Critic Reviews

Solaris (2002) Rank 5 Reviews

Expert Review Summary
Movie critics combined give Solaris (2002) a score of 2.7666 out of 4
based on (382) reviews
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Reviews by Score:
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Star-Democrat (Easton, MD) (Greg Maki)Star-Democrat (Easton, MD) (Greg Maki)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Philip Martin)Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Philip Martin)
...it is not difficult to imagine people being frustrated by this movie, in the same way many people were frustrated by Kubrick’s monolith in 2001. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Philip Martin)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
A mind-bender in the best sense of the word: The spell it casts follows you all the way home. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Orlando Sentinel (Roger Moore)Orlando Sentinel (Roger Moore)
The smartest science fiction film since Blade Runner , and yes, that includes The Matrix . ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Orlando Sentinel (Roger Moore)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas) (Jonathan R. Perry)Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas) (Jonathan R. Perry)
Not as much a remake of a sci-fi classic as a reverent interpretation by a filmmaker at peace with his material. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas) (Jonathan R. Perry)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
Clooney brings raw intensity to his role; his scenes with McElhone are rooted in a fierce romantic yearning. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for FilmJerk.com (Edward Havens)FilmJerk.com (Edward Havens)
Those who can allow themselves to get enveloped by the movie are in for a genuine treat. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at FilmJerk.com (Edward Havens)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Netflix (James Rocchi)Netflix (James Rocchi)
Steven Soderbergh's emotional, imaginative remake of a 1970s Soviet sci-fi classic is visually stunning and philosophically challenging. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Netflix (James Rocchi)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Journal News (Westchester, NY) (Marshall Fine)Journal News (Westchester, NY) (Marshall Fine)
It further confirms Steven Soderbergh as the best director to emerge from his generation of filmmakers. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Journal News (Westchester, NY) (Marshall Fine)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Las Vegas Weekly (Josh Bell)Las Vegas Weekly (Josh Bell)
Soderbergh’s film is the perfect blend of artiness and mainstream appeal, a triumph for Hollywood’s most successful art-house director. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Las Vegas Weekly (Josh Bell)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (Jack Garner)Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (Jack Garner)
An original and mature motion picture, a challenge for the unsuspecting and a treat for the daring. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (Jack Garner)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.75 out of 4 stars for Denver Rocky Mountain News (Robert Denerstein)Denver Rocky Mountain News (Robert Denerstein)
A thought-provoking exploration of the elusive nature of relationships. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Denver Rocky Mountain News (Robert Denerstein)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.75 out of 4 stars for Film Freak CentralFilm Freak Central
Steven Soderbergh's best film since sex, lies, and videotape (and the film most like it in theme and execution), Solaris is a moving, hypnotic adaptation of the classic Stanislaw Lem novel, which was first made into a film in 1972 by Andrei Tarkovsky. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Film Freak Central
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.60 out of 4 stars for Film Threat (Michael Dequina)Film Threat (Michael Dequina)
It's an entirely different animal from Tarkovsky's hypnotic but opaque take, and it's an entirely different animal from most studio product in general -- Soderbergh's Solaris is a gorgeous and deceptively minimalist cinematic tone poem. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Film Threat (Michael Dequina)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.60 out of 4 stars for Planet Sick-Boy (Jon Popick)Planet Sick-Boy (Jon Popick)
With long stretches containing no dialogue, it's a slow, sterile, thought-provoking film that will leave many unanswered questions rattling around in your head. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Planet Sick-Boy (Jon Popick)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.60 out of 4 stars for Salon.com (Andrew O'Hehir)Salon.com (Andrew O'Hehir)
Soderbergh's film is probably not the equal of either Tarkovsky's 1972 predecessor or the memorably Byzantine prose of Lem's novel, but in the end, almost despite himself, this able craftsman has made a brave and lovely companion piece to both of them. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Salon.com (Andrew O'Hehir)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.60 out of 4 stars for The Onion (A.V. Club) (Scott Tobias)The Onion (A.V. Club) (Scott Tobias)
Though glazed in chilly surfaces -- the Kubrickian spaces, Cliff Martinez's gorgeous ambient score, the elliptical editing rhythms of Soderbergh's recent work, particularly "The Limey" -- the film contains a surprising depth of feeling within its ...read the complete Solaris movie review at The Onion (A.V. Club) (Scott Tobias)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.56 out of 4 stars for Austin Chronicle (Marjorie Baumgarten)Austin Chronicle (Marjorie Baumgarten)
