Europa Ventures has put together a manned mission to go to Europa, one of the moons around Jupiter, to investigate possible signs of life in the oceans under the icy surface of Europa.  The crew decides to continue on with the mission after a solar storm disables the communications array and they lose a crew member.  EUROPA REPORT tells the story through camera footage on the ship, TV footage, and interviews with mission control and the crew.  This film displays one of the more realistic depictions of deep-space exploration since 2001 and SUNSHINE.  It also shares a common thread with MOON.  It is told through footage which may be off putting to some viewers, but my main quibble is the space exploration movie explores the story through the same route as shown in many other sci-fi space mission movies of losing crew members and they have to overcome tragedy to continue the mission only to have more things go wrong.  I wish they could have a real space exploration movie that focuses on the spirit and dangers of taking those deep space missions without having to fall in the trap of sci-fi danger or having to knock off one or more members of the crew to create drama (and move along the story).

 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

EXPLORING THE VISUAL EFFECTS OF EUROPA REPORT takes a behind-the-scenes look at how the visual effects were created through green screen and CGI.

THE MUSICAL JOURNEY OF EUROPA REPORT goes in to how Bear McCreary created the score and became involved in scoring the film.

 

Also included on the disc is a behind-the-scenes photo gallery, the theatrical trailer, and previews for DRINKING BUDDIES, BLACKFISH, A HIJACKING, and AXS TV.

 

FINAL ANALYSIS:  EUROPA REPORT is an interesting film about the dangers of space exploration and the spirit of exploration only to be undermined by the same story elements told in so many other space exploration movies that came before it.

 

This blu-ray review is ©10-6-2013 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com

 

Like Enterline Media on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/enterlinemediaweb and follow on tumblr at http://enterlinemedia.tumblr.com