Reviews (1022)

Astonishing
This is one of the truly rare films that works brilliantly on every possible level. As a satire, it delves deep into the heart of society, and illuminates the strong undertones of resentment, despair and desire that flourish beneath glossy facade of American life. It displays the reasons why so many lives unfold without any happiness, because people choose to live without going after their dreams and ambitions. On the other side "American Beauty" is also a modern tragedy, a story of one man's search for identity and freedom, and the way he profoundly impacts the people around him. The film slowly unravels the masks people where, and explores the moral obscurity and emotional chaos they could plunge into when they decide of follow their heart instead of their conscience. Kevin Spacey is phenomenal as Lester Burnham, his performance is 100% worthy of an Oscar. Alan Ball's script never ceases to amaze me, it's abundance of shrewd observations and insights is something to marvel at. Visually, the film is stunning, it's imagery is nothing short of cinematic poetry, you will find yourself in awe in every frame, every moment. "American Beauty" never shies away from reality, no matter how sad, and in the end, you will find yourself looking at the things that surround you with a whole new outlook. This is a truly remarkable film, one of the decade's best.

Visually stunning and utterly repellent.
There's a scene in American Beauty in which a teenaged boy is found filming a dead bird by two girls his age. They ask him why, and he explains, "Because it's beautiful." That's one opinion: another, which also applies to "American Beauty," is that no matter how beautifully you light, film and score it, something foul and rotten is still foul and rotten.

Director Sam Mendes is clearly gifted; cinematographer Conrad Hall's use of color and light is stunning; the music is haunting, and the cast talented, and even Alan Ball's script shows a deliberate intelligence too many movies lack. But none of these elements can disguise the fact that this movie is sad, cynical and sick at heart. It's a mean-spirited chronicle of suburbia as hell which tries to patch itself over with a feel-good moral and fails utterly.

With the possible exception of one semi-redeeming choice Kevin Spacey's character makes at the end of the film, none of the main characters exhibit any likeable or even remotely worthwhile traits. Spacey's Lester Burnham goes from being a wimp to an arrogant lecher; Annette Benning as his wife is a shrill Martha Stewart caricature; Mena Suvari, as Burnham's teenaged lust object, is profoundly unlikeable; Thora Birch's daughter character is selfish and sullen; her creepy love interest, boy-next-door Wes Bentley, deals drugs when he's not filming her obsessively. Then there's Bentley's abusive ex-Marine dad... the list goes on and on.

No one is having a good time in American Beauty. Everyone is miserable. And the one person who figures out a way to escape that misery is horribly dead soon after. There is a worthwhile message in American Beauty, as well as one utterly lovely scene involving nothing more than a videotape of a windblown plastic bag. But the brighter elements of this movie feel hastily tacked on to its warped, unrealistically dark world view, and in the end they cannot compensate for the utter, gaping landfill where this film's moral center ought to be.

An amazing film
I thought this movie was awful. It's amazing to me how anyone could like this. I couldn't wait for it to be over. I had to rate it when I saw how many people thought it was a masterpiece? This simplistic piece of badly acted crap? The situaion with the father and the teenage girl is almost child pornography.

AN EXQUISITE AFFIRMATION OF LIFE
On the surface, this stunner from Sam Mendes is such a relentlessly bleak look at the vacuity of the supposed "American Dream" that viewers may just turn off to it en masse. And it shows in the acute polarization of reviews here on Amazon.

But if you can be a little less knee-jerk and not shut off all rational thought when confronted with what's disturbingly familiar, you may also find that the film is genuinely, voraciously amusing, and directed with such breathtaking flair that Spacey's bravura performance seems like a career-defining one.

Beneath the surface of all the seeming pettiness in our daily idiosynchrasies, the theme points out, is an entire world of such simple elegance that chortles to be seen and heard, but is neither recognized nor heeded to.

An interesting visual device in the film is the use of windows. Not just a use, but a splurge, come to think of it. Almost everything important happens in front of, around, or through windows. Could this be a metaphor perhaps for self-examination, for viewing one's life from the outside?

What I do not understand is why most films in this genre (Ice Storm, Ordinary People) end with a dramatically tragic finale. Does it take a shattering turn of events to break everyone out of their daily reverie? Something to think about.

Any rate, long story short: an evocative gem you need to own.

There is only one word for this movie..... PERFECT
I've seen a lot of Hollywood crap, and I was just getting sick of that whole movie industy when I happened to see American Beauty. I'm a story-line fanatic and I've seen way too many stupid blunders on most movies, but this one was just flawless.
It was absolutely perfect. In fact, the only camparable movie to this one was that Korean film, Old Boy. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

The 80's at it's finest! Not to be missed!
I saw this movie when it first came out... I"ve owned the soundtrack on tape and now on CD... I've bought the movie used from a video store when I couldn't find it new - and I hope that it will somehow get onto DVD... The movie is a must see if not a must own.. the Soundtrack is a MUST OWN for sure... one of my fave's of all time with it's ONLY problem being that it doesn't have the song "Where Is She" by Blue Future on it - if you've seen the movie, you know the song... other than that it's near perfection... another great soundtrack "The Lost Boys" ironically another Corey/Corey tagteam hit...

Great Movie for all Generations.
This movie is a great movie and I have been enchanted by it since I first saw it in the 80's. Now it is out on DVD and I still enjoy it. It is so romantic and has alot of human emotion in it. I have to also admit I used to be in love with Meredith Salenger. She is such a fine actress and Wow, what a bod. This movie has soooo much cool music in it and it appeals to all ages. The romantic part of me loves this movie and it is right up there with another romantic movie that I love, "Xanadu" with Olivia Newton John. Corey Feldman might not have been the best actor ever, but he was excellent in this and the Academy Awards should have noticed. (Like they ever vote for anthing that REALLY deserves it). The rest of the crew made an excellent movie and the dirctor and editor did a first rate job. What else did the director go on to do?

Pick up the sound track and you will love it. I listen to it all the time and the inclusion of the Van Morrison hit "into the mystic" sets the mood for any situation. Beautiful movie and all time classic.

my favorite movie of all time so far
although a hard movie to follow at times,its very entertaining and i know it word for word.i have probably watched it 50 times or so.its not for everyone,but if you like 80s movies about romantic comedy with wild twists you will love this one.its worth a buy for sure,and i suggest getting it new ,for only a few dollars more.

Dinger lives / An 80's gem
One of my favorite films so defining of the 80's. A classic teen angst high school movie but with imagination. I think Corey Feldman & Corey Haim made a great team in this. This film makes you want to go back to the 80's as a teenager in high school, watching it nowadays. I completely related to Corey Haims character Dinger. Dinger and Bobby are best friends Bobby falls for Lainie the hottest girl in school and has to convince her that she loves him before the night's over but here's the story in an accident Bobby switches his body with the old man next store living life thru his eyes and vice versus. The same thing with Lainie and the old man's wife. A romantic comedy with a twist. Pay attention to the characters and their bond. A great film about friendship & relationships in high school. An essential to collection for anyone who grew up in 80's cinema. I own the DVD and the soundtrack is great too.

Dream a little dream on dvd
Just to let you know Dream a Little Dream was released on dvd ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

This imaginative summer comedy from director Barry Sonnenfeld (Get Shorty) is a lot of fun, largely on the strength of Will Smith's engaging performance as the rookie partner of a secret agent (Tommy Lee Jones) assigned to keep tabs on Earth-dwelling extraterrestrials. There's lots of comedy to spare in this bright film, some of the funniest stuff found in the margins of the major action. (A scene with Smith's character being trounced in the distance by a huge alien while Jones questions a witness is a riot.) The inventiveness never lets up, and the cast--including Vincent D'Onofrio doing frighteningly convincing work as an alien occupying a decaying human--hold up their end splendidly. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (194)

A thoroughly enjoyable ride
Loosely based from a 1990 comic book series, this 1997 blockbuster combined eye popping special effects, classic sci-fi fare, and off the wall comedy and featured Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as Agent's J and K respectively. Both of whom are members of the MIB: a government organized secret group who keep the knowledge of extra terrestrial life under wraps while keeping the planet at peace. Director Barry Sonnenfeld handles the film very well and keeps it at a crowd pleasing speedy pace throughout most of it's running time. While it does start to lose steam towards it's climax, where Men in Black shines is with the casting: featuring Linda Fiorentino, Rip Torn, Tony Shaloub, and Vincent D'Onofrio in lively roles, with D'Onofrio being his usual scene stealing self. This Deluxe Edition of the film seems like the umpteenth time MIB has been released on DVD; but out of all the previous editions this seems to offer the most bang for your buck.

Much more fun than I expected
After seeing the previews, I had no desire to see "Men in Black." It just looked silly and didn't make sense. I finally watched it only because my boyfriend had the tape in his collection and I was bored. Boy, did I misjudge this movie! It was ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS!

Part of my problem with the previews is that I wasn't quite sure what the plot was about so let me start there. The "men in black" are part of a special super-secret immigration agency dealing with extraterrestrials. Unbeknownst to the general population, space aliens have been living amongst us for several decades. As long as they behave, they are welcome. If they misbehave, they may be deported or zapped with some pretty fancy weaponry.

Will Smith plays an ultra-hip New York police officer who comes to the agency's attention after chasing down a space alien. Tommy Lee Jones plays his very experienced, suave partner. Jones' dead serious interactions with the panoply of odd aliens is outrageous. And although I'm not a Will Smith fan, I have to admit that in MIB he's just just too cool for words!