As things turn out, Clooney’s butt is just one of the many delights to be found on a trip to Solaris. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Austin Chronicle (Marjorie Baumgarten)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.52 out of 4 stars for Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
The Soderbergh version is like the same story freed from the weight of Tarkovsky's solemnity. And it evokes one of the rarest of movie emotions, ironic regret. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Steve Murray)Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Steve Murray)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Reel Review (James E. Laczkowski)Reel Review (James E. Laczkowski)
One of those films I stand by simply because charismatic Clooney does a fine job here, and Soderbergh continues to keep things interesting and unpredictable. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Reel Review (James E. Laczkowski)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Ozus' World Movie Reviews (Dennis Schwartz)Ozus' World Movie Reviews (Dennis Schwartz)
"Those looking for the usual science fiction adventure doings here, will find they got on the wrong rocket flight." ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Ozus' World Movie Reviews (Dennis Schwartz)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
FILM CRITIC Solaris" tells the story of a planet that reads minds, and obliges its visitors by devising and providing people they have lost, and miss. The Catch-22 is that the planet knows no more than its visitors know about these absent people. As the f ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Gambit Weekly (New Orleans, LA) (David Lee Simmons)Gambit Weekly (New Orleans, LA) (David Lee Simmons)
... Solaris feels little more than a laudable effort, a noble, structured exercise in filmmaking. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Gambit Weekly (New Orleans, LA) (David Lee Simmons)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.32 out of 4 stars for Seattle Post-IntelligencerSeattle Post-Intelligencer
Philip Messina's claustrophobic sets and Cliff Martinez's elegantly creepy score add to the film's distinction and work off Clooney's performance and Soderbergh's staging to create an hypnotic spell and suggest a cosmos full of spiritual possibility. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.25 out of 4 stars for Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
SOLARIS. It's based on a classic science fiction novel by Stanislaw Lem, and has been made once before in a much different fashion by Andrei Tarkovsky in 1972, which many people have cited as a major influence. In fact, elements exist in many other Hollyw ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.20 out of 4 stars for Film Threat (Michael Dequina)Film Threat (Michael Dequina)
More concerned with overall feelings, broader ideas, and open-ended questions than concrete story and definitive answers, Soderbergh's Solaris is a gorgeous and deceptively minimalist cinematic tone poem. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Film Threat (Michael Dequina)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.20 out of 4 stars for Jam! Movies (Liz Braun)Jam! Movies (Liz Braun)
I loved every frame of Solaris . I'm just not sure why. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Jam! Movies (Liz Braun)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.20 out of 4 stars for Slate (David Edelstein)Slate (David Edelstein)
Essentially a solemn, splintered meditation on lost love: a movie about personal space, in space. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Slate (David Edelstein)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.20 out of 4 stars for Citysearch (Erich Scholz)Citysearch (Erich Scholz)
Parallels to Stanley Kubrick's 2001 abound, and Clooney's portrayal of a man offered the opportunity to escape into a world of dreams might be the actor's best work to date. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Citysearch (Erich Scholz)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.20 out of 4 stars for Arizona Republic (Bill Muller)Arizona Republic (Bill Muller)
It is, all at once, exhilarating, frustrating, cryptic and wise. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Arizona Republic (Bill Muller)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.20 out of 4 stars for Village Voice (J. Hoberman)Village Voice (J. Hoberman)
Solaris achieves an almost perfect balance of poetry and pulp. This is as elegant, moody, intelligent, sensuous, and sustained a studio movie as we are likely to see this season -- and in its intrinsic nuttiness, perhaps the least compromised. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Village Voice (J. Hoberman)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.20 out of 4 stars for Supercala.com (John Venable)Supercala.com (John Venable)
Not for everyone, but for those with whom it will connect, it's a nice departure from standard moviegoing fare. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Supercala.com (John Venable)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.20 out of 4 stars for Toronto Star (Geoff Pevere)Toronto Star (Geoff Pevere)
Meshing philosophical inquiry with a propulsive otherworldly mystery, it has the smart-pop quality of a vintage episode of Star Trek . ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Toronto Star (Geoff Pevere)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.20 out of 4 stars for Time (Richard Corliss)Time (Richard Corliss)
Can't touch the 1972 film's austere poignancy, and McElhone lacks the bewitching beauty of Natalya Bondarchuk in the original Solaris. But the project's gravity and ambition can't be denied. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Time (Richard Corliss)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.20 out of 4 stars for New York Times (Stephen Holden)New York Times (Stephen Holden)
