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I've been eagerly anticipating this science fiction movie starring Adam Sandler as a lonely astronaut and Paul Dano as Hanuš, the alien spider he meets in the great unknown. It made its debut at the Berlinale Film Festival back in February and despite some mixed reviews, it seems audiences are eagerly giving it a chance. So I decided to watch it as well.
After watching it, I definitely have some thoughts, including whether or not you should watch this Netflix movie. So let's dive into what "Spaceman" is all about and whether you should stream or skip it on Netflix this week.
This movie is based on the 2017 novel "Spaceman of Bohemia." Adam Sandler stars as Commander Jakub Prochzka, a cosmonaut from the Czech Republic who is on a mission at the edge of our solar system to explore a mysterious ancient cloud of dust. While in the vast emptiness of space, Jakub meets Hanuš, an extraterrestrial spider (Paul Dano) who attempts to help Jakub through "his emotional distress"
Meanwhile, back on Earth, is the cause of Jakub's emotional distress. Jakub has left behind a pregnant wife, Lenka (Carey Mulligan), who appears to be ready to abandon Jakub before he returns home from his solo voyage.
Critical reviews for this movie on Rotten Tomatoes aren't great. The critical consensus is that movie has themes worth exploring and the cast is talented. But "it [the movie] fails to consistently engage with its most interesting ideas."
After having watched "Spaceman," I'd have to say this assessment is spot on. There are some interesting things worth exploring, and the budding relationship between Jakub and Hanuš is interesting. The movie also hits its strongest point when those two explore the trauma of Jakub's past, particularly his past with Lenka.
But that relationship is just one of several moving pieces at odds with each other in this movie. There's a satire on the capitalism of space travel that's attempted and forgotten throughout the movie. Showing Mulligan's Lenka back on Earth in the present rather than through flashbacks constantly interrupts the movie. And there's a weird plot element about South Korean chasing Jakub and the Czech Republic for the honor of exploring the mystic cloud first that makes absolutely no sense to be included in the movie. My only guess is that it made sense when it was in the book.
This movie is flawed, but not without merit. The second half of the movie is much more intriguing and cohesive than the first half, and the time spent exploring Jakub and Hanuš's new relationship and the trauma of Jakub and Lenka's old relationship is emotionally engaging and compelling to watch. The final act of the movie ties this all together in a way that genuinely keeps your attention and works, even if it's a bit strange at times.
Unfortunately, getting to the point where this movie starts to pay off is a 55-minute slog. I almost fell asleep during the first half of the movie while it figured out what it wanted to be. And that was valuable time lost because it prevented us from exploring the themes that did work in appropriate detail.
Ultimately, you should skip "Spaceman." Sometimes, flawed movies are worth the payoff, but this isn't one of those flawed movies. This is a shame because it's so clear that the potential was there for this Netflix movie.
Malcolm McMillan is a senior writer for Tom's Guide, covering all the latest in streaming TV shows and movies. That means news, analysis, recommendations, reviews and more for just about anything you can watch, including sports! If it can be seen on a screen, he can write about it. Previously, Malcolm had been a staff writer for Tom's Guide for over a year, with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI), A\/V tech and VR headsets.\n\nBefore writing for Tom's Guide, Malcolm worked as a fantasy football analyst writing for several sites and also had a brief stint working for Microsoft selling laptops, Xbox products and even the ill-fated Windows phone. He is passionate about video games and sports, though both cause him to yell at the TV frequently. He proudly sports many tattoos, including an Arsenal tattoo, in honor of the team that causes him to yell at the TV the most."}), " -0-11/js/authorBio.js"); } else console.error('%c FTE ','background: #9306F9; color: #ffffff','no lazy slice hydration function available'); Malcolm McMillanSocial Links NavigationSenior Streaming WriterMalcolm McMillan is a senior writer for Tom's Guide, covering all the latest in streaming TV shows and movies. That means news, analysis, recommendations, reviews and more for just about anything you can watch, including sports! If it can be seen on a screen, he can write about it. Previously, Malcolm had been a staff writer for Tom's Guide for over a year, with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI), A/V tech and VR headsets.
