Ideological Propaganda

Rating: Null/10 (13 July 2011)

This film has absolutely no redeeming qualities.
To begin with, the credibility of science that this film is supposedly based on is truly compromised. The vast majority of modern astrophysicists agree that, based on scientific evidence and the physical laws of the universe, the odds of intelligent life existing on another planet are virtually zero. Yet our hero's primary "evidence," as she explains to a group of children near the end of film is thus: "The universe is a pretty big place. It's bigger than anything anyone has ever dreams of before. So if it's just us  seems like an awful waste of space. Right?"
Now, I enjoy a good science fiction movie - but only if it doesn't take itself seriously. But this film is shameless propaganda, promoting the leftist ideology and religious prejudices of the author behind the film: the late Carl Sagan. The examples are legion: The crazed "Christian" preacher who is so fearful of alien contact that he resorts to suicide bombing; the former "Christian" priest who has no moral reservations about bedding our hero on the day they meet, while publicly humiliating her because she does not share his faith in God; the National Security Adviser who insists on destroying the aliens (as if we really had the capability) - like something out a truly bad 50's sci-fi film; and the repetitious questioning of the existence of God and portrayal of anyone accepting that existence as inherently prejudice (e.g. our hero is initially not selected to represent the planet earth, simply because she does not acknowledge God?!).
For a truly enjoyable and credible science fiction move of this genre, try "War of the Worlds."