealed in small doses, and the pacing is good
Since the story progresses from the perspective of Grace, who wakes up with amnesia,
the audience gets the feeling of understanding the world little by little along with him.
"Curiosity about what happens next"
wins over "difficulty."
That's why there's no room to get bored.
3. The emotional core lies in "people (and life forms) connecting"
It's okay if you don't understand all the complex science.
The core of this movie
is not about space theory, but
"connecting with someone."
that's where it lies.
Before I knew it,
"I hope they stay safe"
"I want to root for these two"
I was staring at the screen with those feelings.
A relationship born precisely because of "loneliness"
What I felt strongly while watching this movie
was not the fear of space, but "loneliness."
The vastness of space.
Being alone on the ship.
The time spent without meeting anyone.
Because of that extreme situation,
the moment when hearts connect with someone
feels incredibly warm.
That's why this movie is,
while being an epic sci-fi,
so incredibly human.
I especially want these people to watch it
Those who think, "I might not be great with sci-fi movies"
Those who like "buddy films" or movies about friendship
Those who haven't cried from pure, genuine emotion lately
Those looking for a movie they'll want to talk to someone about after watching
Those who like "E.T.," "Arrival," or "The Martian"
I think it will really resonate with those people.
Conversely, for those who only seek the "beauty of mathematical formulas" in hard sci-fi,
it might be a bit of a letdown.
Because this is—
A more personal, more human story disguised as a tale about saving humanity
That is why.
The number of theaters showing it is gradually decreasing, but
if you are on the fence,
this is one I really want you to see in a theater.
That "encounter" is
definitely better experienced on a big screen.
After you finish watching,
you will probably think this too.
"Grace, Rocky, let's meet again."
📽 Reel Lessons — Movies are textbooks for life.
In this magazine, instead of just "watching and finishing" a movie,
what you felt
What I learned
How I related it to my own life
I put these into words.
A 'deep-dive article' after watching has also been published! Please come back and read it after you've seen the movie 😊
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