Forum search & shortcuts

Interstellar or Pro...
 

UPDATE: Reviews section refreshed, redesigned, searchable: Go take a look

Interstellar or Project Hail Mary?...

Posts: 14264
Full Member
Topic starter
 
[#13536422]

Got the night to myself tomorrow night and going to watch one of these two films (as the wife doesn't do sci-fi).

Make the case for one or the other - no other films will be considered!! 😀

I've read the Project Hail Mary book so I'm worried the film will be a let down.

Ta! 👍


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 8:18 pm
Posts: 9256
Full Member
 

Oooof. Tricky one.

I liked the PHM book better than the film, but thought Interstellar was a bvit shit, despite being an experience.

Can you do both, stay up late?


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 8:24 pm
Posts: 5819
Free Member
 

I liked both. Phm I enjoyed more than expected as I normally don't like RR, but thought he acted ok in it.  Touches of arrival in it.... actually just watch  Arrival,  better than both.


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 8:43 pm
Posts: 11879
Full Member
 

Interstellar ftw, bought it years ago on apple and I've watched it dozens of times

Watched project Hail Mary (gave up at the 90min mark) a couple of weeks ago with my bro's amazon account and was disappointed in it, I almost bought it as I love a sci-fi film but glad I didn't.

 


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 8:48 pm
Poopscoop reacted
Posts: 13623
Full Member
 

Watched PHM last week after reading it a year or so ago. Enjoyed it - Amaze, Amaze! Pretty faithful to the book. 

Probably more than Interstellar, but not by much. 

Surly the answer is to start early and do both!


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 8:50 pm
Posts: 16617
Full Member
 

Hail Mary is fine, if not as good as The Martian imo. The Martian is more relatable SF.

Interstellar? 

I finally found a film as good as Bladerunner. I cry most times I watch it and I'm not ashamed to admit it. Mostly.

However...

I choose a film based upon my mood as much as anything... a new film for the escapism?... Or a much loved classic I've seen many times, "a safe pair of hands" as it were.

Thems there's the genre. Zombie/apocalyptic?

Comedy? 

SF?

Romcom (I'm a renaissance man)?

Then I'll change my mind a few more times, then after about an hour, I'm decided. 

Unless I'm not. 😁


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 9:09 pm
Posts: 16617
Full Member
 

Can you do both, stay up late?

 

No, no, no.😉 You have to cleanse the palate between the two. Nonna's perhaps? 


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 9:12 pm
Posts: 13388
Free Member
 

I just remember interstellar being exceptionally long and very very boring, and by remember i mean I barely remember it at all.

Project Hail Mary was way more entertaining.

Not the best film i have every seen but good fun. And i want a pet Rocky.

 


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 9:18 pm
Drac and nbt reacted
Posts: 16617
Full Member
 

Posted by: joshvegas

I just remember interstellar being exceptionally long and very very boring, and by remember i mean I barely remember it at all.

 

Right, that you going on, "ze list." 

😉

 


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 9:25 pm
DickBarton, CHB, somafunk and 1 people reacted
 Drac
Posts: 50733
 

Hail Mary.

It is one of my now absolute favourite films, brilliant story, great characters, fabulous script, lovely soundtrack and great acting. 


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 9:28 pm
convert reacted
Posts: 13388
Free Member
 

Posted by: Poopscoop

Posted by: joshvegas

I just remember interstellar being exceptionally long and very very boring, and by remember i mean I barely remember it at all.

 

Right, that you going on, "ze list." 

😉

 

Things that don't really matter

  1. Joshvegas's opinion
  2.  

 


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 9:33 pm
Drac, somafunk and Poopscoop reacted
Posts: 7165
Free Member
 

PHM is better viewing, I much preferred the book though.

If you must watch one, PHM, but I'd rewatch The Martian for the fourth time 😜


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 9:36 pm
Posts: 3147
Free Member
 

PHM is a little bit more lighthearted and funny so do you want something purely sci-fi based or a little lighter. You could base your decision on that? I also found PHM a little bit more far fetched so again do you want something where you've got to take it with a pinch of imagination or something that is somehow more believable?


