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Thank you, Charles Owen. I'm glad SOMEBODY didn't like this movie. Yes, Jodie Foster was good, but Matthew McConaughey was ridiculous. And the fact that Ellie falls for this smarmy character, and even forgives him after he stabs her in the back with his "Do you believe in God?" question and makes her look like an idiot in front of the entire world and (apparently) destroys her chance to do the one thing she's been waiting for all her life, simply proves that directors and screen-writers still think that women can't be serious about anything but men.
By the way, all you writers who can't figure out how she got to Vega and back in 18 hours: she went through a worm-hole. It's a short-cut to different parts of the universe. It was proposed by Einstein, and is the time-honored sci-fi explanation for how humans can travel between the stars. Well-used in Star Trek and many other shows & movies. You could tell Ellie went through a worm-hole from the shape of the tunnel she went through, and anyway, either she or the alien mentioned it once she arrived. My 9-year old son had no trouble figuring it out.
From: Goodwin Deacon gdeacon@edcc.ctc.edu. Wed August 27, 1997.
I saw "Contact" tonight and I can't say much. I am speechless, and three hours later I am still left in a sense of awe. I have so many thoughts but I can't put one idea down about the movie except it ruled. Best Movie. Best Actress. Best Everything.
From: Thomas Jockers tj19@sprintmail.com. Thu August 28, 1997.
Brethren of Earth, it is time.
At long last, Sagan's indescribable novel about the coming of age of humanity has been adapted for the big screen - an imperfect medium, but a tremendously widely accessible one. I hope only that the messages that Sagan wanted to convey weren't lost in the mere exhiliration of wonderful effects and moving acting.
I have read and re-read Contact more several times, each time gleaning a deeper and more meaningful message from its pages. After the first read, I was impatient for a movie adaptation. I wanted the glories, the pure exhiliration, that the novel had brought to me to be made accessible to the rest of us who don't have the time or maybe even the desire to read such a demanding piece. This desire for Sagan's message to be made widely available was tempered by a fear that 'Hollywood' would twist the storyline into a hokey, run-o-the-mill sci-fi alien flick. Thankfully, Robert Zemeckis quieted my fears. I had originally wanted the novel to be changed little if any in its big-screen transformation, but movie studios and directors have budgets too. So the compromises were made, and they are major hacks from the storyline, but the core message still gets through: we are one people, and our future of exploration can only serve to unite us further.
The perspective Contact gave me on our species is immeasurable. Imagine: we are all motes of dust on a slightly larger mote of dust hurtling through our galaxy. Our planet is surrounded by radically different environments and objects, yet we still bicker about things such as imaginary territorial lines and 'cultural differences'. Truly, any differences we may have between each other, real or otherwise, are dwarfed, made Lilliputian in comparison to our diferences to the rest of our universe. We as a species need to grow up, to overcome our intellectual adolescence and realize what great things we can do when we work as one.
But don't let me overestimate our differences with the universe. As the last chapter/episode of Cosmos points out, we are made of starstuff. The heavier elements of which our bodies and our planet are made were synthesized in the cores of stars billions of years ago. We are, to quote Dr. Sagan, a way for the cosmos to know itself. Let us not forsake that noble calling. It is fully within our capacity to begin the explorations beyond Earth that are far overdue. To put a human not just on the Moon, but on Mars, is now quite possible. It may take a number of years or decades, but it could be begun in the here and now. We can make a difference to the future; we have no choice but to influence it. Why not make that influence a great one indeed?
I have strayed from the original point of this communique to pass on just a hint of my passion for all that Dr. Sagan stood for and passed along to the rest of us. Contact is the embodiment of my hopes and dreams for us, for us to realize our place - both in the universe and for each other. I encourage anyone and everyone to read Dr. Sagan's novel Contact if you enjoyed the movie adaptation. Some of you have said that the perspective gained from the movie changed your life; you, most of all, should read Contact, as well as Cosmos and Pale Blue Dot. I urge every moviegoer to not miss the point, the message, in Contact. Sure, it was a great and stirring movie, but don't leave the movie in the movie theater. Explore the new avenues of thought that it may have opened. Re-examine your stance on space exploration in our time. There is a lot to learn about ourselves by exploring alien worlds; we may actually, finally, make contact with each other.