MIB is definitely a must for the video library!

Different type of illegal aliens in New York
So much has been written about the brilliance of this gooey sci/fi comedy, that it would be redundant for me to tell you how great it is. But what I enjoyed most about "Men In Black" is that it is such a New York film.

When Will Smith is being oriented to his new job by Tommy Lee Jones, he's informed that many New Yorkers are disguised space aliens. "Like cab drivers?" Smith asks. "Not as many as you think," Jones responds.

The fact that the MIB have a car that can defy gravity is funny enough, but the fact that it needs such a vehicle to fight the perpetual traffic in the Midtown Tunnel is even funnier.

An alien disguised as a dog in an I LOVE NEW YORK tee-shirt is fairly funny. But when it speaks with a New Yawk accent as thick as Bugs Bunny's it makes it funnier.

When the edgar bug alien hauls a mideastern cab driver out of his cab, not funny. When he tosses his wooden-bead back massager at him, funny. But on top of that, when he throws the ubiquitous air freshner out, then its hysterical (without being racist).

The whole concept that the World's Fairgrounds in Queens is a hangar for spaceships is just brilliant. And I've always wondered what that structure at the head of the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel was!

Glimpses of the World Trade Center are a little bitter to take, even now. And there is that sense that this film is from an innocent pre 9/11 time but, really, the rest of the movie still rings true of the New York of today.

Good!!
I like this movie because it has a a lot of good scenes where you laugh, the situations are ludicrous just like the aliens. And what about the screen where you can see Steven Spielberg, Sylvester Stallone or Oprah like aliens? And it's full of irony besides good special effects. If you want to have a good time buy this one. By the way, has anybody realized that the green baby alien, that Will Smith has in his arms, has the same face as Jedi Knight Kit Fisto?

Funny and witty!
This movie is a hilarious take on the whole concept of the Earth being populated by extra-terrestrial beings and two agents named Agent K and agent J are assigned on a mission to stop a menacing alien cockroach who is trying to gain a hold of an artifact.

Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith are a really hilarious team and their acting is phenomenal! The special effects are also really cool and the alines are so funny.

Go and buy this DVD and get teh Deluxe Edition because it has so much cool stuff on it! Peace out! ... Read more

Reviews (1022)

Astonishing
This is one of the truly rare films that works brilliantly on every possible level. As a satire, it delves deep into the heart of society, and illuminates the strong undertones of resentment, despair and desire that flourish beneath glossy facade of American life. It displays the reasons why so many lives unfold without any happiness, because people choose to live without going after their dreams and ambitions. On the other side "American Beauty" is also a modern tragedy, a story of one man's search for identity and freedom, and the way he profoundly impacts the people around him. The film slowly unravels the masks people where, and explores the moral obscurity and emotional chaos they could plunge into when they decide of follow their heart instead of their conscience. Kevin Spacey is phenomenal as Lester Burnham, his performance is 100% worthy of an Oscar. Alan Ball's script never ceases to amaze me, it's abundance of shrewd observations and insights is something to marvel at. Visually, the film is stunning, it's imagery is nothing short of cinematic poetry, you will find yourself in awe in every frame, every moment. "American Beauty" never shies away from reality, no matter how sad, and in the end, you will find yourself looking at the things that surround you with a whole new outlook. This is a truly remarkable film, one of the decade's best.

Visually stunning and utterly repellent.
There's a scene in American Beauty in which a teenaged boy is found filming a dead bird by two girls his age. They ask him why, and he explains, "Because it's beautiful." That's one opinion: another, which also applies to "American Beauty," is that no matter how beautifully you light, film and score it, something foul and rotten is still foul and rotten.

Director Sam Mendes is clearly gifted; cinematographer Conrad Hall's use of color and light is stunning; the music is haunting, and the cast talented, and even Alan Ball's script shows a deliberate intelligence too many movies lack. But none of these elements can disguise the fact that this movie is sad, cynical and sick at heart. It's a mean-spirited chronicle of suburbia as hell which tries to patch itself over with a feel-good moral and fails utterly.

With the possible exception of one semi-redeeming choice Kevin Spacey's character makes at the end of the film, none of the main characters exhibit any likeable or even remotely worthwhile traits. Spacey's Lester Burnham goes from being a wimp to an arrogant lecher; Annette Benning as his wife is a shrill Martha Stewart caricature; Mena Suvari, as Burnham's teenaged lust object, is profoundly unlikeable; Thora Birch's daughter character is selfish and sullen; her creepy love interest, boy-next-door Wes Bentley, deals drugs when he's not filming her obsessively. Then there's Bentley's abusive ex-Marine dad... the list goes on and on.

No one is having a good time in American Beauty. Everyone is miserable. And the one person who figures out a way to escape that misery is horribly dead soon after. There is a worthwhile message in American Beauty, as well as one utterly lovely scene involving nothing more than a videotape of a windblown plastic bag. But the brighter elements of this movie feel hastily tacked on to its warped, unrealistically dark world view, and in the end they cannot compensate for the utter, gaping landfill where this film's moral center ought to be.

An amazing film
I thought this movie was awful. It's amazing to me how anyone could like this. I couldn't wait for it to be over. I had to rate it when I saw how many people thought it was a masterpiece? This simplistic piece of badly acted crap? The situaion with the father and the teenage girl is almost child pornography.

AN EXQUISITE AFFIRMATION OF LIFE
On the surface, this stunner from Sam Mendes is such a relentlessly bleak look at the vacuity of the supposed "American Dream" that viewers may just turn off to it en masse. And it shows in the acute polarization of reviews here on Amazon.

But if you can be a little less knee-jerk and not shut off all rational thought when confronted with what's disturbingly familiar, you may also find that the film is genuinely, voraciously amusing, and directed with such breathtaking flair that Spacey's bravura performance seems like a career-defining one.

Beneath the surface of all the seeming pettiness in our daily idiosynchrasies, the theme points out, is an entire world of such simple elegance that chortles to be seen and heard, but is neither recognized nor heeded to.

An interesting visual device in the film is the use of windows. Not just a use, but a splurge, come to think of it. Almost everything important happens in front of, around, or through windows. Could this be a metaphor perhaps for self-examination, for viewing one's life from the outside?

What I do not understand is why most films in this genre (Ice Storm, Ordinary People) end with a dramatically tragic finale. Does it take a shattering turn of events to break everyone out of their daily reverie? Something to think about.

Any rate, long story short: an evocative gem you need to own.

There is only one word for this movie..... PERFECT
I've seen a lot of Hollywood crap, and I was just getting sick of that whole movie industy when I happened to see American Beauty. I'm a story-line fanatic and I've seen way too many stupid blunders on most movies, but this one was just flawless.
It was absolutely perfect. In fact, the only camparable movie to this one was that Korean film, Old Boy. ... Read more

Reviews (194)

A thoroughly enjoyable ride
Loosely based from a 1990 comic book series, this 1997 blockbuster combined eye popping special effects, classic sci-fi fare, and off the wall comedy and featured Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as Agent's J and K respectively. Both of whom are members of the MIB: a government organized secret group who keep the knowledge of extra terrestrial life under wraps while keeping the planet at peace. Director Barry Sonnenfeld handles the film very well and keeps it at a crowd pleasing speedy pace throughout most of it's running time. While it does start to lose steam towards it's climax, where Men in Black shines is with the casting: featuring Linda Fiorentino, Rip Torn, Tony Shaloub, and Vincent D'Onofrio in lively roles, with D'Onofrio being his usual scene stealing self. This Deluxe Edition of the film seems like the umpteenth time MIB has been released on DVD; but out of all the previous editions this seems to offer the most bang for your buck.

Much more fun than I expected
After seeing the previews, I had no desire to see "Men in Black." It just looked silly and didn't make sense. I finally watched it only because my boyfriend had the tape in his collection and I was bored. Boy, did I misjudge this movie! It was ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS!

Part of my problem with the previews is that I wasn't quite sure what the plot was about so let me start there. The "men in black" are part of a special super-secret immigration agency dealing with extraterrestrials. Unbeknownst to the general population, space aliens have been living amongst us for several decades. As long as they behave, they are welcome. If they misbehave, they may be deported or zapped with some pretty fancy weaponry.

Will Smith plays an ultra-hip New York police officer who comes to the agency's attention after chasing down a space alien. Tommy Lee Jones plays his very experienced, suave partner. Jones' dead serious interactions with the panoply of odd aliens is outrageous. And although I'm not a Will Smith fan, I have to admit that in MIB he's just just too cool for words!

MIB is definitely a must for the video library!

Different type of illegal aliens in New York
So much has been written about the brilliance of this gooey sci/fi comedy, that it would be redundant for me to tell you how great it is. But what I enjoyed most about "Men In Black" is that it is such a New York film.

When Will Smith is being oriented to his new job by Tommy Lee Jones, he's informed that many New Yorkers are disguised space aliens. "Like cab drivers?" Smith asks. "Not as many as you think," Jones responds.

The fact that the MIB have a car that can defy gravity is funny enough, but the fact that it needs such a vehicle to fight the perpetual traffic in the Midtown Tunnel is even funnier.

An alien disguised as a dog in an I LOVE NEW YORK tee-shirt is fairly funny. But when it speaks with a New Yawk accent as thick as Bugs Bunny's it makes it funnier.

