MovieChat Forums > Contact (1997) Discussion > I couldn't really get into it despite lo...

I couldn't really get into it despite loving Interstellar

posted 10 years ago by ohdearurdead
37 replies | jump to latest

I was 7 years old in 1997, and I never saw this movie as a kid. I imagine the worm hole scene would have blown my mind at the time.

I have seen almost every movie in the IMDB top250, and yet when I saw Interstellar last year, my life was changed by it. This isn't some sentimental bullcrap that I would say easily, no movie in history has done that to me. It was life-changing without exaggeration.

Anyway, I went into this movie trying to find some kind of similar vibe here. ALAS.. I could watch Interstellar probably 3 times in a row loving every minute, but this was awful. I was bored out of my mind the entire time.

Is it that this was groundbreaking in the 90's, but that it's a little hard to take in the modern times? Good story telling and emotions don't expire, after all. I was really sad I couldn't get anything out of it! The two hours before the climax are absolutely unbearable and meandering.

[–] carlc64 9 years ago

....blows away anything in Interstellar IMHO (I just re-watched it recently -- it holds up pretty damn well for an almost 20-year old film). If you're just looking for "wow special effects" than I suppose overall Contact would disappoint -- but I find the story much better than Interstellar (and the book of Contact better yet -- they made it more wishy-washy "oh you have to rely on faith too" in the movie -- probably for the dumbed-down American public; 70% of which thinks angels intercede in their personal lives.....but I digress.....

[–] Diss 9 years ago

I love the science aspect of the film. And I was blown away by Interstellar as well. The religion aspect of this film is a huge downside. It's a product of its time. Sagan wrote the book the 80's which was dominated by religious conservatism during the Reagan era. I used to hate turning on the TV and seeing religious crap on major broadcast networks on Sundays. At the time the book was written, religion was still a major part of American society. It's not like today where most people ignore religion (or keep their beliefs to themselves mostly). I don't even know anyone who goes to church. Although I live in a very sinful city...

The comment in the film where 95% of people in the world believe in their version of god seems way off the mark. It seems to focus on Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) and ignore huge Asian populations which don't practice such religions. And that's not including Native Americans and other indigenous peoples.

It's not as special effects crazy as Interstellar, but I love both films. I thought Jodie Foster did an excellent job here.

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] fp_ff_fp 9 years ago

Interstellar is just utterly illogical unscientific garbage that makes little sense. Most of the science in that movie is just nonsense.

Contact doesn't have pseudoscience nonsense like Interstellar does although it takes liberty too entering scifi territory but kept the story tight and believable for most part.

Contact is a 9.5/10 whereas Interstellar is a 3.5/10 from me

[–] markleonard0131 9 years ago

For me Contact is one of the most amazing films ever made and showed Jodie Foster to be one of the most talented and beautiful actresses there is.

[–] phil97012 9 years ago

I've watched this movie 10 years ago. I loved it.
And I've watched interstellar... And not that fun..

Maybe it depends on which one you watched first.

[–] dcobbimdb 8 years ago

To the OP...

I love Contact, and yes I am older than you, but I don't think that matters any. I really think it's a "what moves you" kind of gig... I loved Contact for a few reasons, one because it had a feasible means of alien contact, two because to me it seemed realistic far as how other parties and the real world would react and such, and three because I quite enjoyed the religious vs scientific quarrel throughout the entire movie, which is quite intertwined while conflicting. Far as the end with the aliens, well it may have been underwhelming to some, I chalk this up as we didn't quite have the technology to really do it right, even know we could dub Clinton believably, lol. But to your point though I really think that movies these days (and Hollywood in general) feel the need to blast us out of our seats. In that I mean try watching other movies of this era, if you feel washed up, well then take it as you're desensitized a bit and re-evaluate things maybe...

Far as Interstellar, I like that movie and while I have it on file I've only watched it a couple times. I think it's great but honestly it's dificult for me to watch all the way through. It like Contact is a slow building long movie and I don't particularly care for the earlier parts. While a lot of thought went into the movie and especially with the ending sequence there was a part of me that was a bit bewildered as I started squandering the chicken and the egg bit. Admittedly I really hate "time travel" bits where something already exists and yet we survive through it because we must have built it at some point. That part didn't really didn't sit well with me as it doesn't in most movies that use this technique. Aside from that point Interstellar was a good movie

A final thought about Interstellar, I give a lot of credit to sound / score and I love the fact that interstellar really hit the mark with the score. It's simple and yet quite effective, somewhat like Jaws... Years will pass, I will remember Interstellar, but what I'll remember more than anything is the score. Okay time for me to shut up now....

[–] Degree7 8 years ago

The movie didn't really do the book justice.

The book has a bit of a twist ending that is quite profound. I'd advise anyone to pick up the book, it's much better than this movie or Interstellar for that matter.

~ I'm a 21st century man and I don't wanna be here.

[–] Wombstar 8 years ago

Interstellar for kids with short attention spans that rate CGI over story and substance.
a film that's over before it started.

Contact for adults who are intelligent and can indulge in an interesting story without explosions and mass special effects. A slow burner than takes it's time and leaves the views feeling something.

Both very different films. Interstellar has more replay value because it's loud, fast food cinema and fun. Contact leaves a longer impression.

[–] StinkyGreenBud 8 years ago

I agree. Interstellar is pretty mediocre. It's visuals are nice sure, but everything else felt rushed like most modern films these days. Films today seem to skip over character development and go straight to the action. I just saw the new Star Trek film and it pretty much fits what I just said.

[–] kaifreeman37 8 years ago

You are right, interstellar is something out of space movie. It got me deep to my core, i remember when i got copy of movie I watched it 2 times at day one, at day two I watched movie 2 times again, at day three I watched movie one more time. After that I've seen movie another 2 times. I feel somewhat good and calm knowing that I can load it up and watch again. I'm crazy so what, I feel like I don't belong in this world, my place is between stars. And they are calling me