The 1997 space movie "Contact"

Ok, but problematic on many levels. I don't think Sagan's message really got through and the Hallmark Romance it was turned into didn't really appeal to the grannies as intended either.
 
I like the way the aliens made first contact, that writing was very creative. The ending left me kind of flat. Her observations of life beyond Earth were attacked, but she had no proof to defend them, and she broke down in tears. I thought she got out of her strong character personality. So you have no proof? What's to cry about? Sure the experience must have been life changing and personally affirming.

I blame the aliens for that. Of course, we didn't follow their directions for building the machine, but the aliens should have been smart enough to know that humans have this tendency to screw things up, especially since their information about humanity was based on the Nazi empire of the 1930s. It just seemed kind of messy at the end without resolving anything.

Maybe that's what Sagan's message was. But I didn't read the book. Hollywood could have changed the intent. I don't know. I still liked the movie. It had a fine cast, and everyone was convincing in their roles, even the ones I didn't like.
 
Marcy Sheiner said:
I really loved this movie.
Click to expand...
I just finished watching it a few minutes ago. I've had it in my library for years, and watched it a few times, but not for a long time. It is a well crafted film, the story, the tension, and the cinematography all work together. It's an example a quality film of the past, when good films had to rely on basic qualities of story telling, rather than CI.
 
In this same vein I heartily recommend The Vast of Night (2019), available on Amazon Prime. First time director Andrew Patterson does a phenomenal job on a shoestring budget. Some commentary:

This picture has been snapped up by Amazon and put up on its Prime library 5/29/20. It's a sci-fi mystery by new director Andrew Patterson, starring Sierra McCormick and Jake Horowitz. Producer, director, writers, and some of the actors are freshman in the industry. The excellent cinematography is by veteran M.I. Litten-Menz.

Everything clicked on this picture. It's set in the 1950s, framed as a story on a Twilight Zone copy, Paradox Theater. Slow to build, it carefully sets the background, then gradually quickens the pace to intense thriller levels as the story unfolds. They've adroitly captured the intense but innocent feel of the 1950s sci-fi monster flicks, such as The Blob, and others. The production design was impressive on what must have been a low budget.

The acting is first rate, especially from Miss McCormick and the old pro Gail Cronauer; but it is the fresh and exciting cinematography by Litten-Menz that provides such captivating and engaging photography. The 90 minute film goes by quickly, although it leads to a somewhat anticlimactic finish. I especially enjoyed the innovative long take sequence involving a local basketball game. They used rudimentary methods, but the result was stunning.

It was a given that Patterson would be offered lots of work for much bigger money as the result of this first time feature. Sure enough, he has a new one Starring Mathew McConaughey called The Rivals of Amziah King (2025)

Doc's rating: 8/10
 
Disgustedman said:
I was bored and rented it from redbox. One of the better choices. I always was a fan of Jodie, noting a bad way though.
Click to expand...
Yes few here liked it , loved it but again not her best work bit boring for me but critics never asked me , lol .

She can act but just the movie seemed drawn out .
 
ChiroDoc said:
In this same vein I heartily recommend The Vast of Night (2019), available on Amazon Prime. First time director Andrew Patterson does a phenomenal job on a shoestring budget. Some commentary:

This picture has been snapped up by Amazon and put up on its Prime library 5/29/20. It's a sci-fi mystery by new director Andrew Patterson, starring Sierra McCormick and Jake Horowitz. Producer, director, writers, and some of the actors are freshman in the industry. The excellent cinematography is by veteran M.I. Litten-Menz.

Everything clicked on this picture. It's set in the 1950s, framed as a story on a Twilight Zone copy, Paradox Theater. Slow to build, it carefully sets the background, then gradually quickens the pace to intense thriller levels as the story unfolds. They've adroitly captured the intense but innocent feel of the 1950s sci-fi monster flicks, such as The Blob, and others. The production design was impressive on what must have been a low budget.

The acting is first rate, especially from Miss McCormick and the old pro Gail Cronauer; but it is the fresh and exciting cinematography by Litten-Menz that provides such captivating and engaging photography. The 90 minute film goes by quickly, although it leads to a somewhat anticlimactic finish. I especially enjoyed the innovative long take sequence involving a local basketball game. They used rudimentary methods, but the result was stunning.

It was a given that Patterson would be offered lots of work for much bigger money as the result of this first time feature. Sure enough, he has a new one Starring Mathew McConaughey called The Rivals of Amziah King (2025)

Doc's rating: 8/10
Click to expand...
Did you see with Mel Gibson ' SIGNS ' ?

That I liked most found it ridiculous .
 
NotCompSavy said:
Did you see with Mel Gibson ' SIGNS ' ?

That I liked most found it ridiculous .
Click to expand...
Yes, I did. Directed by the redoubtable M. Night Shyamalan, I thought it was entertaining and held one's interest. It came out at the right time too, as the public had been showing an interest in crop circles as possibly fashioned by extraterrestrials-- possible as messages.

The whole alien invasion and subsequent retreat put me in mind a little of War of the Worlds-- both the '53 and '05 versions. I love a good sci-fi alien movie as long as it's not gory.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top