![[Contact]](/contact/1332ba5/contact.gif)
Your Comments:
curious
Monday, December 02, 2002 at 00:24:58 (PST)
Hi everyone. Great movie, definately one of my fav. I saw
Contact when it first came out, and many more times after that.
I havent read the book, So I dont know if my question has
already been covered. Is the point of the machine, to
produce a force in the fourth spacial dimension pushing
the craft through. Ex. - torque is a vector product of
2 vectors (A and B) in 2 dimensions (like rotating something
around an axis). Even though the original vectors are in 2
dimensions, the vector product is in the direction of the
3rd dimension with a magnitude of (A*B)sin(theta). By
spinning something around an axis and also rotating it
in the 3rd dimension, are you in effect creating a force
in the fourth dimension? For torque the longer the lever
arm, the more torque you can generate. In the movie, this
would be why the rings were so big, and why there were
multiple rings. This way they could generate a force in
the center great enough to rip through 3-dimensional
space. This would mean that the aliens were four dimensional
beings (not counting time as a dimension). This also explains
why they read on a 3-dimensional level, and why the being dr
arroway first saw looked like a floating blob to her. The
floating blob would be how we 3-dimensional beings see a
fourth dimensional creature. I recently read: Hperspace
by Michio Kaku, and suddenly all these seemingly insignificant
details of the movie make perfect sense. Also a look at
Kaluza-Klein theory has been very thought provoking. Anyway,
If anyone has heard this idea ( and i'm sure someone has ) or
has some good links on some scientific explanations of the
movie, please post them. Thanks.
Tim (Kameetrei) <Shyvirgo15@aol.com>
Saturday, November 30, 2002 at 14:52:31 (PST)
I'd just like to say that Contact is my absolute most favorite
movie, and it's been that way for years since i first saw it.
Every time I watch it, I go cold when the messages from space
are first heard. Every single time. it's such an awe inspiring
feeling.
Now, i've read what everyone has thought of the movie, and I
never looked at it with the angle of science versus religion,
in a sense. Maybe because I still have many years to live, and
also, I am not religious, nor scientific in the way I work
generally. But I do understand where that angle is approached.
The way I always saw the movie was that it told us that we
truly are never alone, and no matter what will happen in the
future, wherever we go, we are truly not alone, because if
there is nothing out there in space, then what we truly have
is the beauty of of it All, and the curiousity,dream and hope
of being part of something greater than anything we've ever
known in our small solar system, and possibly ever will.
Timothy
Alex Obasola <alexobas@aol.com>
Thursday, November 21, 2002 at 15:53:26 (PST)
It has been said before but this is a legendary Movie. It is
more than a movie - it is a statement about the human
condition. The religious believers become the 'doubting
Thomas's'questioning Ellie about her journey. Ellie, only
seeks empirical evidence and explantion during her
experience. Which from a relativiuty viewpoint is real.
Key concepts are the theories surrounding multi-dimensional
journey's. TSolar Wormholes and travel beyond the speed of
light- at the speed of thought are all possibilities.
Mathematics cannot yet explain these concepts not can it
point too the precise equations that might lead us to these
potetialities.
occum's razor, has its place - but so often in life we have
seen that obvious explanations have not been correct.
Was it not obvious that the world was flat - at least to
the historical masses. However the more complex explanation
was that a whole variety of planets revolve ecliptically
around a single sun. That the sun revolves around the earth.
Quantum theory also fails to answer crucila questions about
space mass - dark matter and the exsistence of blackholes.
I liked the equation that was calculated in 1972 - evaluting
the key factors for the probability of extra-terrestial life
in outer space.
Dankoty <dankoty@aol.com>
Friday, November 15, 2002 at 12:22:08 (PST)
The ) shape motif was supposed to be the big dipper
constellation. At least... that's what the filmmakers
said in the DVD director's commentary track.
Alkaseltzer
Saturday, November 09, 2002 at 06:49:30 (PST)
Only 1 question for the Contact's-Gurus ppl: what is
the ")" shape (a kind of horizontal flipped
"C" shape). You can see it during the Elli's
father death scene (pop-corns on the floor) and ...
at the end of the movie... (little sparkling stones
on the Elli's hand)... Maybe the Vega's constellation?...
What else....?
san antonio dude
Friday, October 18, 2002 at 23:41:06 (PDT)
i'm a guy with a degree in architecture (had started in aerospace
engineering, but realized i did not have the discipine), am now
currently a unix admin...and i also come from a family with
several preachers...to give you a little background
i saw contact when it first came out at the theater....i didn't
even know what i was going to watch....we just picked something
at random to pass some time.
i was floored. the movie was perfect, i completely understood
the reasoning and logic.....the play between science and faith
was fun!
this movie will not appeal to unsocial science fiction geeks
looking for aliens and lasers....this movie is much about
people and the human condition, and less about flying saucers
and little green men.
for those of you who don't understand the ending, basically it
works this way: an alien world might have nothing in common
with ours, therefore they used her own memories to construct
visuals and enviroment that was comforting and familiar. the
movie implies that her body left and came back, but even that
is not necessary. (but for the plot sake, i think that she did
leave and come back)....the meeting on the beach is a
construct....none of it was real. just a form of communication.
the plot was great, the acting was great, the visuals were
very good.
i'm glad the creators of the movie to did not destroy the
movie by trying to make it appeal to your average person.