When the edgar bug alien hauls a mideastern cab driver out of his cab, not funny. When he tosses his wooden-bead back massager at him, funny. But on top of that, when he throws the ubiquitous air freshner out, then its hysterical (without being racist).

The whole concept that the World's Fairgrounds in Queens is a hangar for spaceships is just brilliant. And I've always wondered what that structure at the head of the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel was!

Glimpses of the World Trade Center are a little bitter to take, even now. And there is that sense that this film is from an innocent pre 9/11 time but, really, the rest of the movie still rings true of the New York of today.

Good!!
I like this movie because it has a a lot of good scenes where you laugh, the situations are ludicrous just like the aliens. And what about the screen where you can see Steven Spielberg, Sylvester Stallone or Oprah like aliens? And it's full of irony besides good special effects. If you want to have a good time buy this one. By the way, has anybody realized that the green baby alien, that Will Smith has in his arms, has the same face as Jedi Knight Kit Fisto?

Funny and witty!
This movie is a hilarious take on the whole concept of the Earth being populated by extra-terrestrial beings and two agents named Agent K and agent J are assigned on a mission to stop a menacing alien cockroach who is trying to gain a hold of an artifact.

Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith are a really hilarious team and their acting is phenomenal! The special effects are also really cool and the alines are so funny.

Go and buy this DVD and get teh Deluxe Edition because it has so much cool stuff on it! Peace out! ... Read more

Reviews (194)

A thoroughly enjoyable ride
Loosely based from a 1990 comic book series, this 1997 blockbuster combined eye popping special effects, classic sci-fi fare, and off the wall comedy and featured Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as Agent's J and K respectively. Both of whom are members of the MIB: a government organized secret group who keep the knowledge of extra terrestrial life under wraps while keeping the planet at peace. Director Barry Sonnenfeld handles the film very well and keeps it at a crowd pleasing speedy pace throughout most of it's running time. While it does start to lose steam towards it's climax, where Men in Black shines is with the casting: featuring Linda Fiorentino, Rip Torn, Tony Shaloub, and Vincent D'Onofrio in lively roles, with D'Onofrio being his usual scene stealing self. This Deluxe Edition of the film seems like the umpteenth time MIB has been released on DVD; but out of all the previous editions this seems to offer the most bang for your buck.

Much more fun than I expected
After seeing the previews, I had no desire to see "Men in Black." It just looked silly and didn't make sense. I finally watched it only because my boyfriend had the tape in his collection and I was bored. Boy, did I misjudge this movie! It was ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS!

Part of my problem with the previews is that I wasn't quite sure what the plot was about so let me start there. The "men in black" are part of a special super-secret immigration agency dealing with extraterrestrials. Unbeknownst to the general population, space aliens have been living amongst us for several decades. As long as they behave, they are welcome. If they misbehave, they may be deported or zapped with some pretty fancy weaponry.

Will Smith plays an ultra-hip New York police officer who comes to the agency's attention after chasing down a space alien. Tommy Lee Jones plays his very experienced, suave partner. Jones' dead serious interactions with the panoply of odd aliens is outrageous. And although I'm not a Will Smith fan, I have to admit that in MIB he's just just too cool for words!

MIB is definitely a must for the video library!

Different type of illegal aliens in New York
So much has been written about the brilliance of this gooey sci/fi comedy, that it would be redundant for me to tell you how great it is. But what I enjoyed most about "Men In Black" is that it is such a New York film.

When Will Smith is being oriented to his new job by Tommy Lee Jones, he's informed that many New Yorkers are disguised space aliens. "Like cab drivers?" Smith asks. "Not as many as you think," Jones responds.

The fact that the MIB have a car that can defy gravity is funny enough, but the fact that it needs such a vehicle to fight the perpetual traffic in the Midtown Tunnel is even funnier.

An alien disguised as a dog in an I LOVE NEW YORK tee-shirt is fairly funny. But when it speaks with a New Yawk accent as thick as Bugs Bunny's it makes it funnier.

When the edgar bug alien hauls a mideastern cab driver out of his cab, not funny. When he tosses his wooden-bead back massager at him, funny. But on top of that, when he throws the ubiquitous air freshner out, then its hysterical (without being racist).

The whole concept that the World's Fairgrounds in Queens is a hangar for spaceships is just brilliant. And I've always wondered what that structure at the head of the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel was!

Glimpses of the World Trade Center are a little bitter to take, even now. And there is that sense that this film is from an innocent pre 9/11 time but, really, the rest of the movie still rings true of the New York of today.

Good!!
I like this movie because it has a a lot of good scenes where you laugh, the situations are ludicrous just like the aliens. And what about the screen where you can see Steven Spielberg, Sylvester Stallone or Oprah like aliens? And it's full of irony besides good special effects. If you want to have a good time buy this one. By the way, has anybody realized that the green baby alien, that Will Smith has in his arms, has the same face as Jedi Knight Kit Fisto?

Funny and witty!
This movie is a hilarious take on the whole concept of the Earth being populated by extra-terrestrial beings and two agents named Agent K and agent J are assigned on a mission to stop a menacing alien cockroach who is trying to gain a hold of an artifact.

Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith are a really hilarious team and their acting is phenomenal! The special effects are also really cool and the alines are so funny.

Go and buy this DVD and get teh Deluxe Edition because it has so much cool stuff on it! Peace out! ... Read more

Reviews (257)

In space, no one can hear you "Huh???"
A previous reviewer called this film haunting, which I agree with, though I also found it incoherent and pretentious, trying to do daring things with the absence of narrative and sadly failing.

George Clooney does an admirable job in this film, which I saw when it was first released in theaters, and Natasha McElhone and he do a wonderful job developing into a believable, flawed set of lovers onscreen.

Though "science fiction" in its essence, Steven Soderbergh's SOLARIS is mostly unconcerned by the fact that it takes place in space. The planet Solaris is a plot device, not a menacing thing, that allows the human drama involving Clooney and his resurrected wife to unfold.

I've not seen the original, and I'm aware that the film is exactly supposed to not completely tie all of its plot elements together. That said, I don't know why they would introduce characters only to abandon them, plot points only to not fully explain them. The ending, though apt and eventually undersandable, seems disturbingly abrupt.

This movie doesn't have the staying power you'd hope it would when you leave the theater. You get the feeling that, instead of answers being there for you to find, there's nothing to figure out, nothing to add. And I found that really disappointing.

Metaphysical and cerebral science fiction
With the way that movie storylines are these days, it was refreshing and elightening to know that a science fiction film that dealt with metaphysical and cerebral matters was being released around November of 2002 AD. Especially the fact that Kentucky native George Clooney was the lead actor in the production, along with the lovely British actress Natascha McElhone. In many ways, this was more entertaining and watchable than your average Star Wars and Star Trek film.

Much like 2001, but with some romantic overtones, Steven Soderbergh's Solaris is an interesting mix of metaphysical and cerebral science fiction, with a love story thrown in. Not only was the storyline very solid and multi-dimensional, the sets, the costumes, the special visual effects, and soundtrack were all beautiful. The actors and actresses did a remarkable job in the roles, along with the material they were given.

Based on Polish science fiction writer Stanislaw Lem's novel, Solaris tells the story of a 21st Century psychologist who receives a message from a scientist friend of his on a space station orbiting a mysterious planet named Solaris. Chris Kelvin, the psychologist is asked by his friend if he could come to the space station named Prometheus and find out what is going on. Apparently, some strange and unusual incidents have been occuring.

Still recovering from the tragic death of his wife, Kelvin journeys to the space station and discovers the fact that his friend has mysteriously died, one of the scientists is acting irrationally, and the other is frightened. While determining the cause of all of the events, Chris is suddenly visited by an image of his deceased wife. From there, Chris and the two surviving scientists determine that the ocean planet they are orbiting his a sentient form of life that is recreating the images of those from a tragic moment in their past. As to why this alien intelligence is committing these acts, remains an unknown factor.

I haven't seen Andrei Tarkovsky's 1972 version of the film, so I really can't compare this film with the older version. I can say this, it helps to read the book first before viewing the film. I can honestly say that I enjoyed Soderbergh's version of Solaris. Not only does the film stay true to Lem's book in some levels, it also paints an interesting picture in Freudian terms. It states an interesting fact about how well do we know other people and at the same time how well we know ourselves. In all honesty, this was probably the best film out of 2002! It may have the qualities of a science fiction art house film, but it is still entertaining. One that I look forward to purchasing on DVD this summer.

If you enjoy science fiction that makes you think, instead of the ususal shoot them and blow them up types, then you will be pleased with Solaris. It will make you think and it will astound your mind.

Your shrink would like Solaris, but it's not for normal folk
On the up side, good sets and costumes. Lame special effects combo with a plot so crippled that it's wheelchair needs crutches. George Clooney, bless his handsome heart, is unable to rescue this total waste of mind with his limited acting range, although you can see him painfully trying. Unless you are really into abnormal foresnic psychology then within 15 minutes of watching Solaris you will be asking yourself if you really want to sit through the rest of it. I did, and I did sit through the rest and it wasn't worth it. Buy another movie.

Risks are welcome but failures are noticed
There's no reason why more than one strong movie version of Solaris can't exist. But they don't.

