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From Amazon.co.uk
The opening and closing moments of Robert (Forrest Gump) Zemeckis's Contact astonish viewers with the sort of breathtaking conceptual imagery one hardly ever sees in movies these day--each is an expression of the heroine's lifelong quest (both spiritual and scientific) to explore the meaning of human existence through contact with extraterrestrial life. The movie begins by soaring far out into space, then returns dizzyingly to earth until all the stars in the heavens condense into the sparkle in one little girl's eye. It ends with that same girl as an adult (Jodie Foster)--her search having taken her to places beyond her imagination--turning her gaze inward and seeing the universe in a handful of sand. Contact traces the journey between those two visual epiphanies. Based on Carl Sagan's novel, Contact is exceptionally thoughtful and provocative for a big-budget Hollywood science fiction picture, with elements that recall everything from 2001 to The Right Stuff. Foster's solid performance (and some really incredible alien hardware) keep viewers interested, even when the story skips and meanders, or when the halo around the golden locks of rising-star-of-a-different-kind Matthew McConaughey (as the pure-Hollywood-hokum love interest)reaches Milky Way-level wattage. Ambitious, ambiguous, pretentious, unpredictable--Contact is all of these things and more. Much of it remains open to speculation and interpretation but whatever conclusions one eventually draws, Contactdeserves recognition as a rare piece of big-budget studio film making on a personal scale. --Jim Emerson
Product Description
After the death of her father, Ellie Arroway (Jodie Foster) devotes her life to science. Convinced of the existence of extra-terrestrial life, she uses satellites to sweep the stars for evidence. When she receives the transmission of what seems to be a blueprint from another species for the construction of a spacecraft, she has to fight for the right to lead the ship's maiden flight to meet the alien life forms. She finds herself working with her former lover, ex-priest Palmer Joss (Michael McConaughey), now a governmental advisor.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I watched this film with caution, I knew there weren't any huge interplanetary space battles or fighting action of any sort ,and at to me that equaled boring. How wrong I was, like others before have said this film is beautifuly done, the opening sequence of the earth then pulling back through the solar system then the local star cluster then the galaxy and finally the universe itself really makes you realise how small our corner of the universe really is. Jodie Foster gives one of her best performances, her emotional reaction to seeing the beauty of the cosmos is truely touching. "No words, no words...they should have sent a poet...so beauiful...so beautiful....I had no idea, " brilliant stuff.
The special effects are still top notch and although the film slows down a little there is plenty of action and plot twists to keep you entertained. This isn't a new film anymore but the price is remarkably low for a film of this standard.
68 of 72 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
To anyone who thinks that science fiction is about action-packed escapism, with ray guns and scary monsters, as all those who have jumped on the Star Wars bandwagon in the last 25 years would have us believe, watch this film. Science fiction can be plausible, intelligent and - shock, horror - have things to say just like any other form of drama. I have a personal fondness for this film for that reason, and therefore am prepared to forgive its occasional lapse into schmaltz. It's refreshing to see something that gives us a credible glimpse into what our first contact with an alien intelligence might actually be like, and how we might react to it.
Also this disc represents top value for a DVD:... here's what you get for your money:
Also this disc represents top value for a DVD:... here's what you get for your money:
*No less than THREE full-length audio commentaries - one from Jodie Foster, one from the director and producer, and one from the Special Effects men. And these are genuine commentaries too, not cobbled together from interviews - they are with you as you watch the film, commenting on everything you see as you see it. Together they are a wonderful eye-opener into how a film like this is made.
* Isolated music score - this option means that the film is silent for a lot of the time but provides a fascinating alternative way to view many scenes.
* Special effects featurette; sort of a technical showreel showing how many shots were composited -even the ones that don't look like FX shots.
* Production notes, the usual scene access & trailers
None of this is the cheap promo stuff that is thrown carelessly onto many discs; somebody cared enough about this film to make a real effort. all of this means you have to watch this film at least four times before you're exhausted all the disc has to offer.
If you haven't seen the film, watch out for spoilers in the other reviews on this page.
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
By Jay
Format:DVD
Contact is something completely different. It's belongs to the the ever diminishing group of sci-fi with brains. Because of this. It's very understandable that it gets negative feedback from the friends of no-brainer sci-fi. Actually i find it quite funny how many people have criticized the ending of Contact, saying that they were disappointed when they didn't see how the aliens looked like. I think that was one of the least important things in this movie. Still, i would've been disappointed if there had been some green alien with tentacles or one of those little grey Roswell aliens. Instead, they made an excellent choice and didn't show us the aliens at all. Really good and brave decision. In my opinion, if you were disappointed when you didn't see aliens, you didn't really understand this movie.
The religion vs. science setting is really interesting and realistic. It's fits extremely well to modern day life and i have never seen it done better in any film. The best thing about it is that the film doesn't take sides. It just portrays both of them and leaves the decision to the viewer.
The religion vs. science setting is really interesting and realistic. It's fits extremely well to modern day life and i have never seen it done better in any film. The best thing about it is that the film doesn't take sides. It just portrays both of them and leaves the decision to the viewer.
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4.4 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
classic
brilliant movie, blu-ray is great on this dvd, the ending could of been better, all in all it was good.
Published 15 days ago by bradders
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Foster and good filming
Having not seen this film for years it was a pleasure to watch, Disappointing extras but good cinematography, Blu-ray remastering good
Published 26 days ago by Michael J Knott
5.0 out of 5 stars
sentimental
Another one for those 'star parties' when the skies are cloudy!! Are there really green men out there? Jodie foster is off to find them
Published 1 month ago by Kat K
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love it!
What a great film! A nice take on the "Are we alone" theory, without the obvious elements that are usually used. Wonderful acting and engaging characters. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. Pc Marlow
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Overlooked Gem
This is one of my goto films when I fancy something intelligent, mesmerizing, and thought-provoking. Also a very faithful adaptation to Carl Sagan's wonderful novel.
Published 2 months ago by Jason Edwards
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspiring ,Imaginative ,Human
Young genius Ellie is encouraged by her blue collar dad to channel her talents into astronomy ,lacking the funds to send her to private school. Read more
Published 2 months ago by dregj
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stars
Not watched this yet but a brilliant film so cant wait to pop it in the blu ray player and enjoy.
Published 2 months ago by Mikey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Film
Simply i great film, which is greatly under-rated. It's a must for anyone who loves the disaster or end of the world type movies!
Published 3 months ago by Tracey
4.0 out of 5 stars
Several Reasons to 'Upgrade' to Blu-ray and Watch This Superior Sci-Fi...
I have watched this film quite a lot over the years as, despite knowing what happens throughout, the story is intriguing and the movie is so well produced and has such a good... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mr. Laurence Williams
5.0 out of 5 stars
Contact dvd/ Jodie Foster .
Wonderful film that really lets the imagination fly!!....i am a big fan of Jodie Foster although this is not one of her best films if you are a fan then you will not be... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mr. Gordon E. Ralph
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