Danny Boyleí¢â‚¬â„¢s Sunshine is a much-needed shot in the arm for original science-fiction. With the last decade dominated by underwhelming Star Wars prequels, ití¢â‚¬â„¢s easy to forget how science-fiction has, in the past, debated big ideas and influenced how we see ourselves in the universe. Sunshine focuses upon a manned mission to reignite our dying Sun with a nuclear payload the size of Manhattan. The film builds upon its cinematic influences (2001: A Space Odyssey, Alien and the original Solaris), by blending cutting-edge effects with a screenplay inspired by real science. Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland take the day-to-day practicalities of long-haul space travel, and put them front and centre, presenting a bid for inclusion in the annals of í¢â‚¬Å“seriousí¢â‚¬  sci-fi. The result fuses stunning visuals with multi-stranded tales of obsession, as the characters respond to the power of the star they must reignite.