Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.
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Recently saw Hail Mary and enjoyed it a bunch. Sped through the book and came to the conclusion that, just like The Martian, the film is a far better film than the book is a book (joining the likes of Jurassic Park and The Godfather, also arguably Silence of the Lambs); the author's writing style is very positive and optimistic but also very IAmVerySmart and I Fucking Love Science and generally gave me Reddit vibes.
So, because I apparently love checking in on the progress of cancer like I'm some kind of internet oncologist, I go to Reddit and poke around. The stuff at the top is mainly resentment that the author is "conservative" and a misogynist and did an interview with noted elite misogynist The Critical Drinker. And some grumbling that the author/viewpoint character used "He" pronouns for the hermaphroditic alien and assumed they's mate was female by calling thim "Adrian." (Because Rock Alien=Rocky, so Rock Alien's mate = Adrian). Such oppressive heteronormativity is proof that the author is a bad person. Also something something mediocre white man.
So yeah, reddit gonna reddit. It gave me a chuckle when years ago I would be disappointed and annoyed.
I successfully avoided any spoilers for the book and saw it last night.
Was not expecting that. At all.
A few stunning visual sequences that I'm still thinking about. Soundtrack worked well - fit with the "Hail Mary" theme. Also, character's name is "Grace".
Maybe I'm too reddit-brained, but I kind of wanted a bit more explanation of the science. There's a a critical moment in the film that is the core emotional climax the entire plot has been building toward, and the logistics of it are not even handwaved. They're just not explained. I was just like "okay, that's great. nailed the emotional beat, but .. how tf??". A minor gripe. Still liked it.
There's much much more "power of science" stuff in the book, which they (tragically but wisely IMHO) cut from the film (or at best alluded to in the film, in five second bits showing the solutions to problems that took minutes to hours of thinking or days to weeks of trial-and-error), to make room in an otherwise-too-long-for-a-movie story for the more emotionally central themes related to your spoilered point.
The book is still not as good in that respect as The Martian, but it's way closer than the movies were.
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