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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
Dare to Think!!, 3 Jan 2007
This film is not and was not ever going to be a commercial hit- soderburgh knew it, clooney knew it, they all said in their interviews- the reason why is that this is a film that you have to think about! If you stick through it the whole way (which is not that difficult) you won't get an immediate answer just different possibilties- personally this is what i love about the film. Your not spoon fed a hollywood happy ending that would have Tarkovsky turning in his grave instead you get to decide what you think happened.
If you still dont want to be challenged by the films questions then just admire the film purely on the fantastic performances given. Clooney is outstanding in a role that many actors would struggle with- his quiet desperation and isolation is deeply moving and never overplayed in this examinination of grief and love. Natasha McElhone also fills her role perfectly alongside a fantastically off beat jeremy davies and a wonderfully defiant viola davis.
The most thing about this film is dont listen to other peoples opinions when they say "i didnt get it"- watch it for yourself and see.
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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
Refreshing., 18 Mar 2006
While Solaris is inevitably labelled Sci-Fi its core themes are distinctly human. Loss, regret and the realization that memory tends to simplify events, people and places. While the original film allows the viewer to muse on the overall, Soderbergh's take focuses on the main protagonist's (Clooney) experience with the strange 'planet'. With only a standard 90 minutes to play with the director has done a good job of explaining the power Solaris wields without having to constantly remind us with new and more bizarre consequences (and special effects).The visuals sway from the ethereal (Solaris), austere (Earth) and utilitarian (Space Station). On the commentary track, Soderbergh tells us he wanted Solaris to have a 'synaptic' quality to it and the effect is beautiful. Cliff Martinez's score, too, will follow you around for months. As for the cast, Clooney is excellent as ever. While his performance doesn't require histrionics he makes believable a shrink thrown into a situation where his vocational skills are rendered useless by minds becoming matter. Natascha McElhone is charged with an incredibly difficult role. Her character on Earth is confident, sexy, playful, remote and ultimately suicidal; on Solaris she has to play whatever Clooney's character has in mind...hard work, but admirably done. It's unfortunate that in one weak scene of un-necessary exposition the focus is on McElhone but it's a fault of the screen-writer, not her. Jeremy Davies' Snow is perhaps the character that deserved more attention than was given. Considering his unique 'situation' it would have been worth an extra half hour to explore it. Viola Davis is okay but ultimately pointless. The removal of her character wouldn't have affected the film in anyway and her presence really only fills an authority vacuum on the station. It's good to see adult themes being explored in the Sci-Fi genre and being embraced by Hollywood heavyweights....and not a LaZer BeAm in sight. Obviously this film won't appeal to the 'action' based wing of Sci-Fi fans and the polarity of opinions shown here is evidence of this. But as a serious slice of "what if", Solaris rewards attention and multiple viewings.
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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
Beautiful love story set in space, 24 Jan 2008
This is a great movie that did not do very well in the box office due to some marking issues.
The original Soviet movie has been acclaimed as one of the most brilliant sci-fi movies ever made ( the Soviet answer to 2001 ) however it goes on for nearly 3 hours.
The plot follows the arrival of a Psychiatrist ( Clooney ) to a space station to investigate the unexplained changed in behavior of he members of the station.
Steven Sodenbergh has shortened the feature to 90 minutes , Clooneys acting is very convincing, but the best thing is the movie is Natasha McElhone who delivers her best performance so far , as very intense and troubled woman. Jeremy Davies and Viola Davis complete the cast.
The atmosphere and sound effects of the movie are claustrophobic and dark but have a flavor that reminds of Bladde runner and 2001 ( the docking scene and the rain in the street .
The movie will appeal to sci-fi fans and those who are interested in open ended stories ( who might have to do some research on the internet to find out the meaning of he movie ).
Overall a very enjoyable 90 minutes but this is not a fast paced action movie but a love story set in space.
"And death shall have no dominion"
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
If you liked 2001 Space Odyssey you might like this ..., 31 Oct 2007
This is the story of a space station where the crew has cut off communications with earth. A security force is sent to investigate but disappears - unfortunately we never find out where they disappeared to or even if they came to harm. George Clooney plays Chris Kelvin, a civilian psychologist on earth. He is approached and asked to go to the space station to investigate what is happening with the crew and, since one of the crew members is a close friend of his, they think he may be able to assist the crew from a psychological standpoint and save the mission. Okay, so you can see we're already on pretty shaky ground here. Civilian with no training and trips to outer space don't mix well.
Anyway, When he arrives on the ship there are just two crew members left. His friend has already committed suicide by the time he gets there and there is no mention of anyone else or anything else regarding what may have happened to other people. Anyway, the two remaining crew members don't appear in the movie much after the initial opening. The remainder of the movie is focused on his relationship with his dead wife who mysteriously appears on the ship in his locked room. That's just the opening, and it doesn't get much better.