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 9:39 pm
Posts: 16617
Full Member
 

I'd rewatch The Martian for the fourth time 😜

A safe pair of hands and as a different film to the two specifically asked about it goes completely against the ops request.

As such, I stand with you. It's the stw way. 


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 9:40 pm
Posts: 8187
Full Member
 

A safe pair of hands and as a different film to the two specifically asked about it goes completely against the ops request.

As such, I stand with you. It's the stw way

If we're playing to those rules I think the OP needs to watch a Skoda Octavia estate? 

Either film is a good watch though. 

Probably depends on your mood. All very much IMO/YMMV... 

There's a bit more humour in PHM and Sandra Huller's relatively modest role as Eva Stratt (in screen time terms) is brilliant.  It's visually stunning in places but that's not what makes it IMO.  

Interstellar is a bit more action oriented, it's still got some levity but it is more about that action and large scale visuals.  

So long as you give Ad Astra a swerve you'll be fine.  😉


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 10:20 pm
Posts: 7165
Free Member
 

Posted by: garage-dweller

If we're playing to those rules I think the OP needs to watch a Skoda Octavia estate? 

Polestar, Shirley?

The tech was amazing.
It was like out of this world. Did it come from the stars? I don't know.


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 10:33 pm
Posts: 7149
Full Member
 

I'm going to say just toss a coin, they are both about the same level of mid.


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 10:40 pm
Posts: 7200
Full Member
 

My wife doesn’t love sci-fi, she loved PHM. 

So I’d watch Interstellar and convince the other half to do PHN another time as (all going well) she’ll hopefully end up loving at least one particular character when they appear


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 10:42 pm
Posts: 1620
Full Member
 

If you're in a serious sci-fi mood, then Interstellar. If you fancy a warmer, more predictable film with some comedy, PHM.

Both are worth it though.


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 10:56 pm
Posts: 16617
Full Member
 

Posted by: oldnpastit

I'm going to say just toss a coin, they are both about the same level of mid.

 

My! God! 

This is what the thread needed though, a hate figure we can all unite against.

It's unity in a way. Ok, one person gets burnt Wicker Man style but it's pretty much a win for everyone else?

 

 


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 11:00 pm
Posts: 6351
Full Member
 

Posted by: the-muffin-man

no other films will be considered!! 😀

Yes but have you considered that someone else said to watch Arrival instead? 

I enjoyed both Interstellar and PHM immensely, but Arrival is an all-time great.


 
Posted : 25/07/2026 1:18 am
Posts: 13388
Free Member
 

I enjoyed both Interstellar and PHM immensely, but Arrival is an all-time great.

Lol. Arrival is pure drivel.


 
Posted : 25/07/2026 6:00 am
Drac reacted
Posts: 1392
Free Member
 

PHM is saccarine candyfloss, put on Insterstellar instead.


 
Posted : 25/07/2026 6:17 am
Posts: 13388
Free Member
 

Posted by: dakuan

PHM is saccarine candyfloss, put on Insterstellar instead.

Its still more entertaining than Interstellar though.

Thinking about it. I might just hat Christopher Nolan films...

 

 


 
Posted : 25/07/2026 6:26 am
Posts: 3469
Full Member
 

Posted by: somafunk

Watched project Hail Mary (gave up at the 90min mark) a couple of weeks ago with my bro's amazon account and was disappointed in it, I almost bought it as I love a sci-fi film but glad I didn't.

I watched it at the cinema. Almost left 3 times but persevered to the end. You made the right decision. You have extra time that I will never get back.

OP, since you’ve offered no other option I’d have to go for the tedium of, the not as twisty as a Roald Dahl tale of the unexpected, Interstellar. At least I made it through that to the end first time around with only a mild urge to do something else. And it does have a subwoofer-testing soundtrack. 

