Europa Report Touches Down On Blu-Ray: Today In Science And Science Fiction
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All the buzz right now might be focused on Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity, but that admittedly excellent flick isn’t the only noteworthy space movie to come out in recent months. Europa Report hit on-demand services this past summer, and had a limited theatrical run thereafter, but for most people, this will be the first chance to see one of my favorite movies of 2013.
Essentially a found-footage movie, Europa Report presents itself as “real” footage of a privately funded mission to Jupiter’s moon of Europa. The plan is to search the liquid oceans beneath its frozen surface for any signs of life. Unfortunately, things go Horribly Wrong along the way and Earth eventually loses contact with the craft. Some time later, their footage is recovered and the full story of what happened to them unfolds as the movie you’re watching.
Much like Gravity, Europa Report is much closer to a true “hard science fiction” movie than we typically get out of Hollywood, almost more of a procedural that follows the ins and outs of such a mission and the stresses it puts on the crew. But once they reach Europa, without spoiling anything, things truly get interesting. This is no place for spoilers, but I will say Europa Report is perhaps the only movie I can recall that elicited an audible gasp from me at one point. You’ll know the moment when you see it.
Europa Report is now available on Blu-Ray, DVD, and digital formats. You can read Nick’s review right here.
ON TV TODAY
Face Off (Syfy, 9/8c) — “Mortal Sins”
“The artists gather at a Gothic church at the start of a challenge based on the seven deadly sins.”
Fangasm (Syfy, 10/9c) — “Take Me to Your Lee-der”
“The interns have the opportunity to pitch their original ideas for superheroes to Stan Lee.”
Person of Interest (CBS, 10/9c) — “Lady Killer”
“Reese recruits Zoe Morgan, Carter and Shaw to help him keep tabs on a chameleon playboy whose number has come up. Elsewhere, Root is hunted by a dangerous enemy and turns to the Machine for help escaping from her psych ward.”
The Walking Dead (AMC, 8/7c)
AMC’s week-long Walking Dead marathon continues. Tonight you can catch the first and second season episodes “TS-19,” “What Lies Ahead,” “Bloodletting,” “Save the Last One,” and “Cherokee Rose.”
ON DVD TODAY
After Earth (Blu-Ray & DVD)
M. Night Shyamalan’s latest didn’t seem to win him any new fans, but if you’ve been curious about the flick from a train-wreck standpoint, you can see it for yourself today on Blu-ray and DVD. You can read Brent’s review right here.
American Horror Story: Asylum (Blu-Ray & DVD)
Doctor Who: Terror of the Zygons (DVD)
It’s the Doctor and the Loch Ness Monster! What more could you ask for?
Fantastic Voyage & Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (Blu-Ray)
Two classic ‘60s adventure flicks get new Blu-rays today, one which will take you into the depths, and the other which will take you into some dude’s bloodstream. Bon voyage!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FRANK HERBERT
The creator of the Dune series, one of the most beloved and enduring science fiction universes of all time, was born on this day in 1920. Including the Dune books, he went on to pen some two dozen novels and tons of short stories. Dune also earned him a Nebula Award in 1965 and a Hugo in 1966, further cementing his status as one of the greats of the genre. He passed away in 1986.