In the Hollywood pantheon of recycled heroes, [Clooney] suggests a Clark Gable for the new millennium, without the raised eyebrow and rakish leer. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at New York Times (Stephen Holden)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.20 out of 4 stars for Film Threat (Rick Kisonak)Film Threat (Rick Kisonak)
I find Soderbergh's Solaris an eminently more satisfying experience than Lem's. This is a film as elegantly directed as any by Kubrick, one which is superbly acted and brilliantly scored, as spellbinding a work of cinema as we're likely to see for some ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Film Threat (Rick Kisonak)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Chicago Tribune (Michael Wilmington)Chicago Tribune (Michael Wilmington)
Solaris, an exploration of outer space and inner anguish, reminds us that science fiction can embrace adult ideas and human drama as well as technology and futuristic action. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Chicago Tribune (Michael Wilmington)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for ReelViews (James Berardinelli)ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Solaris may be the first big budget science fiction motion picture that belongs in an art house rather than a multiplex. The movie bears a stronger resemblance to 2001: A Space Odyssey than to Star Wars, with an emphasis on ideas over action. Those expect ...read the complete Solaris movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for ReelViews (James Berardinelli)ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Neither as effective nor as ambitious as Kubrick's masterpiece, but it's still a compelling cinematic experience for those who are willing to abandon themselves to the unforced, measured rhythms of an issues-based motion picture. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for KBTV-NBC (Beaumont, TX) (Danny Minton)KBTV-NBC (Beaumont, TX) (Danny Minton)
This science fiction, psychological drama will make you think, but might also make you sleep as well. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at KBTV-NBC (Beaumont, TX) (Danny Minton)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Portland Oregonian (Shawn Levy)Portland Oregonian (Shawn Levy)
Soderbergh, who hasn't ever attempted a film of this sort before, brings his gifts brilliantly to bear, with gorgeous shots of outer space, delicate, swift edits and a captivating score by his longtime collaborator Cliff Martinez -- But when the script ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Portland Oregonian (Shawn Levy)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Boston Globe (Ty Burr)Boston Globe (Ty Burr)
To appreciate Solaris, the new film by Steven Soderbergh, it helps to downshift your moviegoing metabolism to a level approaching the cryogenically frozen: The movie's that cerebral, that contemplative, that slow. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Boston Globe (Ty Burr)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Aisle Seat (Mike McGranaghan)Aisle Seat (Mike McGranaghan)
The movie never takes the easy road. It dares you to think about issues that are hard to wrap your mind around. I appreciate a movie that intellectually engages me as much as this one did. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Aisle Seat (Mike McGranaghan)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Contra Costa Times (Mary F. Pols)Contra Costa Times (Mary F. Pols)
It's seriously hampered by its focus on an oddly bloodless love story, but there's enough provocative, thoughtful 2001 style material about the human identity here to salvage the movie. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Contra Costa Times (Mary F. Pols)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Philadelphia Inquirer (Carrie Rickey)Philadelphia Inquirer (Carrie Rickey)
Soderbergh skims the fat from the 1972 film. What's left is a rich stew of longing. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Philadelphia Inquirer (Carrie Rickey)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Salon (Andrew O'Hehir)Salon (Andrew O'Hehir)
There's no way to talk about "Solaris," Steven Soderbergh's visually astonishing and thoroughly admirable new film, without giving away some crucial pieces of its story. So if you're a reader who's determined to avoid spoilers of any kind, I advise you ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Salon (Andrew O'Hehir)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
One of the most frequent charges against science-fiction is that it replaces emotion with intellect. Its characters are people who live by and for the mind, and their personal relationships are likely to be stifled and awkward, That's probably true enough ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Chicago Tribune (Michael Wilmington)Chicago Tribune (Michael Wilmington)
It's a lovely, eerie film that casts an odd, rapt spell. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Chicago Tribune (Michael Wilmington)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for New York Post (Jonathan Foreman)New York Post (Jonathan Foreman)
So beautifully made (everything in it is understated except the gorgeous good looks of its stars) and turns out to have such real cumulative power that it is worth holding out to the end. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at New York Post (Jonathan Foreman)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL) (Jeffrey Westhoff)Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL) (Jeffrey Westhoff)
Steven Soderbergh doesn’t remake Andrei Tarkovsky’s Solaris so much as distill it. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL) (Jeffrey Westhoff)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for New York Daily News (Jami Bernard)New York Daily News (Jami Bernard)
