The latest from Danny Boyle, of '28 Days Later' and 'Trainspotting' fame, is 'Sunshine' - an epic science-fiction thriller that follows the story of mankind trying to rejuvenate a dying sun.

The Icarus II is mankind's second attempt at this grave mission. Attached to a payload the size of Manhattan, the goal is to plant the load (yeah, I know) directly into the sun, with hopes if re-igniting the dying star and saving Earth from an unending winter.

The cinematography and art direction is astounding. Aboard the Icarus II, there is a room with a diffusion window that allows crew members to look at the sun directly at a safe intensity, setting the stage for several truly breathtaking scenes. Searle, the crew psychiatrist played by Cliff Curtis, has a personal meltdown with his addiction to the room, always increasing the amount of light allowed through, causing increasing damage to his skin, and adding a nice developing character to the story.

The script, penned by Alex Garland, is sound. The characters, especially Capa played by Cillian Murphy, are complex enough, yet still represent basic drives and desires in human nature. Ultimately, that's what the film is about - human nature. It's about displaying basic human nature and desires to the audience, and showing the innate desire to survive, even when the odds stack up.

This is best displayed when Capa is forced to make a fateful decision. The wreckage of the failed Icarus I is found off course, and Capa must decide if it's in the best interest of the crew to visit the ship to look for supplies and survivors. Realizing that the payload aboard the Icarus I is still intact, Capa decides the risks of veering off course are outweighed by the possibility of two shots at success.

As the crew makes their way to the other ship, a series of events unfolds that brings Sunshine from a standard sci-fi flick to a racing thriller. That transition is both good and bad for the film. The timing of this transition is perfectly paced, and the mood and setting are both effective as the crew docks on an abandoned Icarus I. Unfortunately, a subplot is started that is somewhat unnecessary.

SPOILER ALERT.

If you're going to watch this movie, stop reading at this point. It's an excellent film, and one worth watching in the theater if you can. It's not Danny Boyle's best film, but its ambitious and proves again what he can accomplish in any genre he pleases. So, watch it and stop reading. Seriously.

All right, let's get down to business. There's one subplot that is totally unnecessary, and hurt this blossoming epic story of humans trying to save a dying planet by reviving a dying star. At the time the crew of Icarus II arrives at its predecessors ship, the Icarus I had been deemed missing for seven years. They didn't have enough oxygen or food for the entire crew to survive, but the possibility of a few survivors still existed.

Icarus I is boarded, only to find everything covered to dust. A crew-member mentions that 90 percent of dust comes from human skin, a sort of biblical reference. Shit really goes down when the crew re-boards Icarus II and makes their way toward the Sun once again. The ship has enough air for the remaining crew members, but no more. Capa soon realizes that the air supply is depleting faster than previously calculated. In a sharp turn of events, Capa finds the answer to this dilemma, an unexpected visitor, the sole survivor form Icarus I.

In theory, this subplot seems like a great idea. Unfortunately, it was simply executed poorly. The remaining survivor, who was the captain of Icarus I, has bizarrely superhuman strength and seems to have developed an immunity to direct contact with the sun. His body is covered in scarred tissue, and he preaches about being chosen by god to save mankind. It's fairly overkill, and loses its potential intrigue quickly. Honestly, this little twist could be very effective and creepy, had the captain not turned into a larger than average monster of sorts. I could have gone along with it easier if the survivor was frail, and maybe showed more signs of being alone for seven years with little rations. It's still good sci-fi, I just sincerely expected more from a Danny Boyle film.

Ultimately, 'Sunshine' delivers on everything one would predict. It's a sound science-fiction movie, with the heart of a thriller. Don't expect to be blown away in the same manner as '28 Weeks Later' - but expect to be pleased by the genre-free direction of Boyle, best resembled by 'Millions' in its totality.