Solaris

The final step in my (i) book, (ii) film of the book and (iii) remake of the film of the book trilogy. The Tarkovsky film was a masterpiece for the ages. This, alas, is (let's be kind) not.Just as with Tarkovsky's version, this one changes a great deal of the source novel, but remains faithful to its central core. The most obvious change is that a good deal of the film is devoted to the on-Earth romance between Chris and Rheya. No objection to this in principle, but the execution is lamentable. It consists of lengthy close-up shots of Natascha McElhone's face, almost always wide-eyed and with a radiant smile. It is, indeed, a very beautiful face, but this is not the core of the film.The dialogue in the first half is (presumably deliberately) extremely frustrating. Monosyllabic responses are given when a more detailed explanation is wanted. This changes in the second half but not necessarily for the better. Instead of allowing the camera to do the talking, the dialogue conveys virtually everything. This part could have been a radio play.The liquid oxygen scene - an important event in the book and superbly executed by Tarkovsky - is almost a joke in its matter-of-fact execution in this version.The film does have some merits. I shall not plot-spoil, but there is a very cunning reversal towards the end. It's reasonably well-acted - McElhone on the space station is a great improvement over her performance on Earth.My guts suggest 2*, but I can see myself revisiting this on occasion, if only to compare with the Tarkovsky masterpiece, so I have decided on 3*.

Clooney is to be applauded for taking on the project of Americanizing the superb Russian Science Fiction film, made in 1970 Soviet era of Stanislaw Lem's masterpiece of literature. Somehow, the producers, director and actors, with a healthy budget, were able to create all of the quiet, spooky and fascinating ambience of the original film, which takes place on a remote station orbiting the unique star Solaris, while leaving out the Soviet propaganda. The original had 20 minutes of footage showing driving on the fabulous Soviet highway system. It also portrayed the earth based science team living in a beautiful, forested, lakeside dacha, with grace and splendor. I recommend watching the long original version first. It is actually more striking in its strangeness. Then the Clooney version is far easier to watch.

Since we already have G, PG, PG-13, MA-17, X and XXX ratings all designed to protect certain potential viewers from seeing something they don't want to see, or are judged to be harmful for them, I would add one other: PAC--Pretentious Artsy Crap.Contrary to the opinion of some sniffing haut-poseurs, not caring for dull, plodding efforts disguised (poorly) as works of subtle cinematic genius does not necessarily mean that Star Wars or Spielberg would be a better alternative, so that the self-described discerning adults may be left alone to ponder the deepness of a work such as "Solaris"...a deepness I suspect is fully and solely in the minds of those who have decided to set themselves apart from the hoi-polloi by mutually agreeing that indeed, has more meaning and depth that it actually has.Please: PAC, as soon as possible.

A Film group watched and discussed the 1972 Version of "Solaris". I also listened to the Audible book and watched the 2002/George Clooney version of Solaris.The Book was great, IMHO.The 1972 version (directed by Takarovky) as a very-good adaptation of the book.The 2002 version (George Clooney) was a poor adaptation of the book. It went for "glitz and glamour" but mis-adapted the book-- I thought the movie was poor. Only one scene was a good representation of the book -- the scene where Kelvin was thinking about what his life would be if he returned to earth. The rest wasn't worth it to me.All of this is my opinion. I am not a film critical. I am an aficionado. You can form your own opinion.

If you are looking for a lot of sci-fi action or bombastic special effects, this isn't that kind of movie (though the effects shots are very well done).There's a protagonist and a plot, yet this is mostly a psychological drama that leaves much of the interpretation up to the viewer, so it might be bemusing to some. If you hated "2001", you're probably not going to like this. Conversely, if you were intrigued by "2001", you'll probably like this.And frankly, between this version and the well-regarded original version filmed in the 70's by Andrei Tarkovsky I prefer this version, because it's mainly about the lead character's experiences, and I found Clooney's character to be far more relatable than the lead character in the earlier film. :)

If you like Si-fi that is more than something like Buckaroo Banzai and prefer something more like 2001, you may like this film.This is basically a story about love, redemption and choice in a Sci-Fi wrapper. It is very very heavy on dialog, so my suggestion would be to watch this film with Closed Caption enabled. Once you can hear, see and read the dialog, you will understand the nuances of each character, story and film a better. Things become more clear...Still, the ending, like many other movies, is left up to the viewer...

HelloI remember reading a review a long ago where this title was on HDDVD. I am looking for the blu ray, but it is only available in different regions which I can't play. They are playing it I believe on some movie channels in 720p or 1080p. What the hello!????!love the movie but no blu ray in america????Does anyone know where a region one blu ray is sold?Did the movie not make enough money to satisfy the studio here to merit a blu ray release???Terrible movies at least get a bare bones versionPleas help!

...but beautiful!Gave me a lot to think about! Not one of those boom-bang-crash-movies, but a decent old fashioned science fiction-film.The actors did a great job. Setdesign and score are timeless (which is rare these times).

I bought the version of this film that is sold as SOLARIS/STEEL EDITION - MOVIE, as usual Amazon lump every review for every format together, including all the different versions of Solaris available on blu ray. I'm npt going to comment on the merits of the film, or lack of as the case may be, this is just reviewing the technical aspects. On this version the picture quality is very good, black is solid and not grainy, same for all the dark colors. I was expecting some break up of the quality in the apartment scenes with them being so dark, but there is none. The scenes on the space station are more crisp and the effects look, frankly, beautiful, really detailed and sharp, that long scene of Clooney's character approaching the station in the shuttle craft for the first time really zings now, and highlights just how good the actual effects were. Visually this blu ray is a big step up. The sound is also top quality, being clear and precise. On the menu screen just simply select the English language option and off you go. There is one scene where you get some German subtitles, translating the written page someone is looking at, but that's it So if you love this film, which I know is hard for a lot of people, and are willing to pay the somewhat high asking price, I would say it is more than worth it.

* StoryThe film is close to the original scripting of Solaris (1972) but different enough to make it an alternative movie.The mission to a distant planet, Solaris, has been fraught with difficulties. The crews on the space station have been having 'visitors' from the minds of the scientists in the real form made by the planetary forces of Solaris. These cannot be measured by scientific equipment, it's all in the minds of the staff. A psychologist gathers information and is sent to the planets space station to help resolve these disturbing real visions. He encounters such a visitor, the recreation of his wife who killed herself on Earth. He is in a dilemma, to engage with this doppelganger of his dead wife, or coldly sort this issue out?* SummaryThe film has much better special effects than the original movie. The film has the essence of Solaris (1972) in a more technically advanced form. It has the features of an arthouse European movie, its photography is beautiful. But the original movie has such a presence and depth that it still feels the more satisfying movie. This film is still great. Don't get me wrong. It's a good movie over a mug of tea, just not as much depth as its 1972 original.

Been wanting this in blu ray for ages. One of the best Sci fi movies of all time. The emotions that run across George Clooney's face are worth watching this movie for alone, and the very understated soundtrack just adds to the atmosphere.I know that Solaris isn't everybodies Cup of tea, but I think it deserves watching. A classic!!!

Soderbergh's SOLARIS is a Marmite piece of cinema. Some will hate it, the rest of us will love it. This imported (German) disc is currently the only way to screen a HD version of the film which doesn't rely on heavily compressed digital streams/downloads from iTunes/Amazon/Google etc. It's not presented in stunning clarity, like the VERY best transfers available on blu-ray, but it's a disc I highly recommend until alternatives become available.

Not a stupid zombie or vampire in sight, just a good solid piece of intelligent scifi with a few neat plot twists.PS- Jeremy Davis's slightly oddball character steals the show for me..:)