I encourage any readers to contact me at the following email address: gt4329b@prism.gatech.eduThank you for taking the time to read my thoughts. My best wishes to you all...
From: R. F. Morris, III gt4329b@prism.gatech.edu. Mon September 1, 1997.
Jodie Foster is the _BEST_ special effect in 'Contact'. The waves of emotion she displays starting at her encounter with 'Some celestial event...so beautiful...' are the among the most powerful I can recall seeing on the big screen. Incredibly moving. Thank you Jodie!
From: George Hoehn hoehng@erie.ds.boeing.com. Tue September 2, 1997.
Hello! I'm writing from DEPERE, WISCONSIN, home of Dr. Ellie Arroway. I'm trying to find out how to reach someone from the public relations at Warner Brothers or whoever distributes the movie to see if I can get some Contact merchandise donated for a fund raiser here. Does anyone have any ideas?
From: Ellen & Michael Rosewall rosewall@netnet.net. Wed September 10, 1997.
The movie was rather long I thought. But it was the best 3 hours I have ever spent. The idea alone attracted me to see this movie. Initially, I thought it'd be a run-of-the-mill space spoof much like MIB or Mars Attack. Was I ever wrong. It was produced with utmost truthness about our human fears and failings. There were many subtle points to the movie which made me ponder my beliefs. For instance, Palmer Joss' constant scrutiny of Ellie Arroway's convictions on faith and religion. As a scientist she is entrusted to make conclusions based on empirical data and observation. As a student myself, we are taught to reason and conclude based on what we can support and defend through tangible means. But growing up as a Catholic we are taught to put faith in God's word. Space has always been a hobby of mine but never found the movies to portray what I consider inspirational theatrics. 'Contact' has completely changed that. I want to read the original book by Carl Sagan (but with my current school readings I doubt it) sometime soon. If the book is better than the movie I'm seriously thinking about changing my major. :-)
From: John Morada moradaj@gunet.georgetown.edu. Thu September 11, 1997.
This is the BEST movie I've ever seen. It puts everything that I believe and feel into prespective. Carl Sagan is a master for writting this and Jodie Foster was excelent. When's it coming to video so I can buy it???
From: Borowski borowski@worldnet.att.net. Thu September 11, 1997.
Le CONTACT est pour le 17/09/1997 et il aura lieu en FRANCE.Ce film je le connais c'est a "quelques gros details pres" mon histoire !!!!!
From: wagneur wagneur@webbar.fr. Sun September 14, 1997.
Yesterdey I saw the film. I liked almost all, but found TWO BIG ERRORS:
1- Putting the dead father on the planet. That killed the science. Up to this point the film may be believable, but reviving the dead father and putting he on the far planet kille all traces of science.
2- The relativistic effect was portrayed IN THE WRONG DIRECTION !: For the traveling woman (which was accelerated) the time runs MORE SLOWLY than for the resting humans on the Earth. So, if she lived (got old) 18 hours, on the Earth would have passes much more time, NOT LESSS !.From: Luis G. Restrepo Rivas lrestrer@eeppm.com. Wed September 17, 1997.
I went to the movie theatre with my friend. Jodie Foster is so a my favorite actress that I bought the book which introduce "Contact". I think the probrem between Science and Reagion, but this movie gave me what I shouldn't forget.
From: Masae Abe (Tsuda college) c96801@tsuda.ac.jp. Thu September 18, 1997.
Contact is the best movie I have seen in a very long time. It is well thought out and does not assume its audience is incapable of understanding complex ideas. It is also one of the only movies I have enjoyed more than the novel from which it was derived. The book was excellent in its own right. Carl Sagan is a man to be admired by atheists and theologians alike. I think it is wonderful Jodie Foster was not intimidated by the genre of Contact. She did a superb job and I cannot wait for her future performances.
From: Catherine M. Fellet fellet@bc.edu. Thu September 18, 1997.
