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SOLARIS

With George Clooney, Natascha McElhone, Viola Davis, Jeremy Davies, Ulrich Tukur, John Cho
Directed by Steven Soderbergh

Based on a story by legendary sci-fi writer Stanislav Lem, this outer space experience falls more in the
2001: A Space Odyssey framework than, say, Aliens (though it was produced by Aliens director and Terminator creator James Cameron). A gigantic ball of energy has been discovered and an expert is sent to the observing space station where something is going terribly wrong. The crew are encountering vision of loved-ones who seem more real than fantasy. It has driven them to the point of madness and suicide, its implications on mankind too vast to contemplate. The slow, at times tiresome pace (with sparse music) was not designed to liven up the action fan, but to project the experience of the participants, millions of miles from earth, facing something seemingly basic and close to them, but totally freaking their minds. Approach this film only when you're focussed and not prone to distractions of any kind, ready to watch and be engrossed as opposed to laughing your ass off or getting thrilled by a fast and furious ride of explosions and spectacular scenes of Hollywood carnage. Director Soderbergh has carved his success story out nicely from Sex, Lies & Videotape to Traffic and can now make a film like this without worrying about its box office performance to ensure future jobs.

Did you know, there has been a Russian version made in the 70's by director Andrei Tarkovsky, a highly acclaimed one at that - well worth fishing out, having been released on DVD internationally.

3 / C
- PB


1 2 3 4 5 6
A - B
- C




never let a review decide for you, but for those who need a rating, see the Flamedrop scale below
6 - Volcanic
5 - Blistering
4 - Hot
3 - Smolder
2 - Room Temperature
1 - Fizzled
0 - Extinguished

A: Multi-Viewing Potential

B: Could Enjoy A 2nd Look

C: Once Should Suffice



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