A darkly brilliant sci-fi movie about emotions so deep, the story could be taking place within the chambers of the heart instead of an arid space station. At the same time, it is a coldly theoretical piece that could leave viewers unengaged. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at New York Daily News (Jami Bernard)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Arizona Daily Star (Phil Villarreal)Arizona Daily Star (Phil Villarreal)
Like Kubrick, Soderbergh isn't afraid to try any genre and to do it his own way. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Arizona Daily Star (Phil Villarreal)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah) (Audrey Rock-Richardson)Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah) (Audrey Rock-Richardson)
...there you are, keenly aware that if you were intellectual enough, this would be seriously exciting entertainment. But since something in your artistic-merit decoder isn't functioning properly, you’re checking your watch ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah) (Audrey Rock-Richardson)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Reno Gazette-Journal (Mark Robison)Reno Gazette-Journal (Mark Robison)
It’s an interesting movie and a good rental, but it never quite engages like it should. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Reno Gazette-Journal (Mark Robison)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Christian Science Monitor (David Sterritt)Christian Science Monitor (David Sterritt)
The film's real appeal won't be to Clooney fans or adventure buffs, but to moviegoers who enjoy thinking about compelling questions with no easy answers. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Christian Science Monitor (David Sterritt)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Sun Publications (Chicago, IL) (Josh Larsen)Sun Publications (Chicago, IL) (Josh Larsen)
...one of those movies that can mean everything and nothing at once, depending on your level of intellectual curiosity and your mood. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Sun Publications (Chicago, IL) (Josh Larsen)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Montreal Film Journal (Kevin N. Laforest)Montreal Film Journal (Kevin N. Laforest)
There is a truly memorable love story somewhere in Solaris, unfortunately it’s buried under much 2001-ish pretensions. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Montreal Film Journal (Kevin N. Laforest)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Sacramento Bee (Joe Baltake)Sacramento Bee (Joe Baltake)
This bit of pseudoscience has been made appropriately enigmatic by Soderbergh and company. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Sacramento Bee (Joe Baltake)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) (Linda Cook)Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) (Linda Cook)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Globe and Mail (Rick Groen)Globe and Mail (Rick Groen)
A shrewdly pared-down version that confines its focus to a single issue for the ages: the nature of romantic passion. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Globe and Mail (Rick Groen)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Boston Globe (Ty Burr)Boston Globe (Ty Burr)
[Soderbergh] goes so far into the terrors and rewards of romantic love that he comes out the other side into the universal. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Boston Globe (Ty Burr)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for San Diego Union-Tribune (David Elliott)San Diego Union-Tribune (David Elliott)
Both cerebral and woozy, like a Twilight Zone episode with hyper visuals, or a more vulnerable, even feminized update on Them . ...read the complete Solaris movie review at San Diego Union-Tribune (David Elliott)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Film Freak Central (Bill Chambers)Film Freak Central (Bill Chambers)
No film this acutely self-aware has fallen victim to unjust contempt so widespread since Last Action Hero . ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Film Freak Central (Bill Chambers)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Star Newspapers (Chicago, IL) (Michael Drakulich)Star Newspapers (Chicago, IL) (Michael Drakulich)
Solaris does not reduce the complex dilemma it creates for itself down to a simple set of conditions solved by a simple set of rules. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Star Newspapers (Chicago, IL) (Michael Drakulich)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for USA TODAYUSA TODAY
Soderbergh does a fine job creating a moody atmosphere of pervasive anxiety. The ending can be interpreted a few different ways and should ignite debate about its meaning. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at USA TODAY
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (Rick Groen)The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (Rick Groen)
That level of acting-without-words demands the likes of a Bruno Ganz or a Klaus Maria Brandauer, not a Clooney. Even when flashing his bare derrière in a sex scene, he isn't revealing nearly enough -- his work is just skin deep. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (Rick Groen)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Detroit Free Press (Terry Lawson)Detroit Free Press (Terry Lawson)
An example of an A-list director and movie star using their clout to do what more people in their position should: challenge themselves and their audience. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Detroit Free Press (Terry Lawson)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN) (Bob Bloom)Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN) (Bob Bloom)
As written by director Steven Soderbergh, Solaris comes across as one of those movies filled with cryptic dialogue that skirts around the story, forcing viewers to use their imaginations to fill in the blanks. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN) (Bob Bloom)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for BBC Films (Almar Haflidason)BBC Films (Almar Haflidason)
