Taken deep into infinity and the limits of imagination

Rating: Null/10 (14 May 2000)

After an amazing opening sequence, I found the film intially slow. But gradually I become drawn in, my jaw dropping, as the full message in the transmission from Vega was unravelled. From then on, I was absolutely glued to the screen, as if it was all really happening! Jodie Foster as astronomer Arroway delivers an exceptional performance - especially in the space journey sequences. These elevated me to rarely reached heights of movie experience: so frightening yet so wonderful. This is one of those films that has changed me, in some way stretched my conception of what is possible, what is beautiful, in existence.
Jodie Foster's separate soundtrack of narration throughout the film adds another dimension, made me feel of getting to know her in some slight way.
A really superb 'serious' sci-fi film, although the ending was, for me, suddenly rather obvious and disappointing.