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Neil deGrasse Tyson seemed to enjoy 'Interstellar,' according to his Twitter analysis

Neil deGrasse Tyson seemed to enjoy 'Interstellar,' according to his Twitter analysis

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The charismatic astrophysicist and 'Cosmos' host liked the science in the movie, not so much the plot

By Carl Franzen

Source Neil deGrasse Tyson (Twitter)

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Neil deGrasse Tyson in a promotional image for Fox's 'Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey'
Neil deGrasse Tyson in a promotional image for Fox's 'Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey'
Cosmos/Fox

Warning: spoilers for Interstellar lie ahead

Neil deGrasse Tyson sparked a fierce debate with his Twitter review of the movie Gravity last year and now he's returned to share his thoughts on this fall's ambitious new sci-fi spectacle Interstellar. In a series of tweets deGrasse Tyson posted last night, the famed astrophysicist and host of the revived TV show Cosmos shared his informed take on the science of the film, finding much to love — and some to nitpick, especially with the plot. He qualified it all afterward with a tweet reminding his followers he's not a professional movie critic: "Never look to me for opinions on new films. All I do is highlight the science one might or might not find in them." That said, deGrasse Tyson's analysis provides some added context for those who want to understand more about the theoretical physics that informed the film. If you've already seen the movie or don't care to have it spoiled, read on for some of his most illuminating takes. And be sure to check out The Verge's own discussion on the issues in Interstellar.

It's already been well publicized that Interstellar director Christopher Nolan and his fellow screenwriter (and brother) Jonathan Nolan leaned heavily on the theories of American astrophysicist Kip Thorne to craft the film's story. Thorne met with the director constantly over a five month period to discuss how to craft realistic special effects for the space travel scenes, according to The New York Times Magazine. In fact, not only is Thorne credited as an executive producer on the film, but a key character is also named after Thorne, as deGrasse Tyson points out.

As such, Thorne's contribution to the movie seems to have paid off, at least when it comes to scientific viability. As deGrasse Tyson points out:

Thorne isn't the only physicist whose theories make Interstellar so scientifically sound. Pointing out a key plot point that revolves around the Twin Paradox, deGrasse Tyson writes:

He further praises Interstellar's depiction of a black hole and its effects on nearby planetary bodies:

Of course, that doesn't mean he wants to visit one anytime soon:

He points out some geek trivia for fans of another sci-fi epic:

A persistent advocate of diversity in STEM fields (science, tech, engineering, math), deGrasse Tyson found a lot to like about the film's casting as well:

He did seem to take issue with a few aspects of the movie, however.

Read More: the problems with 'Interstellar'

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