Review of Solaris (2002) by David H — 30 Oct 2014

I never saw the much-acclaimed original, nor read Stanislaw Lem's story that these were based on. But I have read other works by Lem, and was quite impressed with his intelligence and freshness. He is what mid-20th-century science fiction was aspiring to be: deeply insightful reflections on the human condition, seen through the lens of our increasing ability to affect it, not always for the better.

I found Soderbrgh's Solaris extremely moving. Anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one may also find this film grabs you deeply. But be patient for it: it's in the ending. That's all I'll say about it, since I detest any kind of spoiler.

The long build-up is a slow-paced space classic (meaning mostly hard science with no heroic pageantry), best viewed in total immersion (zero distractions).