Let me start with: I love this movie. I love how it's made, the camera movements, the mockups – oh god the mockups, I'm a Wes Anderson fan, so I'm very happy seeing another movie made without green screen – the sound play, the portrayal of many scenes, the acting (obviously). It's just such a well-done movie. If I didn't know the plot (prior to reading a book), I would probably watch it at the edge of my seat for the whole 2,5h. The pacing was great.
The idea of showing Rocky's pov was very well executed and thought of. It's nice to see how such concepts can be shown in movies.
I like scenes that they added to the movie. Showing a different side of characters (like Stratt) was also interesting. I like this choice, because it's just another take on a character that doesn't take away from their personality and role. Same with Grace, however I do have few things that bothered me.
I know it's a movie and thus, some things have to get changed. It's either due to the constraints of time-limit, scenes blending, pacing, or just information not available (or needed) to a viewer, since they don't get a look inside the main character's head. I'm sad about some of the characters being cut out entirely (or just showing on the screen for a second and without a proper name), as well as some scenes, but I know why they decide to do it. The same goes for changing some scenes or adding another ones, and adding new character. Or making some scenes more or less dramatic. I love this movie, I will for sure watch it again, it's great, however, in contrast with a book, I feel like they didn't really portray the stakes as much. I'm not saying they didn't do it at all, because they did, but the books feels heavier. Of course, I know, it's connected to a lot of scenes they unfortunately got rid of, but if they didn't the movie would be probably like an hour longer. It's just my personal feeling compared to the book. Probably if I didn't read it before, I wouldn't feel it.
Another thing that bothers me is that Grace's personality and successes are lessened? Of course, again, I know it comes from the fact it's a movie, we can't know how smart (and dumb) he really is, we're not sitting inside his head. But (very small spoilers) why not showing the fact that he was the one naming Astrophages? (another small spoiler) Why only at the end showing that he learnt Eridian language? – this one I understand more, it's a movie they needed Rocky to talk, however they could've done it differently too. I know some of the scenes I think of are not needed for the plot, or not important, they're just personality showcase but I just don't understand why they changed certain scenes in such way. And it goes many ways. Like the scene goes almost the same but, for example instead of Rocky asking for a laptop, Grace offers him one – this scene I can understand, because it leads to another one that was not in the book, and is just beautiful.
It's a very small percent, like maybe 3% of the things I would love to see differently.
Oh but something I absolutely love is Grace outfits and especially fox symboling. God, I love it so much.
Overall, I think this is one of the best book adaptations I've seen anyway. It's a great movie, it's stunning, and made with love for filmmaking and it shows. I would 1000% recommend it to everyone, but I would also 1000% recommend to read a book if you think about it!
