flawed but intelligent

Rating: Null/10 (20 November 1998)

Hollywood has tried to give us a rarity: a science fiction film that asks (and attempts to answer) deep questions about the universe, whether or not we're alone, and spirituality vs. science. While not nearly as good as "2001" (which it's often been compared to), and weighted under too many Hollywood cliches (the romance between Foster the scientist and McConaughy the preacher, Foster "looking" for her long-lost father, etc.), this movie did accomplish what it intended to do: make us think. After seeing trash like "Independence Day" this is a refreshing change. A bit over-long and slow in parts, with a frustrating ending and not enough on Foster's visit to the alien planet, it is not a perfect movie, not even the best of 1997. It is, however, thought-provoking and well-acted, and the special effects are awesome, though not nearly numerous enough. The best part of the movie, for me, was its opening, with the camera slowly pulling away from earth and the solar system as we hear snippets of radio broadcasts going farther and farther back in time, until we are passing out of the galaxy, and finally, our known universe, as total silence envelopes us. This is truly haunting and is a masterpiece in itself. Definitely worth watching.