If you want a really light but fun read (and a long series) the Omega Force books are a lot of fun. It feels like a Guardians of the Galaxy type story but in some ways even better. The books are on the shorter side and there are a lot of them (just finished the 14th) I find them to be a nice pallet cleanser between heavier sci-if stories.
I can see that from the perspective of humanity, but for the children of earth it’s pretty hopeful and a great story (less so in the 3rd book though I suppose). Even really for humanity at the end of the day. They have the opportunity to live on through progeny. I am also very interested to see where the story goes from here. I think that if he ever reveals the actual events that took place on earth it’s going to be a wild ride.
I’ll check out that Final Architecture series though.
Oh yeah. Solaris is another incredible film. Although I suspect if people find 2001 difficult, Solaris would be much more difficult. That 10 minute car sequence is extremely polarizing, even in my group of cinema geek friends.
It was made in 1968 and changed the way people think about science fiction on screen forever. One of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken, it inspired countless others to try to reach similar heights in cinematography and visual effects. Before 2001, the Science Fiction motion picture genre was entirely dominated by giant ants and awful prop movies were people would just run around screaming from shoddily constructed robot suits. 2001 A Space Odyssey proved how much more the Sci-fi genre could be. A film more than 50 years old that still has effects and photography that are amazing today, and pioneered techniques that filmmakers still use.
As for as the story, if you are someone who needs to have constant action and thrills, it's not going to work for you. As a smoldering epic full of existential dread at the hands of human progress and the unknown, there are very few films to reach its heights. If you are interested in analysis, there is a LOT out there. I could have you find some.
The teens are a tough time for artistic smoldering epics! There are so many movies that I cherish now that I would almost certainly have turned my nose up to. If I think too hard about it, there are probably some pretty cringe movies that I adored in high school too. That might be a fun post.
Why did you assume wife? That phrase is just as common with a parent talking to a teenager. Also, neither creature is gendered.