Space Travel

Rating: Null/10 (22 August 2003)

Remember all the references to sand? In my opinion this is done to show that the Universe is too vast to comprehend. The particles of sand were focused on to show that the infinite Universe could all fit in one grain of sand and then be infinitely larger outside that grain (this is by definition if infinity, right?).
Considering we really have no perception of size/scope/proportion, how can we expect to travel 'lightyears' in in a 'spaceship' and communicate with 'aliens' that are what... our size? speak in our frequencies? live in bodies? How unrealistic.
So this movie actually does it realistically - Ellie 'travels' to them via some unknown method and 'communicates' their way. Everything really did happen, but it was controlled by the more advanced beings, in ways we'll never understand. It's all small steps, and all about learning what we're a part of. I think this is why Ellie finds such peace in the end too, and focuses on teaching. Any children she reaches could be the next step to understanding all this more. That's how she learns she can contribute the most -- by giving hope and focus to the next generation of scientists. Her crazy pace and activities at the beginning of the movie are calmed by the end, and now most appropriately, at a pace that will cross over many generations of life.