Moody and characterised by steely greys and blues, this subtle and sharp transfer is beautifully done. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at BBC Films (Almar Haflidason)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for San Jose Mercury News (Glenn Lovell)San Jose Mercury News (Glenn Lovell)
If you give it half a chance, it will bore into your subconscious, mess with your mind and leave you mumbling, 'Hmm, what if --' ...read the complete Solaris movie review at San Jose Mercury News (Glenn Lovell)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 3.00 out of 4 stars for eFilmCritic.com (Erik Childress)eFilmCritic.com (Erik Childress)
In a film of mostly singular shots and very few whole dialogue passages, the silence and unreliance on overemphasizing the glorious special effects gives the viewer plenty of time to think about the discussions the characters have. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at eFilmCritic.com (Erik Childress)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.82 out of 4 stars for Cinema Laser (Derek M. Germano)Cinema Laser (Derek M. Germano)
I can think of two reasons that as to why the Steven Soderbergh/James Cameron/George Clooney movie version of SOLARIS ($28) received a lukewarm reception (rather unfairly, I might add) upon its theatrical release. The first of which is that this SOLARIS ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Cinema Laser (Derek M. Germano)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.80 out of 4 stars for LA Weekly (John Powers)LA Weekly (John Powers)
While I could tell the love story was supposed to be moving, I kept feeling the characters' passion struggling against the virtuosity of Soderbergh's direction, which is so tight, so gorgeously lit, so worked that even when he wants scenes to be ...read the complete Solaris movie review at LA Weekly (John Powers)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.80 out of 4 stars for Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)
Ends up more challenging and intriguing than personally involving, and while these are far from small things, it is only human to hope for more. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.75 out of 4 stars for The Spinning Image (Graeme Clark)The Spinning Image (Graeme Clark)
In the future, psychiatrist Kelvin (George Clooney) is sent out to the distant planet of Solaris to investigate the mysterious failure of a mission there. He agrees to go because a friend of his was part of the crew of the space station orbiting Solaris, ...read the complete Solaris movie review at The Spinning Image (Graeme Clark)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.75 out of 4 stars for Eclipse Magazine (Sean O'Connell)Eclipse Magazine (Sean O'Connell)
An interesting concept exists at the heart of Solaris, a movie that ironically has no heart. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Eclipse Magazine (Sean O'Connell)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.75 out of 4 stars for Reeling Reviews (Robin Clifford)Reeling Reviews (Robin Clifford)
This tale of the battle between predestination and free choice may hold some appeal to more mature audiences but will be hard pressed to get the younger, laser-sword-loving sci-fi fans to the theaters. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Reeling Reviews (Robin Clifford)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.75 out of 4 stars for Bangor Daily News (Maine) (Christopher Smith)Bangor Daily News (Maine) (Christopher Smith)
Solaris is rigid and evasive in ways that Soderbergh's best films, "Erin Brockovich," "Out of Sight" and "Ocean's Eleven," never were. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Bangor Daily News (Maine) (Christopher Smith)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.66 out of 4 stars for Peter SobczynskiPeter Sobczynski
Despite the presence of such high-powered names as star George Clooney, producer James Cameron and writer-director Steven Soderbergh, the 2002 version of "Solaris" almost instantly disappeared from theaters and in hindsight, it isn’t hard to figure out ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Peter Sobczynski
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.63 out of 4 stars for Off-screen Off-screen
Che Soderbergh, frutto spurio godardiano e del suo percorso di ricostruzione teorica riguardo il dispositivo-cinema, poi adattatosi magnificamente (cioè criticamente) all’ eclettismo iconico del postmoderno dovesse prima o poi confrontarsi con la ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Off-screen
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.52 out of 4 stars for Baltimore Sun (Michael Sragow)Baltimore Sun (Michael Sragow)
Steven Soderbergh's Solaris is an uptight movie -- the opposite of his scintillating "Out of ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Baltimore Sun (Michael Sragow)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.52 out of 4 stars for Time Out New York (Mike D'Angelo)Time Out New York (Mike D'Angelo)
Whatever else one might say of Soderbergh and Clooney, they understand that clout is something you exercise, not something you safeguard. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Time Out New York (Mike D'Angelo)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.50 out of 4 stars for filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)
Fear not, Clooney fans. Those two already-infamous shots of George's butt are alive and well in the long-talked-about but barely-anticipated Solaris -- a remake of the equally infamous 1972 Russian sci-fi epic (known for its stark photography, a near-thre ...read the complete Solaris movie review at filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.50 out of 4 stars for filmcritic.comfilmcritic.com
