FIFTY years in the future, our sun is dying.

The crew of the Icarus II - physicists, biologists, mathematicians and military strategists - are on a mission to kick-start it by hurling an atom bomb into its core.

Directed by Danny Boyle, of 28 Days Later fame, the film starts aboard the Icarus II 16 months into the crew's mission, just when things go wrong.

A simple mistake soon snowballs into catastrophe and the crew are left fighting to survive as well as carry out their mission.

The good thing about Sunshine is that it's believable.

It also features a wide variety of characters (the lead played by Cillian Murphy) which, along with the outstanding design, CG effects and imagery, gives the film a very real feeling similar to the Alien films.

The only disappointing part is a liaison with the ship of a previous mission that had mysteriously disappeared.

For a while it gets quite confusing and the end result will leave you perplexed but talking about possible solutions.

Overall, the film is a shining example of how to make good sci-fi and reminds us why Boyle is one the best British directors around.

BR