Solaris (Soderbergh) (UK)

5 / 10
3 votes cast
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There are some places man is not ready to go
Certificate: PG
Running Time: 94 mins
Retail Price: £19.99
Release Date:

Synopsis:
Aboard a lonely space station orbiting a mysterious planet, terrified crew members are experiencing a host of strange phenomena, including resurrected phantoms from their pasts. And when psychologist Chris Kelvin (a brooding George Clooney) arrives to investigate, he confronts a power beyond imagining that could hold the key to humanity`s deepest dreams... or darkest nightmares. Steven Soderbergh directs this haunting, meditative second adaptation of Stanislaw Lem`s Solaris (following on from Andrei Tarkovsky`s 1972 film), produced by James Cameron.

Special Features:
2 behind the scenes featurettes
The script
Commentary by Steven Soderbergh and James Cameron

Video Tracks:
Widescreen Anamorphic 2.35:1

Audio Tracks:
Dolby Digital 5.1 English

Subtitle Tracks:
CC: English

Directed By:
Steven Soderbergh

Written By:


Starring:
Ulrich Tukur
Jeremy Davies
Viola Davis
Natascha McElhone
George Clooney

Casting By:
Debra Zane

Soundtrack By:
Cliff Martinez

Director of Photography:
Steven Soderbergh

Editor:
Steven Soderbergh

Costume Designer:
Milena Canonero

Production Designer:
Philip Messina

Producer:
Rae Sanchini
Michael Polaire
Jon Landau
James Cameron
Charles V. Bender

Executive Producer:
Gregory Jacobs

Distributor:
Twentieth Century Fox

Your Opinions and Comments

5 / 10
I heartily endorse the overall comments of Chris Cox`s site review of George Clooney`s Solaris. Remember how, in Planes Trains and Automobiles, Steve Martin explodes after John Candy has related one rambling anecdote too many - "It would be so nice if you just had a POINT - it makes it much more fun for the listener!" The remake of Solaris is stupendously dull and has absolutely no point. Although if you`re not a George Clooney fan it does justify any criticism of his acting you care to name - lazy, cold, wooden, unengaging ... along with a suspiciously complete lack of chemistry with his female lead. You will be bored while you watch it, and annoyed by the oblique and unsatisfactory ending. It isn`t art, it`s just bad.
posted by SteveGough on 9/8/2003 13:25
6 / 10
I had really no idea whatsoever what this movie is about. Then I watched the movie. But hey - I still have no idea whatsoever what this movie is about!
This has got to be one of the worst sci-fi movies I ever saw. It fails (miserably) in so many categories - script (or the lack of it, actually), acting (well, duh - who ever said Clooney can act?), special effects (huh?!?) and empathy with the characters (oh, so they`re actually human beings???).
The video transfer is ok. There are no compression signs at all, but the transfer doesn`t have a "great" stamp on it. Something is missing. Perhaps it`s an occasional focus. But then again - perhaps not.
The DD 5.1 soundtrack is somehow flat. The surrounds are used occasionally, but this is not the movie to show off your speakers with.
The menus are nicely animated with sound.
The extras include a commentary by the director and producer, a behind the scenes featurette and an interactive script.
Bottom line - this is a dreadful movie and Soderbergh and Cameron ought to be ashamed of themselves. Avoid.
posted by Zvi Josef on 28/8/2004 01:12