I’ve seen this movie get good reviews and I’ve spoken to people who outright hated it. My friend (who liked it) was told when he was going into the movie theatre that he would be able to get his money back if he didn’t like it.
What’s up? Why the great divide?
It’s not an “idiot movie” with explosions every five minutes. Those who hated it didn’t like being challenged by a movie.
Or just don’t like science fiction. There’s really nothing new or interesting in it. Typical Sci-Fi. (I thought the lead woman was really ugly too, made it hard to watch.)
Yeah, I hate ugly broads.
Sci-fi with an ugly woman… hmmm
You should see it for no other reason than to see how how many times George performs the “Clooney manuever”. 
It’s 2001: A Space Odyssey lite. You might find the comments on the movie in this thread helpful. (Warning! It does contain spoilers!)
I am a long-time reader of science fiction and am accustomed to reading difficult novels. I actually enjoy works which make me think.
Solaris was a grave disappointment. It was visually complex, and the acting was (IHNSHO) excellent. BUT the characters did not convince me with their actions. Frinstance, when the phenomenon affected Clooney’s character, I would have appreciated a scene where he took the manifestation to the med lab to have it checked out BEFORE he started relating to it.
The film struck me as being pretentious and pointless.
God forbid a movie should strive to something more than cheap laughs and popcorn-movie status.
Soderbergh’s Solaris was doomed from the beginning. It’s too thoughtful, talky, slow and introspective for the average J6P, and too simplistic and Hollywood-glossy for the Lem and Tarkovsky fans, as well as people who take everything literally and must have an explanation for every second.
It’s not sci-fi, not to me.
I loved it, and I have intense admiration for Cameron, Soderbergh, Clooney and everyone else involved in making it.
And Natascha McElhone is NOT ugly. Her’s is an unusual beauty and she has a dark, haunting quality about her that made her perfect for the role.
Just go see the movie, what’s several dollars eh? If you enjoy many different types of films then you’ll not be wasting your time…as far as natascha mcElhone being ugly…get the fuck out of here…you’re kidding me, right? who would you prefer, michelle pheifer(sp)?
Just my opinion is all. I kept expecting her giant jaw to swig up and a piece of PEZ to come out of her spindly neck.
Nah. Save some cash and go rent the original.
How true is the movie to the book? I’ve been trying to get a copy of the book but all the copies are checked out at the area libraries and I was wondering about this. I saw the movie and I didn’t dislike it, but it seemed to leave so many unanswered questions–and I don’t need to have it all spelled out for me, but it seemed like they kept hinting at stuff they never really addressed.
It’s a good effort, but I was disappointed with this one for many of the same reasons already mentioned. I think the Russian version is overrated, but I still prefer it. Haven’t been able to lay my hands on the book just yet, but I’ve wanted to read it for years.
Sure, see it, you may like it better than I did. I’ve wasted my time and money on worse films and felt a whole lot more disappointed than I was with this one.
Natasha McElhone ugly? Different strokes for different folks, YMMV, and all - but I think she is awesome. She was perfect for the role also. That reminds me to watch Surviving Picasso again for her full frontal nude scene! Woo-hoo!
Got the Tarkovsky on tape at home (God bless Kamkin’s) but haven’t read the Lem yet. See it if you want, if only as an introduction to some of the best sci-fi Eastern Europe has to offer, but by all means try to get the novel at some point as well.
The book feels very different from the movies–for one thing, it goes into great detail about how scientists tried (and failed) to explain Solaris’s behavior. The book’s as much about the limitations of science as it is about the personal story of the main character.
Ok, I’ll bite.
What is the “Clooney manuever”?