Project Hail Mary FILM REVIEW

A Wail Of A Time! 🪨👎

Project Hail Mary is based on the novel by Andy Weir and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and it delivers a compelling mix of science, suspense, comedy, and surprisingly heartfelt moments. It’s a story that manages to feel both epic in scale and deeply personal at the same time. Going into this film, there was a lot of hype, especially because of the massive success of Weir’s previous adaptation, The Martian. Add Ryan Gosling as the lead, and expectations were understandably high, particularly with it being based on another well-loved Weir novel.

The movie follows Ryland Grace, a man who wakes up alone on a spaceship with no memory of who he is or how he got there. As his memories gradually return, he discovers he’s on a last-chance mission to save Earth from certain annihilation. From that point on, the film becomes a tense survival story filled with problem-solving, discovery, humour, heartfelt moments, and unexpected twists.

I went into Project Hail Mary not really knowing what to expect (I haven’t read the book) but it honestly surprised me in a good way. One thing I really enjoyed was how the film made the science interesting instead of boring. Normally that kind of thing can drag, but here it actually made me more invested because you’re basically solving the problems alongside him.

Much like The Martian, it focuses on realistic scientific challenges but presents them in a way that feels engaging rather than overwhelming. Each breakthrough feels rewarding. Also, for an end-of-the-world type film, it doesn’t lean too heavily into dread or existential crisis like others in the genre, which was refreshing.

The lead character is another highlight. Ryland Grace isn’t your typical action hero, he’s relatable, often unsure, and occasionally overwhelmed. That makes his journey feel more grounded and believable, which adds to the emotional impact. 

Visually, the film captures the isolation of space really well while still keeping things engaging. There’s also a strong emotional core that develops as the story progresses, adding depth beyond just survival and science.

It’s also great to see practical effects and puppetry being used. Rocky (our beloved rock friend) is easily one of the heart and soul elements of the film. Honestly, we love you Rocky, you are amaze, amaze, amaze. His audio design was incredible, and the soundtrack was beautiful too.

Overall, Project Hail Mary is an intelligent and engaging sci-fi film that offers more than just spectacle. It’s a story about survival, problem-solving, and connection in the most unexpected circumstances. It’s also a genuinely fun watch and a great big-screen experience, it's a film that you need to see on the big screen. A must-watch for fans of smart, character-driven sci-fi, especially if you enjoyed The Martian, Ryan Gosling, or Andy Weir’s work

Thanks for reading my blog! 

I’ve been 1stmetalBLOG and you’ve been amazing. 

Check out more of my reviews on the homepage. Take care and stay shiny! ✨

Why Do We Love Video Games? FREE EBOOK

THE LINK NO LONGER WORKS BUT THE BOOK WILL BE RE_PUBLISHED HERE ON MY BLOG AND I WILL BE BRINGING AN UPDATED VERSION OUT IN 2026

Why Do We Love Video Games? 

A History Of Love 

Written By Scott Jones

Is a free ebook available to read and download from today, in which Scott Jones delves deep inside his thoughts and inside a culture so epic and diverse and discusses in depth all about Video Games. From their rich history to their technological advances to the good side and bad side of gaming to find out why do we love video games. Scott is joined by his friends who take on this topic in this free downloadable ebook from Scott and his friends. This was originally published in 2017. Re uploaded to the blog 2026.

2025 UPDATE - THIS BOOK IS BEING REWORKED BUT FOR NOW PLEASE CONTINUE TO READ THIS FIRST VERSION. 

Things That I Do - Original song lyrics by SJones

[Verse 1]

Boots sink deep in the frozen ground

Mud on our faces

Smoke all around

You pass me bread with a shaking hand

Say

"Son, Hold tight to whatever you can"

[Chorus]

We fight the dark with borrowed light

Side by side in the broken night

If this is where our last stand lands

I’ll meet my fate with your name in my hands

Father and son in a stolen time

Two shadows stuck on the same thin line

If I fall first

If you fall too

I’ll carry you home in the things that I do

[Verse 2]

Shells write fire on a paper sky

You shout my name as the dirt flies high

We dive together in the shattered rain

Your shoulder pressed to my ribs like a chain

You say

"If I go, Boy, Don’t stand still, Walk out of this with your stubborn will"

I see the fear that you try to hide

Same brown eyes as mine

Just a little more tired

[Chorus]

We fight the dark with borrowed light

Side by side in the broken night

If this is where our last stand lands

I’ll meet my fate with your name in my hands

Father and son in a stolen time

Two shadows stuck on the same thin line

If I fall first

If you fall too

I’ll carry you home in the things that I do

[Bridge]

Morning creeps in through the wire and bones

Rats and letters and dents in our souls

You show me a picture

Creased and worn

A baby boy in your arms by the door

"That was you" 

you laugh through the cold

"All the reason I ever had to grow old"

Now we’re here

Same coat

Same name

Praying this mud forgets our faces and our age

[Chorus]

We fight the dark with borrowed light

Side by side in the broken night

If this is where our last stand lands

I’ll meet my fate with your name in my hands

Father and son in a stolen time

Two shadows stuck on the same thin line

If I walk out and you’re not through

I’ll carry you home in the things that I do

(yeah) I’ll carry you home in the things that I do

My 2025 Wrapped

 

Predator: The Badlands Review!

Predator: Badlands is a sci-fi action film set on a harsh alien world where survival is everything. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg and staring Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster‑Koloamatangi. The story focuses on an unlikely alliance formed under extreme circumstances, blending action, adventure, and emotional depth without relying solely on the traditional “human hunt” formula. It’s a fresh take and a respectful nod to the classic Predator legacy in one action protein shake! 🍻

It's so refreshing and interesting how the film shifts perspective by making a Yautja (the Predator species) the main character (Dek), giving that creature nuance and emotion rather than purely a monster. The chemistry between Dek and the android Thia (played by Elle Fanning) are fantastic! They have a surprisingly entertaining odd-couple dynamic which worked great. There was moments Dek and Thia both made me laugh, it was amusing.

The alien planet Genna is astonishing and so beautiful, amazing world building and worlds shown along with Yautja Prime. The new creature designs, and the interaction of Predator lore are fresh for the franchise and a much welcome addition.

As a big long time predator fan myself it was so refreshing to see more of the Yautja clan and hearing them interact with eachother. My hat is off to the sound design behind that and to the cool distorted daft punk like soundtrack we get with them at times. Some fans of the Pred films may feel the film softens the “monster” and horror aspect too much by giving The Predator more emotion, vulnerability and a journey but there's still ferociousness here.

The action and spectacle are strong, the pacing does slow down when characters outside of our titular ones are on screen. The tone shift from the traditional 18 to a mere 12A feels odd with what prior Predator films delivered (horror, action, gritty) but it still works here. Score is fantastic and elevates the film, trust me the distorted Yautja type vocal music whatever you call it, I'm so hyped I can't even word right now about it but yes that slaps!

Predator: Badlands is a big bold evolution of the franchise. It's so good to have more substance to the Predator species. The 12A rating is a shocking step down from the Horror series 18 ratings in the past but there's still blood to be shed here. It's not your typical Predator horror hunt like the past entries, but it does take interesting risks and delivers fun, strong visuals, and a new emotional core. It signals that the franchise is moving into territory traditional Pred fans may not like which may divide fans but arguably in an exciting way.

I thought this was incredible, I am looking forward to seeing what's next for the franchise. Thanks for reading, stay shiny and follow for more reviews! 😊