CONTACT is an excellent effort. It is unusual for Hollywood to take such a chance with a summer blockbuster movie. Science Fiction is only an extra ingredient in what is essentially a re-telling of the classic story of the hero's journey. The other basic ingredients are there. For example, HR Hadden is a combined wise old guide, and trickster figure. The viewer must interpret for him/herself, just how much of each he is. And so on. This movie treats the viewer with respect, allowing him/her to decide how to interpret the story, and how to take meaning from it. Many of the characters are just caricatures, but how else could such a sweeping story be told in about 150 minutes?
From: Gilbert Humphrey ghumphre@ccd.cccoes.edu. Sat September 20, 1997.
Oh, Robert Zemeckis, I deeply admire you.
When I was 11 you made me dream and rave with 'Back to the Future', when I was 18 you made me cry with 'Forrest Gump' and now you have made me happy with 'Contact'.
Maybe part of my vision of Life and progress is based upon your work. I don't know why but I had an assumption when I went to the premiere of Contact here in Spain. Not only you haven't dissappointed me but you have corroborated my ideas on God, Universe, Universal Frienship and search for the common goodness. Robert, you are great!!
Please go on making movies and making people happy! You do have a great hold on the art of making them superb, and what is more, getting the people the right message you wanted to give.From: Diego Humanes diegohum@mailcity.com. Sun September 21, 1997.
Me and my boyfriend have just saw Contact sunday evening and it was just great. It makes you see from other way what would happen someday, cause I truly believe that there´s life far away from here. I hope that day will show cause it will be interesting to prove that we´re not alone and if it´s not true...what a waste of space! don't you think?
From: Caroll Vásquez, Guatemala producci@infovia.com.gt. Thu September 25, 1997.
Please excuse if I write it in spanish.
Creo que "Contacto" es una de las mejores peliculas que he visto en este ano. Y existen varios aspectos para destacar en ella y ubicarla dentro de mis favoritas.
El tema.
Me encanta tener la sensacion (que es de por si certeza) de que no estamos solos en el universo. No solo seria "un desperdicio de espacio", sino que existirIa la sensacion de que el universo esta en malas manos...ver correr a la doctora Arroway, en el momento del descubrimiento, dando ordenes exactas de lo que se debia hacer, en ese tan esperado momento, hace pensar que existe gente que busca el fin de esta vasta soledad. Esto nos pone de cara a la labor desarrollada por entidades como la sociedad planetaria, que quiere hacer de conocimiento de todos, los esfuerzos hechos por conocer el universo.
Despues del descubrimiento de la senal, el desarrollo del tema, se hace de manera genial. Me gustaron bastante los enfrentamientos que la pelicula plantea, como son los de Gobierno Vs cientificos, religion Vs ciencia...amor Vs conocimiento y experimentacion...etc. Creo que lo mejor de la pelIcula se encuentra en el desarrollo de esos conflictos.
Los Personajes.
Creo que lo mas importante de los dos personajes principales, es su deseo de conocer la verdad de las cosas. Esto es importante, porque muestra dos puntos de vista muy humanos, que son la religion y la ciencia.
Jodie foster realizo un excelente trabajo en esta pelicula, donde caracterizo un personaje excepcional. Quizas solo ella y los investigadores del "SETI" sepan lo que se puede sentir en el momento de hacer contacto. Creo que con eso expreso mi sensacion de la veracidad y credibilidad de su personaje. No quiero hablar de su belleza, porque creo que es algo que todos sabemos y que no es neceario repetir, pero los primeros planos a su cara son fabulosos, creo que jamas le habia visto los ojos tan azules. Me gusto ver el nerviosismo de su personaje en el momento del primer "lanzamiento", ademas de su fuerte caracter.
El papel de Mathew McConaughey como el doctor Joss me parecio bueno, y me gustaron los momentos en que enfrento a la doctora Arroway, con argumentos bien estructurados...en fin!...creo que los personajes son excelentes y bien trabajados...me parecio fabuloso el papel del cientifico ciego...parecIa ser bastante sensible, y tener el universo en la cabeza. Cada pelicula la hacen los personajes, y creo que en esta ayudaron a crear muy bien cada situacion.
