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'Solaris' Screen Adaptation Forthcoming

Posted by Hemos on from the shine-on-your-bright-sun dept.

Jooly Rodney writes "No, not the operating system, the sci-fi novel by Stanislaw Lem, long considered to be a classic of the genre. Apple's movie trailer site features a teaser trailer, and IMDb has George Clooney and Natascha McElhone as the leads Kelvin and Rheya."

18 of 185 comments (clear)

  1. Trailer showing before Minority Report by Greyjack · · Score: 3, Informative

    They're running the trailer before showings of Minority Report (at least, they were yesterday at the matinee I went to). Only names mentioned in the trailer were James Cameron, Steven Soderbergh, and George Clooney.

    Needless to say, those three names along with some beautiful deep-space type footage definitely piqued my interest.

    1. Re:Trailer showing before Minority Report by Oily+Tuna · · Score: 5, Funny

      James Cameron, Steven Soderbergh, and George Clooney

      My God, it's full of stars!

      --
      Mmmmmmm ... sushi.
  2. Another one? by dazed-n-confused · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Andrei Tarkovsky's Russian adaptation of Solaris (1972) was the first, of course, and is widely regarded as a sci-fi classic. Let's hope this isn't another unnecessary Hollywood remake.

    1. Re:Another one? by Allen+Varney · · Score: 4, Funny

      Andrei Tarkovsky's Russian adaptation of Solaris (1972) was the first, of course, and is widely regarded as a sci-fi classic.

      ...by those who haven't seen it. Most desperately, petrifyingly boring film I've ever seen. The movie spends ten or fifteen minutes just showing a guy driving home. Just driving. You think I'm exaggerating.

      This being a Russian film, everybody's character arc takes them from depressed to depressed, visiting many states of depression in between. On a spaceship that somehow manages to look like a spare bedroom, the artificial gravity gets temporarily turned off, and we see a depressed couple floating mournfully in mid-air, while seated in chairs.

      Four hours of my life I'll never get back.

    2. Re:Another one? by Huge+Pi+Removal · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I know Tarkovsky isn't to *everyone's* tastes, but he had some amazing techniques. Highlights include:

      * Very long shots (as in, not the fast cutting you get these days where the average shot length is about 3 seconds). It really adds to the mood of the film, makes you feel like you're part of it.

      * The driving scene builds from being a road with a few cars to an immense cacophony of noise, light, etc. It definitely has a point.

      * A lot of highly thought-provoking dialogue (something that's rather lacking in most films).

      * His autobiography is called "Sculpting in Time", which ought to give you some idea of what he's trying to *do* with his films.

      And to answer the poster below, maybe Lem didn't like the film, but I bet he wouldn't like some brash American remake either. I'm sorry, but at least Tarkovsky turned the novel (or ideas contained therein) into something worth watching and learning from, rather than a sloppy piece of entertainment-action.

      'spose I'd better stop ranting now...

      --
      - Oliver

      The right to bear arms is only slightly less stupid than the right to arm bears...
    3. Re:Another one? by j_hirny · · Score: 3, Informative

      "And to answer the poster below, maybe Lem didn't like the film, but I bet he wouldn't like some brash American remake either. I'm sorry, but at least Tarkovsky turned the novel (or ideas contained therein) into something worth watching and learning from, rather than a sloppy piece of entertainment-action."

      Well, he actually ignores it. As it is written here:

      Interviewer: This (new "Solaris") movie is going to be produced by James Cameron, the director of "Titanic".

      Lem: I don't know, although it's quite possible that Cameron will make it. You know, I don't care about it a lot. The more the Americans are engaged in any project, the less the author has to say. Still, the idea that now some forty scriptwriters work over my novel doesn't bring me a lot of satisfaction. For the time being I am not even allowed to look into the scenario. But I wouldn't like to do it, as I am afraid that after reading it I'd be really angry. Also, what can you find interesting:

      I: Solaris by Tarkowski is the most famous adaptation of any of your novels, although it's quite far from the original novel. Philosophical debates became more stressed than the dialogue between astronauts and the ocean.

      Lem: Situation is very delicate. Although I have a lot of respect for Tarkowski's movies I hate this one. I tried to presuade Tarkowski from his odd ideas for exactly six weeks. The scenario missed the novel too much. Tarkowski created Kelvin's family, he added some terrible aunts and uncles, which were removed after my rant.

      Hope it helps. And feel free to correct my English. ;)

  3. Aw man! by Rhinobird · · Score: 4, Funny

    I was looking forward to a movie based on an operating system...

    --
    If Mr. Edison had thought smarter he wouldn't sweat as much. --Nikola Tesla
    1. Re:Aw man! by Alsee · · Score: 5, Funny

      I was looking forward to a movie based on an operating system...

      I hereby declare open season on "Microsoft Windows - the movie" jokes!

      After the previews - the screen turns blue.

      You go to your local 12 screen megaplex and Windows is playing on all 12.

      Any time anyone enters or leaves the theater they have to restart the movie.

      You have to show a valid passport to enter the theater.
      Your passport serial number is used as a permanent tracking number.

      The MPAA initially rates it as "unsuitable for general audiences", but becomes strangely cooperative after having lunch with Microsoft's laywers.

