i just picked up the Solaris DVD, and now that its out everyone who missed it will have a chance to see it. it was one of my 5 favorite movies of last year. unfortunately it was hideously overlooked because of the shit marketing campaign. i preffered it to the original, and i think it might be my favorite soderbergh flick. so, i just wanted to extend my recommendation to everyone, that if you havent seen this yet, you should do so.
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What's more important, having this DVD ASAP tomorrow or waiting a week so that I'll have an extra twenty bucks of spending money while I'm in Vegas? This was one of my indespinsable films from last year, too, and I'm dying to see it again, and again with commentary (Soderbergh always has the best).
Its a pretty good dvd. I still haven't listened to the commentary which is meant to be really great, especially for exploring the the themes of the film.
It was pissing me off lately that a lot of people were saying how boring the film was. Then I saw the television spot for the dvd which might as well have begun with a trailer voice over "In a time far far away one man must fight to save...". If you watch it based on that, then you're probably not gonna enjoy it.
Man, I love that poster.
I dont like the cover of the dvd, they should have used the poster, much like the shitty one for Confessions.... but this was one of my faves of last year and im definately looking forward to buying this one.
Definitely one of the best last year. I saw it in the theater and there were two other people. One guy fell asleep and started snoring. I felt like like waking him up by dumping my soda on his head and asking him why the fuck he even bought a ticket.
Quote from: jasper_windowDefinitely one of the best last year. I saw it in the theater and there were two other people. One guy fell asleep and started snoring. I felt like like waking him up by dumping my soda on his head and asking him why the fuck he even bought a ticket.
that would have been a waste of a perfectly good soda, but has anyone ever done that before? or something similar? or is this just one of those things we think of when the perfect time to release our act of rage passes and we regret it
Never have but there have been countless times when I would've liked to. It would be kinda funny getting arrested in a movie theater for kicking someone's as because they wouldn't stop talking, kicking your seat, cell phone going off.
I actually wrote a short about a guy who goes bonkers on people in a theater, but I was never able to find a theater who would allow me to shoot.
I've done it before, but it has nothing to do with Solaris or movies
Again, I speak from the pits of the minority here, but I did not like this film. Nor do I like the original now either. The problem with the original was that it tried to be like 2001 without realizing 2001 succeeded on its length and lack of dialogue and action with mounting its story on a purely visual basis. There is little for Solaris. It mounts most of its action in a space station that could be present in any drama. There are moments of magnificent beauty, but those are very far and between.
The remake improves little. It does succeed in making the film more humanistic, but more because of length. What it doesn't do is try to reimagine the film into much of anything that is exciting apart from the original. The movie acts more of a critique of the original in saying "it wasn't as humanistic as it could have been" because it goes for specifically recreating everything that was special in the original. Where the original had truly some unique imagery and feel, the remake just tries to copy. I felt jaded because 1.) the length of the original is more oppressive but 2.) its vision was more spetacular. The remake only differs in minor critiques as if made by a critic. Nothing enough to stomach an entire new film.
And yes, the theatrical poster is much better than the dvd.
~rougerum
Once again, they put out a stupid DVD cover to a great movie with a great poster. :x
The commentary is right on on par with Soderbergh's previous excellent ones. The addition of Cameron is a bonus; he's very complimentary to Soderbergh's approach. They discuss this version compared to Tarkovsky's, how each of them would have approached things, and different ideas during post-production (using Pink Floyd or Beck to score the docking scene). Definitely worth getting for.
because of Mac and GT I am now stepping out into the sunshine, off to Best Buy to pick up a copy.
but GT didnt like the movie.
poser may have been slyly waving a joke, ala you disagree so much with what someone says that anything they don't recommend is in fact a recomendation.
~rougerum
I never saw the original, and didn't like the remake, so my complaints have nothing to do with comparisons. I wanted to love the movie, but all the actors were so despondant that it left me feeling cold and distanced from what was going on. Part of it was in how the story was told, devilishly withholding information (a good thing, mind you), but most of it comes from the acting. Particularly the scenes that jump the viewer into a context they're not familiar with. It worked fine for the telling of the story, but it never brought me closer to the characters.
