Rating: 
Summary: A homage to humanism
Review: I read CONTACT long before seeing the movie and that gives one a different perspective than seeing the movie first. It is that rarest of works, science fiction popular with both scientists and readers. One detects the brilliant mind behind the prose giving us a work that is intelligent, probing and scientifically literate. Missing are space fights, dangerous aliens, gutter language, random acts of insanity, ESP, invisibility - all so common in today's current crop. Instead, it is the story of a scientist drawn to the search for alien life despite opposition from both both scientific and lay communities. Many scientists conclude that SETI is a waste; biologists in particular consider intelligence such a rare development (requiring incredibly special circumstances and literally billions of years to develop) that they despair of ever finding another species with which we can communicate. On the other side, religions object that a search is against the "will of God" and fear that Earthly belief systems will be adversely affected if it is known that creation is not unique. The real message is philosophical: Humanity (to quote the movie heroine) is so small and so insignificant and so precious as seen against the background of the universal panorama. This conflict between science and religion is explored without being didactic. He explains that science, unlike religion, never demands belief without proof, that its findings are always subject to change and challenge, and that it is an instrument that expresses our humanity in ways religion never can. Ellie's greatest epiphany is evoked by communion with the Universe, not with God. The plot has been bandied about before but it is the masterful blending of character, story, theme and conflict that makes this particular saga so enthralling. The movie necessarily differs from the book and while I miss the voyage of the five (and the rather incontrovertible proof that provides) the ending is not only pleasing but satisfactory. Every character seems almost perfect from the point of view of the book. I have read this book more than once and discover new nuances h each time. Dennis Overbye shares Sagan's spirit of discovery and humanity and any books by him are worth companions to this.
Rating:
Summary: A Credo for Our Age
Review: Form the majestic opening of silence to the meditative ending, this is a powerful portrait of human desire for knowledge. The intelligence of this film - especially compared to the garbage shown daily - is just stunning Jodie Foster has said about the heroine that it was the closest any character had gotten in representing her spirit. That is an outstanding compliment considering the main character is based on a real-life scientist and the movie shows her as skeptic, searcher and explorer. The movie and the book have been compared both favorably and unfavorably but that should not be the case. Both are excellent representations of their particular genre. The best one can say about their relationship is that the movie effectively captured the spirit of the book - if not exactly following the storyline. CONTACT has been called science-fiction for "thinkers" and it is void of much of what is seen in current films of this type - no action-packed space shootouts, no morphing monsters, no aliens using ESP or advanced technology. No, it is instead a quiet demonstration, as the main character states, that we as a race are so small and so insignificant and so precious when viewed in the background of the Universe. It is continually surprising, the plot consistently logical, the characters always "in character". It is one of the best portrayals of scientists and their work with all the bickering, fighting, jealousy and in the end, awe upon discovering Nature's secrets. Philosophically, it asks many questions. The book deals more forcefully with the role of superstition and religion as it relates to scientific ventures. Indeed, both the book and movie go to great lengths to explain that science does not demand blind obedience and is constantly challenged and tested in its assumptions and theorems. Whether or not one believes that other alien civilizations exist, this film makes one wish that it were true. Added kudos to the cinemtography and music.
Rating: 
Summary: Contact makes rough contact
Review: Contact was a film that interested me from the get go. I loved the idea, and I guess I still do: a chance to make contact with Alien life and making it come across as real. There is no question that this film provides a realness, an authenticity of plot mixed in with good acting. What Contact lacks however is some contact with originality and general audience appeal and satisfaction. Now what in the world did I just say? Well let's analyze this movie: Arroway played by the supberb actress Jodie Foster is a scientist who goes out of her way to be the first to make contact with recent Alien life that eventually becomes national, meaning it becomes obvious to the public. Now two good things here that I liked: 1. It pretty much avoided the cliche of the big "government conspiracy" that so many sci-fi films feel they must have (until the end). The government and public are just as surprised by the sudden alien contact as any one else.
