Contact (1997)

Lisa Wilson49 said:I think you’re oversimplifying things there, Richard Howard2. It isn't just about sticking to a budget; sometimes you run into legitimate technical hurdles that can't just be solved overnight.
Especially when you've mapped everything out perfectly according to the laws of physics, chemistry, and all the other sciences, only to have the whole thing fail during testing because it doesn't work the way you imagiiiiiiiined. 🙂

In any case, that specific part of the movie felt a bit off to me too... it felt a little too "American exceptionalism" style (🙂 ), like we're just lightning-fast geniuses who can fix anything in a heartbeat.

They could have stretched that sequence out or actually shown us the complications. After all, we aren't talking about atmospheric conditions on Earth; we're talking about outer space, an environment where we don't exactly live.

🙂

I don't think they needed to obsess over those technicalities because that's not what the movie is about. The point is that they build it and head into outer space, and honestly, the attention to detail is higher than most other films in this genre—it's convincing enough.
Besides, Americans (though it turns out it wasn't just Americans involved later on) were essentially handed the blueprints by aliens anyway. They just had to execute the plan.

BTW, they weren't running the machine in outer space, they were doing it on Earth. Did you even watch the movie?

adriatic said:She accepts the reality that her experience can't be proven—that by the strict rules of empirical science, "it never happened"—yet she remains absolutely certain that it indeed did. She’s grasped the inherent limitations of scientific inquiry without letting it erode her confidence or her sense of hope. Her faith isn't placed in God, but rather in herself, in the vastness of human potential, and in the existence of other intelligent life.
It's really just the distinction between organized religion and spirituality being an essential part of the human condition. 🙂

👍
I don't have any major issues with the movie. And honestly, I'd probably pick up the book, even though I wouldn't call myself a huge sci-fi buff.

steelstag4 said:👍
I don't have any major complaints about the movie. I would like to read the book, even though I am not really a huge sci-fi fan.

If you aren't a science fiction enthusiast, I wouldn't actually recommend the book. It isn't nearly as "sweetened" as the film version. It’s more of a systematic deep dive into technicalities and granular details—stuff that might not sit well with someone who doesn't already love the genre.

Rather than reading Contact, just pick up his book Cosmos. Honestly, in my opinion, it is the best thing I have ever read. It offers this romantic, magnificent perspective on the world. For me, that book is practically a bible; it covers not just outer space and astronomy, but the entire world, all delivered through the incredible narrative talent of Carl Sagan. Even those who despise these subjects will find themselves hooked. It isn't a novel, per se, but the movie is essentially more of an adaptation of the ideas found in Cosmos than of Contact itself. Everything is interconnected since they were developed around the same time.

Trust me. Find Cosmos and read it. It is absolute enlightenment for the human mind. You will truly feel happy after finishing that book. And yet, it only tells us what we have always known...

Wouldn't it have been way easier to just call Clinton and ask him to hop in front of a camera and ramble for a bit? I highly doubt those were actual special effects. Since Kennedy was dead, they obviously had to "bring him back to life" just to make the movie work.

I don't even know why they couldn't just say he actually acted, but I've seen people talking about that special effect all over the place. Look, it was an effect.

nimblemarlin17 said:Wouldn't it have been much simpler to just call Clinton and ask him to come on set and ramble at the camera for a bit? I highly doubt those were special effects. Since Kennedy was dead, they obviously had to "resurrect" him for the movie's sake.

It's special effects. 100% 😉

Do a little digging online and actually look up some info regarding the production.

I think the ending was pretty stupid.

Richard Howard2 said:The effects are there. 100% 😉

Do a little digging online and look up how they actually filmed this.

Honestly, that just makes the movie better. It bumps up the score. Though... they probably would've saved a ton of cash if they'd just convinced him to show up and do his job properly.😛

Hetmasteen said:Here’s my absolute top pick for this thread:

1. Contact

Will you marry me?

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

I honestly can't remember if I ever mentioned who my #1 pick was—I think I've watched Contact at least a hundred times! It is such an underrated gem, hands down my all-time favorite... though Abyss is a very close second.

Thanks so much, you totally made my day! 🙂🙂

Olivia Alvarez said:Will you marry me?

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

I can't even remember if I ever read someone mentioning that Contact is my number one... I think I've watched it at least a hundred times. It is such an underrated gem—honestly my all-time favorite—with Abyss right there behind it.

Thanks so much, you really made my day 🙂🙂

For me, Contact being a legend is a given; it's easily one of my favorites. It’s incredibly underrated, and in my opinion, one of those rare films that manages to be deeply intelligent and genuinely witty all at once.

I truly believe that movie is still light-years ahead of its time—back in '97, it was already way ahead of the curve, and honestly, it still feels far ahead of where our society is today.

Ethan Martin said:Personally, I think Contact being a legend—it’s easily one of my all-time favorites! It is so criminally underrated, and if you ask me, it’s easily one of the smartest yet most deeply moving films ever made.

