Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases

Updates:

Solaris (2002)

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Average user rating

4 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

Hazarding another movie inspired by Stanislav Lem's novel might seem folly when Tarkovsky's 1972 version still boasts cult appeal, but Soderbergh's movie beats its predecessor in virtually every respect. It's not only richer and more rigorous, philosophically, than the Russian's woolly musings, it also has an emotional force barely there in Tarkovsky. More significantly, it's probably the finest, certainly the most stylish, sci-fi film in years. Clooney and McElhone are both immensely impressive. He's a psychotherapist Chris Kelvin, sent to the Prometheus space station to investigate strange, sinister occurrences; she's his wife Rheya, dead for years but now rejoining him, as if drawn by his guilty memories, while he and two surviving, possibly crazy crew members orbit the mysterious planet Solaris. Soderbergh uses this story to trace tangled links between time, memory, desire, fear and freedom of will, even as these connecxtions are complicated by the fact that Rheya is a sentient copy of herself. Scripted, shot, directed and edited by Soderbergh with his customary intelligence and assurance, this is perhaps the most ambiguous and cerebrally sophisticated Hollywood movie in nearly three decades.

Author: GA 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

Bookmark

User reviews of this film

Adriano said...

Posted on Jan 23 2009 15:57 I actually found it too fast, compared to the original.
The thing is, the plot's quite simple and "old", nothing special really. The atmosphere and "poetry" are what should save the film.
The Tarkovsky version (the full one, not the abridged one) is brilliant in doing this. With a far better photography, and compelling acting, it manages to pass the test.
The Soderbergh version is not bad, and it would be wrong to compare the two films. It's just another take, a more emotional one, and a much more accessible one, as well. But it has a "cheap" feel, it feels like it wants to simplify everything, as I said at the beginning, things just happen too fast. Which, I know, it's strange to say, since most people have found it slow (and I wouldn't advise them to watch the '72 version, of course...).
Anyway, this last version isn't the superior one, of course, this is a "nice" film, the Tarkovsky film, in its long pauses, and with a "colder" approach (which increases the tension in the film), is the real poetic masterpiece among the two.

Report as inappropriate
Rob said...

Posted on Aug 11 2008 01:52 I can see where Robin Is coming from, but after a second (and third!) watch of the movie it has become one of my favorite sci-fi films.
Its like an album that sounds crap on the first listen, and then grows on you like a fungus!
To be honest I'm more into slow-moving thoughtful films rather than zombie massacres :)

Report as inappropriate
Robin Phelan said...

Posted on May 18 2008 03:45 One of the most boring movies I have ever seen. Unbelieveably slow.

Report as inappropriate
Will P said...

Posted on Dec 20 2007 23:14 I have not seen the original yet so it is unfair for me to judge, I do however agree with the Time Out reviewer solely on the basis of the remake and personally find its emotional understatement refreshing and quite moving.

Report as inappropriate