Fear not, Clooney fans. Those two already-infamous shots of George's butt are alive and well in the long-talked-about but barely-anticipated Solaris -- a remake of the equally infamous 1972 Russian sci-fi epic (known for its stark photography, a ...read the complete Solaris movie review at filmcritic.com
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.50 out of 4 stars for Accessible movie reviews (Joe Clark)Accessible movie reviews (Joe Clark)
Every second Soderbergh film is a good one. Usually flat-out great. Is there a single thing wrong with The Limey? Doesn’t it swagger with breathtaking braggodocio through cinematic history, casting Terence Stamp and using footage from a previous film ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Accessible movie reviews (Joe Clark)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.40 out of 4 stars for Sunday Times (Australia) (Shannon J. Harvey)Sunday Times (Australia) (Shannon J. Harvey)
If you're the type to be stimulated by Solaris's weighty philosophical issues, it's a mind-bending sci-fi trip into the unknown. For all others, it will be the perfect cure for insomnia. . ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Sunday Times (Australia) (Shannon J. Harvey)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.40 out of 4 stars for Chicago Reader (Jonathan Rosenbaum)Chicago Reader (Jonathan Rosenbaum)
Missing is most of Tarkovsky's contemplative and mystical poetry (which is why it's 90 minutes shorter), and added are some unfortunate Hollywood-style designer flashbacks -- The story is still strong and haunting, but I'd recommend seeing this, if at ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Chicago Reader (Jonathan Rosenbaum)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.40 out of 4 stars for Screen It! (Jim Judy)Screen It! (Jim Judy)
Overall it's a solidly told and intriguing piece of old-school sci-fi storytelling. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Screen It! (Jim Judy)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.40 out of 4 stars for Worcester Telegram & Gazette (Daniel M. Kimmel)Worcester Telegram & Gazette (Daniel M. Kimmel)
Love it or hate it, however, there’s no question this is a seriously intended work by a major American filmmaker. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Worcester Telegram & Gazette (Daniel M. Kimmel)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.40 out of 4 stars for Dallas Observer (Luke Y. Thompson)Dallas Observer (Luke Y. Thompson)
For all its flaws, though, Solaris is a good try, and a definite improvement over the dull remakes Soderbergh has been sleepwalking through lately. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Dallas Observer (Luke Y. Thompson)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.40 out of 4 stars for Boxoffice Magazine (Wade Major)Boxoffice Magazine (Wade Major)
What words cannot express, what Soderbergh himself scarcely seems to understand, Clooney transforms into genuine, graspable human feeling. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Boxoffice Magazine (Wade Major)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.40 out of 4 stars for eye WEEKLY (Jason Anderson)eye WEEKLY (Jason Anderson)
What grounds Soderbergh's film -- and distinguishes it from Tarkovsky's more mystical take -- is the sensuality that exists alongside the anguish in Kelvin and Rheya's love story. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at eye WEEKLY (Jason Anderson)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.39 out of 4 stars for Tempi ModerniTempi Moderni
George Clooney ed il regista Steven Soderbergh sono a Roma per presentare Solaris, il film che segna il loro ritorno alla collaborazione. Clooney, distaccato ma a suo agio, coglie l’occasione di raccontare il successo di pubblico e critica ottenuto dal ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Tempi Moderni
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Internet Reviews (Steve Rhodes)Internet Reviews (Steve Rhodes)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Los Angeles Daily News (Glenn Whipp)Los Angeles Daily News (Glenn Whipp)
Soderbergh seems capable only of delivering artfully lighted, earnest inquiries that lack the kind of genuine depth that would make them redeemable. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Los Angeles Daily News (Glenn Whipp)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Miami Herald (Rene Rodriguez)Miami Herald (Rene Rodriguez)
This cold, occasionally dull movie practically defies you to embrace it. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Miami Herald (Rene Rodriguez)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Movie Parables (Michael Elliott)Movie Parables (Michael Elliott)
Solaris raises questions it cannot possibly answer. It does so that we might ponder the implications of the film long after we've left the theater. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Movie Parables (Michael Elliott)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY) (Judith Egerton)Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY) (Judith Egerton)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Duane Dudek)Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Duane Dudek)
Based on a film that was based on a book, the third generation of this tale has the pallor of a smudged photocopy of an idea that has been revived without being re-imagined. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Duane Dudek)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for The New York Times (Stephen Holden)The New York Times (Stephen Holden)
Retooled into a sleek pop fable that doesn't bother to connect all its dots, the movie aspires to fuse the mystical intellectual gamesmanship of "2001: A Space Odyssey" with the love-beyond-the-grave romantic schmaltz of "Titanic," without losing its ...read the complete Solaris movie review at The New York Times (Stephen Holden)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Movie Eye (Frank Ochieng)Movie Eye (Frank Ochieng)
