This aims higher than you could ever reasonably ask of a cinematic film and, for the most part, it delivers yet ultimately ends up falling just a little short.

Comparisons are unavoidable with Gravity, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Close Encounters of the Third Kind (the Spielberg influence), and even Planet of the Apes. The very fact that this film is being thought of in relation to those classics shows what a highly competent piece of film-making this is.

Yet despite its scope it still has a slightly 'safe' feel to it. The images, though technically proficient, aren't as inspiring or memorable as other Nolan works (esp Inception) - the result of losing Wally Pfister perhaps? The script trips over itself in places, the soundtrack is persistently annoying, and the acting isn't especially note-worthy. One cameo in particular jarred for me.

Perhaps this is nitpicking, but when you set expectations so high this is inevitable.

But, after all, it's all relative, right??