I looked forward to this version. The web site was well-done: I wonder if the budget for the web site exceeded Tarkovsky's budget for his entire movie (in the same currency and adjusted to today).

I had seen Tarkovksy's version about 5 times. I had not read Lem's novel. I didn't mind Tarkovsky''s pace but I was intrigued to see what I had heard would be a more stream-lined movie. I was surprised to find that Soderbergh's version, although an hour shorter, was painful to sit thru. The final half hour I found excruciating. Oddly, despite all the modern special effects, Tarkovsky's version towers over this one in the imaginativeness of the space station and the ocean.

Soderbergh's Solaris is one of the worst movies I've seen. Bad casting, poor acting, awful flow, mangled vision: it's the kind of film that makes one appreciate how good a job most filmmakers do. Most films may not interest me, they may not be well-acted, but most seem to have some flow and basic sense. I don't think this one did.

I paid $1 to see this film: it had made its way quickly to a more than half-empty discount theater. Much more than a usual number of viewers walked out early.

If you do want to see this film, first read Lem's novel "Solaris". I did recently and loved it. It makes sense so it may help make up for this lack of sense in Soiderbergh's movie. After reading the book, if you don't like it, I'd still recommend seeing Tartovsky's movie. You may not like it but its visually so compelling that it may realize Lem's vision (and Tarktovsky's) for you. If after experiencing Lem's Solaris and Tarkoveky's Solaris, you're still curious, by all means see Soderbergh's take if it still intigues you. But if you see Soderbergh's Solaris first, you may decide that any Solaris is rubbish and fail to experience what Lem and/or Tarkovsky have in store for you.

Risks are welcome. But having made an awful movie, it would have been better, if not short-term financially then certainly for artistic integrity and even future commerical respect, to have never released this movie. Or at least to have reworked it heavily before releasing it. Not because of how good Lem's work is, not because of how good Tarkovsky's work is, but because if failures, espeically big failures like this one, are not acknowledged and learned from, one is apt to repeat them.

What do I know? Just how much I enjoyed and will continue to enjoy Lem's Solaris and Tarkovsky's Solaris. And what a waste Soderbergh's film was. An insult. Not to have made but to have released. I remained silent about this film, even in spite of how weak it is next to Tarkovsky. But when I read Lem, it's too much.

If you want to understand Solaris, go read the reviews for Lem's book, go read the reviews for Tarkovsky's movie. Don't lose time here. This is a story about the most extraordinary intelligence, but this film seems devoid of intelligence.

Bring back the Soderberg of Schitzopolis
What happened to that talented and original director who took quirky subject matter and made it brilliant?
Who is this imposter making nothing but half-baked remakes of perfectly good movies?
A pod person?
If you want to see Solaris, a very good film of it was made in the Soviet Union back in the 70's. It was mysterious and tragic and, at the same time, hopeful.
All qualities the 2002 version lacks. Characters are merged. Families obliterated.
George Cloony may be a pretty face, but any demanding character is beyond him. Solaris is far to subtle a project for him. He needs much more obvious formulaic roles to really shine. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A great movie combo!
This is a two movie Gift set containing Men In Black and Men In Black II. Both of these movies in my opinion are awesome.

The first one gets far more of the praise than the second one. It all begins with Agent J being recruited into a top secret organization that deals with alien life forms visiting or dwelling on Earth. They must now save the world from a menacing giant cockroach bug who is bent on getting a special jewel called Orion's Belt. This movie I think broke ground with its twisted humor and it's alien menaces throughout the movie. I almost think of it as a comedic counterpart to the far more dramatic Independence Day.

The second Men In Black movie while not as strong as the first, the second MIB movie deserves more praise than what it has gotten. In this sequel, J and K now come face to face with a nefarious female alien named Serleena who is after The Light Of Zartha and threatens to use it to destroy Earth.

Both of these movies are great and this is a great movie combo set!

i might get it
i might get this dvd set if i relly think about it. i dont know.i relly liked the 1st one, but i dont know about the 2nd one.

Great fun
This movie is more of a continuation of the first movie than a sequel. Agent J (Will Smith) finds he needs Agent K's (Tommy Lee Jones) expertise on a certain case. But if you seen the first MIB, than you know that K was deactivated and went back to live a "normal" life. The first part of the movie is spent tracking K down and reloading the MIB info into him.

One of the funniest scenes in the movie occur when J finds K running a small post office. You get to see the inside workings of the post office and it just made me laugh out loud.

Laura Flynn Boyle is the "bad guy" in this flick and she finds out something I've always suspected - you _could_ rule the world if you look like a "Victoria's Secret" model.

The extras on the dvd show how various creatures were made, deleted scenes and of course, various bloopers. This movie is not going to make you think harder about life but it is an enjoyable way to spend an evening. If you looking for great fun and you enjoyed the first "Men in Black", this is an excellent choice for you. Watch and laugh - laughter is supposed to be the best medicine.

What a Movie
This was a great movie and plus theres a lot of new fetures on the dvd so it should be doulbe the fun..... Watch its the best if you haven't seen it

Great gift!
I'm not personally a big fan of MIB, but I bought this as a gift for two people and they both loved it! Highly recommended! ... Read more

Reviews (194)

A thoroughly enjoyable ride
Loosely based from a 1990 comic book series, this 1997 blockbuster combined eye popping special effects, classic sci-fi fare, and off the wall comedy and featured Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as Agent's J and K respectively. Both of whom are members of the MIB: a government organized secret group who keep the knowledge of extra terrestrial life under wraps while keeping the planet at peace. Director Barry Sonnenfeld handles the film very well and keeps it at a crowd pleasing speedy pace throughout most of it's running time. While it does start to lose steam towards it's climax, where Men in Black shines is with the casting: featuring Linda Fiorentino, Rip Torn, Tony Shaloub, and Vincent D'Onofrio in lively roles, with D'Onofrio being his usual scene stealing self. This Deluxe Edition of the film seems like the umpteenth time MIB has been released on DVD; but out of all the previous editions this seems to offer the most bang for your buck.

Much more fun than I expected
After seeing the previews, I had no desire to see "Men in Black." It just looked silly and didn't make sense. I finally watched it only because my boyfriend had the tape in his collection and I was bored. Boy, did I misjudge this movie! It was ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS!

Part of my problem with the previews is that I wasn't quite sure what the plot was about so let me start there. The "men in black" are part of a special super-secret immigration agency dealing with extraterrestrials. Unbeknownst to the general population, space aliens have been living amongst us for several decades. As long as they behave, they are welcome. If they misbehave, they may be deported or zapped with some pretty fancy weaponry.

Will Smith plays an ultra-hip New York police officer who comes to the agency's attention after chasing down a space alien. Tommy Lee Jones plays his very experienced, suave partner. Jones' dead serious interactions with the panoply of odd aliens is outrageous. And although I'm not a Will Smith fan, I have to admit that in MIB he's just just too cool for words!

MIB is definitely a must for the video library!

Different type of illegal aliens in New York
So much has been written about the brilliance of this gooey sci/fi comedy, that it would be redundant for me to tell you how great it is. But what I enjoyed most about "Men In Black" is that it is such a New York film.

When Will Smith is being oriented to his new job by Tommy Lee Jones, he's informed that many New Yorkers are disguised space aliens. "Like cab drivers?" Smith asks. "Not as many as you think," Jones responds.

The fact that the MIB have a car that can defy gravity is funny enough, but the fact that it needs such a vehicle to fight the perpetual traffic in the Midtown Tunnel is even funnier.

An alien disguised as a dog in an I LOVE NEW YORK tee-shirt is fairly funny. But when it speaks with a New Yawk accent as thick as Bugs Bunny's it makes it funnier.

When the edgar bug alien hauls a mideastern cab driver out of his cab, not funny. When he tosses his wooden-bead back massager at him, funny. But on top of that, when he throws the ubiquitous air freshner out, then its hysterical (without being racist).

The whole concept that the World's Fairgrounds in Queens is a hangar for spaceships is just brilliant. And I've always wondered what that structure at the head of the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel was!

Glimpses of the World Trade Center are a little bitter to take, even now. And there is that sense that this film is from an innocent pre 9/11 time but, really, the rest of the movie still rings true of the New York of today.

Good!!
I like this movie because it has a a lot of good scenes where you laugh, the situations are ludicrous just like the aliens. And what about the screen where you can see Steven Spielberg, Sylvester Stallone or Oprah like aliens? And it's full of irony besides good special effects. If you want to have a good time buy this one. By the way, has anybody realized that the green baby alien, that Will Smith has in his arms, has the same face as Jedi Knight Kit Fisto?

Funny and witty!
This movie is a hilarious take on the whole concept of the Earth being populated by extra-terrestrial beings and two agents named Agent K and agent J are assigned on a mission to stop a menacing alien cockroach who is trying to gain a hold of an artifact.

Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith are a really hilarious team and their acting is phenomenal! The special effects are also really cool and the alines are so funny.

Go and buy this DVD and get teh Deluxe Edition because it has so much cool stuff on it! Peace out! ... Read more

Reviews (194)

A thoroughly enjoyable ride
Loosely based from a 1990 comic book series, this 1997 blockbuster combined eye popping special effects, classic sci-fi fare, and off the wall comedy and featured Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as Agent's J and K respectively. Both of whom are members of the MIB: a government organized secret group who keep the knowledge of extra terrestrial life under wraps while keeping the planet at peace. Director Barry Sonnenfeld handles the film very well and keeps it at a crowd pleasing speedy pace throughout most of it's running time. While it does start to lose steam towards it's climax, where Men in Black shines is with the casting: featuring Linda Fiorentino, Rip Torn, Tony Shaloub, and Vincent D'Onofrio in lively roles, with D'Onofrio being his usual scene stealing self. This Deluxe Edition of the film seems like the umpteenth time MIB has been released on DVD; but out of all the previous editions this seems to offer the most bang for your buck.