Los Efectos especiales
El diseno de la maquina, la capsula, el viaje a traves del wormhole...hasta hacer actuar a Clinton!...fueron excelentes...pero los acercamientos al universo...es cierto!, "debieron mandar a un poeta"...por favor sigan haciendo buen cine.
Por favor! si Jodie o Bob preguntan por mi diganles que
Saludos desde Santa fe de Bogota...Colombia.
From: Juan Mauricio Garrido L. jgarrido@cumbia.telecom-co.net. Fri September 26, 1997.
It was just the most fantastic show I have watched for a long time. It is intellectual, unlike so many of the so-called "thrillers" on show nowadays. Jodie was excellent in the whole show.....and some scenes were just so heart-rendering. Ellie in the show just sort of portrayed this childhood dream of mine to be a astronomer. This wish of mine never came true, but seeing it on the screen does bring back so many wonderful memories of childhood. Kudos to Jodie Foster for potraying Ellie so well.
From: Jared Ng Wei Lik weilik@mbox3.singnet.com.sg. Sat September 27, 1997.
Magnífico !
Por primera vez Hollywood utiliza el sentido común para tratar "el" tema. Grandes dosis de tolerancia e imaginación es lo que le falta al mundo. Que Dios (o como le quieras llamar) os bendiga.
In Divine friendship.From: Joan Noguera hmt@grn.es. Mon September 29, 1997.
I watched Contact this afternoon and I found one goof in it. In the sequence at the begining when we're near Jupiter we can hear Robert Kennedy has been assassinated. That happenned in 1968. Supposely the movie takes place in 1997 and that transmission (travelling at the speed of light) should be 29 light years away from the earth now; even farthest than the message from Vega. The distance from the Earth to Jupiter is aprox. 35 light minutes. Well, you can tell it is a retransmission of it, but I don't think this is what the filmmakers intended. Any questions? You can e-mail me to mcsoto@cmet.net.
From: Juan mcsoto@cmet.net. Tue September 30, 1997.
The Best Movie I Have Ever Seen!!!....
From: ORR al259074@academ01.qro.itesm.mx. Wed October 1, 1997.
Hello out there...
OK - this is supposed to be some kind of an opinion about CONTACT. I would say that i have seen a movie which is worth the money i paid for watching. And even more,a lot more because J.F. was totally fascinating. She is my favourite actor (except DeNiro of course) and did an overwhelming job in this movie. The last thing i want to say is: Do not care about all this MEN IN BLACK SHIT , it is boring and only depending on great visual effects,great explosions and stuff. But nobody can tell me that Will Smith is doing a good job,can you. A good actor stays a good actor,and a bad ... you can imagine.
---A movie should live from a good actor and nothing else---Cogratulations Jodie - a very good job
PS: Keep your eyes open for CASINO (deNIRO,Penn,Stone) better believe it
From: NOSFERATU 021564646-0001@t-online.de. Thu October 2, 1997.
Yesterday, I saw this excellent movie. The last scene of this movie is on congress. And at that scene, Ellie is examined whether she has gone to Vega or not. It's true that we can't assert that she has gone. But it's true that Ellie has seen "the heart of the universe". Because, Ellie's journey to the universe means the journey to her own heart.
From: matsunaga yoshiyuki faust@ymg.urban.or.jp. Fri October 3, 1997.
I have seen Contact twice now and think that it is one of the best films I have ever seen. I don't really care what those who did not like it think, it's a damn good film and I don't understand what more they wanted. I have always been interested in Cosmology, Astronomy and so on and this film has inspired me to further my career in that area. Surely this must be a testment to the film when it can change even one persons life?
Yours,From: Christopher Hagon, England c.hagon@uel.ac.uk. Tue October 7, 1997.
I think this is a great movie, very inteligent and modern, but, is relativism to the extreme what human being realy needs!
From: Torres Segarra Yolanda ytorres@bmv.com.mx. Wed October 8, 1997.
This movie is just powerful with great effect, acting, story, and message. This movie did certainly leave some questions about life on us.
From: Ferris abcdefgh@fat.coara.or.jp. Thu October 9, 1997.
this is the best movie I've ever seen about our first contact with us, I hope this movie could change our point of view about all, this pictures give us a message, what important is the human for the universe, and what important is the universe for the human.
