Contact

Rating:
Summary: Equal time for reason--quite refreshing
Review: In these times when Hollywood gives us so much ill-inspired pseudo-scientific and -technical bunk to wade our way through in the interest of entertainment, we also get this wonderful story by the late Dr. Sagan brought to decent special-effects life. Though much of what we hear coming from the mouth of Dr. Arroway (Jodie Foster), as directed at Palmer Joss (McConaughey), is presented with such an attempt at persuasion as you'd find in the characters of an Ayn Rand novel, the basic story is that life is a precious possession, to be cherished for all it is at the present moment. The relationship of Ellie to her father is one of profound loss, but she will not accept God's will as explanation: "I should have kept the medicine in the downstairs bathroom--then I could have gotten to him faster". We are really left wondering about just what the actual "phenomenon" is that we have witnessed, since evidence proves finally lacking for the rigorously-grounded scientist to follow. Sagan's awareness of the kind of fringe groups that "are out there" is illustrated by the mass-celebration and -demonstration held outside the Very Large Array, even to include a chapter of the Chevy Vega collectors' association, in honor of the star that has finally heard our stray RF from the 1930's and sent back its reply. The response of the Clinton administration (though I understand the clip of him giving a press conference was lifted from another context) in militarizing the project might even find support among the UFO conspiracy-types. But Dr. Arroway does not care; she has taken up the banner of scientific inquiry and integrity, so she needs to tell "everyone". The "machine" is exceptionally well-modeled for the screen, though we have to wonder about some of what is purported to go on when the capsule finally reaches the core. We are given imagery to remind us of the transport in "2001: A Space Odyssey", or as later seen in Neo's initiation via the Rabbit Hole in "The Matrix". This is a highly-developed story about a variety of developments in its human characters. We are left wondering, though...what COULD have taken place for those 18 hours?

Rating:
Summary: Call It Faith
Review: Though I did debate on whether to give this movie 4 or 5 stars, it truly deserves all five. This is another well-rounded movie, awe-inspiring, and is completely captivating to its audience. It is a movie about following your dreams, and it ultimately leading to your faith. Though in the beginning of this movie Ellie is not a faithful person, through her triumphs and long-waited success with SETI she grows on the inside as a person of character and of faith. It is inspiring, well performed, and the special effects (though few) were absolutely impeccable. This movie questions many of the beliefs and thoughts that are among us all and, through its intriguing tale, presents many of its own theories. All in all, a job very well done and a story very well written.

Rating:
Summary: Awful - painful to watch
Review: While is it generally a thrill to watch Jodie Foster work, this film is so contrived it should offend even the average american. Matthew McConnahey is talentless - he detracts from the film - and his character's prominence is not the least bit credible. Another character lacking any credibility whatsoever is the token-black-female-in-an-intellectual-position-of-power. This is the kind of film that reminds me that I should forever give up on Hollywood, and pick up a good book instead (eg, something by the likes of Donna Tartt).

Rating:
Summary: Could be good but it's not - DVD review
Review: I was so disappointed in this movie. First of all were the stereotypes (illusion of dead father, typical currupt politician, boss who cares only for himself, truth about ETs is hidden).

Second, it's simply not developed. It is 'wanna-be' deep. It uses a lot of 'big' words to make the viewer think they are watching an intellectual movie when they are not.

Third, pacing. The whole movie builds up to a 36 minute ending. This includes the all important following of the ET's instructions. By this point, I really didn't care.

Fourth, depth. It tries to touch on many points that it never probes any of them in depth. To see politics in the Space Program I recommend The Right Stuff (even though it is cleaned up version of the space program). All the questions the aliens left Ellie with, that she never really probed them about.
The 'reunion' scene has been done better in Star Trek.

Pass this one up for a real thinker. There are a lot of good Sci-Fi movies out there.

Rating:
Summary: A horrible distortion of Carl Sagan's message
Review: Did Carl Sagan write this horrible movie ?! I expected something profound and spiritual... this is "junk". On a more positive note, the sense of wonder evoked by the introductory scene does persist in the rest of the movie. Too bad it is supported by "junk".

Some positive (+) and negative (-) points :

- The "we all need beliefs" argument rears its ugly head more than once. This is apparently the morale of the story.
- Also according to this movie, prosperity and technology makes people less happy and connected (guess in the Middle Ages everyone was everyone's best buddy - crime ? wars ? what's that ?).
- In this warped alternate universe, SETI is actually useful and approved by private individuals, instead of being a big government boondoggle for scientists.
+ Shows that faith can only validate itself in violence.
-+ "Useful science" and paranormal beliefs are both portrayed as negative.

Rating:
Summary: A Movie of Faith
Review: This is an incredible movie, by far on my top 10 list of my all time favorites. I purchased this movie on DVD over a year ago, and I can't count how many times I have seen it. Jodie Foster is majestic in this film. She plays a very complex character, as per usual for Jodie, but this role suits her very well. Throughout the enitre film you will be cheering her on, as you quickly realize she is the "outcast" of the scientific world. The movie made me think of the possibilities, the "what if's" of the universe.