Much more fun than I expected
After seeing the previews, I had no desire to see "Men in Black." It just looked silly and didn't make sense. I finally watched it only because my boyfriend had the tape in his collection and I was bored. Boy, did I misjudge this movie! It was ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS!

Part of my problem with the previews is that I wasn't quite sure what the plot was about so let me start there. The "men in black" are part of a special super-secret immigration agency dealing with extraterrestrials. Unbeknownst to the general population, space aliens have been living amongst us for several decades. As long as they behave, they are welcome. If they misbehave, they may be deported or zapped with some pretty fancy weaponry.

Will Smith plays an ultra-hip New York police officer who comes to the agency's attention after chasing down a space alien. Tommy Lee Jones plays his very experienced, suave partner. Jones' dead serious interactions with the panoply of odd aliens is outrageous. And although I'm not a Will Smith fan, I have to admit that in MIB he's just just too cool for words!

MIB is definitely a must for the video library!

Different type of illegal aliens in New York
So much has been written about the brilliance of this gooey sci/fi comedy, that it would be redundant for me to tell you how great it is. But what I enjoyed most about "Men In Black" is that it is such a New York film.

When Will Smith is being oriented to his new job by Tommy Lee Jones, he's informed that many New Yorkers are disguised space aliens. "Like cab drivers?" Smith asks. "Not as many as you think," Jones responds.

The fact that the MIB have a car that can defy gravity is funny enough, but the fact that it needs such a vehicle to fight the perpetual traffic in the Midtown Tunnel is even funnier.

An alien disguised as a dog in an I LOVE NEW YORK tee-shirt is fairly funny. But when it speaks with a New Yawk accent as thick as Bugs Bunny's it makes it funnier.

When the edgar bug alien hauls a mideastern cab driver out of his cab, not funny. When he tosses his wooden-bead back massager at him, funny. But on top of that, when he throws the ubiquitous air freshner out, then its hysterical (without being racist).

The whole concept that the World's Fairgrounds in Queens is a hangar for spaceships is just brilliant. And I've always wondered what that structure at the head of the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel was!

Glimpses of the World Trade Center are a little bitter to take, even now. And there is that sense that this film is from an innocent pre 9/11 time but, really, the rest of the movie still rings true of the New York of today.

Good!!
I like this movie because it has a a lot of good scenes where you laugh, the situations are ludicrous just like the aliens. And what about the screen where you can see Steven Spielberg, Sylvester Stallone or Oprah like aliens? And it's full of irony besides good special effects. If you want to have a good time buy this one. By the way, has anybody realized that the green baby alien, that Will Smith has in his arms, has the same face as Jedi Knight Kit Fisto?

Funny and witty!
This movie is a hilarious take on the whole concept of the Earth being populated by extra-terrestrial beings and two agents named Agent K and agent J are assigned on a mission to stop a menacing alien cockroach who is trying to gain a hold of an artifact.

Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith are a really hilarious team and their acting is phenomenal! The special effects are also really cool and the alines are so funny.

Go and buy this DVD and get teh Deluxe Edition because it has so much cool stuff on it! Peace out! ... Read more

Reviews (1022)

Astonishing
This is one of the truly rare films that works brilliantly on every possible level. As a satire, it delves deep into the heart of society, and illuminates the strong undertones of resentment, despair and desire that flourish beneath glossy facade of American life. It displays the reasons why so many lives unfold without any happiness, because people choose to live without going after their dreams and ambitions. On the other side "American Beauty" is also a modern tragedy, a story of one man's search for identity and freedom, and the way he profoundly impacts the people around him. The film slowly unravels the masks people where, and explores the moral obscurity and emotional chaos they could plunge into when they decide of follow their heart instead of their conscience. Kevin Spacey is phenomenal as Lester Burnham, his performance is 100% worthy of an Oscar. Alan Ball's script never ceases to amaze me, it's abundance of shrewd observations and insights is something to marvel at. Visually, the film is stunning, it's imagery is nothing short of cinematic poetry, you will find yourself in awe in every frame, every moment. "American Beauty" never shies away from reality, no matter how sad, and in the end, you will find yourself looking at the things that surround you with a whole new outlook. This is a truly remarkable film, one of the decade's best.

Visually stunning and utterly repellent.
There's a scene in American Beauty in which a teenaged boy is found filming a dead bird by two girls his age. They ask him why, and he explains, "Because it's beautiful." That's one opinion: another, which also applies to "American Beauty," is that no matter how beautifully you light, film and score it, something foul and rotten is still foul and rotten.

Director Sam Mendes is clearly gifted; cinematographer Conrad Hall's use of color and light is stunning; the music is haunting, and the cast talented, and even Alan Ball's script shows a deliberate intelligence too many movies lack. But none of these elements can disguise the fact that this movie is sad, cynical and sick at heart. It's a mean-spirited chronicle of suburbia as hell which tries to patch itself over with a feel-good moral and fails utterly.

With the possible exception of one semi-redeeming choice Kevin Spacey's character makes at the end of the film, none of the main characters exhibit any likeable or even remotely worthwhile traits. Spacey's Lester Burnham goes from being a wimp to an arrogant lecher; Annette Benning as his wife is a shrill Martha Stewart caricature; Mena Suvari, as Burnham's teenaged lust object, is profoundly unlikeable; Thora Birch's daughter character is selfish and sullen; her creepy love interest, boy-next-door Wes Bentley, deals drugs when he's not filming her obsessively. Then there's Bentley's abusive ex-Marine dad... the list goes on and on.

No one is having a good time in American Beauty. Everyone is miserable. And the one person who figures out a way to escape that misery is horribly dead soon after. There is a worthwhile message in American Beauty, as well as one utterly lovely scene involving nothing more than a videotape of a windblown plastic bag. But the brighter elements of this movie feel hastily tacked on to its warped, unrealistically dark world view, and in the end they cannot compensate for the utter, gaping landfill where this film's moral center ought to be.

An amazing film
I thought this movie was awful. It's amazing to me how anyone could like this. I couldn't wait for it to be over. I had to rate it when I saw how many people thought it was a masterpiece? This simplistic piece of badly acted crap? The situaion with the father and the teenage girl is almost child pornography.

AN EXQUISITE AFFIRMATION OF LIFE
On the surface, this stunner from Sam Mendes is such a relentlessly bleak look at the vacuity of the supposed "American Dream" that viewers may just turn off to it en masse. And it shows in the acute polarization of reviews here on Amazon.

But if you can be a little less knee-jerk and not shut off all rational thought when confronted with what's disturbingly familiar, you may also find that the film is genuinely, voraciously amusing, and directed with such breathtaking flair that Spacey's bravura performance seems like a career-defining one.

Beneath the surface of all the seeming pettiness in our daily idiosynchrasies, the theme points out, is an entire world of such simple elegance that chortles to be seen and heard, but is neither recognized nor heeded to.

An interesting visual device in the film is the use of windows. Not just a use, but a splurge, come to think of it. Almost everything important happens in front of, around, or through windows. Could this be a metaphor perhaps for self-examination, for viewing one's life from the outside?

What I do not understand is why most films in this genre (Ice Storm, Ordinary People) end with a dramatically tragic finale. Does it take a shattering turn of events to break everyone out of their daily reverie? Something to think about.

Any rate, long story short: an evocative gem you need to own.

There is only one word for this movie..... PERFECT
I've seen a lot of Hollywood crap, and I was just getting sick of that whole movie industy when I happened to see American Beauty. I'm a story-line fanatic and I've seen way too many stupid blunders on most movies, but this one was just flawless.
It was absolutely perfect. In fact, the only camparable movie to this one was that Korean film, Old Boy. ... Read more

Reviews (1022)

Astonishing
This is one of the truly rare films that works brilliantly on every possible level. As a satire, it delves deep into the heart of society, and illuminates the strong undertones of resentment, despair and desire that flourish beneath glossy facade of American life. It displays the reasons why so many lives unfold without any happiness, because people choose to live without going after their dreams and ambitions. On the other side "American Beauty" is also a modern tragedy, a story of one man's search for identity and freedom, and the way he profoundly impacts the people around him. The film slowly unravels the masks people where, and explores the moral obscurity and emotional chaos they could plunge into when they decide of follow their heart instead of their conscience. Kevin Spacey is phenomenal as Lester Burnham, his performance is 100% worthy of an Oscar. Alan Ball's script never ceases to amaze me, it's abundance of shrewd observations and insights is something to marvel at. Visually, the film is stunning, it's imagery is nothing short of cinematic poetry, you will find yourself in awe in every frame, every moment. "American Beauty" never shies away from reality, no matter how sad, and in the end, you will find yourself looking at the things that surround you with a whole new outlook. This is a truly remarkable film, one of the decade's best.

