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DVD Description
DVD Special Features
- Feature length audio commentary by Producer James Cameron and Director Steve Soderbergh (sound Dolby 2.0)
- HBO behind the scenes special
- Solaris: Behind the Planet feature
- Script
- Animated menus
DVD Technical Information:
- Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (16 x 9 Widescreen)
- Sound Quality: Dolby 5.1
- Subtitles: English for the hearing impaired
- Running time: 99 minutes
Product Description
20th Century Fox, Region 2, 2002 99 mins
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Having just watched the trailer for Steven Soderbergh's remake of Andrei Tarkovsky's Russian sci-fi classic, it seems to be some kind of action-horror hybrid. In fact, it's a solemn psychodrama about a psychologist named Chris Kelvin (George Clooney) who travels to a research station orbiting a planet called Solaris, where his late wife is brought back to physical life by an unseen alien intelligence.
Tarkovsky's creeping meditation is more conversational and a (very) good hour longer than Steven Soderbergh's terse remake. Perhaps if Soderbergh and (producer) James Cameron had known it wouldn't break profit, they'd have gone easier in the editing room. Or perhaps they wouldn't have made it at all, which I suppose might have saved us from Ocean's Twelve.
Tarkovsky's vision is my favourite of that director's films, and is also, arguably, the most accessible. It contains a more straightforward narrative than The Mirror, a slightly quicker (though not quick) pace than Stalker, and it's less dense and stagey than The Sacrifice. I feel it's the most successful blend of story and character in Tarkovsky's canon; the best balanced both emotionally and philosophically.
Soderbergh's version, while seriously truncated, is an intelligent and often elegant work. Gone are the former filmmaker's Oedipal motifs, the existential monologues, and the weightless ballet. This is a taut film about the romanticising, catastrophising power of memory.
Soderbergh dispenses with the now infamous 10-minute car journey sequence taken by Henri Burton (Vladislav Dvorzhetsky). Is Burton's car journey a reference to Bowman's "Stargate" experience in Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey? Later, aboard the space station, Snaut (Jüri Järvet) makes a speech questioning whether man should be exploring new worlds before he has learned to truly communicate with his fellow man. Burton's terrestrial "journey", after his experience with Solaris, is every bit as profound as Bowman's.
Natascha McElhone, while not the match of Natalya Bondarchuk, who acted everyone off Tarkovsky's screen, delivers an eerie, uncanny performance as the almost-human Rheya, "remembered wrong". Clooney's Kelvin is a more glaring, shell-shocked presence than Donatas Banionis - whether you prefer the former's range to the latter's subtlety is up to you; each belongs to their own film.
Soderbergh regular Cliff Martinez provides the bubbling, electro-orchestral score, lending the images a delicate sense of the lost, the wistful, and sometimes the dread. Where Tarkovsky's script was as cold and sprawling as space itself, Soderbergh's is warm and focused. And as for the ending - well, let's just say that the young buck doesn't try and take on the elder directly, choosing instead something softer, less awesome, yet still ambiguous and fascinating. Which fairly sums up the film, I think.
Tarkovsky's creeping meditation is more conversational and a (very) good hour longer than Steven Soderbergh's terse remake. Perhaps if Soderbergh and (producer) James Cameron had known it wouldn't break profit, they'd have gone easier in the editing room. Or perhaps they wouldn't have made it at all, which I suppose might have saved us from Ocean's Twelve.
Tarkovsky's vision is my favourite of that director's films, and is also, arguably, the most accessible. It contains a more straightforward narrative than The Mirror, a slightly quicker (though not quick) pace than Stalker, and it's less dense and stagey than The Sacrifice. I feel it's the most successful blend of story and character in Tarkovsky's canon; the best balanced both emotionally and philosophically.
Soderbergh's version, while seriously truncated, is an intelligent and often elegant work. Gone are the former filmmaker's Oedipal motifs, the existential monologues, and the weightless ballet. This is a taut film about the romanticising, catastrophising power of memory.
Soderbergh dispenses with the now infamous 10-minute car journey sequence taken by Henri Burton (Vladislav Dvorzhetsky). Is Burton's car journey a reference to Bowman's "Stargate" experience in Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey? Later, aboard the space station, Snaut (Jüri Järvet) makes a speech questioning whether man should be exploring new worlds before he has learned to truly communicate with his fellow man. Burton's terrestrial "journey", after his experience with Solaris, is every bit as profound as Bowman's.