From: abm, México CITY adn@data.net.mx. Thu October 9, 1997.
Ce sont les films que Contact qui vous réconcilient avec les grands écrans. Vraiment, c'est un magnifique film, où Jodie Foster est à la mesure de son talent : excellente. Bravo à toutes et à tous pour nous avoir fais rêver...
From: Bruno bruno.bodet@skynet.be. Fri October 10, 1997.
Hoy diez de octubre fuí al estreno en Monterrey, México de "Contacto". Según mi memoria, ha sido la mejor película que he visto en cuanto a temática, interés, predecibilidad (casi inexistente), visión ideológica, captación de la realidad, utilización correcta de la tecnología (en cuanto a computadoras también), actuaciones, comienzo de la trama, contenido y final de ésta. Jodie Foster merece el Óscar, y no sólo ella, sino la película entera.
Es un filme muy inteligente, no hay tonteras como en muchas, te divierte, te entretiene. Se maneja un conflicto entre la religión y la ciencia muy interesante, existen muchísimas frases en la película dignas de razonarse, y por una de ellas no escribo este documento en inglés, puesto que el 70% de la población no lo habla... jeje.From: Rubén Lozano Aguilera rlozano@metro.com.mx. Sat October 11, 1997.
The movie is definitely too long... Too much tears, bravery, long scenes sitting at the canyon rim. The first movie in a long time that made me want to leave the theatre and made me angry afterwards that I didn't leave (I waited for good scenes to come, hopeless).
From: Joachim Haberer jhaberer@t-online.de. Sun October 12, 1997.
It is significant how many people say Jodie Foster was great : the sound effects were great
Take those two elements away and the film is shown for how shallow it really is
Why didn't Jodie try to contact the aliens by radio, what was Palmer doing down in Mexico in the first place, how did he get so much power, who says 95% of the world believe in one almighty being (ask the two million people in Asia) why did the aliens take Jodie so far without showing her anything of their all powerful race, why were they not more inquisitive of her, what did she think of the 18 hours of static on the tapes
I saw it last night Very Disappointing Very inadequate Screenplay
I should have listened to the review that referred to 'trite hokey melodramatics shallow characters maudlin flashbacks uneven performances, heavy handed exposition and infantile conclusions' - was that guy right !From: Sam jassa@globalnet.co.uk. Sun October 12, 1997.
Contact: Brillant movie. Loved the plot, the way it was developed. Shows that how superior aliens can be.. and yet be mindful of the little experiences human have. Jodie Foster acted with force and passion ... really moved me.
From: npyim@pacific.net.sg. Sun October 12, 1997.
Contact is one of the most thought provoking, beautifully acted, and well written films of this generation. I've seen it four times and each time I left the theatre with a sense of awe and wonder even greater than the first time. Congratulations to the cast, crew, writers, director, and producers of this film. I've been a fan of Carl Sagan since the days of Cosmos and I think you did well by him, I'm sure he would be more than pleased. Thank you for bringing his message to a mass audience in such an inspiring way.
From: amy beard contactab@webtv.net. Sun October 12, 1997.
It was simply wonderful. it was touching, sweet, interesting, everything. Jodie Foster was great, and the special effects were simply outrageous. beautiful!! Ellie was an incredible woman that no matter how hard it was for her to obtain what she wanted, she got it!!! And I loved the music too.
From: JOSE EDUARDO BUENROSTRO VIELMAS 105310.2366@compuserve.com. Sun October 12, 1997.
Hi I saw this movie the last saturday here in Peru and it is just great. The acting of Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey are incredible. I think that this movie have all the components of our society, it show us things about politics, sociality, discrimination, and many other stuff. This movie is amazing but I do not agree with the character of Jodie (Ellie) in the movie she says that she doesn´t believe in god because she doesn´t have a testimony or proofs(pruebas) about his existance, but I say, if we have a little of faith, and if we trust on what the bible says be sure that God is real. There is only one mistake in the movie and I think that this happens in all the modern movies, Ellie just met Palmer and they sleep together inmediately. Thanks
From: PAUL SCHMIDT paschmi@mail.cosapidata.com.pe. Wed October 15, 1997.