As a thoughtful but self-indulgent showcase, Solaris has its rare moments of chilly reception. The film's pathos is in the pudding but the taste has the welcomed flavor of a crunchy moon rock. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Movie Eye (Frank Ochieng)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Todd Anthony)South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Todd Anthony)
Like the blood on the walls of the space station, it's pretty dry. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Todd Anthony)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Miami Herald (Rene Rodriguez)Miami Herald (Rene Rodriguez)
If Soderbergh set out to make a galvanizing conversation piece, he has certainly succeeded. But this cold, occasionally dull movie practically defies you to embrace it. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Miami Herald (Rene Rodriguez)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for MovieholeMoviehole
George Clooney stars as Chris Kelvin, a futuristic psychiatrist with a lot on his mind in the sci-fi drama SOLARIS. As the story begins, we are introduced to Chris Kelvin's solemn, yet busy life. He is a successful psychiatrist with many pending ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Moviehole
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Washington Post (Desson Thomson)Washington Post (Desson Thomson)
Even by the art film standards it apes, Solaris lacks conviction. And although it's meant to be restrained and free of emotional hysteria, the result is a movie that pretty much lies dead on the screen for an hour and a half. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Washington Post (Desson Thomson)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Entertainment Weekly (Owen Gleiberman)Entertainment Weekly (Owen Gleiberman)
Soderbergh, in essence, has come up with a plodding and far less psychologically arresting version of ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Entertainment Weekly (Owen Gleiberman)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for TV Guide (Ken Fox)TV Guide (Ken Fox)
The real irony is that for all its integrity, the film isn't nearly as thought-provoking as Steven Spielberg's recent "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" or "Minority Report", and nowhere as entertaining. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at TV Guide (Ken Fox)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Fantastica Daily (Mervius)Fantastica Daily (Mervius)
The director shows no accountability to his own audience. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Fantastica Daily (Mervius)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Seattle Times (Moira MacDonald)Seattle Times (Moira MacDonald)
While it's rather bracing to see a movie in which everything isn't spelled out from the start ... Solaris is too often a mystifying genre experiment. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Seattle Times (Moira MacDonald)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for San Francisco Examiner (Joe Leydon)San Francisco Examiner (Joe Leydon)
A technically proficient but emotionally arid folly. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at San Francisco Examiner (Joe Leydon)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Variety (Todd McCarthy)Variety (Todd McCarthy)
Despite its undeniably pure and earnest intent, Solaris is equally undeniably an arid, dull affair that imposes and maintains a huge distance between the viewer and what happens onscreen. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Variety (Todd McCarthy)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Greenwich Village Gazette (Eric Lurio)Greenwich Village Gazette (Eric Lurio)
In his quest to do at least one of every known genre of moviemaking, in ubiquitous Steven Soderbergh has decided to do science fiction. In this there is nothing wrong. But why did he decide to do one of the most incomprehensible stories Stanislaw Lem ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Greenwich Village Gazette (Eric Lurio)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 2.00 out of 4 stars for Compuserve (Harvey S. Karten)Compuserve (Harvey S. Karten)
If I were Clooney, I'd have pitched Jeremy Davies out of the space ship, though this would not have greatly improved this product. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Compuserve (Harvey S. Karten)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 1.60 out of 4 stars for The New Republic (Stanley Kauffmann)The New Republic (Stanley Kauffmann)
Soderbergh, the writer and director, has slowed his metronome almost to a crawl, has repeated and delayed and protracted, in an attempt at depth. The net effect is a small paradox: incomprehensibility caused by drag, not by rush. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at The New Republic (Stanley Kauffmann)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 1.60 out of 4 stars for Washington Post (Stephen Hunter)Washington Post (Stephen Hunter)
It could hardly be called rip-roaring. I should report that it drives about a quarter of the audience out of the theater before it is half over. That's because it's slower than molasses in Siberia. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Washington Post (Stephen Hunter)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 1.60 out of 4 stars for Jam! Movies (Louis B. Hobson)Jam! Movies (Louis B. Hobson)
A tedious, self-indulgent attempt to revisit Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey . ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Jam! Movies (Louis B. Hobson)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 1.60 out of 4 stars for Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) (Ken Hanke)Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) (Ken Hanke)
