An exploration of the film's meaning, and a comparison with "Nell"

Rating: Null/10 (21 August 1999)

This film was very exciting to see on the big screen for its stunning visual effects. It's definitely worth renting, too, because it's an interesting and well-acted story, but the bigger the screen, the better. I was amazed and pleased that the movie doesn't just end at Ellie's trip on the ship. Rather, it takes the viewer farther into the unknown than most Hollywood productions are willing to go, with a truly satisfying exploration of Ellie's journey. The one low point in the drama was the love relationship between Ellie and Palmer. It didn't come across as very deeply felt, and was used primarily as a vehicle for introducing ideas and creating a set-up between those who believe in God and those who don't. Due to the lack of "sparks" between the two characters (or actors), however, it took more than one viewing of the film for me to get what I now think is the film's central point: that making contact is what life is all about. Even so, the film is worth seeing more than once anyway. Jodie Foster is such an emotionally expressive actress, and this was a great follow-up to "Nell" in that the two films share a similar message: a person's world is limited only by that person's ability or inability to really connect with others in a meaningful way.