Art from Hollywood? Finally!

Rating: 10/10 (5 February 1999)

This movie is art! I read Carl Sagan's book a couple years before the movie came out. The book is wonderful. There are a few differences, but overall they're both compatible with each other. Something that is unique about this film is that it splits the audience in half. 50% of the audience will hate it. Don't worry about them. These people didn't notice the suddle and artistic camera techniques. They came to this movie expecting to SEE aliens. So they were disappointed when they didn't see them with their eyes. The people that hate this movie generally like movies like "Armageddon" and Quentin Tarantino movies. They don't like movies that make them think.
The other hlaf will generally like it a lot. Some will absolutely love it. These people like to leave the theater with their head full of interesting possibilities. This movie does make you think. Some would call it anti-religious. I read one review of it in a "christian" movie review magazine, which said it was damaging to a christian's faith. Why? Because it dares to examine science and religion together. This movie is about fact versus faith. This movie isn't anti-religious. The whole theme is: Faith is necessary because some of life's most important truths can't be proven. You could say that it's impossible to prove the existence of God. Personally, I don't think so. I think if you look at it logically, it's incredibly obvious that God exists.
The music is great,the actors are all convincing and likable (except for a few, although their characters were written that way). Carl Sagan put a lot of thought and thoughtfulness into his creation, and it shines through in the movie version. He had a tremendous appreciation for the wonders of the Universe, and this movie embodies that. Whether you're devoutly religious or a hard skeptic, you'll walk out of the theater looking up and smiling. Personally, I don't think aliens exist, but it was still a good movie. THe people that hate this movie can have movies liek "Armageddon" and "Godzilla" for themselves. This is much better. You'll THINK!