Great show, like the comment that was made by Gareth (I think?) about some films not needing to make sense. Like Jett said, some films are like pieces of art, you just have to let them wash over you, without demanding to be gripped or amused. Solaris is definitely one of those films.
I love Solaris version 2, which does have the advantage of being only 90 mins long. There's a lot to be said for not making things any longer than they need to be - which is a comment for the Michael Bay's of the world rather than the Kubricks and Tarkovskys.
You know I haven't seen the original 'Solaris', but it seems to me that SS's version has some Christian themes, particularly the line brought up by the Good Prof. Dr. (i think) "am I alive or dead? / we don't have to make that choice anymore" (or it was something to that effect) along with the imagery of the spaceship floating towards the giant pink "planet", as Maestro describes resembling an egg being fertilized... these seem to conjure up the christian doctrine of being "born again" (the egg/fertilization=new life, or "re-birth" of the crew) and the Christian belief that there is life after death...therefore, with the line "am I alive or dead", we don't have to concern ourselves with death, because a Christian believes they will go on living eternally, even after death.
Interesting if so, as I assume Tarkovsky is Russian (showing my film ignorance here, but that's why I tune in to TFT), where Christianity and most (all?) religions were discouraged.
The book? Humorous -- but I won't go farther....let's just say my own father was a self-proclaimed "PRAC" - Protestant Revolting Against Catholicism, while attending a catholic high school....
“Spiritual Investigator” is a very good description for Tarkovsky. He was a man of faith (and doubt) who had a high view of art and its ability to explore meaning and truth – he described it as a “detector of infinity”.
The_Baron
Though it's a bit late for The Mummy 3 reviews, here's a great synopsis of the film. (warning: this link leads to a guy who does not say family-friendly things, but is utterly hilarious)
Not only did the D.H.S. keep me stuff till today they also BILLED ME for the privilege of inspecting and storing it! (the U.S. resembles Terry Gilliam's Brazil more every day).