Before writing for Tom's Guide, Malcolm worked as a fantasy football analyst writing for several sites and also had a brief stint working for Microsoft selling laptops, Xbox products and even the ill-fated Windows phone. He is passionate about video games and sports, though both cause him to yell at the TV frequently. He proudly sports many tattoos, including an Arsenal tattoo, in honor of the team that causes him to yell at the TV the most.
The selection of the best sci-fi movies on Netflix is fairly sparse compared to some of its streaming competitors. But there are three great sci-fi movies on Netflix that should appeal to fans who loved Ready Player One. You can find our selections below.
It took the better part of four years for Netflix was able to bring Liu Cixin's sci-fi novel The Three-Body Problem to life. The 3 Body Problem series was announced in September 2020 as the first post-Game of Thrones project for David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, who co-created the new show with Alexander Woo. Now that 3 Body Problem has finally arrived, it's already near the top of the most popular shows on Netflix.
Anyone with the time to watch all eight episodes of 3 Body Problem doesn't have to worry about spoilers. But for the benefit of those who haven't yet, we'll refrain from ruining the story for you. It's enough to say that aliens are real in this world, and humanity has to deal with the implications of what that means for their collective future.
In the realm of sci-fi films, there are movies that were made before Blade Runner and movies that were made after it. Ridley Scott's adaptation of Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was so influential that almost everything that came after Blade Runner was inspired by it in some way. This was especially apparent in the '80s, although the Blade Runner imitators couldn't match the artistry on display in Scott's film.
Regardless, there are a handful of contemporary '80s sci-fi movies that carried on the themes, the tone, and even some of the big ideas behind Blade Runner. Unfortunately, they aren't readily available on streaming services, and they've been largely forgotten for the past four decades. That's why we're focusing on three great 1980s sci-fi movies that carried the spirit of Blade Runner. And you won't even have to hunt them down in a dusky old video store to find them.
Runaway (1984)
Although Netflix is truly an international streaming service with original programming from all over the world, it can still be surprising when an unheralded series races to the top of the list of the most popular TV shows on Netflix. This week, a little-known German miniseries, The Signal, has gotten the coveted boost from Netflix and landed at No. 3 on the TV charts. That's an incredible performance for a show that doesn't have any established actors from the U.S.
If you need an excuse to check out Netflix's latest sensation, here are three great reasons to watch The Signal. And since there are only four episodes, this binge can be finished in a single night if you just can't wait for the next chapter.
It's a sci-fi mystery
Upgrade your lifestyleDigital Trends helps readers keep tabs on the fast-paced world of tech with all the latest news, fun product reviews, insightful editorials, and one-of-a-kind sneak peeks.
The on-demand video market is becoming very crowded, and it can be difficult to know which streaming service is perfect for you. We've put together a guide to help you choose the best, from Netflix to Disney Plus and more.
Streaming services have completely revolutionised how we consume film and TV. Netflix is one of the most subscribed to streaming platforms worldwide, boasting almost 231 million subscribers, but even for the likes of Netflix, competition is rife, with more and more new streamers entering the market.
The term 'streaming wars' has been coined to acknowledge this fierce competition between platforms. And with so much choice, and the likelihood that our favourite shows and films are spread across multiple services with each coming with its own cost, how do we begin to choose?
After years of expertise rating and reviewing the latest films and TV shows, RadioTimes.com knows a thing or two about streaming. In this guide, you'll find everything you need to know when choosing the best streaming service for you.
There's no easy answer to what is the best streaming service because it really depends on what your film and TV taste is, as well as what features are most important to you, and of course, how much you're willing to pay.
In terms of content, it's hard to compete with Netflix which outputs an incredible amount of original film and TV each month, on top of an impressive back catalogue. It's fair to say that with this much content, the quality can be a mixed bag, but every so often a huge word-of-mouth hit, such as Stranger Things or The Crown, will land on the service, while a few of their films have been nominated for an Academy Award, such as Roma.
However, with Netflix losing much of their licensed back catalogue, franchise fans may be better off heading to Disney Plus. The streaming service includes the very best of Disney, Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel, and will be the only place to see many of the spin-off shows from each of those universes. The addition of Star also means there's plenty more mature content, too, like Good Trouble.
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