Review of Sphere (1998) by Ron T — 18 Aug 2010

This is the kind of movie which promises much, but ultimately fails to deliver. I've never read any of Michael Crichton's books, but several of them have been turned into entertaining films, and with a cast which includes several members of wide and excellent repute, and a director who had previously given us the likes of Rain Man and Donnie Brasco, you would think this film would be bound to produce something worthwhile.

But something got lost in the execution. And don't tell me it was a sensible plot, because plenty of good sci-fi films manage to eschew sense without suffering for it, entertainment-wise.

Perhaps the problem is that the film, after setting up an intriguing premise, fails to provide any answers, but also fails to raise any interesting questions.

The sphere apparently enables those who enter it to manifest their inner desires or fantasies or whatever in physical form. The investigating team consistently manifest their own fears, which results in the deaths of several of the team members.

Dr. Goodman comments on this, but neither he nor anyone else makes the least effort to understand why.

And then, having misused the powers of the sphere, they decide that the best thing would be to get rid of it. It doesn't seem to occur to them that anyone else might do better. They screwed up, so they just assume that's the best anyone can do.

What arrogance! And what moral cowardice.

They end up seeming more like religious zealots than scientists.

Boo to them! Bring back Professor Quatermass!