Natascha McElhone, while not the match of Natalya Bondarchuk, who acted everyone off Tarkovsky's screen, delivers an eerie, uncanny performance as the almost-human Rheya, "remembered wrong". Clooney's Kelvin is a more glaring, shell-shocked presence than Donatas Banionis - whether you prefer the former's range to the latter's subtlety is up to you; each belongs to their own film.
Soderbergh regular Cliff Martinez provides the bubbling, electro-orchestral score, lending the images a delicate sense of the lost, the wistful, and sometimes the dread. Where Tarkovsky's script was as cold and sprawling as space itself, Soderbergh's is warm and focused. And as for the ending - well, let's just say that the young buck doesn't try and take on the elder directly, choosing instead something softer, less awesome, yet still ambiguous and fascinating. Which fairly sums up the film, I think.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Having known about the bad critical review of this movie I was hesitant to rent it but it was suprisingly better than expected and I did not reach for the fast forward button at all which says a lot. Do not expect a sci fi action flick. This is a love story with psychological twists and turns which may leave you confused about what is happening but with this movie that is a novelty and not something bad and definately intended by the director so that the viewer is in the same position as the characters. Although the movie is set mostly in the interior of the space station, the set is very well made and the photography excellent and I was not left groaning at anything fake looking. A wonderful performance by the beautiful Natascha McElhone and indeed by Clooney which gave the film a calm and relaxing dreamlike mood. The ending is not suprising but probably the best choice. I cannot comment whether it was true to the original as I have not seen it but look forward to.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
If you're not particularly a fan of science fiction, don't be put off seeing this film. The fact that this masterpiece is set in space simply adds visual interest to a timeless story about love and loss and reconciliation. George Clooney is simply superb and Natascha McElhone is a radiantly beautiful choice as his is-she-or-isn't-she partner. With haunting music permeating the intriguing plot, and delicately lit and moody camerawork giving subtle clues to the storyline, Solaris is mysterious, gripping, charming and dreamy. It is also ultimately philosophical, leaving it up to you to decide what has happened as the final credits roll. Every so often it really is good to see a film that entertains while also respecting the viewer's intelligence. This surely belongs in the Top 100 movies of all time, and the soundtrack is worthy of any music collection.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A truely wonderful film
There are indeed a number of eclectic perspectives on this film. The direction suited me fine and the performances of George Clooney and Natasha McElhone were first class. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Peanuts
Like a bad episode of The Outer Limits
I haven't read the novel, or seen the original film, but I have to say this is one of the dullest, most boring sci-fi films I've ever seen. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Archy
zzz...
Just thought I should warn people, this film is, without a doubt, the WORST film i have ever seen, George Clooney should be ashamed of himself. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Elneneo
POOLARIS.
i can't describe how dire this is. its just awful.
its like having your eyes slowly destroyed and evaporated by a bunsen burner. Read more
its like having your eyes slowly destroyed and evaporated by a bunsen burner. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Ihaterain
Time well spent
It is not a remake of Tarkovski's film, it is based directly on Lem's novel.
The acting is remarkable, especially Jeremy Davies. Read more
The acting is remarkable, especially Jeremy Davies. Read more
Published 17 months ago by A. Bellani
Sleep-inducing cod philosophy
This movie is shockingly poor. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't expecting an action movie like Alien or Star Wars, so don't put me in that camp. I like 'deep' films and books. Read more
Published 18 months ago by SAP
Solaris DVD
If it's an action film you're after then give Solaris a miss.
This film explores the relationship between an ocean-like planet (Solaris) around which, a manned, research... Read more
This film explores the relationship between an ocean-like planet (Solaris) around which, a manned, research... Read more
Published 21 months ago by mtkin
Just amazing!
Probably one of the best films I have ever seen.
Forget about the SciFi, this is a love story set in space. I really admire Clooney ( he has the best first name ever! Read more
Forget about the SciFi, this is a love story set in space. I really admire Clooney ( he has the best first name ever! Read more
Published 22 months ago by Mr. George Johnson
US Alternative To Soviet Solaris. Another Triumph.
I saw this before I got to see Tarkovsky's version of the story adapted from the novel by Lem, and I have to say both films are superb. Read more
Published 24 months ago by Philoctetes
Slow motion
Possibly the most boring film ever. The actors even seem bored. Seems to drag on for ever & ever as if filmed in slow motion. Read more
Published 24 months ago by Mercury
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