Solaris

( 11 )

Overview

Previously adapted for the screen by legendary Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky, Stanislaw Lem's philosophical sci-fi mind-trip gets a reworking by director Steven Soderbergh and arrives on DVD courtesy of 20th Century Fox. Presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, the cool blue hues of the space station are rich and deep, with earthbound scenes offering a seductively organic and effectively warm contrast. Much of this film is fairly dark, with solid blacks and near-perfect skin tones making for a beautiful ...
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Overview

Previously adapted for the screen by legendary Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky, Stanislaw Lem's philosophical sci-fi mind-trip gets a reworking by director Steven Soderbergh and arrives on DVD courtesy of 20th Century Fox. Presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, the cool blue hues of the space station are rich and deep, with earthbound scenes offering a seductively organic and effectively warm contrast. Much of this film is fairly dark, with solid blacks and near-perfect skin tones making for a beautiful presentation. Additionally, the 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround audio track makes good use of the minimal audio scheme of the film as well as composer Cliff Martinez's rich but restrained score. A commentary track featuring both director Soderbergh and producer James Cameron proves both enticing with its tales of what was left on the cutting room floor, and frustrating for fans of the film who would have liked to have seen more. The two seem to respect one another's visions even if those visions aren't always on the same wavelength, and their easy rapport makes for an interesting listen as they discuss some of the more philosophical angles of the story and their impressions of the final product. Likewise, an HBO making-of special and a featurette entitled "Solaris: Behind the Planet" offer interesting perspectives on the production, as well as providing a tantalizing glimpse of what might have been. Viewers with a fondness for the written word can view the screenplay. And a theatrical teaser and trailer round things out nicely.
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Special Features

Closed Caption; Full-length audio commentary by director Steven Soderbergh and producer James Cameron; HBO making-of special; "Solaris: Behind the Planet" featurette; Original screenplay; Theatrical teaser & trailer
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Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - Tony Nigro
In this underappreciated remake, director Steven Soderbergh breathes new life into author Stanislaw Lem's metaphysical sci-fi tale. George Clooney is Chris Kelvin, a psychologist sent to investigate strange happenings aboard the space station Prometheus, which orbits the oceanic planet Solaris. Once aboard, Kelvin finds two of the four crew members dead and the two survivors in psychological shock, and he soon discovers the cause: "visitors," inhuman manifestations inhabiting various recesses of the Prometheus crew's memories. Kelvin's own visitor appears in the form of his deceased wife Natascha McElhone, and it is here that Soderbergh's contemplative film truly whirls into the realm of the mind-bending. Less science fiction and more existential relationship drama, Solaris appears to take its cues less from Lem's original story than from Andrei Tarkovsky's 1972 film adaptation -- not to mention some heavy references to 2001: A Space Odyssey. And while it is less languorous and intense than Tarkovsky's film, Soderbergh's beautifully shot picture retains both the intellectual ambition and poetry of the original. Clooney maintains his ranking as the director's best-used star; his trademark sideways charm is well balanced with a tight-lipped quality reminiscent of Tarkovsky's leading man, Donatas Banionis. That Clooney bears a passing resemblance to Banionis helps, too. Though coolly received at the box office -- and understandably so, as this is no Matrix -- Solaris manages to respect and recall its source material while achieving its own unique dignity.
All Movie Guide - Michael Hastings
Easily the strongest of the melancholic sci-fi studio pictures to arrive in post-millennium multiplexes (see also A.I., Vanilla Sky, and Minority Report), Solaris represents yet another curve ball from jack-of-all-trades director Steven Soderbergh: a minor-key space-travel lament told with deliberate echoes of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Rather than being a show-offy attempt at a genre he's never covered, however -- "look, ma -- sci-fi!" -- Soderbergh's adaptation of Stanislaw Lem's novel might be the filmmaker's most personal project. One could speculate that by shifting the focus of the source material from the mysteries of space and existence to the larger and perhaps more-baffling puzzle of love and devotion, Soderbergh is in some small way working through his own failed marriage. At the very least, it's his most passionate exploration of two pet themes that run through all of his films: memory and regret. Reigning in the potential for pop-psychological blather is George Clooney, whose passionate, carefully modulated performance requires him to call up not only his usual reserves of sex appeal and smirky charm, but also his heretofore unexploited paranoia and vulnerability. The project is a quantum leap for Soderbergh the cinematographer, too; the grungy, off-the-cuff stylist of Traffic and Full Frontal offers up a steely, black-and-blue vision of the future that's punctuated by red, hazy flashback sequences and deliberate, methodical long takes, all the while exhibiting his unerring sense of camera placement. Ponderous in the best sense of the word, the resolutely unsuspenseful project may not have served up the requisite thrills for genre fans, but that's to be expected -- Solaris has far more to say about universal human truths than it does science fiction.
Rolling Stone - Peter Travers
1/2
Clooney brings raw intensity to his role; his scenes with McElhone are rooted in a fierce romantic yearning.
Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert
1/2
The Soderbergh version is like the same story freed from the weight of Tarkovsky's solemnity. And it evokes one of the rarest of movie emotions, ironic regret.

