It is rare that a sf film today really is good sf, but Danny Boyle succeeds in this fascinating thriller. It is a lot more than just another special effects action-packed thriller, and instead takes its time to build tension. The pay-off is clear: we are much more involved in the mission because of it, and while I agree that the characters are flat, the suspense is well-crafted.

Also, while not exactly philosophical in the vein of 2001, Sunshine still offers a nice speculative dimension. The end is a bit of a let-down, as the film retreats into formula and a pre-established pattern which it had been better served without.