In my opinion, that movie is still way ahead of its time. Even back in the late '90s, it was lightyears ahead of where we were, and honestly? It still feels ahead of modern society. It's just on another level.

Sign me up for everything!🙏 Seriously, it’s totally ahead of its time... And man, the book was incredible too, but there is just something about the film that hits differently... That intro sequence? Unbeatable. Truly the most beautiful opening ever. This movie actually inspired me to major in physics—it legitimately changed my life.

https://onezero.medium.com/why-conta...e-bdea86d0c8d0

Olivia Alvarez said:Sign everything.🙏 It’s light years ahead of its time—honestly, totally... While I found the book absolutely fantastic, there is just something about the movie that hits differently. That intro? Unbeatable. It’s easily the most beautiful opening sequence I've ever seen. To be fair, the film actually inspired me to major in physics—it truly changed the course of my life.

I just finished reading this piece on why *Contact* remains such a massive standout in the sci-fi genre—and honestly, I couldn't agree more. It’s one of those rare films that manages to feel both deeply intimate and cosmically vast at the same time. The author makes a really compelling argument about how the film handles the concept of "the first contact." Instead of leaning into the usual Hollywood tropes of laser battles or global panic, it focuses on the intellectual and emotional weight of the moment. There’s something so profoundly human about the way it explores our curiosity and our fear. It also touches on the legacy of the story, specifically looking at how much we still talk about it decades later. When you think about the sheer scale of the themes involved—science vs. faith, the loneliness of the universe, the drive to understand the unknown—it’s clear why it holds up. It isn't just a movie about aliens; it's a movie about us. If you haven't revisited it lately, or if you're someone who prefers science fiction that actually makes you *think* rather than just providing a spectacle, this is definitely worth a read. It really captures why *Contact being a legend* isn't just hyperbole—it's an earned reputation.

👍

Both the film and the book had quite an impact on me growing up.

I don't think I've ever seen a film—aside from Contact and 2001: A Space Odyssey—that truly delivers such a profound message to humanity. It’s rare to find a movie that bridges the gap between spirituality and science so seamlessly, showing how they actually complement one another. They shouldn't be at odds; in fact, they shouldn't be—they're two sides of the same coin. The human spirit and scientific inquiry aren't opposing forces; they are essentially one and the same.

It’s honestly a struggle to even begin explaining this movie to someone—I know, I know, I've said it before and I'll say it again—but the film is just lightyears ahead of its time.

Contact is basically what Arrival was back in the 90s. Or honestly, maybe Arrival is just the 2010s version of Contact. Hehe.

Arrival is overrated; Contact being a legend is the truth.☕

bluecyclist64 said:Arrival is a total letdown—Contact is a legend.☕

Hahahhaha, you hit the nail on the head there, man.👍

Honestly, Arrival is such a massive disappointment... what a waste of time.

Comparing it to Contact? Good grief. I’m just going to stop typing now, because I can already feel the wave of Arrival fanboys coming for my throat.

Look, I genuinely love working with films from Denis Villeneuve—I really do—but Arrival is massively overrated.

Where does it even stand compared to Contact? God help us.

Ethan Martin said:Hahahhaha man, you nailed it.👍

What a freaking mess this whole "arrival" thing is...

Comparing it to Contact? God help us. I'm honestly done typing because I just know I'm gonna get roasted by everyone defending Arrival.

Look, I'll be real—I love director Denis Villeneuve, but Arrival is way too overrated for my taste.

Where does it even rank compared to Contact? Not even close.

Yeah, it's a bit better.

Grace Sanchez50 said:Yeah, it's a bit better.

Oh, absolutely—everything about it feels like it belongs in the 16mm era. It’s tense as hell. You get this genuine sense of being caught in a fever dream, and honestly, the longer you wait for the resolution, the more you just want to yell at the screen.

And believe me, I have plenty of patience when it comes to cinema. But comparing this to Contact—which, again, holds you captive from the opening frame to the very last through sheer intelligence—is a stretch. That movie carries a message that I’ll say it again: it’s still incredibly ahead of its time today.

Contact doesn't lean on psychedelia like Arrival does; it goes straight for the jugular in that classic 90s style—direct, intellectual, and even spiritual.

If you were to suggest I sit down and watch Arrival again, I’d probably have to ask how much you're paying me.

Grace Sanchez50 said:It’s like Contact is basically the Arrival of the 90s... or maybe Arrival is just the Contact 2010 version. Hehe.

Honestly, Arrival is my total guilty pleasure... 😳

But I mean, the one from 1996...

Morgan Rodriguez57 said:Arrival 1996 rocks. It's my absolute guilty pleasure. 😳

But specifically the one from '96.

Hahahhaha, I feel you!

I actually posted something similar here just the other day—Arrival 1996 rocks! It's always been such a favorite of mine. Just one of those movies I truly love. High five! 🙂

I think I caught Arrival in theaters back in '96, if my memory serves me right...
Had the Contact VHS at home too.
I’ve got the book in English, though I haven't actually sat down to read it yet.😢