Neither holds a candle to some other SciFi movies I’d rather watch again. Edge of Tomorrow (live, die, repeat)?


 
Posted : 25/07/2026 6:55 am
Posts: 13388
Free Member
 

As an aside.

Surely we are due a return to non bloated films. 

Bring back the editors and the cutting room floor.


 
Posted : 25/07/2026 7:04 am
 nbt
Posts: 12620
Full Member
 

I stand with @joshvegas


 
Posted : 25/07/2026 7:22 am
 DrJ
Posts: 14279
Full Member
 

Posted by: joshvegas

Lol. Arrival is pure drivel.

Great soundtrack. Amy Adams. You were making a list, iirc?

 

Surely we are due a return to non bloated films. 

Bring back the editors and the cutting room floor

ok, now you’re talking. 


 
Posted : 25/07/2026 8:42 am
 Drac
Posts: 50733
 

Posted by: hightensionline

If you're in a serious sci-fi mood, then Interstellar. If you fancy a warmer, more predictable film with some comedy, PHM.

One of the reasons I didn’t like Interstellar was is that’s predictable. Beautiful looking film but long and boring. 


 
Posted : 25/07/2026 10:50 am
Posts: 3207
Free Member
 

might just hat Christopher Nolan films..

I can only assume you haven't watched 'The Prestige,' one of my favourite films. PHM was ok (think I need to read the book to see what they missed out), Interstellar was underwhelming. Edge of Tomorrow (above) is way better than either, and I don't like Tom Cruise movies!


 
Posted : 25/07/2026 10:52 am
Posts: 13388
Free Member
 

I can only assume you haven't watched 'The Prestige,' one of my favourite films.

You mean the blindingly obvious "he clearly has a twin" thing?

Hard pass 


 
Posted : 25/07/2026 10:56 am
 Drac
Posts: 50733
 

Posted by: joshvegas

You mean the blindingly obvious "he clearly has a twin" thing?

He wasn’t a twin. 


 
Posted : 25/07/2026 11:02 am
Posts: 13388
Free Member
 

Posted by: Drac

Posted by: joshvegas

You mean the blindingly obvious "he clearly has a twin" thing?

He wasn’t a twin. 

I have no intention of watching it again but... I am pretty sure one of them was a twin and the other was a clone that died every night?

 


 
Posted : 25/07/2026 11:09 am
 Drac
Posts: 50733
 

Posted by: joshvegas

I have no intention of watching it again but... I am pretty sure one of them was a twin and the other was a clone that died every night?

He wasn’t sure if he was a clone or a twin, but yes the twin is the one who started the cloning. So technically you’re right. 


 
Posted : 25/07/2026 1:56 pm
Posts: 9823
Full Member
 

PHM is more entertaining. Interstellar was long and slow. MrsF is actually watching PHM - we're half way through (I've already seen it).


 
Posted : 25/07/2026 2:09 pm
Posts: 4231
Free Member
 

Posted by: mashr

My wife doesn’t love sci-fi, she loved PHM. 

Same for my wife - she watched it with my daughter and they both loved it.

I've read the book and it was truly awful - so badly written i wanted to laugh but not at the bits they made intentionally funny. didn't bother with the film after that.

So my vote is Interstellar.


 
Posted : 25/07/2026 2:14 pm
Posts: 14264
Full Member
Topic starter
 

PHM has won because Interstellar (which has been on my watchlist for a long time now on Amazon!) has moved to HBO. And I'm not signing up to another streamer! 🙂


 
Posted : 25/07/2026 7:32 pm
Posts: 34768
Full Member
 

PHM is saccarine candyfloss, put on Insterstellar instead.

i agree, but the ending of interstellar is pure schmaltz, it looks fantastic though 

I still prefer it to phm


 
Posted : 25/07/2026 7:47 pm
Posts: 5486
Free Member
 

Interstellar was good. PHM was OK.

Interstellar has the better soundtrack.


 
Posted : 25/07/2026 7:52 pm