Contact

Rating:
Summary: Intelligent, thought providing science fiction
Review: There are few books that leave you with the disire to discuss life, the universe and everything and this is one of them. Thought provoking and engaging at the same time. The book has some flaws that the the film was able to repair (one of the few times I think a movie improved on an already great book) - the book has a tendency to be a little too technical and plods occasionally and the ending is slightly weak. But it's a facinating, well thought out tale by one of the greats of science and science fiction.

Rating:
Summary: pure magic
Review: This book is pure magic. I very rarely read science fiction (I tend to think it's a genre best left to adolescent boys), but "Contact" is no mere adventure story. Rather, it's a soaring achievement of intellect and imagination -- and a love letter to the human race. So much better than the movie, which was already quite good. It's like the movie, squared.

Rating:
Summary: Blended political intrigue and scientific achievement
Review: The only event that I believe would have more power than establishing contact with alien intelligence would be an appearance by God similar to those documented in the bible. However, to many people, the events would be equivalent, which is one of the many themes of the movie. I very much enjoyed the movie, finding so many of the subplots typical of what would be expected if such an event occurred. The main character, a hard-driving independent female scientist, obtained much of that focus from having her mother die when she was born and her father when she was nine. This determination kept her going through many lean years of project cancellation and ridicule.
Subplots aside, the main event was of course the message from aliens. Given the horror of the perspective of history, it seems bizarre that a telecast of Hitler opening the 1936 Olympic games would be the first message received. However, since it was the first telecast of any power, it is a reasonable possibility. The appearance of President Clinton as himself lends an air of realism that could be obtained no other way. He has a stage presence and an air of seriousness that makes his cameo appearance work to perfection. Other cameos by television commentators such as reporters reinforce the realism.
While government agents are occasionally portrayed as bureacratically bound, it does not descend to the appearance of idiocy, which was a welcome relief. The agents are characterized as rigid, but not foolish, up to the very end. The last segment, where you see the beginning of a cover-up is the least plausible notion and comes across as artificial. The main character, played superbly by Jodie Foster, is a strong personality and as befits such a character, she is surrounded by similar strong personalities, one of the toughest of which is the president's chief of staff. She is a hard-nosed woman who gets her way simply by saying what it is. Foster's "boyfriend", a deeply religious man who contributes heavily to her loss of a prized position, still respects her beliefs even though he strongly disagrees with them.
With all the subplots, the main plot is still strong enough to dominate the movie. It is a movie with all the intrigue of a major political event, yet still manages to retain the scientific aspects of any contact with an alien civilization.

Rating:
Summary: Pathetic, Uninvolving, New Age Mess
Review: Silly, self-important nonsense masquerading as deep profound Science Fiction. Jodie Foster plays an utterly humorless and emotionally icebound BUT totally brilliant young woman (a type of role she is becoming tiresomely expert at) who is supposed to be carrying a torch for the appallingly inept Matthew McConaughey. The lack of chemistry between them makes a significant part of the story rather hard to swallow. Namely, one can't believe that Foster's walking iceberg has any interest at all in the McConaughey's inane all-purpose guru.

This movie is to serious science fiction what a Hallmark card is to Shakespeare. Slight, admittedly rather efficient, but ultimately forgettable.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: A wonderful story written by a wonderful man, Carl Sagan. Highlights mankind's weaknesses and strengths, and shows the difference between blind faith and true science.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent movie, poor dvd edition
Review: This is an excellent story. Jodie Foster is compelling as the child that never stopped believing in her dreams, in spite of everything. Oscar-worthy performance by her and her costar (Matthew M.)

Very watchable movie that can handle multiple viewings.

However, this dvd edition's "extras" come up VERY short. Audio commentaries sound canned & non-interactive. They would have been better off adding alternate language tracks.

There is NO theatrical trailer on this edition, which is a shame because Contact had a very good one.

Buy this dvd because you like the movie (which is good), but dont expect to be thrilled with so-called collector's edition bonuses. I'd rather buy a "no-frills" dvd than buy this one expecting something extra.

Rating:
Summary: Successfully Walks Between Fact & Fantasy
Review: It may be understandable that "Contact" is well seen in Carl's adopted town of Ithaca, NY, where his wife, Ann, still lives. Ann has said that Carl would be proud and happy with this film.

For me "Contact" was able to nicely walk the tightrope between fantasy and fact. A good many of the characters you see are based on real people that Carl knew in the SETI community. While we can't know what will happen when - and I do say when - we discover other life in the universe, "Contact" gives us a good account of the nobility that the human race will show when it happens (embodied largely in Ellie), the ignomy (embodied largely for me in the portrayal of the Government and David Drumlin), and the misplaced but sincere concern we'll all feel (embodied in Palmer Joss).

In the end "Contact" is actually not about the aliens. It's not about the search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. It's not about the science or the technology. Carl Sagan, as he did so many times, wrote a story about US - the human race, the human condition as we will be when we take that final, humbling step on the road Copernicus put us on so many centuries ago when he ripped the Earth from the center of the universe and put it as one of so many planets in the Solar System.

As such, "Contact" doesn't have to be seen as a Science Fiction film if you don't want to see it as such. You'll love this film if you've ever felt passionate about anything in your life. You'll love this film if you've ever had that passion challenged.

Heck, you don't even have to know what a radio telescope is! See this film. Who knows, we might see it in real life sometime.

Rating:
Summary: True to Sagan's vision.
Review: This movie truely did justice to the vision of Carl Sagan. Watch, listen, and enjoy...

PS
The world is a lesser place without Carl Sagan. May he rest in peace.

Rating:
Summary: Contact: A fitting legacy for Carl
Review: "Contact" is one of my favorite movies of all time. The concepts it explores, both scientific and spiritual, are dear to my heart and not, as some believe, mutually exclussive. As long as imminently talented people like Robert Zemekis and Jodie Foster nurture the visionaries like Carl Sagan, Issac Asimov and those who follow, we will continue to evolve and we will do it in style. I am certain that some of those future visionaries will be inspired by this movie. Jodie Foster gives a dynamic performance, as good as anything she has done before. The special effects and the musical score are incredible. I have owned the VHS version of "Contact since it became available and it was one of the first movies I purchased on DVD the first week I had my new player. This movie deserves a place in any video library and it is a must have for anyone who believes that we are not alone in the Universe.

Rating:
Summary: One of the few times the movie is even better than the book
Review: As a great fan of the late Carl Sagan's book "Contact" I was worried this movie would not stay true to the idealogy and themes of the original. I was extremely pleasantly suprised. Not only did it stay true, but the slight modification to the story added a whole sub-theme to the story, adding an element of beliefs and religion and how we justify our beliefs that wasn't in the book. It was an enhancement that only improved the story, which was great as it was. The acting is superb and well cast.