Contact just opened tonight in Australia, October 10, and i just thought it was fantastic. All characters gave great proformences, especially that of Jodie Foster. I was not a big fan before i saw her tonight, but wow! She is a great actress and gave her all for this great film.
From: Matthew Tremigliozzi @onaustralia.com.au. Thu October 16, 1997.
CONTACT is the most phenomenal movie I have ever seen! Never before have I been so awe-struck by a movie, and I work in a video store! One of the things that really caught me about the movie was the link made between science and God. It really captured my feelings and thoughts in a way that I felt nothing could. My best friend Paul and I saw the movie two nights ago, but I haven't stopped thinking about it since. Bravo.
From: sarah bloom sbloom@elmira.edu. Fri October 17, 1997.
Contact was great, of course. But, there were some problems with the science. Not "reviving the dead father" (it was not her father, it was an alien pretending to be to make her feel more comfortable), not the relativistic effect being "in the wrong direction" (she went through a wormhole, which is general, not special relativity, i.e. it was not time dilation due to going near the speed of light, but rather a hole in spacetime, where the end of the hole she came back through came out a split second later in time than she left). The problems were: (1) The problem someone already mentioned that the broadcasts at the beginning were going back in time much too quickly (2) There would be no way to make a signal that was coming from miles away seem like it was coming from 29 light years away, due to parallax. Also, as someone already mentioned, the 95% believer figure is wrong (but he said 2 million Asians, when he meant to say 2 billion). For more on this stuff, see my article at http://www.apopalypse.com/rev/skeptic/contact/contact.html
Bye!From: Markus De Shon markus@apopalypse.com. Fri October 17, 1997.
we just saw the movie that spoke up our minds.We are simply speachless... Here we read of so many people that think right as we do! Great movie, great subject, you did a great job !!!!! One last thing: oh, how we would like to have a chat with all of you people. I guess we could have such a great conversation!!!!!!
So we think " We are not the only ones on this planet....." We are astounished, amazed and really still in the movieFrom: Mirko mirva@tin.it. Sat October 18, 1997.
Why oh why can't we have more films like CONTACT? It's like a breath of fresh air! Thank you for no shootouts & (yawn) car-chases. I had only one moan. I would have loved to have seen more Vega-Sequences & a little less Home-Politics & Media-Comment.
I loved it where she finally gets into the machine. That took real guts! The fear was so well acted & I loved the 2 polite Japanese Guys with their bows.
The Vega-Sequences were something magical & wonderful FX. The "touching the heavenly light" scene is the best!
The interesting point is the similarity between her trip to Vega & reported Near-Death-Experiences.
Did the writers use material from Near-Death-Experiences in the script? I can't wait for Contact 2 3 4 etc & the TV spinoff.From: Alex Hughes in Germany Lx.Hughes@t-online.de. Sun October 19, 1997.
I loved the film, even though I had some reservations about certain parts of it. On the whole, it was super, especially the very beginning and Ellie's 18-hour-trip in the capsule (I wasn4t crazy about the meeting with "Dad" though...). Jodie Foster made the movie, for my part. I mean, the special effects are wonderful and all, but if not for her, the intimate, personal part of the movie would have got lost in the middle of them. She has this capacity to be strong and vulnerable at the same time and I could perfectly identify with her. I didn't like McConaughey (spelling?) all that much, though. He wasn`t very convincing. What I liked most about the film was Ellie Arroway and the way she had of seeing things and hoping. Most of what she said about God is my point exactly. IMO, the movie is about her as a human being with worries and problems and also faith. Superbly done! :-) --
This film conveys so much beauty and such a peaceful view of the universe and the future that every teenager should go and see it. Most of the films on the same subject are awesome experiences, impregnated of violence, pessimism and horrifying extraterrestrial beings. This one gives you the opposite picture of the galaxies. Jodie Foster is a sensitive, smart yet vulnerable, focus of attention.She's as great as ever.A magnificient film to be seen by everyone.
From: VB, Portugal ee94037@tom.fe.up.pt. Sun October 19, 1997.
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