Solaris
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Movie Reviews of Solaris
Movie Review: It's just....Beautifull
Summary: 5 Stars
I haven't seen Tartovsky's version...but i'm definitely gonna see it...have to compare it with this one, because this one is trully a masterpiece. Like most of the viewers already mentioned, this is not one of those hollywood 'easy watching', 'fast pacing' kind of science fiction movie. It's very 'European' kind in a sense that it really subtle, moderately slow in tempo. You need to be very attentive. If you are in one of those mood where you feel like sleepin, avoid this movie. But if your are in a fresh state where you feel like watching something that has something more underneath it, well here it is.The whole mood of the film is very haunting, sad and beautifull. Beautifull soft colored photography dominate the whole film...it's a very photographic film. And the colour...i did mention soft colour. We see many pastel blue abort the ship, soft yellow glow from a room light and a mixture of light soft blue and red for the colour of the surface of Solaris. It was heigtened with the soundtrack that gives an eerie empty and sad feeling, yet sometimes elevating. This whole combination, the music, the photography, the colours, create a total solemn, romantic and haunting situation. There are no blasting situation in the movie...just, thougthfull peacefull situation and feeling.
Soderbergh way of story telling is good if not considered to be complicated...the story move back and forth between flash back and the present situation, whereby the character tries to remember what had happened (especially the character Rhea from the solaris who fought hard to remember who she is, or what she is. The camera keep moving back and forth between her close up expression or eyes and the event that had happened on Earth).
A very serious movie indeed. It did not try to be a sci-fi with argumentative prediction on the future...it's more of story where a person is given a chance to heal what he has done, although he may not do it with his real wife. Just a simple matter of a peacefull feeling, a way to terminate guilty feeling. This somehow remind me of Vertigo, who have a very close theme, where James Stewart is in love with a woman who bore a strong physical resemblance of her previous loved ones. Alhtough he realize she is a different woman, he doesn't care, he even asked her to wear the same dress. True love or just a mere psychotic obsession ? At the end, is a matter of making a choice to make peace to yourself, hallucinating or not. So is Solaris...a deep thought full film. Not as thoughtfull as the original novel from Stanislaw Lem i admit...but still, thoughtfull.
Watch it...and it stay's in your mind.
Movie Review: An eloquent, profound and philosophical science fiction film
Summary: 5 Stars
Most science fiction movies fall into two rough categories: "Star Wars"-style action films, and more cerebral movies in the vein of "2001: a space odyssey." (Of course, the classification is simplified; a movie like "Minority Report" can bridge the gap between the two sub-genres). "Solaris" belongs firmly in the "2001" school of sci-fi, which may explain why I liked it - and why it failed at the box office.
Cerebral science fiction movies demand patience and active involvement and almost always disappoint the masses. (Recent examples include "Gattaca" and "AI: Artificial Intelligence," films I admired that achieved something less than blockbuster status). Such is the case with Steven Soderbergh's "Solaris," which extends a concept that might have driven the plot of a Star Trek episode to feature-film length. That "Solaris" feels longer than its 99-minute running time is not necessarily a bad thing. It's a philosophical movie that eschews action, effects and violence, and is content to linger on moments and details as it considers its trenchant themes.
I can't say too much without giving anything away. The setup is that Dr. Kelvin (played by Soderbergh favorite George Clooney) is summoned to a space station where some sort of disaster has occurred. (Imagine how "2001" might have played out if Heywood Floyd's Clavius Base cover story had been true, and you'll get the idea). Shortly after arriving on the Solaris base, Clooney meets the survivors, and soon understands why they don't want to leave.
Soderbergh's directs efficiently, and the performances by Clooney, Natascha McElhone, Viola Davis, Jeremy Davies, and Ulrich Tukur all resonate. Soderbergh wisely uses special effects to serve the story, based on Stanislaw Lem's 1961 novel of the same name. (I haven't seen the 1972 Russian film also based on Lem's novel, but this version inspires me to seek it out).
"Solaris" asks us to consider many questions: What would we do if given a chance to relive the past? How important is memory to our concepts of our loved ones? Would we choose a false happiness over the ups and downs of reality? "Solaris" uses a futuristic setting to explore these questions eloquently and profoundly, leaving the viewer to supply the answers. Bring an open mind to "Solaris;" it's worth your time.
Movie Review: Hard to DISlike this film
Summary: 5 Stars
First for the caveats to this review: I haven't read Lem's story, I haven't seen the original Russian film of it, and I haven't read the 264 other reviews currently shown here (though I might work through some of them later), I won't begin to try to summarize the plot, I'm not a particular fan of Lem or science fiction or of the director or any of the actors, and I'm writing this after having watched the film 3 times (very rare for me) over the past 6 months. So with that all out of the way...
