Europa Report (10/8/2013)

Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action and peril.

Starring Sharlto Copley, Karolina Wydra, Michael Nyqvist, Christian Camargo and Daniel Wu

Directed by Sebastian Cordero

I was actually surprised how much I liked this film…especially since I feel like I’ve seen a dozen lesser quality films.

A unique blend of documentary, alternative history and science fiction thriller, Europa Report follows a contemporary mission to Jupiter’s moon Europa to investigate the possible existence of alien life within our solar system. When unmanned probes suggest that a hidden ocean could exist underneath Europa’s icy surface and may contain single-celled life, Europa Ventures, a privately funded space exploration company, sends six of the best astronauts from around the world to confirm the data and explore the revolutionary discoveries that may lie in the Europan Ocean.

After a near-catastrophic technical failure that leads to loss of communication with Earth and the tragic death of a crewmember, the surviving astronauts must overcome the psychological and physical toll of deep space travel, and survive a discovery on Europa more profound than they had ever imagined.

At the very beginning we are told that the mission ended in catastrophe. Then the footage from the spacecraft’s camera “rewinds” and we see how it went wrong.

We are introduced to the six astronauts – the usual internationally diverse group. And although they aren’t all fully developed, I liked how they are shown to be genuinely dedicated to their scientific work and seriously believe their findings could and will have major implications.

We watch as a combination of technical problems and human error lead to more than one crewmember meeting their untimely demise.

Director Cordero manages to keep the audience in suspense while staying away from the trappings of cliché and cheap tricks.

The cast, led by Daniel Wu as the mission commander and Anamaria Marinca as the pilot, are not the most recognizable actors, but do a great job. District 9‘s Sharlto Copley plays the most personable crew member and gets the movie’s most touching scene.

It’s not flashy or action-packed, but Europa Report is able to use a familiar genre to create an intelligent science fiction thriller. Yes, it employs the “found-footage technique,” but with a refreshing elegance. It’s “Theater Worthy.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
This movie is rated PG-13 for some peril and that’s it. There are a few intense scenes, but it is done without gratuitous violence or gory bloodshed.

There is no sex or nudity and the profanity is minimal.

CONVERSATION STARTER

1. Who are some of the characters who sacrificed themselves for someone else? Describe what happened?


2. Why do you think they chose to do what they did?


3. When was the last time you made a sacrifice for someone else? What happened?


4. Read John 15:13
   
   Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.


5. Why did Jesus lay down His life for us?


6. How can we lay down our lives for Him?