Solaris gives you a lot of time to think about other things %u2013 like how many tiles are in the ceiling of the theatre. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) (Ken Hanke)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 1.60 out of 4 stars for TV Guide's Movie Guide (Ken Fox)TV Guide's Movie Guide (Ken Fox)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 1.60 out of 4 stars for eFilmCritic.com (Oz)eFilmCritic.com (Oz)
An unoriginal piece of originality. Move on. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at eFilmCritic.com (Oz)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 1.60 out of 4 stars for filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)
This much random psychobabble hasn't flattened a movie this badly since Kirk found "God" at the center of the galaxy in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier . ...read the complete Solaris movie review at filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 1.60 out of 4 stars for Cinerina (Karina Montgomery)Cinerina (Karina Montgomery)
The Actor's Director has forgotten how to be the Audience's Director. I did not enjoy Solaris and I don't want to see it again to figure it out. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Cinerina (Karina Montgomery)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 1.52 out of 4 stars for Charlotte Observer (Lawrence Toppman)Charlotte Observer (Lawrence Toppman)
Solaris is a film where people...often...speak... like... this, and the camera moves slowly across sterile interiors. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Charlotte Observer (Lawrence Toppman)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 1.50 out of 4 stars for Slant MagazineSlant Magazine
Stephen Soderbergh takes Full Frontal into the stratosphere with Solaris, a prolonged grief counseling session with a minimalist sci-fi backdrop. Psychologist Chris Kelvin (George Clooney) is sent to the Solaris space station after the ship's commander ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Slant Magazine
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 1.00 out of 4 stars for Entertainment Today (Brent Simon)Entertainment Today (Brent Simon)
There’s no emotional pulse to Solaris . With an emotional sterility to match its outer space setting, Soderbergh's spectacular swing for the fence yields only a spectacular whiff. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Entertainment Today (Brent Simon)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 1.00 out of 4 stars for Talking Pictures (U.S.) (Tony Toscano)Talking Pictures (U.S.) (Tony Toscano)
Solaris” is a shapeless inconsequential move relying on the viewer to do most of the work. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Talking Pictures (U.S.) (Tony Toscano)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 1.00 out of 4 stars for Charlotte Observer (Lawrence Toppman)Charlotte Observer (Lawrence Toppman)
The low-budget Full Frontal was one of the year's murkiest, intentionally obscure and self-indulgent pictures, and Solaris is its big-budget brother. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Charlotte Observer (Lawrence Toppman)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 1.00 out of 4 stars for Zap2it.com (Michael Szymanski)Zap2it.com (Michael Szymanski)
One big blustery movie where nothing really happens. When it comes out on video, then it's the perfect cure for insomnia. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Zap2it.com (Michael Szymanski)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 1.00 out of 4 stars for San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 1.00 out of 4 stars for Dallas Morning News (Philip Wuntch)Dallas Morning News (Philip Wuntch)
Its audacious ambitions sabotaged by pomposity, Steven Soderbergh's space opera emerges as a numbingly dull experience. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Dallas Morning News (Philip Wuntch)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 1.00 out of 4 stars for Aufmuth.com (Jeanne Aufmuth)Aufmuth.com (Jeanne Aufmuth)
A surprisingly dull adaptation of the classic 1961 science-fiction novel by Stanislaw Lem. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Aufmuth.com (Jeanne Aufmuth)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 1.00 out of 4 stars for Chicago Reader (Jonathan Rosenbaum)Chicago Reader (Jonathan Rosenbaum)
[Soderbergh] tends to place most of the psychological and philosophical material in italics rather than trust an audience's intelligence, and he creates an overall sense of brusqueness. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Chicago Reader (Jonathan Rosenbaum)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 1.00 out of 4 stars for Denver Post (Steven Rosen)Denver Post (Steven Rosen)
A serious movie with serious ideas. But seriously, folks, it doesn't work. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Denver Post (Steven Rosen)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 0.80 out of 4 stars for Movie Addict (John Ulmer)Movie Addict (John Ulmer)
James Cameron should have stuck with being director. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Movie Addict (John Ulmer)
Solaris (2002) scores a combined 0.00 out of 4 stars for Detroit News (Susan Stark)Detroit News (Susan Stark)
The most opaque, self-indulgent and just plain goofy an excuse for a movie as you can imagine. ...read the complete Solaris movie review at Detroit News (Susan Stark)
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Ratings and rankings are based on number of movie, review scores, awards & other criteria.
Overall Rating:
2.8369
Solaris (2002) is ranked overall as  out of 4 stars
Avg Critic Score:
2.7666
Solaris (2002) is ranked overall as  out of 4 stars
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