2. You don't get to see Aliens, they are left up to the viewers imagination. Another words, you don't know what this out of space life is. This maintains interest and suspense. Now, here's where it lacks originality. Arroway is not an original character. She's a scientist, a believer in new life out there, explorer, etc. This is the character "we" as the audience would expect to be the main character. Although it may be what we expect, that doesn't make it original. What makes Close Encounters of the Third Kind better is that the main characters were ordinary people, with no expertise, learning and changing and developing as the film progresses. Arroway changes hardly at all, because practically the film is about everything changing for HER. Everything opens up to her from opportunities to beliefs. We don't sympathize with her because she doesn't grow, only the plot grows around her. And it should be the other way around. Another cliche is Skerritt's death. I'm sorry, you knew that was going to happen. You knew some accident was going to take place to keep him from going up so Arroway could go in his place. This plot is good, but it is at the same time predictable. And because it's predictable, some of suspense goes down the drain. Now the worst of all worst cliches in the movie is when she makes actual "contact" with a being that's in the shape of her father. How utterly stupid. How many films have I seen now that have this? Visited by an image of her father, a ghost like figure, so many films do this. They have to ruin this film by making the "contact" turning out to be a relative of hers. There is no satisfaction to this, all the suspense during the whole film of wanting to know WHAT is trying to make contact is answered by adaptation of her father?! What a waste. That costed it one star, the cliches and the wasted suspense of this movie. What costed it another star was that I really did not like the political/religious bias and slams and cliches in this movie. I'm sure Athiests love this movie, because religion is dissed big time in this. Half this movie was not about the contact from another life form, but rather the struggle between theoretical differences (Athiests vs. Religion). This did create drama and friction between characters such as between Arroway and Palmer (Matthew McC.). However, it came across as if this film had another objective in mind. As if it was on a mission to show up religions and make it appear as if "religion is the doorstopper in progression." I'm not the only one who thinks this, who was a little offended by how someone who believes in God is represented. Sorry, Palmer didn't make a very convincing religious person. He basically shies away from Arroway when the topic comes up, as if "he knows she's right." And naturally for villains, the director has it be these religious wackos. Then when Arroway is being interviewed by world leaders, they make it appear as if she's being persecuted for not having a religious belief. Again, these are all slams and cliches against religion, and some of us like to see better representation in movies if it's going to be an essential element of the movie. Not that the issue has to be ignored in movies, but create a balance not a bias. Otherwise, leave the subject alone if you can't accurately or fairly represent the other side. Because quite clearly there was an anti-religious agenda in this movie and I felt it uncalled for. Other than the biasness and the lack of originality in climax and character, this film has a good storyline. It has great acting, it is a very believable film. And if not for these blackmarks, I would've considered among my top favorite sci-fi films. But the director made a classic mistake in dividing the audience by slamming a belief system rather than telling a story without the anti-spiritual agenda. Grade: C
Rating:
Summary: absolutely outstanding
Review: this will happen someday. i hope i'm around for it.
Rating:
Summary: This Movie Makes "Contact" On Many Levels
Review: "Each of us is bound by a different covenant. Each of us seeks truth in our own way. Each of us, scientist, priest, spiritualist, agnostic, looks for answers that define our existance. It is the quest, the journey, that each of us shares with one another." Contact is the story of Eleanor Ann Arroway (Ellie, for short) and her individual, life-long quest to seek answers to the questions "Who are we? Why are we here?" She seeks answers as a radio-astronomer, heading up a division of S.E.T.I. ((The)Search (for) Extra Terrestrial Intelligence) at Aracebo, and later at the VLA (Very Large Array) in New Mexico. Her search, which spans many years of her adult, professional life, lead her to the discovery of a radio signal from Vega, a star roughly 4 light-years from Earth. What unfolds in this epic story, originally written by Carl Sagan, reaches far beyond the realm of an average science fiction film. It is the story of a woman, whose faith in science leaves her with more questions then it answers. It is the story of a man, torn between the love of a woman, and the faith of the religious covenant he has dedicated his life to. It is the story of a government, at once skeptical and manipulative, attempting to dictate the actions of a discovery that really belongs to the world. And, ultimately, it is the story of each of us; of anyone who has ever asked the big questions: "Who are we? Why are we here?" Directed by Robert Zemeckis, and starring Jodie Forster, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Skeritt, James Woods, Angela Bassett and John Hurt, and featuring an incredible soundtrack by Alan Silvestri, this movie, which runs a little over 2 hours is absolutely well worth the time. It is a story of contact with extra-terrestrials, but also much more, it is a story of contact with ourselves, and the values, beliefs, and covenants we hold most dear.