I really like the commentary with James Cameron and Stephen Soderbergh. The two making-ofs are okay and the rest of the DVD doesn't offer too much more. But the commentary alone is in a class of itself.
Man...bought this the other day and have to say was impressed ...there really is something about atmospheric film sthat get me..I like them alot and especially when done well like Solaris..THIS TRANSFER IS FREAKING BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!! which helps a film like this(i.e.bringing out the atmosphere) They way he shot this film really sucks the viewer in (i know that sounds cliched ) but it is true....You feel drunk watching this it is breath-taking really!... I think this films plays better on DVD rather than the big screen...(even though i am biaseb b/c i missed this one in theatres)....but rather I have a gut feeling about this one... Oh...and have not seen featurettes yet nor listen to the comm. track but .....I like the cover they used for the DVD.........end of 2 cents
forgot: the music of this film is key ...NICE..................
I'm a huge fan of the music in Solaris. I cant' explain why I was thinking this, but I thought this soundtrack would have worked perfectly with 28 days later.
Try to picture it the next time you watch it.
or don't, it could go boy ways really.
I agree. A great disc (really like the commentaries) for a really good film. BUT it doesn't hold a candle to the original. it's like an abbreviated version of the original. For those that can't sit through the first ones running time, here's the Cliff Notes.
finally saw it. (wanted to see it in theatres but it was only showing in a place far off).
this movie is amazing. reminds me a lot of the film sphere should or could have been, but better. and it does what Alien did that i love so much. it treats the sci-fi world as nothing special...the technology doesn't make people act any differently then they would without it...it's real. and every long silence is a perfect silence. i felt like i was basking in those silences. the soundtrack was great, and it's possibly Soderbergh's best looking movie. probably my favourite of his, too.
the only drawback about it to me is the use of Jeremy Davies, (one of my least favourite actors and a big part of why i disliked CQ..), but he's kind of a minor quibble that gets blocked out by everything else..
i'm probably going to buy this sucker. love it to pieces.
nice post
except for the Jeremy Davies part, I haveta say. I love that guy. made me laugh every scene he was in....yeeeah....
Finally picked it up...I watched the movie, and it's even better than I remember. I've made it halfway through the commentary so far, and it's great. The trailers reminded me of how awful the ad campaign for this movie was. The docs are crap, for the most part. The screenplay, however, is great -- I'm so glad they included this. I wish there was more than one draft, it would have been interesting to watch it evolve.
Quote from: GhostboyThe screenplay, however, is great -- I'm so glad they included this.
yeah..i know ..usually i don't read the screenplays includud on some dvds but for this one i did and .was really great.......
i thought the DVD was okay. ghostboy's right, the doc's pretty much suck, but the commentary was one of the better ones ive heard. i remember the only ad i liked for this film (not included on this disc) was a short TV spot i saw only once, I've forgotton most of it now, but i remember it got me excited as fucking hell to see this film.
this movie just kicks ass tho, so I'm not gonna complain too much about it.
i don't like the cover, tho.......
Quote from: NEON MERCURYMan...bought this the other day and have to say was impressed ...there really is something about atmospheric film sthat get me..I like them alot and especially when done well like Solaris..THIS TRANSFER IS FREAKING BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!! .
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forgot: the music of this film is key ...NICE..................
i couldn't agree with you more. i just picked up the DVD yesterday and watched it for the first time. the transfer is absolutely gorgeous. i'm watching it on a 4:3 set, but it's a 43" toshiba hdtv and i almost felt like i was watching film. it's simply a beautiful DVD, and a very intriguing film.
i totally agree that the music is great too.
-ccb
i rented it.....my thoughts:
Jeremy Davies reminds me a lot of the lead actor in Office Space........what's his name?
the music at the beginning reminded me of the water music on Donkey Kong Country on Super NES.........weird, i hadn't thought of that game in forever
really nice look.........i didn't care to see Clooney's butt, why not the actress??
did anyone get the Tarkovsky Criterion?
how do the two films compare?