The overall message is faith and the power of believing in one's self, science, and the universe. Because of this movie, I had to stop and think many times, about the power of faith. The movie made me realize that we as humans are a tiny incriment of the universe. Are we the only intelligent life in the universe? Can faith and science coincide with one another?

Robert Z. is the perfect director for this. Jodie was the PERFECT Ellie. Robert pieced this enitre movie with such grace and precision, and Jodie was so realistic as Ellie. Ellie challenged the normal views of the world, she grew as a person, she saw somewhat of a "different light." I truly loved this movie, and I reccomend it to everyone, even if they're not into sci-fi, that's only a fraction of the movie. The message will strike you, the performances will amaze you, and you will think.

Rating:
Summary: No wonder they waited till Carl Sagan was dead.
Review: That sounds harsh. If anything it's generous.

Undoubtedly the worst part of this awful remake of an excellent, thought proving book is at the end, where in big letters it comes up with the words "For Carl".

At that point I nearly threw something at the screen.

Carl Sagan was an atheist. Contact, the book, contains some intelligent, thought provoking, discussions between two of the main characters ; the atheist Arroway, and the Christian Joss. The "extremist" views on both sides are represented by Drumlin and Rankin. Rankin, as far as I can see, has been removed altogether. Most of the discussions between the two main characters have been rewritten so that the balance becomes blatantly pro-religion. For example, at one point, the Joss character asks Arroway "Did you love your father - prove it" which is the asinine kind of thing an asinine religious person would ask ; and absolutely not the kind of thing the Palmer Joss character in the book would ask.

Worse still is the end of the film. In the book, Arroway is basically paid off and hushed up. In the film, there is a big set piece investigation in which Arroway is asked "questions" - this is an unsubtle piece of propoganda in favour of religious faith.

Back to "For Carl". Carl Sagan ; the author I've read in Contact and various other books would have disowned this movie, and probably stopped it. Hence the title.

Does it matter ? If you like dumb movies, probably not, it then just becomes are rather pointless low level action flick. But then again, you might as well by a Schwarzenegger film for that.

Rating:
Summary: Contact...Mr. Rogers in ImaginationLand
Review: ...

Jodie Foster has succeeded admirably in taking a nose dive off the 1000 foot tower that was her outstanding performance in "Silence of the Lambs", and belly-flopping into a satellite dish full of rusty razor blades that is the horrid abomination we call "Contact". Her departure from the Clarice Starling we all knew and rooted for has landed her in a sour mix of sockless hippie/lone scientist/Ice Queen that simply does not work for a loveable hero...nor will be forgotten by millions of moviegoing victims. Her chemistry with Matthew McNasty works about as well as vinegar and water.

This movie also reflects a completely prejudiced, one-sided promotion of science over religion, specifically Christianity. This movie depicts all too well the desperate lengths that faith-bashers will go to promote ANY philosophy defining our existence, so long as it's not anything religious. But now that modern technology has disintegrated the Darwinist theories we were force fed in high school science classes, these New Age neo-Saganists will attempt to "prove", despite lacking any evidence whatsoever, that a reverse theory is true...that instead of humans being the PRODUCT of evolution beginning with monkeys, we are in fact the STARTING point, with far-off aliens being the product that evolved from us. For some reason, these astral relatives of ours break communication with us for millions of years, and only now try to re-establish relations.

Yes, this [weak film] does much to insult REAL sci-fi films, like Star Wars and Deep Impact, simply by existing in the same genre. This movie singlehandedly gives credence to critics that believe we should abandon the NASA program, just as it slaps in the face real life astronauts who risk life and limb exploring the cosmos to do actual scientific research, not embark in silly adventures to find little green men.

And forget that an uncleared maniac with explosives strapped to his chest would NEVER penetrate the tight security that would engulf such a massive space launch...the fact that this film portrays Christians as [crazy] goes against every norm and law that Christianity espouses. Ironically, the few pounds of explosives that (unbelievably) brought down the entire launch pad were invented and mass produced by the very science the movie glorifies.

Save your money and watch an episode or two of Mr. Rogers. It's [less expensive], more worth your attention, and even educational. The puppets that come alive in Rogers' lonely house at the dead end of a one-way street are far more entertaining than the filth-ridden "Contact".

Rating:
Summary: Better than the movie Signs
Review: Don't waste your money on a bad sci-fi movie that uses Mel Gibson as a way to atract viewers.

The movie Contact has an excellent and very original story. It mixes the concept of aliens and religion in an interesting manner.

If you normally buy VHS, make an exception in this case and get the dvd.

Rating:
Summary: Could have made closer Contact
Review: I like the way this movie attempted to put a realistic portrayal on the media frenzy and world wide reaction of our Setti sattlelites transmitting extra terrestial messages. The manner to which that was done was believable.
Nevertheless, "Contact's" ending felt incomplete and it didn't satisfy me. I know this movie is based on a book by Carl Sagan but, this movie would have been better served if the director took artisitc liberties by offering a concrete explanation about the aliens who sent the messages rather then leaving that as an open topic that can be loosely interepreted through science and religion.