1/2
Clooney brings raw intensity to his role; his scenes with McElhone are rooted in a fierce romantic yearning.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 7/29/2003
  • UPC: 024543079835
  • Original Release: 2002

    • Rating:

  • Source: 20th Century Fox
  • Region Code: 1
  • Aspect Ratio: Cinemascope (2.35:1)
  • Presentation: Wide Screen
  • Sound: Dolby Digital Surround, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
  • Language: English, Français, Español
  • Time: 1:39:00
  • Format: DVD
  • Sales rank: 4,767

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
George Clooney Dr. Chris Kelvin
Natascha McElhone Rheya
Jeremy Davies Snow
Viola Davis Dr. Helen Gordon
Ulrich Tukur Gibarian
Technical Credits
Steven Soderbergh Director, Screenwriter
Peter Andrews Cinematographer
Steve Arnold Art Director
Charles V. Bender Co-producer
Mary Ann Bernard Editor
Dawn Brown-Manser Set Decoration/Design
Milena Canonero Costumes/Costume Designer
Cinesite Animator, Special Effects
Keith P. Cunningham Art Director
Andrea Dopaso Set Decoration/Design
Greg Jacobs Asst. Director, Executive Producer
James Cameron Producer
Jon Landau Producer
Paul Ledford Sound/Sound Designer
Cliff Martinez Score Composer
Victor Martinez Set Decoration/Design
Philip Messina Production Designer
Kristen Toscano Messina Set Decoration/Design
Jeff Ozimek Set Decoration/Design
Michael Polaire Co-producer
Rae Sanchini Producer
Easton M. Smith Set Decoration/Design
Suzan Wexler Set Decoration/Design
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Scene Index

Side #1 --
1. Kelvin on Earth
2. Visit From DBA
3. "Is That What Everybody Wants?"
4. Kelvin Explores the Prometheus
5. Snow
6. Gordon
7. Debriefing the Crew
8. First Sleep
9. Kelvin and Rheya Meet
10. Waking Up
11. "Can I Come and Sit With You?"
12. Remembering Life With Rheya
13. Rheya Constructs Her Memory
14. Kelvin Leaves Rheya
15. "And Death Shall Have No Dominion"
16. Strategy with Gordon and Snow
17. Gibarian Appears
18. The Resurrection
19. A Chance to Undo Mistakes
20. Fever Dream
21. Kelvin and Gordon in the Cold Room
22. Snow's Visitor
23. "Wear Your Seatbelt."
24. Going Back
25. End Titles
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Menu