Visually stunning and utterly repellent.
There's a scene in American Beauty in which a teenaged boy is found filming a dead bird by two girls his age. They ask him why, and he explains, "Because it's beautiful." That's one opinion: another, which also applies to "American Beauty," is that no matter how beautifully you light, film and score it, something foul and rotten is still foul and rotten.

Director Sam Mendes is clearly gifted; cinematographer Conrad Hall's use of color and light is stunning; the music is haunting, and the cast talented, and even Alan Ball's script shows a deliberate intelligence too many movies lack. But none of these elements can disguise the fact that this movie is sad, cynical and sick at heart. It's a mean-spirited chronicle of suburbia as hell which tries to patch itself over with a feel-good moral and fails utterly.

With the possible exception of one semi-redeeming choice Kevin Spacey's character makes at the end of the film, none of the main characters exhibit any likeable or even remotely worthwhile traits. Spacey's Lester Burnham goes from being a wimp to an arrogant lecher; Annette Benning as his wife is a shrill Martha Stewart caricature; Mena Suvari, as Burnham's teenaged lust object, is profoundly unlikeable; Thora Birch's daughter character is selfish and sullen; her creepy love interest, boy-next-door Wes Bentley, deals drugs when he's not filming her obsessively. Then there's Bentley's abusive ex-Marine dad... the list goes on and on.

No one is having a good time in American Beauty. Everyone is miserable. And the one person who figures out a way to escape that misery is horribly dead soon after. There is a worthwhile message in American Beauty, as well as one utterly lovely scene involving nothing more than a videotape of a windblown plastic bag. But the brighter elements of this movie feel hastily tacked on to its warped, unrealistically dark world view, and in the end they cannot compensate for the utter, gaping landfill where this film's moral center ought to be.

An amazing film
I thought this movie was awful. It's amazing to me how anyone could like this. I couldn't wait for it to be over. I had to rate it when I saw how many people thought it was a masterpiece? This simplistic piece of badly acted crap? The situaion with the father and the teenage girl is almost child pornography.

AN EXQUISITE AFFIRMATION OF LIFE
On the surface, this stunner from Sam Mendes is such a relentlessly bleak look at the vacuity of the supposed "American Dream" that viewers may just turn off to it en masse. And it shows in the acute polarization of reviews here on Amazon.

But if you can be a little less knee-jerk and not shut off all rational thought when confronted with what's disturbingly familiar, you may also find that the film is genuinely, voraciously amusing, and directed with such breathtaking flair that Spacey's bravura performance seems like a career-defining one.

Beneath the surface of all the seeming pettiness in our daily idiosynchrasies, the theme points out, is an entire world of such simple elegance that chortles to be seen and heard, but is neither recognized nor heeded to.

An interesting visual device in the film is the use of windows. Not just a use, but a splurge, come to think of it. Almost everything important happens in front of, around, or through windows. Could this be a metaphor perhaps for self-examination, for viewing one's life from the outside?

What I do not understand is why most films in this genre (Ice Storm, Ordinary People) end with a dramatically tragic finale. Does it take a shattering turn of events to break everyone out of their daily reverie? Something to think about.

Any rate, long story short: an evocative gem you need to own.

There is only one word for this movie..... PERFECT
I've seen a lot of Hollywood crap, and I was just getting sick of that whole movie industy when I happened to see American Beauty. I'm a story-line fanatic and I've seen way too many stupid blunders on most movies, but this one was just flawless.
It was absolutely perfect. In fact, the only camparable movie to this one was that Korean film, Old Boy. ... Read more

Reviews (257)

In space, no one can hear you "Huh???"
A previous reviewer called this film haunting, which I agree with, though I also found it incoherent and pretentious, trying to do daring things with the absence of narrative and sadly failing.

George Clooney does an admirable job in this film, which I saw when it was first released in theaters, and Natasha McElhone and he do a wonderful job developing into a believable, flawed set of lovers onscreen.

Though "science fiction" in its essence, Steven Soderbergh's SOLARIS is mostly unconcerned by the fact that it takes place in space. The planet Solaris is a plot device, not a menacing thing, that allows the human drama involving Clooney and his resurrected wife to unfold.

I've not seen the original, and I'm aware that the film is exactly supposed to not completely tie all of its plot elements together. That said, I don't know why they would introduce characters only to abandon them, plot points only to not fully explain them. The ending, though apt and eventually undersandable, seems disturbingly abrupt.

This movie doesn't have the staying power you'd hope it would when you leave the theater. You get the feeling that, instead of answers being there for you to find, there's nothing to figure out, nothing to add. And I found that really disappointing.

Metaphysical and cerebral science fiction
With the way that movie storylines are these days, it was refreshing and elightening to know that a science fiction film that dealt with metaphysical and cerebral matters was being released around November of 2002 AD. Especially the fact that Kentucky native George Clooney was the lead actor in the production, along with the lovely British actress Natascha McElhone. In many ways, this was more entertaining and watchable than your average Star Wars and Star Trek film.

Much like 2001, but with some romantic overtones, Steven Soderbergh's Solaris is an interesting mix of metaphysical and cerebral science fiction, with a love story thrown in. Not only was the storyline very solid and multi-dimensional, the sets, the costumes, the special visual effects, and soundtrack were all beautiful. The actors and actresses did a remarkable job in the roles, along with the material they were given.

Based on Polish science fiction writer Stanislaw Lem's novel, Solaris tells the story of a 21st Century psychologist who receives a message from a scientist friend of his on a space station orbiting a mysterious planet named Solaris. Chris Kelvin, the psychologist is asked by his friend if he could come to the space station named Prometheus and find out what is going on. Apparently, some strange and unusual incidents have been occuring.

Still recovering from the tragic death of his wife, Kelvin journeys to the space station and discovers the fact that his friend has mysteriously died, one of the scientists is acting irrationally, and the other is frightened. While determining the cause of all of the events, Chris is suddenly visited by an image of his deceased wife. From there, Chris and the two surviving scientists determine that the ocean planet they are orbiting his a sentient form of life that is recreating the images of those from a tragic moment in their past. As to why this alien intelligence is committing these acts, remains an unknown factor.

I haven't seen Andrei Tarkovsky's 1972 version of the film, so I really can't compare this film with the older version. I can say this, it helps to read the book first before viewing the film. I can honestly say that I enjoyed Soderbergh's version of Solaris. Not only does the film stay true to Lem's book in some levels, it also paints an interesting picture in Freudian terms. It states an interesting fact about how well do we know other people and at the same time how well we know ourselves. In all honesty, this was probably the best film out of 2002! It may have the qualities of a science fiction art house film, but it is still entertaining. One that I look forward to purchasing on DVD this summer.

If you enjoy science fiction that makes you think, instead of the ususal shoot them and blow them up types, then you will be pleased with Solaris. It will make you think and it will astound your mind.

Your shrink would like Solaris, but it's not for normal folk
On the up side, good sets and costumes. Lame special effects combo with a plot so crippled that it's wheelchair needs crutches. George Clooney, bless his handsome heart, is unable to rescue this total waste of mind with his limited acting range, although you can see him painfully trying. Unless you are really into abnormal foresnic psychology then within 15 minutes of watching Solaris you will be asking yourself if you really want to sit through the rest of it. I did, and I did sit through the rest and it wasn't worth it. Buy another movie.

Risks are welcome but failures are noticed
There's no reason why more than one strong movie version of Solaris can't exist. But they don't.

I looked forward to this version. The web site was well-done: I wonder if the budget for the web site exceeded Tarkovsky's budget for his entire movie (in the same currency and adjusted to today).

I had seen Tarkovksy's version about 5 times. I had not read Lem's novel. I didn't mind Tarkovsky''s pace but I was intrigued to see what I had heard would be a more stream-lined movie. I was surprised to find that Soderbergh's version, although an hour shorter, was painful to sit thru. The final half hour I found excruciating. Oddly, despite all the modern special effects, Tarkovsky's version towers over this one in the imaginativeness of the space station and the ocean.

Soderbergh's Solaris is one of the worst movies I've seen. Bad casting, poor acting, awful flow, mangled vision: it's the kind of film that makes one appreciate how good a job most filmmakers do. Most films may not interest me, they may not be well-acted, but most seem to have some flow and basic sense. I don't think this one did.

I paid $1 to see this film: it had made its way quickly to a more than half-empty discount theater. Much more than a usual number of viewers walked out early.

If you do want to see this film, first read Lem's novel "Solaris". I did recently and loved it. It makes sense so it may help make up for this lack of sense in Soiderbergh's movie. After reading the book, if you don't like it, I'd still recommend seeing Tartovsky's movie. You may not like it but its visually so compelling that it may realize Lem's vision (and Tarktovsky's) for you. If after experiencing Lem's Solaris and Tarkoveky's Solaris, you're still curious, by all means see Soderbergh's take if it still intigues you. But if you see Soderbergh's Solaris first, you may decide that any Solaris is rubbish and fail to experience what Lem and/or Tarkovsky have in store for you.

Risks are welcome. But having made an awful movie, it would have been better, if not short-term financially then certainly for artistic integrity and even future commerical respect, to have never released this movie. Or at least to have reworked it heavily before releasing it. Not because of how good Lem's work is, not because of how good Tarkovsky's work is, but because if failures, espeically big failures like this one, are not acknowledged and learned from, one is apt to repeat them.

What do I know? Just how much I enjoyed and will continue to enjoy Lem's Solaris and Tarkovsky's Solaris. And what a waste Soderbergh's film was. An insult. Not to have made but to have released. I remained silent about this film, even in spite of how weak it is next to Tarkovsky. But when I read Lem, it's too much.