Rating:
Summary: a genuine tribute to the wonder of the cosmos
Review: This is a movie for anyone who's spent a night gazing up at the stars in the sky and wondered if there is other intelligent life in the universe. Contact perfectly captures the awe and wonder of realizing just how small and insignificant we are on Earth in comparison to the rest of the universe. Jodie Foster conveys an infectious enthusiasm for knowledge that is such a refreshing change from the usual scientist-type normally depicted in science fiction films. You can't help but get caught up in her quest for signs of intelligent life in the universe and sympathize with her frustrations from fellow colleagues and government types. The supporting cast is also excellent -- in particular, William Fichtner as a blind scientist (based on a real person, btw) is a real stand-out. He normally plays psychos or bad guys in movies and so it is really great to see him cast completely against type as a gentle soul who is very loyal to Foster's character. The DVD is quite good in quality -- although, the extras do tend to lean to the special effects aspects of the film, which gets a little dull after awhile. However, the film's three audio commentaries are all good listens -- especially Jodie Foster who talks about her own personal passion for the project. Contact makes a great double bill with another film, October Sky, which is also another story about a character in love with gazing up into the stars. Both of these films are based on real stories and are very well made. Definitely worth a look.
Rating: 
Summary: Loyal Adaptation
Review: Though not a perfect adaptation of Sagan's book, this is fairly loyal and ends with an effect similar to the novel. The cast is definitely on top of things. Jodie Foster makes an impeccable Ellie Arroway, Matthew McConaugheh an effective, if somewhat youthful Palmer Joss, a reverend and Ellie's intellectual equal; Ken Der Heer's role is significantly downsized, but for his part he does well; Tom Skerrit is a perfectly pompous Dave Drumlin; James Woods a properly militaristic Michael Kitz; and, perhaps in the film's best performance (though he certainly did not have as much work as Foster or McConaugheh), John Hurt is a KNOCKOUT as S.R. Hadden. Oh yeah, and Rob Lowe has a nice role as the Reverend Billy Joe Rankin. The technical aspects are definitely all there; the opening shot is beautifully done, and the special effects are stunning throughout. Though at first I thought the idea of Ellie and Palmer getting together would ruin it, I found it did not have much ill effect. I like also how they chose not to dwell on the hypocrisies of Mr. Rankin. What is missing, and I think fans of the novel will agree, are Ellie's traveling partners, particularly Vaygay. C'mon, Zemeckis, you should know by now that any movie of this sort needs a smart alecky Russian to carry it in the slow spots. Still, the thought provoking story remains intact, and the film was dedicated to Sagan, whom I'm sure would have been pleased with the outcome. Well Done.
Rating:
Summary: Carl Sagan's Master Piece
Review: Contact is a story about how could be the first contact of humans with other intelligent beings in the universe. Although this is a very old theme, it is an entirely different book. As an astronomer, the author tried to be very realistic what yielded a story where everything is tied and where you will not find any contradictions. You will not only enjoy a very good and beautiful tale, but also will have a "contact" with real scientific worries and concepts related to the search of intelligent life in other planets. The book also touch in the conflicts between religion and science mixed inside all the story in a very balanced way: you would expect that Carl would only support the rational side in the book, but when you read, you will be awed and surprised (and will respect Carl still more). For those who saw the movie (that is an excellent movie, my favourite), the book has less untied knots, everything is clarified and has an end that the film has not. The end chapter of the book make you end your reading with a smile in your face. One final note, when Carl was researching to write the book, he contacted Kip Thorne to ask him about the possibility of interestellar travels through black holes. Inspired by Carl's question, Thorne developed the real physics concepts of travel through wornholes and, later, timetravel through them. If you like science fiction and science, read this book. Certainly this will be one of your favourites, if not the favourite itself.
Rating:
Summary: Worth Watching for Jodie Foster's Performance
Review: This movie is full of stock and stereotyped characters, strutting around using hackneyed expressions ad naseum. And, if that weren't enough, it's rich in political correctness and diversity indoctrination. However, the concept surrounding the "contact" is interesting and the portrayal of the journey is absolutely first rate. Jodie Foster's portrayal of the journey and arrival at destination is very moving. These final moments are worth enduring the above problems (with a little fast forwarding).
Rating:
Summary: One of those that makes you think
Review: This movie is really slow to begin with and you wonder why you've been watching for so long. The payoff comes fast and furious as a transmission from outer space quickly transforms the quirky character played by Jodie Foster into a world renowned scientist. I don't know who plays the eccentric billionaire, but he steals the show. James Woods is a very formidable antagonist and will not give in throughout this movie. He has national security in mind and does not budge on any of his stances through the movie. You really begin to hate Tom Skerrit's character until he gets his final desserts.
Carl Sagan is a famous atheist, but this movie, which has been adapted from his book of the same name, is strangely a search for faith and a god we can all relate to. Ironic, huh?
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