it's a great movie, learn a lot about radio astronomy after seeing this. I think the ending is wise enough to giving back to us to decide do we believe or not

I was expecting great things from this movie but I felt the ending was a let-down. It's like...whatever.... Enjoyable for the first viewing I couldn't sit through it a second time. Jodie Foster did a fine job throughout.

Probably the most emotional movie I've ever seen.

A lot of people really hate this movie. I personally love it. I think astrophysics is really cool. This was released in 1997 when everyone was crazy about aliens. The motif isn't as popular now, so it may not be so appealing, but it's still a great movie. Jodie Foster does an excellent job. The film explores galactic communication through matehmatical signals, possible space travel, and the conflict between science and religion. It's entertaining and very well-made, and it really causes the viewer to reflect on what he or she really believes, as some things are open to interpretation. I'd say this is a must-see.

one of my favorites. inspirational, really. makes you stop and think about your place in our vast universe. jodie foster delivers yet another great performance.

Not as bold as the book, but credible and literate nonetheless. Foster was born for the role, but the remainder of the cast seemed out of place. Sagan might have gone on to wow Hollywood even more, but we'll never know. Should be in everyone's DVD collection.

I'll bet that most of the people that saw this movie only knew Carl Sagan because of the way he said billions and billions on PBS. Sagan felt that the likelihood of intelligent life in outer space was minute. The premise of the movie was good, but the execution was dry and sloppy.

Seriously, WTF gives with the ending?

Unnecessary use of special effects on Jodie Foster's teeth during her 'endeavor', she doesn't need to look any scarier than she already is.

There's just something about this movie that is just awesome. Maybe because its not a "shoot up all the aliens" movie. Maybe becuase it makes you think long after it ends. I believe in ET life, and this is really the only movie that appeals to me in a great way that has ET in it. Jodie Foster is good.

Jodie Foster does her usual excellent job, and Tom Skerrit is his usual sleazeball self, but the movie was way too long, and the payoff was a little disappointing. In fact, the ending was hardly an ending. It raised more questions instead of answering any.

Fantastic film. One of the very best of the 1990's, direction is excellent from the always reliable Zemeckis, Foster is her usual superb self in her first stab at science fiction. Great supporting cast. Top music and sound.

i waited three hours to find out the alien was nothing but her damn father.

One of the best pieces of serious science fiction I have seen. Unfortunatly, this movie is quite long, and some of its scenes are a bit tedious. Because of this, the movie does tend to stagnate in places, and keeps a second viewing from being as entertaining as the first. The first time one sees the film though, one cannot help but find the entire movie quite powerful and engaging. I haven't seen better. The characters are very well developed, and the scientific prinicples used in the film are real. The actors protray their characters almost flawlessly, and even James Woods brings off his character well. The use of Bill Clinton in the film was unnecessary, and some of the special effects used to insert him don't hold well, but the viewer is intrigued by the characters, and is left to ponder his own conclusions about extra terrestial life. A great movie for any fan of Sagen, and all people who like serious and believable science fiction.

When I first saw this film,I thought it was great,however on second viewing,not so great.Too long by 20 minutes at least. Excellent beginning,but director Zemeckis then goes overboard.The destruction of the first transporter was a waste of screen time and bogged the film down.I kept thinking "get on with it already"...The love interest was an obvious tack on.Jodie Foster was sensational, and was not even nominated for an Oscar.Go figure!.Overall still a good film,that could have been something special.

Horrible! I expected more alien contact. The movie dragged on and on and on and on and....

Written first by Carl Sagan as a best selling novel, this movie is full of interesting theories about the possibility of alien contact and explores the idea of how it could happen. Intellecutally and visually stimulating. That's why I love this movie.

While this film shows how the protagonist never achieves her goal, the development in the story is quite interesting. The visual graphics are well made and the acting is excellent. However, the screenplay lacks scientific depth which makes the descriptions of the scientific work too complex to understand.

This was bad. It tried to be a Sci-Fi movie but failed. It put in too much science and not enough believable fiction. The characters were wooden and had no depth. The love story that underlaid the plot was unbelievable. There was no depth to the movie even. I ended up not believing she'd make contact, and I beleive in ET.

Thought provoking and inspiring. This is an idealistic view of the first encounter of humans and extra terrestrial beings and a reflection on the shortfalls of human hubrus and self interest. It is intelligently written and takes into concideration principles of physics such as general relativity.

The only reason this didn't get a five rating is because of the slow beginning. Beyond this, the movie leaves you with questions and wonders. The movie's graphics were also quite unique.

Better than the book, which they butchered. But the book took forever, and this was only slightly better.

I thought the plot was missing something. I think the beginning of the movie, as in the first 7 minutes, was amazing and I was so excited about the movie. Then as the plot got going, it wasn't as good. I am a huge Jodi Foster fan since Silence of the Lambs so I still really like the movie. It was also refreshing that the plot didn't revolve around a man and woman romantic relationship.

Excellent movie! I didn't know anything about it before seeing it. I assumed it was about space travel/other life forms etc..I was thrilled with this spiritual look at what is "out there!"