Intelligent Science Fiction

Rating: 9/10 (1 July 2007)

I saw this movie at a then state of the art movie house with surround sound down here in San Diego and I have also watched it several times at home. I don't get tired of watching it and that says a bunch about the quality of the movie.
Since so many people have written about the intriguing interplay between science and religion with its hopefulness themes, I thought I would bring up some more of the nuts and bolts aspects of this movie that were mostly great as well.
Lets start with film editing and sound editing. That delicate theme song of the 9 year old Elli with were father is literally perfect, and I don't give praise easily. When the scene shifts to present day with the same notes but done in an orchestra setting to emphazise growth and maturity, it flows seamlessly. The night sounds at the Aracebo observatory are beautifully subdued but still noticeable even with the hum of computer fans droning along. More examples of great music and sound are as follows: The heavy sad notes that surround the heart attack scene. They are impactful to the scene but are timed to move on to the next scene of morning in which lots of more subtle sounds are used.Rustling of leaves a quiet moment and and a final short dirge to end it. My overarching theme here is how the director and sound editor let the music be a subtle accent rather then an overpowering guide to the key action or emotional moments. Of course the pulsing violins during the big action scene at the VLA New Mexico is the creme de la creme. It activates a short burst of excitement and just flows perfectly and then cuts out all together when Elli enters the control room. This gives me a sense of believable reality in which the action is carried on by the scientific process of discovery so well acted by Elli's team. Finally the sounds of the machine are completely believable, and peak with the point where the machine reaches its maximum velocity. Then the base music sounds indicating power come in for added impact. The effect is line with which Carl Sagen would have liked, that being complete humbleness around an exponentially advanced technology.
I could go into other nuts and bolts but I have to do some other things so I will say that this movie is a very watchable movie. Its just plain great entertainment that asks more intelligent questions then most movies. The action and special effects are first rate as well. Robert Zemeckis is a top talent as far as I'm concerned so I'll keep popping it in the DVD player every few months for another great ride.