I find this film to be excellent for several reasons: a moving and thought provoking story is probably the most obvious, but also excellent understated direction and straightforward, sincere acting are others. Good casting, too, I'd have to say -- you don't spend the movie thinking, oh, I'm watching (actor's name) playing (description of character). Good on-screen chemistry between Clooney and McElhone would be essential to this film, and that comes through, along with the director's interesting treatment of them. It helps that it's also definitely different from the vast majority of other sci-fi or non-sci-fi movies out there in its level of emotion. Part of that difference, and perhaps another reason for its quality, is its ambiguity. If there's one warning that should go out to those considering seeing it, it's that they shouldn't see it if they enjoy clearly defined outcomes.
The movie grapples courageously with LOSS, which is essentially what it's about, and you forget it's sci-fi almost throughout, except when the occasional unavoidable scene/line reminds you. But you're enveloped in a story about connections between people, how they relate to each other, the sometimes unavoidable selfishness of everyone in their perspectives on the world, and what that can cost. It has gotten richer to me through the subsequent viewings, perhaps because you see more or perhaps because you just have more time to sink into these themes.
I really cannot understand why people would DISlike this film (unless again they're just searching for something much more straightforward), but I think many would like it, even if they don't normally like science fiction in general, because of the degree of emotion and though and humanity in the story.
Movie Review: "Psycho fiction", not science fiction...
Summary: 5 Stars
I think many didn't like this film, because they expected it to be science fiction, with plenty of action, robots and the ubiquitous Hollywood fireballs. Part of the story takes place in space, but that's where it ends.
There is a story, you have to watch it and listen to the dialogue. The director didn't do the thinking for you, that part is up to you.
This is a film that left me thinking, considering it from multiple points of view. For example, after realizing that she isn't human, Rheya says that Solaris made her, but she can't communicate with it, and that it must know what she's thinking and feeling. She feels cut off from her creator, as well as Kris. What's more human that that? There are many instances of dichotomy like this in this film.
The "psycho fiction" theme is present throughout. There is discussion from all the characters of whether or not the visitors are or are not human, and whether or not it even makes a difference. Both sides make compelling arguments.
I gained much more respect for Clooney as an actor after seeing this film. Until now, he seemed a bit shallow to me, but this one changed my mind. Two scenes to look out for: Rheya's first visit to Kris, his reaction is quite genuine and interesting to watch. Kris and Rheya's argument when they split up on Earth, very emotional & well acted.
The soundtrack & cinematography at times, quite reminded me of The Shining & 2001: A Space Odyssey. It felt like at the least, a tribute to Stanley Kubrick. Listen particularly to the soundtrack. There are some interesting passages of modern type, kind of techno keyboard, mixed with classical strings. A very interesting, haunting combination.
This is a film for a more intelligent crowd, the thinkers. I also recommend the book, which I bought the day I saw this film for the first time. If you're looking for fireballs and over-the-top stunts, and you like your movies spoon-fed to you, save your time, your money and our eyes from reading your poorly thought, misspelled reviews. There are several Ernest movies you might not have seen yet...
Movie Review: A great movie...but not for everybody
Summary: 5 Stars
Solaris is NOT a film for everybody. There, I said it. Now, knowing that, you must also know that this is a terrific piece of moviemaking that deserves to be viewed by anyone with interest in cinema.Another thing you must know about this film is that, even if it's story takes place in space, it is more drama than science fiction. The basic premise of the movie has sci fi roots, but the story plays out more like drama and even suspense than a space/action flick.
George Clooney plays Kelvin, a widower who is called by one of his friends to go to a spaceship orbiting the planet Solaris, because "he's the only one who can figure out what's happening". Once he arrives there, he finds a desolate ship, it's only surviving crew made up of creepy Snow (Jeremy Davies) and Dr. Gordon (Viola Davis). After his first night there, Kelvin experiences first hand what Solaris does to people, as his dead wife (Natascha McElhone) suddenly appears by his side. The rest of the film follows Kelvin as he tries to understand what's going on. Is this really his wife or is it something else? Is he dreaming or is this really happening?
The pace of the movie is rather slow, and the acting is quite controlled (for lack of a better word). The sets are amazing, with a retro-futuristic look and some of the camera placements give very interesting takes. The special effects are very wisely used here. As stated before, this is not an action movie, but it is placed in space and there's plenty of takes of a few spaceships and of the planet itself (very nice looking, by the way).
If there's another thing you should know is that the movie was written and directed by Steven Soderbergh, a man who was nominated for Best Director twice in the same year (Erin Brockovich and Traffic) and actually won one of them, and produced by James Cameron, the same guy who wrote, produced, directed and edited the highest grossing movie of all time, Titanic. This is a very interesting coupling, and I promise you the commentary track on the DVD is not to be missed.
To conclude, this movie is a remake of the 1972 russian film (Solyaris) based on Stanislav Lem's book.