Which solaris film is better

It always had the whiff of something that could end up falling between two stools. On the other hand, genre buffs would be frustrated by the almost complete lack of action or spectacle. One is aware of his innate presence and charm the moment he appears on screen, and his better performances are when he is not trying to be other than himself; when he lets that natural charisma shine through. The tale is age-old: an examination of the poignancy to be found in remembering a lost love.

Where Soderbergh loses out to Tarkovsky in lyricism and philosophy, he more than holds his own in terms of structure, style and emotion. Luckily, Soderbergh doesn't let this idea alone drive him in making this film, and he applies these new effects with great love and care, only applying them in the subtlest ways.

The effects work is breathtaking to say the least and it works perfectly for this new updated and slick looking version of an original and amazing film. These effects really bring the space exploration to life and the space station and pivotal planet look just gorgeous. I still prefer the original and its practical use of models, but this is a beautiful rendition of an already astounding scene. Along with the update on effects, we are given a modern day look with a slightly futuristic accent for the technology.

Like the original though, none of these future technological marvels are plastered all over the screen taking your attention away from the story at hand. Everything is infused into the world that we are being shown and it all seems natural and in place, giving it all a lived in feel.

Soderbergh did an excellent job of staying true to the concepts that made the original such an enthralling film. It may be sleek and glossy as all hell, but its got the true nature of the original and that's good enough for me. I also love the casting of Jeremy Davies as Snow, one of the scientists on board the Solaris. He's such an amazingly estranged actor and can play such a curiously weird character, that this film so desperately thrives on displaying.

In Solaris, he gets to thrive doing what he does best, portraying an off kilter scientists that makes you wonder, what's this guy on? I think the addition of his character in the film, breathes new life into the overall feel of the movie, and it made me care a little bit more for the other existing members of the Solaris crew.

We are also given another manifestation for Kelvin to interact with in the character of Rheya, played by the doe eyed Natascha McElhone. She was Kelvin's mentally strained wife who killed herself years ago, but is now freaking him out and making him question his sanity. We are given some great moments from the original, when Kelvin tricks his wife to get into an escape pod, jettisoning her into space only to reappear moments later.

Natascha's portrayal of a women convinced that she is real and not a manifestation of some planet, is quite compelling and unsettlingly sincere. She does such an amazing job just acting with her expressive eyes. The woman is an outstanding actress and she really shines in this emotional and personal piece. Soderbergh captures some beautiful moments and exquisitely framed shots in this film. The look is so artistically sound and expertly delivered, that you can't help but think that this is one of the best looking remakes to come out in a long while.

Even though he doesn't keep the same pace as the original, with its long graceful takes, he still manages to slow the flow of the film to a standard that still melds well with the current generation of fast paced films.

The narrative is always pushed forward and we always feel like we are making new ground and headed to a definite conclusion. A choice that the director makes that differs from the original film, is the decision to incorporate flashbacks to better flesh out the relationships between Kelvin and his long dead wife. We get to see the happy years along with the steady decline of Rheya's mental stability. I rather enjoyed this little addition to the fabulous formula, and I felt myself caring personally for the characters more then I did in the original story.

This is a welcomed addition and one that I think really works in bringing the characters into a more sympathetic light.

Concepts and differences aside, the cast really does do an astonishing job with their parts and they bring a sense of urgency to their roles that give a pulse to their perspectives and ground the film in reality.

Tarkovsky's film always felt like the characters were in a dreamlike state, giving heavy doses of the surreal, while Soderbergh's seems set in the real world with real consequences all driven by moral dilemmas that feel relatable.

I really don't know which I prefer over the other, but each film accurately accomplishes what they set out to do and both work perfectly in there respective categories. Much like Kelvin in the original, George Clooney's character has to come to terms with his manifestation.

He resists at first, but eventually comes to care for the apparition of his dead wife, feeling that he has a chance now to make up for all of that lost time since her death. Clooney does a great job with his character and you sympathize with his plight of reliving past memories and the opening of past wounds. You can see the excruciating emotions that he's going through as he has to relive the thoughts of losing her all over again. I haven't really been impressed with any of Clooney's movies post his explosive portrayal of Seth Gecko in From Dusk Till Dawn, but here he shows me why he is a top actor in his profession.

He delivers a performance with such heart and honesty, that you really have to stand up and commend his efforts. The mystery of the manifestations and the overall plot of the film is not as mystically portrayed as it is in the original, but that doesn't mean that it isn't intriguing. It just isn't focused upon as much as the characters interactions with each other are in this film. I guess you could say the superb acting in this version distracts you away from the bigger picture of things and allows you to be pulled in to the drama that occurs between the characters and their personal lives.

I was far more interested by Clooney's portrayal of Kelvin and his interactions with his wife, then I was with the original Kelvin and his. That doesn't mean that Donatas didn't do an amazing job with his character because he did, but in my opinion the version is more character driven and Soderbergh allows his characters to express themselves more giving us a more personal portrayal of their lives.

I also think the flashbacks help, because we are offered a window into their past lives before they were secluded from society aboard the Solaris. I do enjoy knowing a bit more about Kelvin and seeing him interact with people outside of the space station. It's a welcomed addition to the remake, that doesn't take anything away from the original concept. It only adds a new flavor and gives us a side of Kelvin that we weren't privileged to before.

The version of Solaris is an enjoyable film that lays out the same concepts of the original, but scales it down a bit for an Americanized version of a beloved Russian classic. I love both movies and I think what both Soderbergh and Tarkovsky have done with their films is amazing. Tarkovsky gives us a surreal look into a science fiction film that presents itself in a poetic and ambiguously metaphorical vision, while Soderbergh goes the more straight forward route, giving us a sleek and beautiful updated science fiction film, that stays true to the integrity of the original while pushing the narrative along by the help of its dramatic and humanized cast.

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Unknown May 18, at PM. Jay Shatzer November 1, at PM. Pomeranian June 15, at AM. Astrozon July 16, at PM. Jay Shatzer July 17, at PM. Unknown October 6, at AM. Unknown December 12, at PM. Newer Post Older Post Home. Subscribe to: Post Comments Atom. Video Review. I'll be giving my opinions, reviews, and general tid bits from obscure to mainstream films and hopefully enlightening some people on some long lost gems that deserve to be seen by the masses.

I'll also be updating on my progress in the film industry as I tackle various film projects so you'll be seeing tons of behind the scenes photos, videos, and trailers of the projects that are plaguing my mind. So everyone enjoy and prepare for the nightmare. View my complete profile. Facebook Followers. Follow this blog. Among The Fallen. Kill Kringle Kill. The Wanderer. Trailer Obscura. The Book of Jacob Huxley. Lem didn't like the way his novel had been adapted; Tarkovsky himself considered it a less than successful film.

But the clarity and beauty of Solaris ensures its majesty lives on. Solaris: No 6 best sci-fi and fantasy film of all time. Andrei Tarkovsky, Solaris Solyaris.

Photograph: Ronald Grant Archive.