Imagine being out in a lonely space station, unsure of your surroundings, not knowing what is real and what isn’t. In “Solaris”, psychologist Chris Kelvin (George Clooney) is sent to investigate the goings-on at the space station Prometheus. While in orbit around the planet Solaris, all communications were cut off, prompting the investigation. When Kelvin arrives, he finds some of the crewmembers dead. The couple of remaining survivors don’t offer much help, as their mental state is less than stable. Furthering the mystery for Kelvin, however is the appearance of his wife aboard the station. A wife long dead… I heard a lot about “Solaris” when it was first released into theatres. The words ‘boring’ and ‘confusing’ seemed to role off the tongue of every review I read. Too many of them compared the film to the original 1972 Russian version, which itself was based on the 1961 novel by Stanislaw Lem. I had never seen that version, or read the book so comparisons did me little good. And having still not seen that earlier version, you’ll find no comparison from me. I prefer to let the film stand on it’s own merit.

Having seen the upcoming Fox Home Entertainment DVD release, I can say I understand the earlier reviews, but do not agree with their final assessment. “Solaris” can be a very confusing film, and its pace might bore some people. HOWEVER, the film I saw was as challenging of a Sci-Fi movie as I have ever seen, and I like films that challenge me intellectually. I’m no great brain, but when a film makes me think and pay attention the way “Solaris” did, it can’t help but resonate in my memory far longer than the ‘eye-candy’ filled summer blockbusters.

Now, I’m not knocking the blockbusters. They’re (usually) fun and offer some cathartic relief from the stresses of the day, but when faced with a film that wakes up the brain cells and starts the synapses firing, I’m in cerebral heaven.

“Solaris” is one of those types of films. The plot is a puzzle and it’s up to you to figure it out. The clues are there, if you pay attention. But therein lies the film’s problem, at least when going up against the average moviegoer’s attention span. The film moves at a slow pace and there are no big flashy special effects to keep you awake. No one rolls a Corvette, no one ends up chasing some guy and a big furry alien, shooting laser guns and yelling, “Close the blast doors, close the blast doors.”

There is also the fact that “Solaris” is a somewhat ambiguous film, which offers no easy answers. At the end of the day, it’s up to the viewer to decide the truth of what they have just watched. Some people just can’t handle this type of pressure. They want to see whom the ‘mystery contestant’ was on “What’s My Line” as opposed to being left to wonder. And this is a valid complaint. In a ‘puzzle’ movie, it’s generally best to have that answer ready at the end for those who didn’t catch all the clues.

But what makes “Solaris” different is that the story is laid out in such a way as to leave you with many possibilities. This is why it might appeal to those with a highly active imagination and can make those ‘leaps of faith’ as it were, and decide on their own outcome. It also allows those watching it together to walk away and have a conversation that goes much deeper than “Didja see that truck there blow up reeel good?”

The DVD release is real gem. It looks and sounds great, with all the visual detail intact. In fact, much in the same way the little details of the story are important, so are the little details that you can see, even in the darkest of scenes. And the sound separation creates an incredibly atmospheric experience, again using little sound details, as the emptiness of the space station envelops you.

There are also extras on the disc, including commentary by director Steven Soderbergh and producer James Cameron (which you just don’t get very often). This commentary is great, as they recorded it together, and so are allowed to discuss their visions for the film in a more conversational setting. The two featurette, while fairly lengthy, serve as more of PR pieces and while they offer a little look behind the scenes, they're really not very informational.

“Solaris” will undoubtedly leave some people a little cold, as it is a psychologically demanding film. It’s not a ‘great space adventure’ as many might think. But those who go into it knowing a little of what to expect as far as tone and pace, and are prepared to have to think, should end up with an intellectual experience unlike what Hollywood normally has to offer.

Directed by: Stephen Soderbergh
Starring: George Clooney, Natascha McElhone, Jeremy Davies
Extras: Commentary by Steven Soderbergh and James Cameron, HBO Special: Inside Solaris, Solaris: Behind the Planet, Screenplay, Theatrical Teaser and Trailer
Specifications:
Studio: Fox Home Entertainment
Release Date: 7/29/2003
Region 1
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Sexuality / Nudity, Brief Language and Thematic Events)
Website

We'll give Solaris an A.