INTERSTELLAR

-----I've added photos to my review showing the Digibook and disc 1+2 language/options....-----I first saw this film in the cinema and I've just received and watched the Digibook Blu-ray - Hurray !Christopher Nolan has been in my movie 'Hall of Fame' for many years, by virtue of his previous efforts, most notably the intriguing 'Memento', the mesmerising 'Insomnia', the spectacular 'Batman Begins', the thought-provoking 'The Prestige', the enthralling 'The Dark Knight' and (most recently) the utterly captivating 'Inception' - which for me tops them all and firmly sits at the top of the pile, alongside Michael Mann's 'Manhunter', as my most favourite film.For me, having already seen it in the cinema, 'Interstellar' is an extremely impressive spectacle which (unusually for a Christopher Nolan film) provoked extreme emotion - I know I have not been the only grown-man to 'blub' as the movie reached it's climax....If the storyline is fully-appreciated your eyes will ache due to the often tremendous visuals, your ears resonate due to the incredible soundtrack (sound-effects and a powerful Hans Zimmer score) BUT, perhaps more significantly, your mind will slowly get scrambled with the combination of (a la 'Inception') brain-boggling 'concepts' and (towards the end) that heavy emotion.and this Blu-ray presentation managed to provoke the same reaction for me, despite a smaller screen and less expansive sound-system - it presents things as good as you could expect in HD (albeit that the potential spectacle is diminished a little due to a smaller screen of course !), with the dts-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack managing to almost equal my previous cinematic experience with lots of rear/subwoofer 'activity'.Like 'Inception', to properly appreciate the convoluted plot this film demands maximum attentiveness - and right from the very start, since as he (first ?) did in his previous film Nolan has included an opening sequence which is likely to be forgotten but is HUGELY significant nonetheless.and so I must state that I do not aim to cover the plot much since, VERY quickly, it is revelationary and hence makes spoiling things for first-time viewers too likely; BUT, since it is at the start I can mention that opening sequence as it hints at what is to follow....I should also mention that many reviews, including the often too-lauded contributory 'encyclopaedia-type' website beginning with a 'W', manage to fail to mention this opening scene (or omit bits from their description of it) which perhaps shows that the significance of it has been 'missed'....We first see a series of 'talking heads' interviews with individual aged people, who discuss certain events which pertain to what follows - CRUCIALLY however, those interview clips have interspersed amongst them a series of clips of piloted space flight which are just as significant.*** Remember the beginning as you continue to watch and things may be clearer and without repeat viewing !!!What follows is an introductory-type set of scenes so we are familiarised further (and more specifically) with the era, present 'predicament' and the significant characters - before the story rapidly progresses as the influential plotlines are 'injected' into it.and that's it from me on the story I'm afraid, spaceflight is obviously a huge theme of the film as hinted at by the title and many images easily seen on product packaging - but any further explanation is too fraught with spoilers !What extra I can say is that there are fewer fast-paced action sequences as in 'Inception', but perhaps more of the 'concept' discussion/explanation scenes than that previous film - and it is those concepts which, for me, (eventually) justify the 'brain-boggling' aspect of the film.However, unlike 'Inception', whilst I think I've fully understood all those concepts (which are again linked to a theme of 'time'), I remain unhappy about one particular set of scenes which I believe are not necessarily a 'plot hole' but are certainly hard to prove as 'viable' without a LOT of investment in the theory of time 'science' or believability (and yes, I have studied the theories of Einstein !) - I have covered that a bit at the end of this review, after the dashed line, as it contains spoilers...Luckily, despite any reservations, things rattle along at such a pace in this film that small issues can be readily left for later without viewing being spoiled - and as mentioned before, as things progress a massive emotional element slowly dominates proceedings - which for made the whole experience so memorable. The acting is excellent, the cinematography expansive and the special-effects quite superb and wholly 'realistic'.The other factor which contributes enormously to that experience is, of course, the superb musical soundtrack by (once again) Hans Zimmer. Except this time he composes solo and has produced a score which I think is vastly different from anything he has done before, it being largely 'electronic' - devoid of percussion and brass instrument contribution on which has so often 'majored' in so successfully.For once, the music supports the film more than standing on it's own, with few tracks (I also have the full soundtrack separately) warranting individual listening as they are not as 'dominant' as previous work, EXCEPT for the quite superb track 'No Time for Caution' (used in a space docking scene towards the end of the film) which is also notable for featuring a marvellous