      It requires projectors with a proprietary variable frame rate technology.

      The admission is $120 and includes a free Microsoft popcorn, free Microsoft Cola, and a free Microsoft CD player (incompatible format with DRM).

      30 minutes of the footage will have to be patched the day it's released.

      There will be a sequel every 2 years.
      Episode 3.0 will be the first one to hit theaters. Unlike Star Wars, you really really don't want to see the prequels.

      It won't appear free on TV a few years later.

      The soundtrack will feature the songs "Developers, Developers, Developers, Developers" and "Monkey Dance" preformed by Steve Ballmer.

      The commercial for Windows with mention that Penguins may carry rabies and Apples may cause food poisoning.

      Six slashdot readers (always the same six) will post here saying they LIKE the movie, and all the negative reviews are unfair Microsoft bashing.

      You call movie phone (777-FILM) and discover the greeting has changed to "Welcome to Microsoft's Moviephone..."

      When they deliver the film to the theater they will install new security doors. A week later a major newspaper will run a story saying that back doors are unlocked on all the theaters. Microsoft will blame the reporter. As a fix, Microsoft sends "Exit only" stickers for the back doors. 3 days later there's an article about a buffer overflow in the popcorn machine. 2 days later they find a buffer overflow in the restroom.

      A talking paperclip will appear in the corner of the screen and say "It looks like you're watching a movie!"

      -

      --
      - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
  4. One of the most difficult movies ever by z7209 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I've seen Solaris a couple of times in the past. The original is in Russian. Not knocking it, but it is one of the most difficult movies I've ever seen. It is inspiring you to get drawn in, but it is very perplexing. On the face of it the story is simple, but it is multi-layered.

    It is also perhaps the most non-Hollywood movie ever made, so you might as well assume right now that Cameron, Steven, and George are not capable of remaking as complex.

  5. Horrible travisty by jpatters · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Horrible travisty to remake such a great picture that so few have the opportunity to see. They should restore the original and release *it* to theaters. That being said, at least Clooney is a decent actor, unlike Mark Wahlberg who got tapped to fill the shoes of Carey Grant in the remake of Charade. I would also like to take this opportunity to recommend that folks go out and get the DVD of the original Norwegian version of Insomnia, instead of seeing the remake. Damn remakes.

    --
    "Remember, there never were pineapple-almond cookies here."
  6. 'Solaris' Screen Adaptation Forthcoming by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    There's a fan site re both "Solaris" movies:
    http://www.k26.com/solaris/

  7. This is a remake of another film by DavidBrown · · Score: 4, Funny

    Just having watched the trailer, and having read the description of the original Russian film from imdb.com, I can only conclude that the new Solaris is a remake of:

    Ren & Stimpy: Space Madness

    My bet is that George Clooney plays Stimpy.

    --
    144l. ph34r my 133t l3g4l 5k1lz!
  8. Re:it will... by Lemmy+Caution · · Score: 3, Informative
    It may be better. Tarkovsky himself was not fond of his own version of the film - he made it in order to get funding for his other films. Stalker is a better film.

    In light of Soderburgh's career, Solaris, with its anxious, looming regret for the failures of relationships past and poignant sense of human limitation, is an ideal film for him.

  9. Original movie lacked beauty of book by texchanchan · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The book has scenes of unearthly beauty which did not appear in the original Russian movie. For instance: the vast, wonderful, possibly sentient structures that grew on Solaris. These (a major plot element in the book) did not appear in the 1972 movie--a real disappointment.

    Hope the new movie does better.

  10. Eye oWn SOLARIS :) by roman_mir · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It is actually my license plate BECAUSE of the book and an intended double pun! Good lord, people on the streets have being asking me if my name is Solaris :) One guy asked me if I was Sun's owner :) My answer to those is: -"Solaris" is Greek for "sunny" and I drive a convertible. Get it?

    Sometimes I am left to wonder who the hell surrounds me here in Canada.

    check out my sig:

    --
    You can't handle the truth.
  11. Remember Event Horizon by alphaseven · · Score: 3, Informative
    Paul Anderson's (Mortal Kombat) Event Horizon (1997) was a loose remake Solaris.

    I'm in the minority that I liked Event Horizon. Still with Hollywood now making an adaptation of Red Dragon when Manhunter was a perfectly good film, you have to wonder what the memory span of film producers are.

  12. Re:Solaris on DVD by eggboard · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I was lucky enough to suck it off the Sundance channel via ReplayTV. It took me weeks to watch it. Parts of the film, like the LONG DRIVE BACK INTO THE CITY are hypnotic, mesmering, trying to show us an alien intelligence of alien coldness in our own environment.

    Frankly, I'd love to see the less brainy alternative. Tarkovsky's is brilliant, barely accessible, odd. The flip side would be terrifying, fast paced, etc. The book is full of terrifying moments, which I think don't get captured through the intellectualization of Tarkovsky's film, although he captures the horrible, horrible isolation and alienation.

    --
    Freelance tech journalist for the Economist, MIT Technology Review, Macworld, and others
  13. Re:Solaris on DVD by Phil+Wilkins · · Score: 3, Informative

    Region 2 is still in print

    Region 1 is harder to find

    Region 0 is out there