Side #1 --
   Play Movie
   Lanuage Selection
      Spoken Languages: English 5.1 Surround
      Spoken Languages: English Dolby Surround
      Spoken Languages: French Dolby Surround
      Spoken Languages: Spanish Dolby Surround
      Subtitles: English
      Subtitles: Spanish
      Commentary With Steven Soderbergh and James Cameron
   Scene Selection
   Special Features
      Commentary
         View the Film With Commentary By Steven Soderbergh and James Cameron: On
         View the Film With Commentary By Steven Soderbergh and James Cameron: Off
      HBO Special: Inside Solaris
      Solaris: Behind the Planet
      Trailers
         Theatrical Teaser
         Theatrical Trailer
         Master and Commander
         Le Divorce
      Screenplay
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 3
( 11 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(1)

4 Star

(3)

3 Star

(4)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(3)

Your Rating:

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Sort by: Showing all of 11 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    Silent Running
    Dark City
    THX 1138 - Special Edition
    Gattaca

    Beautiful Movie

    I felt compelled to put in my 2 cents upon reading the other misguided reviews. Soderbergh's gorgeous and contemplative remake of Solaris is both heart-breaking and uplifting. Clooney puts in a perfectly mannered performace as he and the audience are slowly revealed to what Solaris decides to show us. This isn't your typical sci-fi space adventure. If there is any adventure in this film, it is in discovery and revelation. Science fitcion is simply a vehicle to get to the heart of the story, which is pure psychological drama. From set design to special effects, Solaris delivers on every level. It is a slow burning film that gives you more each time you see it. This is thinking persons sci-fi on every level. Let it challenge you, you won't be disappointed.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Poor George

    Do I even have to give it a star? It's so bad and yet I can't get over the fact that it's a remake. A perfect movie for George though because he is always in space and should stay there while he tries to socialize other planets.

    1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted July 19, 2011

    Average movie based on a great book

    First of all, the movie Solaris is written based on the book _Solaris_ by Lem. However, the whole great idea of Solaris is lost in the movie. Instead of representing the possibility that derived from very innovative and intelligent speculation created by the writer, the film turned out to be a rather shallow romance story. The 3rd person that appears in the book became an overgrown manifestation in the movie, completely overshadowing the purpose of Solaris. As a romance story the movie is not really that bad. When somebody expects a watered down Sci-Fi of this kind, it might be even interesting after all.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Space Is Not The Final Frontier

    This is an intriguing remake of the 1972 version which was adapted from the novel. I wish I can explain how intriguing, but I recommend renting it to find out.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Oh. My. God.

    This movie is perhaps one of the worst movies I have ever seen. There are many parts in this film when nothing happens. I almost fell asleep after only 45 minutes into it. Solaris is very poorly directed and it seems neverending. There are many parts that should not have been in the film. Plus, the ending was meaningless. You should NOT waste your time and money in seeing this film ( unless you are someone who can make sense out of it. ) Rating: Terrible, Terrible, Terrible.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    MOST THOUGHTFUL SCI-FI SINCE 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY

    This film is an ingenious love story in space with themes of death. Not only is it brilliantly made and acted, it is the most thought provoking and strange sci-fi movie since Kubricks 2001:A Space Odyssey.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Solaris will make you sleep.

    The “deep” meaning of this film will hit you in the head until you are knocked out. The dialogue and acting are flat with long pauses in which nothing happens (time to reflect on the deep meaning I would guess) then the film cuts to a long shot of the plant solaris. Watching this movie is like being in a poorly taught philosophy 101 class, which is fine, but in the end worthless. Being and nothingness…

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    One of a kind!

    While this film is not what I expected, it took me into a whole different, but pleasing, realm. Clooney and McElhone are superb together while Davies is very eccentric and Davis convicing. I found it very hard to understand the first time around but the film is still superb... and the commentary is very helpful. I give the film score an A as well as an A to the cinematography.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 1, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 27, 2008

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 13, 2008

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 11 Customer Reviews