There are lots of scenes where they just stare at each other without speaking. Everything is dark - you feel like saying "why doesn't anyone turn on the lights!" You wonder if anything is ever going to happen. It was one of the quietest, darkest movies I've ever watched - highly reminiscent of 2001 Space Odyssey. Some people may like this movie, but I'm willing to bet a higher percentage will be on the fence like I am, or just plain dislike it.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
Better than expected, 15 Aug 2003
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.
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18 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
A powerful, beatuful simple story, 12 Aug 2003
By A Customer
Reading some of the low scoring reviews I was suprised by how this film could score so poorly. But then it's not a generic sci-fi film, about technology and it's effect upon humankind, nor is it a remake of the 1970's version of the film or the book, so in those ways I can understand how people expecting one sort of film could have been dissappointed. This film doesn't fit easily in a box - it's not really a thriller, it's not strictly sci-fi, and it's not a remake. Which are all reasons I could suggest as to why it didn't do so well at the box office on it's cinema release. However, in terms of this film - without the distractions of comparisons to anything else - it's a absolute masterpiece. The story is a human story of love set in a sci-fi context and Soderburgh remains true to this theme throughout the filn not being distracted by the sci-fi setting, but using it as a setting for some beautiful cinematography. The soundtrack supports is also amazing, capturing the film's essence. The acting is superb. Clooney and the other members of the cast deliver brave, powerful perfomances which support the simple but well-constructed plot. If you want references, think Gattaca, not Star Trek. And as ever, watch with an open mind.
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10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
Haunting and poignant, 25 April 2006
'Solaris' is one of the best western films I have seen in some time. It stayed with me for days, both its mesmerising visuals and score and the emotions it evoked. Perhaps those who didn't enjoy it simply didn't know much about the book by Stanislaw Lem it is based on, or Andrey Tarkovsky's 1972 classic masterpiece, because then you should know what to expect - certainly not an action-packed mutant alien-fest! This is a much more 'grown up' film, a slow burner, and perhaps not for you, if you find intellectual films 'slow' and 'confusing'. It is set aboard the station orbiting Solaris, the enigmatic planet which, while you watch the constantly changing electric colours of its plasma ocean below, seems to look back right into your soul. It poses more questions than it will answer, and leaves it up to you to make up your mind as the final credits roll. Does Solaris care, or even know, about the torment it inflicts on humans by bringing phantoms of their past to life? Does a loved one live forever in memory? What would you feel confronted by your own visitor - try to remain sane, or hope against hope that you have the chance to recapture the happy days you once spent together? The scientific progress has conquered space, but ultimately, what good are all the spaceships put together when confronted with something human mind struggles to comprehend?
I thought Mr Clooney's acting was a refreshing departure from his usual roles, but I was especially moved by Natascha McElhone's performance, as the silent, disturbed Rheya, who conveys more emotion with her eyes than words can say.
The 2003 version of 'Solaris' is an atmospheric, beautiful, and thought-provoking, but nevertheless watered-down, rendition of Tarkovsky's original. This is best owned in addition to Tarkovsky's version and the book. If you excuse the pun, the S2003 itself is somewhat of a S1972 phantom, copying its form and ideas, but somehow lacking that soul, that je ne sais quoi, that makes human beings real down to the last neutron, and film a true masterpiece. Nevertheless, having said that, I still give it 5 stars as a standalone film.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
Not what expected, 24 Dec 2005
It should be noted that this film is far from your average Sci-Fi, so in that respect if your a Sci-Fi fan you will not get what you expect & will prehaps be dissappointed. I'm not a Steven Soderberg fan, espically when i look at oceans 11 and 12, nor am i a George Clooney fan either. This film was different, intriguing and beautiful. It was wonderfully shot, and i was captivated by the cuts, and particualrly aware of how awesome the sound was.
Natascha McElhone who has never really made an impression on me that much before, she was always that woman in Ronin in my mind but even she really grabbed me in this, and felt i really saw the beauty that george's character initial saw. It is a thought provoking film about life and people, with a sci-fi back drop instead of a sci-fi plot. It was really an unexpected suprise, and a pleasent one at that.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
A film to tickle your brain cells, 17 Oct 2005
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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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
Outstanding, 9 Feb 2005
I don't often write reviews, but after seeing the disparaging 'review' from the 'sci-fi fan' I had to wade in and give my two pennies worth.I admit to not having seen the original... yet... but this film is, in my humblest opinion, sublime. Maybe you either get it or you don't... I would count myself amongst those that get it, but have yet to really fathom it. It delves into the psychology of the story rather than in the science fiction of the setting itself, which I love. The conflict in the characters up to the final acceptance of Clooney's character builds and culminates perfectly. And helped along by the amazing, subtle soundtrack it really is a firm favourite of mine. Also, forget that this was produced by James Cameron... if you're expecting The Abyss or Aliens you're going to be as disappointed as the sci-fi fan! However, if you're after an intelligent, thought provoking and beautiful film in a science fiction setting then it's perfect for you!
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