If you want to understand Solaris, go read the reviews for Lem's book, go read the reviews for Tarkovsky's movie. Don't lose time here. This is a story about the most extraordinary intelligence, but this film seems devoid of intelligence.

Bring back the Soderberg of Schitzopolis
What happened to that talented and original director who took quirky subject matter and made it brilliant?
Who is this imposter making nothing but half-baked remakes of perfectly good movies?
A pod person?
If you want to see Solaris, a very good film of it was made in the Soviet Union back in the 70's. It was mysterious and tragic and, at the same time, hopeful.
All qualities the 2002 version lacks. Characters are merged. Families obliterated.
George Cloony may be a pretty face, but any demanding character is beyond him. Solaris is far to subtle a project for him. He needs much more obvious formulaic roles to really shine. ... Read more

Reviews (257)

In space, no one can hear you "Huh???"
A previous reviewer called this film haunting, which I agree with, though I also found it incoherent and pretentious, trying to do daring things with the absence of narrative and sadly failing.

George Clooney does an admirable job in this film, which I saw when it was first released in theaters, and Natasha McElhone and he do a wonderful job developing into a believable, flawed set of lovers onscreen.

Though "science fiction" in its essence, Steven Soderbergh's SOLARIS is mostly unconcerned by the fact that it takes place in space. The planet Solaris is a plot device, not a menacing thing, that allows the human drama involving Clooney and his resurrected wife to unfold.

I've not seen the original, and I'm aware that the film is exactly supposed to not completely tie all of its plot elements together. That said, I don't know why they would introduce characters only to abandon them, plot points only to not fully explain them. The ending, though apt and eventually undersandable, seems disturbingly abrupt.

This movie doesn't have the staying power you'd hope it would when you leave the theater. You get the feeling that, instead of answers being there for you to find, there's nothing to figure out, nothing to add. And I found that really disappointing.

Metaphysical and cerebral science fiction
With the way that movie storylines are these days, it was refreshing and elightening to know that a science fiction film that dealt with metaphysical and cerebral matters was being released around November of 2002 AD. Especially the fact that Kentucky native George Clooney was the lead actor in the production, along with the lovely British actress Natascha McElhone. In many ways, this was more entertaining and watchable than your average Star Wars and Star Trek film.

Much like 2001, but with some romantic overtones, Steven Soderbergh's Solaris is an interesting mix of metaphysical and cerebral science fiction, with a love story thrown in. Not only was the storyline very solid and multi-dimensional, the sets, the costumes, the special visual effects, and soundtrack were all beautiful. The actors and actresses did a remarkable job in the roles, along with the material they were given.

Based on Polish science fiction writer Stanislaw Lem's novel, Solaris tells the story of a 21st Century psychologist who receives a message from a scientist friend of his on a space station orbiting a mysterious planet named Solaris. Chris Kelvin, the psychologist is asked by his friend if he could come to the space station named Prometheus and find out what is going on. Apparently, some strange and unusual incidents have been occuring.

Still recovering from the tragic death of his wife, Kelvin journeys to the space station and discovers the fact that his friend has mysteriously died, one of the scientists is acting irrationally, and the other is frightened. While determining the cause of all of the events, Chris is suddenly visited by an image of his deceased wife. From there, Chris and the two surviving scientists determine that the ocean planet they are orbiting his a sentient form of life that is recreating the images of those from a tragic moment in their past. As to why this alien intelligence is committing these acts, remains an unknown factor.

I haven't seen Andrei Tarkovsky's 1972 version of the film, so I really can't compare this film with the older version. I can say this, it helps to read the book first before viewing the film. I can honestly say that I enjoyed Soderbergh's version of Solaris. Not only does the film stay true to Lem's book in some levels, it also paints an interesting picture in Freudian terms. It states an interesting fact about how well do we know other people and at the same time how well we know ourselves. In all honesty, this was probably the best film out of 2002! It may have the qualities of a science fiction art house film, but it is still entertaining. One that I look forward to purchasing on DVD this summer.

If you enjoy science fiction that makes you think, instead of the ususal shoot them and blow them up types, then you will be pleased with Solaris. It will make you think and it will astound your mind.

Your shrink would like Solaris, but it's not for normal folk
On the up side, good sets and costumes. Lame special effects combo with a plot so crippled that it's wheelchair needs crutches. George Clooney, bless his handsome heart, is unable to rescue this total waste of mind with his limited acting range, although you can see him painfully trying. Unless you are really into abnormal foresnic psychology then within 15 minutes of watching Solaris you will be asking yourself if you really want to sit through the rest of it. I did, and I did sit through the rest and it wasn't worth it. Buy another movie.

Risks are welcome but failures are noticed
There's no reason why more than one strong movie version of Solaris can't exist. But they don't.

I looked forward to this version. The web site was well-done: I wonder if the budget for the web site exceeded Tarkovsky's budget for his entire movie (in the same currency and adjusted to today).

I had seen Tarkovksy's version about 5 times. I had not read Lem's novel. I didn't mind Tarkovsky''s pace but I was intrigued to see what I had heard would be a more stream-lined movie. I was surprised to find that Soderbergh's version, although an hour shorter, was painful to sit thru. The final half hour I found excruciating. Oddly, despite all the modern special effects, Tarkovsky's version towers over this one in the imaginativeness of the space station and the ocean.

Soderbergh's Solaris is one of the worst movies I've seen. Bad casting, poor acting, awful flow, mangled vision: it's the kind of film that makes one appreciate how good a job most filmmakers do. Most films may not interest me, they may not be well-acted, but most seem to have some flow and basic sense. I don't think this one did.

I paid $1 to see this film: it had made its way quickly to a more than half-empty discount theater. Much more than a usual number of viewers walked out early.

If you do want to see this film, first read Lem's novel "Solaris". I did recently and loved it. It makes sense so it may help make up for this lack of sense in Soiderbergh's movie. After reading the book, if you don't like it, I'd still recommend seeing Tartovsky's movie. You may not like it but its visually so compelling that it may realize Lem's vision (and Tarktovsky's) for you. If after experiencing Lem's Solaris and Tarkoveky's Solaris, you're still curious, by all means see Soderbergh's take if it still intigues you. But if you see Soderbergh's Solaris first, you may decide that any Solaris is rubbish and fail to experience what Lem and/or Tarkovsky have in store for you.

Risks are welcome. But having made an awful movie, it would have been better, if not short-term financially then certainly for artistic integrity and even future commerical respect, to have never released this movie. Or at least to have reworked it heavily before releasing it. Not because of how good Lem's work is, not because of how good Tarkovsky's work is, but because if failures, espeically big failures like this one, are not acknowledged and learned from, one is apt to repeat them.

What do I know? Just how much I enjoyed and will continue to enjoy Lem's Solaris and Tarkovsky's Solaris. And what a waste Soderbergh's film was. An insult. Not to have made but to have released. I remained silent about this film, even in spite of how weak it is next to Tarkovsky. But when I read Lem, it's too much.

If you want to understand Solaris, go read the reviews for Lem's book, go read the reviews for Tarkovsky's movie. Don't lose time here. This is a story about the most extraordinary intelligence, but this film seems devoid of intelligence.

Bring back the Soderberg of Schitzopolis
What happened to that talented and original director who took quirky subject matter and made it brilliant?
Who is this imposter making nothing but half-baked remakes of perfectly good movies?
A pod person?
If you want to see Solaris, a very good film of it was made in the Soviet Union back in the 70's. It was mysterious and tragic and, at the same time, hopeful.
All qualities the 2002 version lacks. Characters are merged. Families obliterated.
George Cloony may be a pretty face, but any demanding character is beyond him. Solaris is far to subtle a project for him. He needs much more obvious formulaic roles to really shine. ... Read more

Reviews (257)

In space, no one can hear you "Huh???"
A previous reviewer called this film haunting, which I agree with, though I also found it incoherent and pretentious, trying to do daring things with the absence of narrative and sadly failing.

George Clooney does an admirable job in this film, which I saw when it was first released in theaters, and Natasha McElhone and he do a wonderful job developing into a believable, flawed set of lovers onscreen.

Though "science fiction" in its essence, Steven Soderbergh's SOLARIS is mostly unconcerned by the fact that it takes place in space. The planet Solaris is a plot device, not a menacing thing, that allows the human drama involving Clooney and his resurrected wife to unfold.

I've not seen the original, and I'm aware that the film is exactly supposed to not completely tie all of its plot elements together. That said, I don't know why they would introduce characters only to abandon them, plot points only to not fully explain them. The ending, though apt and eventually undersandable, seems disturbingly abrupt.

This movie doesn't have the staying power you'd hope it would when you leave the theater. You get the feeling that, instead of answers being there for you to find, there's nothing to figure out, nothing to add. And I found that really disappointing.

Metaphysical and cerebral science fiction
With the way that movie storylines are these days, it was refreshing and elightening to know that a science fiction film that dealt with metaphysical and cerebral matters was being released around November of 2002 AD. Especially the fact that Kentucky native George Clooney was the lead actor in the production, along with the lovely British actress Natascha McElhone. In many ways, this was more entertaining and watchable than your average Star Wars and Star Trek film.

