I know it’s still early in the year, but if you go to see just one movie at the theater in 2026, Project Hail Mary would be an excellent pick. It’s a really, really good movie – and I would even go so far as to call it a great one.
It’s been a while since I watched a science fiction movie like this. It manages to be suspenseful, exciting, thought provoking, funny, and also deeply emotional and moving. It captures the wonder and terror of space (especially the thought of being ALONE in space), and has, at its heart, a beautiful story of friendship.
The movie is based on a book by Andy Weir, who also wrote The Martian (another example of an excellent book-to-movie adaptation). I have not yet read the novel Project Hail Mary, so all the movie’s twists and turns took me by surprise.
The film’s main characters are an unlikely astronaut named Ryland Grace (played by Ryan Gosling) and “Rocky,” an alien lifeform (brought to life on film by voice actor and lead puppeteer James Ortiz). Both Ryland and Rocky have been selected by their civilizations to undergo dangerous missions to save their worlds after stars begin mysteriously dimming across the universe.
When they first catch sight of each other’s ships in the cold vacuum of space, Ryland and Rocky are unable to communicate and are unsure if their missions have any hope of success. Together, they develop a translator that allows them to start working together, and they unlock a discovery that could save their home planets.
I loved the relationship between Ryland and Rocky. You can feel the camaraderie and care that exists between them, which is even more impressive due to the fact that Rocky is a creature without visible eyes or facial features with which to emote. However, Gosling, Ortiz, and the other puppeteers are really able to sell the relationship. This film is a wonderful example of the power of blending both practical and CGI effects; the story being told looks and feels real.
I’ve only seen the movie once so far, but it’s one I definitely want to try to see again, especially if I can catch it in IMAX. It has echoes of Interstellar but it also is entirely its own thing. I hope it continues to do well, because this is exactly the sort of movie I want to see more of from Hollywood.
[Side note: Since originally writing this review, I did get a chance to watch the movie in IMAX. It was even more amazing on a giant screen!]
Mini con report:
Planet Comicon Kansas City
Another Planet Comicon in Kansas City has come and gone, and I’m already missing it and daydreaming about next year!
Planet Comicon is the largest regional con that is closest to me geographically, and I’ve been attending since 2017. It’s wild how much the con has grown since the first event I attended, and I feel like each year just gets better and better.
Two of the biggest guests this year were two Lord of the Rings actors, Elijah Wood and Sean Astin. Sadly, I did not get to attend their panel or do any of the celebrity photo ops or autograph sessions. However, as a longtime fan and supporter of Planet Comicon, I am honored Elijah and Sean made time in their schedules to attend this event! A good friend of mine who is a major Lord of the Rings fan got to do the Elijah Wood meet and greet, and she said it was a wonderful experience.
I save up my “fun budget” money all year for Planet Comicon, and I got a chance to spend some of it (OK, actually a LOT of it) at different artists’ booths. I always love seeing the different styles on display and supporting creatives.
One of my cosplays during the weekend was inspired by the series Dungeon Crawler Carl (of course I had a tiara-wearing Princess Donut plush to accompany me). I was hoping to see maybe one or two other Carl fans; however, I was absolutely blown away by the number of cosplays inspired by the series, and I got my photo with several other fans. I also got a signed copy of the Dungeon Crawler Carl audio drama, which is produced by Soundbooth Theater. Fun fact: Soundbooth Theater is actually based near me, in the Kansas City area! It’s cool to have creatives so close to home that are part of a rising pop culture phenomenon.
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