church organ 'solo' (not played by Zimmer, despite him often playing keyboards) which demands repeat viewing/listening - LOUD !To mention cast members would also again invite spoilers, but I do not risk that when I state that the lead actor, Matthew McConaughey, has once again proved himself to have few peers (let alone betters), with a performance in which he is clearly fully-immersed to ensure that we are not only captivated by his character but also properly appreciate the storyline and the significant elements within - watch and learn, just like him in 'Dallas Buyers' or the more recent TV series 1 'True Detective'.It is also a delicious coincidence that he also featured in the impressive 'Contact', since this film shares many, many significant traits with it - along with other films such as '2001: A Space Odyssey', '12 Monkeys', 'The Terminator' or 'Millennium' for example....oh, and 'Event Horizon', which must surely have been the source for the paper/pen worm hole explanation scene in this film as it has almost a complete rip-off from it !!! Also, am I the only person to recognise musical 'hooks from Mr Zimmer which resonate with sounds from '2001' and 'Contact' ???My 2-Disc Blu-ray Digibook features a well-reproduced partial element of the larger Nolan 'photo book' about the film (stills, concept artwork etc), with that second disc holding a lot of 'featurettes' (+ the usual promo trailers, no commentary - as usual for Nolan since 'Memento'....) - both held with secure clip-fasteners on the back; there's also a UV watch/download code slip. The Digibook was delivered in cellophane wrapping, so the outer edges are not properly protected for posting.....I've added photos to my review showing the Digibook and disc 1+2 language/options....Like all previous Nolan films, a first viewing of 'Interstellar' left me hugely impressed but also cerebrally 'drained' - however, unlike his other films this one also produced a massive emotional 'hit' since it has significant sentimental elements (largely courtesy of Matthew McConaughey surely ?) . Whilst I don't think that it can be properly 'reproduced' on a home screen to the same affect as when at the cinema, this Blu-ray does as good a job as can be done and means I can watch it again and again to enjoy as much as I did the first time.----------------------------------------------------------------------------SPOILER-ALERTSPOILER-ALERTThe gravitational 'dust lines' which Cooper decodes to reveal and direct him to the secret NASA facility were placed by him at a 'later' date. Since he only got to that later date by virtue of his subsequent NASA flight a paradox exists ie how could he leave the lines to start the process which eventually gets him to the position of leaving them ???After he arrives there, since the staff at the NASA facility eventually reveal that Cooper is a relied-upon 'hope' to fly the subsequent space mission (due to his past experience) why had they not already contacted him or, at least, greeted with open arms when he got there of his own accord ???END OF SPOILERSEND OF SPOILERS----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Recently got my hands on the Interstellar 10th Anniversary Limited Edition in 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray, and I have to say, it exceeded all my expectations. From the sleek, premium packaging to the unparalleled video and audio quality, this edition truly celebrates the masterpiece that is Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar.The packaging is stunning, with a cosmic-themed design that perfectly captures the movie’s grand scale and emotional depth. It’s not just a collector’s item—it feels like a treasure. The inclusion of both 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray ensures maximum compatibility while delivering breathtaking visuals. Every scene—from the vastness of space to the intimate, emotional moments—looks and sounds incredible. The remastering has been handled with great care, enhancing every detail without compromising the original cinematic experience.This edition also comes with special features that dive deep into the filmmaking process, offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at how Nolan crafted this sci-fi epic. For anyone who loves Interstellar, this limited edition is an absolute must-have. It’s a fitting tribute to a film that has stood the test of time, and I’m thrilled to add it to my collection.Highly recommended for any movie enthusiast or Nolan fan!

Great movie with good acting and a believable storyline (for science fiction).

I don't even know where to begin talking about this masterpiece. I think at this point I've seen the film at least 30 times over the years and the ending makes me shed a tear every time.No other sci-fi film has left me in awe at the visuals of space like Interstellar. Seeing gargantuan in all its glory, the wormhole and Saturn, it's just amazing. The story itself is of course great as well. The Miller's planet situation is devastating and in the calm after the wave passes, the viewer knows instantly what it cost. We get the massive payoff at the end with Murph, and we get that ending that leaves us aching to see more of what Murph's work achieved for humanity and what Brand (and presumably Cooper) will get up to after.There's a million other things I could blab on about, but I suck at writing reviews so I'll leave it there. A 9.9/10 movie for me and one I will always come back to.