Much like 2001, but with some romantic overtones, Steven Soderbergh's Solaris is an interesting mix of metaphysical and cerebral science fiction, with a love story thrown in. Not only was the storyline very solid and multi-dimensional, the sets, the costumes, the special visual effects, and soundtrack were all beautiful. The actors and actresses did a remarkable job in the roles, along with the material they were given.

Based on Polish science fiction writer Stanislaw Lem's novel, Solaris tells the story of a 21st Century psychologist who receives a message from a scientist friend of his on a space station orbiting a mysterious planet named Solaris. Chris Kelvin, the psychologist is asked by his friend if he could come to the space station named Prometheus and find out what is going on. Apparently, some strange and unusual incidents have been occuring.

Still recovering from the tragic death of his wife, Kelvin journeys to the space station and discovers the fact that his friend has mysteriously died, one of the scientists is acting irrationally, and the other is frightened. While determining the cause of all of the events, Chris is suddenly visited by an image of his deceased wife. From there, Chris and the two surviving scientists determine that the ocean planet they are orbiting his a sentient form of life that is recreating the images of those from a tragic moment in their past. As to why this alien intelligence is committing these acts, remains an unknown factor.

I haven't seen Andrei Tarkovsky's 1972 version of the film, so I really can't compare this film with the older version. I can say this, it helps to read the book first before viewing the film. I can honestly say that I enjoyed Soderbergh's version of Solaris. Not only does the film stay true to Lem's book in some levels, it also paints an interesting picture in Freudian terms. It states an interesting fact about how well do we know other people and at the same time how well we know ourselves. In all honesty, this was probably the best film out of 2002! It may have the qualities of a science fiction art house film, but it is still entertaining. One that I look forward to purchasing on DVD this summer.

If you enjoy science fiction that makes you think, instead of the ususal shoot them and blow them up types, then you will be pleased with Solaris. It will make you think and it will astound your mind.

Your shrink would like Solaris, but it's not for normal folk
On the up side, good sets and costumes. Lame special effects combo with a plot so crippled that it's wheelchair needs crutches. George Clooney, bless his handsome heart, is unable to rescue this total waste of mind with his limited acting range, although you can see him painfully trying. Unless you are really into abnormal foresnic psychology then within 15 minutes of watching Solaris you will be asking yourself if you really want to sit through the rest of it. I did, and I did sit through the rest and it wasn't worth it. Buy another movie.

Risks are welcome but failures are noticed
There's no reason why more than one strong movie version of Solaris can't exist. But they don't.

I looked forward to this version. The web site was well-done: I wonder if the budget for the web site exceeded Tarkovsky's budget for his entire movie (in the same currency and adjusted to today).

I had seen Tarkovksy's version about 5 times. I had not read Lem's novel. I didn't mind Tarkovsky''s pace but I was intrigued to see what I had heard would be a more stream-lined movie. I was surprised to find that Soderbergh's version, although an hour shorter, was painful to sit thru. The final half hour I found excruciating. Oddly, despite all the modern special effects, Tarkovsky's version towers over this one in the imaginativeness of the space station and the ocean.

Soderbergh's Solaris is one of the worst movies I've seen. Bad casting, poor acting, awful flow, mangled vision: it's the kind of film that makes one appreciate how good a job most filmmakers do. Most films may not interest me, they may not be well-acted, but most seem to have some flow and basic sense. I don't think this one did.

I paid $1 to see this film: it had made its way quickly to a more than half-empty discount theater. Much more than a usual number of viewers walked out early.

If you do want to see this film, first read Lem's novel "Solaris". I did recently and loved it. It makes sense so it may help make up for this lack of sense in Soiderbergh's movie. After reading the book, if you don't like it, I'd still recommend seeing Tartovsky's movie. You may not like it but its visually so compelling that it may realize Lem's vision (and Tarktovsky's) for you. If after experiencing Lem's Solaris and Tarkoveky's Solaris, you're still curious, by all means see Soderbergh's take if it still intigues you. But if you see Soderbergh's Solaris first, you may decide that any Solaris is rubbish and fail to experience what Lem and/or Tarkovsky have in store for you.

Risks are welcome. But having made an awful movie, it would have been better, if not short-term financially then certainly for artistic integrity and even future commerical respect, to have never released this movie. Or at least to have reworked it heavily before releasing it. Not because of how good Lem's work is, not because of how good Tarkovsky's work is, but because if failures, espeically big failures like this one, are not acknowledged and learned from, one is apt to repeat them.

What do I know? Just how much I enjoyed and will continue to enjoy Lem's Solaris and Tarkovsky's Solaris. And what a waste Soderbergh's film was. An insult. Not to have made but to have released. I remained silent about this film, even in spite of how weak it is next to Tarkovsky. But when I read Lem, it's too much.

If you want to understand Solaris, go read the reviews for Lem's book, go read the reviews for Tarkovsky's movie. Don't lose time here. This is a story about the most extraordinary intelligence, but this film seems devoid of intelligence.

Bring back the Soderberg of Schitzopolis
What happened to that talented and original director who took quirky subject matter and made it brilliant?
Who is this imposter making nothing but half-baked remakes of perfectly good movies?
A pod person?
If you want to see Solaris, a very good film of it was made in the Soviet Union back in the 70's. It was mysterious and tragic and, at the same time, hopeful.
All qualities the 2002 version lacks. Characters are merged. Families obliterated.
George Cloony may be a pretty face, but any demanding character is beyond him. Solaris is far to subtle a project for him. He needs much more obvious formulaic roles to really shine. ... Read more

Reviews (194)

A thoroughly enjoyable ride
Loosely based from a 1990 comic book series, this 1997 blockbuster combined eye popping special effects, classic sci-fi fare, and off the wall comedy and featured Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as Agent's J and K respectively. Both of whom are members of the MIB: a government organized secret group who keep the knowledge of extra terrestrial life under wraps while keeping the planet at peace. Director Barry Sonnenfeld handles the film very well and keeps it at a crowd pleasing speedy pace throughout most of it's running time. While it does start to lose steam towards it's climax, where Men in Black shines is with the casting: featuring Linda Fiorentino, Rip Torn, Tony Shaloub, and Vincent D'Onofrio in lively roles, with D'Onofrio being his usual scene stealing self. This Deluxe Edition of the film seems like the umpteenth time MIB has been released on DVD; but out of all the previous editions this seems to offer the most bang for your buck.

Much more fun than I expected
After seeing the previews, I had no desire to see "Men in Black." It just looked silly and didn't make sense. I finally watched it only because my boyfriend had the tape in his collection and I was bored. Boy, did I misjudge this movie! It was ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS!

Part of my problem with the previews is that I wasn't quite sure what the plot was about so let me start there. The "men in black" are part of a special super-secret immigration agency dealing with extraterrestrials. Unbeknownst to the general population, space aliens have been living amongst us for several decades. As long as they behave, they are welcome. If they misbehave, they may be deported or zapped with some pretty fancy weaponry.

Will Smith plays an ultra-hip New York police officer who comes to the agency's attention after chasing down a space alien. Tommy Lee Jones plays his very experienced, suave partner. Jones' dead serious interactions with the panoply of odd aliens is outrageous. And although I'm not a Will Smith fan, I have to admit that in MIB he's just just too cool for words!

MIB is definitely a must for the video library!

Different type of illegal aliens in New York
So much has been written about the brilliance of this gooey sci/fi comedy, that it would be redundant for me to tell you how great it is. But what I enjoyed most about "Men In Black" is that it is such a New York film.

When Will Smith is being oriented to his new job by Tommy Lee Jones, he's informed that many New Yorkers are disguised space aliens. "Like cab drivers?" Smith asks. "Not as many as you think," Jones responds.

The fact that the MIB have a car that can defy gravity is funny enough, but the fact that it needs such a vehicle to fight the perpetual traffic in the Midtown Tunnel is even funnier.

An alien disguised as a dog in an I LOVE NEW YORK tee-shirt is fairly funny. But when it speaks with a New Yawk accent as thick as Bugs Bunny's it makes it funnier.

When the edgar bug alien hauls a mideastern cab driver out of his cab, not funny. When he tosses his wooden-bead back massager at him, funny. But on top of that, when he throws the ubiquitous air freshner out, then its hysterical (without being racist).

The whole concept that the World's Fairgrounds in Queens is a hangar for spaceships is just brilliant. And I've always wondered what that structure at the head of the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel was!

Glimpses of the World Trade Center are a little bitter to take, even now. And there is that sense that this film is from an innocent pre 9/11 time but, really, the rest of the movie still rings true of the New York of today.

Good!!
I like this movie because it has a a lot of good scenes where you laugh, the situations are ludicrous just like the aliens. And what about the screen where you can see Steven Spielberg, Sylvester Stallone or Oprah like aliens? And it's full of irony besides good special effects. If you want to have a good time buy this one. By the way, has anybody realized that the green baby alien, that Will Smith has in his arms, has the same face as Jedi Knight Kit Fisto?

Funny and witty!
This movie is a hilarious take on the whole concept of the Earth being populated by extra-terrestrial beings and two agents named Agent K and agent J are assigned on a mission to stop a menacing alien cockroach who is trying to gain a hold of an artifact.

Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith are a really hilarious team and their acting is phenomenal! The special effects are also really cool and the alines are so funny.

Go and buy this DVD and get teh Deluxe Edition because it has so much cool stuff on it! Peace out! ... Read more