Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, and Ryan Reynolds, Director: Daniel Espinosa, Writers: Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick

The American movie going public has fallen in love with space movies once again. The affair has been effortless with smart, beautiful and enthralling pictures such as “Interstellar,” “Gravity,” and “The Martian.” Thanks to the likes of Elon Musk and his Space X program, NASA is dreaming boldly. A manned mission to Mars seems likely within our lifetime. We are glued to social media as images of Pluto, Saturn, and Jupiter are made public. Earth-like planets are being discovered in distant galaxies, allowing us to rediscover our pioneering spirit and once again look up to the heavens with wonder.

With that sense of awe, we are treated to art forms questioning our place in the galaxy — the very fabric of time and space — as well as our ability to survive in such hostile environments. “Life” asks us to question with a sense of curiosity what it would be like to encounter life from another planet. This is a question the movie poses in an almost flawless picture. Every scene in this movie is smart, devised with the viewer in mind, and devoted to asking the audience to no longer suspend disbelief. Instead, we are asked to consider the very real possibility that we are not alone and the beings we may encounter will have one guiding principle, survive.

This sense of survival makes for a thrilling, gasp-inducing, exhausting movie that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Plus it features one the best endings I have ever seen in a movie. As the credits rolled on this film, I was left with two thoughts: this is why we go to the movies and Earth doesn’t seem so bad.

To view this review online visit natetheworld.squarespace.com/natetheworld/2017/3/27/cinephile-no-637-life.

About Nathan:

Nathan Box is the fund developer and community relations manager for Kent Youth and Family Services. He is also a 2007 graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in broadcast communications. After graduating, he worked at UCO for four years as the coordinator of commuter student services before moving on to become the assistant director of the volunteer and service learning center.

In 2011, Nathan moved to Seattle to pursue work in the nonprofit field and advance his education. In 2013, he graduated from Seattle University with an Executive Master’s Degree in nonprofit leadership.

In his spare time, Nathan is the president-elect for the Rotary Club of Kent and chapter adviser for the University of Washington Chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha. He lives in West Seattle.

He is an avid lover of cinema; having seen more than 600 films in a theater and 73 last year alone.

This is his first review since joining The Reporter’s Point of Review rotation. He will continue to contribute reviews to our monthly section.

To view more views from Nathan, visit his blog called Natetheworld at http://natetheworld.squarespace.com/.