George Clooney Movie:

Editorial Review:
A curious mix of science fiction and metaphysical love story, Solaris centers around Chris Kelvin (George Clooney), a psychologist sent to investigate why a space station orbiting an alien planet has stopped communications. The planet has the power to delve into human psyches and re-create lost loved ones--in Kelvin's case, his dead wife (Natascha McElhone), whom he then wants to bring back to Earth. Director Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, Erin Brockovich) fills almost every shot with faces and bodies, as if to emphasize the human soul rather than outer space as the movie's true subject. Unfortunately, the vagueness of the environment--combined with a script that implies more than it shows--serves to dislocate our ability to engage with the characters, rendering Solaris emotionally inert. Jeremy Davies, as a lingering crew member, brings a hint of humor to the otherwise serious-minded proceedings. --Bret Fetzer

Solaris Reviews:
The persistence of memory.
2009-11-10 - Somewhere between "2001: a Space Odyssey" and "Alien" lies "Solaris", a psychological drama that had viewers stampeding out of theatres long before its end credits rolled. Too bad, because although the film is certainly cerebral, static, and remote, it is also emotionally intense, well acted, and beautifully shot. The film explores the pain of losing a loved one, the guilt that survivors feel, and the ways that our memories of the dead color our feelings about them. The cynical marketing of this film, emphasizing George Clooney's nude scenes, was perhaps an act of desperation; a studio trying to mass-market a distinctly un-commerical film. And yet, its now cult status is perhaps more in keeping with the film's spirit as a probing look inside the pain of death, a place not everyone wants to visit.

One Vote for the Unthinking Response
2009-10-01 - Previous reviewers have said about all that needs to be said about the content of the film. Clearly there is a difference of opinion, a sharp difference. While no Sci-Fi buff, I have enjoyed many in the long line of such films that began with the experimental French film at the turn of the century (19th to 20th). However, Solaris is a film in which the science fiction aspects are quite irrelevant. They are used only as a backdrop to a man-woman story that could have been put into any setting with slight adjustment.The story itself might have benefited from a supername on the marque; but, through no fault of George Clooney, his presence does not salvage the lackadaisical script and direction. The actress playing his wife, Natascha McElhone, certainly makes one believe she would be missed, the others were simply playing roles with little definition or opportunity for an actor to shine.

Landmark Movie
2009-09-13 - I just find it amazing that Hollywood actually was willing and able to produce such a masterpiece, with most movies there made for minimum amount of brain activity and preferably devoid of any depth.
The Movie capture the essence of the book really well, this is sci-fi at its best and yet a compelling love story. What is real and what is not and how do we define reality, where's the limit between your imagination and the physical universe, this encompasses these endless questions and yet at the same time is an amazing love story about feelings and the human spirit.
I salute the producers for their bravery and all those who had a hand in this masterpiece of love and mistery. I am sure that Stanislav Lem would have approved.
Thank you..

Tedious to watch.
2009-08-26 - Director and producer's inflated ego's are on full display here. The problem is, they are so busy trying to prove to us how witty, intelligent and arty they are that they forgot to make a watchable film. The book is so full of potential for a great film, but they missed the opportunity entirely. I much prefer Tarkovsky's version even though it tends to prolong itself unneccesarily at times.

Here we have people acting completely irrationally. Sure, you'd expect people under mental and emotional distress to act irrationally, but even Charles Manson would probably be scratching his head watching the characters in this movie. A lot of the problems with this film could have to do with parts that were edited out, which it's pretty obvious that there was a good amount of material left on the cutting room floor. I can see why Jim Cameron stepped away from the director's chair. He probably saw where this was headed early on.

And there are two things that really grate on my nerves. One of them is Jeremy Davies' method of acting. The other is obnoxious gum chewers. In Solaris we've got them both and it's a combination guaranteed to ruin any movie.

Read the book or get yourself a copy of the Tarkovsky original. I have the Criterion edition - it's well worth it unless you just can't stand subtitles. But avoid the Soderbergh travesty at all costs.

Unwatchable
2009-07-28 - I saw about an hour of it I think...then I just had to turn it off. No pay-off can be worth sitting through more of this. It's just all so lifeless. If I paid to see this in a theatre I would very pissed off! There's just no energy at all. The subject matter seems like it COULD be interesting, but the director apparently fought hard to make it all as boring and dull as can be imagined.