Project Hail Mary is a perfect example of a movie made after a book where the movie does not even come close to do the story justice. I read the book about five years ago. Here is my book review. I gave the book a 4-star review and called it “one of the best and most satisfying science fiction stories I have ever read.” I still stand by that.
The movie Project Hail Mary got great reviews from the critics and they are already talking about Oscars. I really don’t think so. It’s a fun movie, Ryan Gosling did a good job as the lead (and mostly only) actor, but most audiences will not be able to follow the story.
I think it is a solid 2-star movie. As a matter of fact, if you didn’t read the book, I don’t recommend watching the movie. It’s 2 hours and 36 minutes long, and my wife was fidgeting in her chair next to me. I knew she didn’t know what was going on. Many of plot twists didn’t really sink in. The environment of the Eridanis was just glossed over, and viewers probably didn’t even understand the last few minutes of the movie. There is a lot of science applied here, and that too did not take hold.
If you did read the book, and science fiction is your thing, you will enjoy the movie for what it is. It will put some images into your head that weren’t there before.
And you will enjoy the soundtrack. It might get some awards for that.
