4 ms·

The newer film stands on its own pretty well, it doesn't really need to be compared against the previous film. There are enough ideas behind Solaris that yet an

The newer film stands on its own pretty well, it doesn't really need to be compared against the previous film. There are enough ideas behind Solaris that yet another film could be made based on that material (and probably will be, someday). The most obvious variation would be shorter still: a film similar to Clooney's remake, but without quite so much development of what was already a dead character (Kelvin's ex) and without the softening of what was objectively a pretty bleak ending. But I think the newer film actually works really well. All the other people who were seated in the theater when I went to see it during its theatrical release seemed to feel the same way. All three of them.

cubefox 4y ago
I agree, the Soderbergh/Clooney version is fine as well. Though I wish movie adoptions of books wouldn't so often replace bleak endings with less bleak ones. It feels almost patronizing. Like a mother who reads a book to her children for which she thinks they are slightly too young, so she replaces more serious parts with watered down fragments she invented herself.
- justin66 4y ago
  It's been so long since I read the novel, my recollection of the end might be wrong. In my memory Kelvin is still alive at the end of the novel, which makes it technically a less bleak ending than what Soderbergh did (although that last scene in the film puts a more benevolent spin on the situation than is warranted, which didn't quite ring true). But it might be time to revisit all of that, I wouldn't mind reading it again. Watching the film again is easy, but the novel is an interesting case. Apparently the best English translation (the only direct translation to English) is not available in print, only as an audio book. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solaris_(novel) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solaris_(novel)
  - cubefox 4y ago
    The ending in the book is more rational and disillusioned. Bleak is probably the wrong term. Though for me it is now also long since I watched the movies or read the book. The direct Johnston translation is also available as ebook, the Kindle version uses it. I just looked at it and the writing is still not super fluent for my taste. But this might be due to the fact that it was a mid-early Lem novel. In his later (especially more humorous) books, his writing style got much more witty and playful.
    - justin66 4y ago
      Thanks. If the kindle version is cheap I'll pick it up.

cubefox 4y ago

I agree, the Soderbergh/Clooney version is fine as well. Though I wish movie adoptions of books wouldn't so often replace bleak endings with less bleak ones. It feels almost patronizing. Like a mother who reads a book to her children for which she thinks they are slightly too young, so she replaces more serious parts with watered down fragments she invented herself.

justin66 4y ago
It's been so long since I read the novel, my recollection of the end might be wrong. In my memory Kelvin is still alive at the end of the novel, which makes it technically a less bleak ending than what Soderbergh did (although that last scene in the film puts a more benevolent spin on the situation than is warranted, which didn't quite ring true). But it might be time to revisit all of that, I wouldn't mind reading it again. Watching the film again is easy, but the novel is an interesting case. Apparently the best English translation (the only direct translation to English) is not available in print, only as an audio book. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solaris_(novel) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solaris_(novel)
- cubefox 4y ago
  The ending in the book is more rational and disillusioned. Bleak is probably the wrong term. Though for me it is now also long since I watched the movies or read the book. The direct Johnston translation is also available as ebook, the Kindle version uses it. I just looked at it and the writing is still not super fluent for my taste. But this might be due to the fact that it was a mid-early Lem novel. In his later (especially more humorous) books, his writing style got much more witty and playful.
  - justin66 4y ago
    Thanks. If the kindle version is cheap I'll pick it up.