What You Think of Solaris?

[Sculpt]

Curious what any of you think of either of the sci-fi Solaris films?

Solaris 2002 - Directed by Steven Soderbergh, staring George Clooney

Solaris 1976 - Russian film


This was my review of the 2002 film. What did you think?



Solaris 2002

9/10

A troubled psychologist is sent to investigate the crew of an isolated research station orbiting a bizarre planet.

What's your EQ (Emotional Intelligence Quotient)? Do you like emotionally visceral films? If it's high for either of these, I think you'll love this film. This is sci-fi that doesn't include exploding spaceships; rather exploring the nature of humanity, but on a very personal level.

It's rich in mood & atmosphere, with the music & Steven Soderbergh's direction tightly woven. It hit me like a ton of bricks when I first saw it. It's not a tricky or intellectually taxing film, it's experiential & visceral in a high-EQ-level sort of way.

If you see it, don't invest yourself into how the film is going to end. It's not that kind of film. The ending is completely arbitrary. You don't want to spend your time on a roller coaster wondering how it's going to end. Likewise, the ending has nothing to do with the impact & enjoyment of the film; it's the experience of the journey... I think it spotlights that our understanding & response to life is what matters.

Seems there's a rather large love-it or hate-it divide on this film. In my opinion, it has to do with the viewer's focus. Brings to mind, early in the film, at a cocktail party, the main character (Clooney) & the beautiful Rheya (Natascha McElhone) are exchanging interested glances from across the room. When he finally approaches her, just as he begins to speak, she cuts him off & says, "Don't blow it." That's what the film is about, getting it right.

[hammerfan]

I've only seen the George Clooney version. I quite enjoyed it.

[TeddyFreddy]

I liked it (the clooney version) i would give it a 6/10.

in some places i found it to be a bit slow moving and maybe a bit too cerebral in places. but other wise gave you some very interesting points to ponder over.

overall a very enjoyable film

[TheBossInTheWall]

I've only seen the russian and I couldn't finish it. I remember visually it was beautiful/stunning visually, but the story dragged and was dull.

[Sculpt]

Originally Posted by hammerfan

I've only seen the George Clooney version. I quite enjoyed it.

What did you like about it, Hammerfay? Did you find it romantic (in a good way)? Or did you find it non-romantic, but more sci-fi?

Originally Posted by TeddyFreddy

I liked it (the clooney version) i would give it a 6/10.

in some places i found it to be a bit slow moving and maybe a bit too cerebral in places. but other wise gave you some very interesting points to ponder over.

overall a very enjoyable film

Glad you enjoyed it. The slower parts, were they the romantic parts? What parts were they? Like, when they all met in the lounge with Clooney & Rheya, the black Dr wasn't pulling any punches. I thought that was exciting. Was it scenes like that?

Originally Posted by TheBossInTheWall

I've only seen the russian and I couldn't finish it. I remember visually it was beautiful/stunning visually, but the story dragged and was dull.

It was like that for me too. The first time I tried to watch it, in my late teens, (it's a 3 hr film) I found it very difficult to get into. Not to mention I don't like reading films (subtitles).

More recently, I jumped into the middle of the film, & having seen Solaris 2002, found it a bit more entertaining, because I knew what was going on already. It was late, & it wasn't enough to keep me up. Not sure I'll ever be interested to watch it again, though if there were an english dub, I'd be a lot more likely to watch it.

[rachMiel]

I loved Tarkovsky's Solaris. Exquisitely slow and mysterious. I liked the Clooney one too. Great novel.

[hammerfan]

I thought it was more science fiction than romance.

[tfantasy]

I have only seen the George Clooney version and I found it to be rather boring. I rarely can get into these types of movies anymore because I am soo addicted to action. I have to be in the right mood to sit and watch slower, deeper movies. Don't get me wrong, though, I do get into them once in awhile. I can say that Solaris was better than Gravity.

[Monkey Astronaut]

Tarkovsky's Solaris is a masterpiece. Although it can be slow at some points. For example the scene where Kelvin drives to the space station gets tedious but once he's in space it picks back up. I've been meaning to read the Stanisław Lem novel but have no desire to watch the Clooney film.