"i didn't understand it....they can't have beaches on that
alien world"
Cynthia Tang <AsianDragon8@hotmail.com>
Monday, October 14, 2002 at 21:08:35 (PDT)
i saw the movie it was great! i wish were i could buy
the movie? When Ellie was in space that was the best
part of the film
Tony L.
Saturday, October 12, 2002 at 14:03:17 (PDT)
Kudos to Mr. McDonald 10 posts below (8/8/02 @ 10:41),
a must read for all. Mr. McD correctly stated the
central theme of the movie. The powerful wanted
someone of faith to be the witness but when the time
came they rejected the evidence, refusing to see based
on their own values, which have nothing to do with faith at all.
This is the way of the world, a story as old as the
Passion Play, if not from long before. The moral is
we will never really uplift the human condition until
prejudice and covetousness become relics. The solution
to so many problems are only a thought or a new 'dimension' away.
Tony Lucio <theredpriest@altavista.com>
Saturday, October 12, 2002 at 13:29:28 (PDT)
Just read an article which mentioned the movie so I did
a Google search for kicks. Amazing this forum has been
up for so long and still going, a testament to the power
of this film. It is without a doubt one of the finest
movies made in the last half of the 20th century, right
up there with Gandhi, Private Ryan and Schindler's List
(forget ET or Close Encounters; Star Wars was a different
genre, as much fantasy as science fiction).
I always felt this film was greatly underrated by the
press and the public but that just goes to show the
real state of our current head-in-the-sand culture,
depicted by the film itself. Foster deserved a third
Academy Award. A classic film, right up there with
Casablanca, Gone With The Wind, Ten Commandments and
Godfather. Contact could easily replace Birth Of A
Nation, Pulp Fiction or Duck Soup in AFI's top 100. Sometimes
Hollywood doesn't know "realism" when it sees
it. Here's a link to the top 100:
http://www.filmland.com/news/afi100.html
Which movie should Contact replace? Appears there are
quite a few not half as good. Just my 2 cents.
ayashi <ayashi_nessie@yahoo.com>
Monday, September 30, 2002 at 04:16:38 (PDT)
the movie is great. our teacher just assigned us to
watch it because we're going to take an exam about
the movie. all my classmates love it. it tells more
about the reality of life and God! how i wish to see
paradise and to be with God at the end of time!!!!!!
Vladimir Bellini <vlasvlasvlas@hotmail.com>
Thursday, September 12, 2002 at 21:26:03 (PDT)
i love this movie.
i just see it at tv [tnt] i'm from Argentina
i read the book Contact before the movie was made
long time ago now..... i will rereaded again tonight
thanks sagan for such a great...story!
no words to describe it
it's just. great.
i'd love the 'travel' sequence. its....amazing.
..uau.
ok.
so .. increidble.
Jacksine
Thursday, September 05, 2002 at 03:07:32 (PDT)
The best movie ever! (Well, in my opinion... It's my favourite).
Intelligent, interesting... The real SCIENCE fiction movie(I am
studing astronomy). What more to say: it speaks for itself!
Dan (again)
Wednesday, August 28, 2002 at 09:07:01 (PDT)
Oh, and get the DVD with the commentary from Jodie
and the director! Use closed captioniing to find
the correct spelling of occum's razor or see if it's in the book.
Dan <dankoty@aol.com>
Wednesday, August 28, 2002 at 09:04:07 (PDT)
I argue with my friend about the 18 hours of tape. She
says the film-makers "got Einstein's theory wrong."
She says if Elly went at the speed of light, she would be
gone for a long time (earth time) and when she returned,
Elly would claim she was only gone for a very short
time. I say that Elly must not have gone at the speed
of light. The machine must "do" something
else. Carl Sagan wrote the book. He couldn't have
"gotten it wrong."
Alberto Morganti <amorlav@infol.it>
Sunday, August 25, 2002 at 09:12:36 (PDT)
really a great movie ! like this site ! I think you
should indicate other links and other images to develop
a very deep discussion about the deepest human thought :
that's intelligent life in other planets
James T.
Tuesday, August 13, 2002 at 21:21:16 (PDT)
There isn't really much to say, I can't,it's simply a magnificent film.
As for a sequal,would be great but I doubt it (unless someone knows for sure)
This site is great, the movie is great.I think its wonderful that people from all
around the world have come together around a film with a message that(however
corney it may sound) transcends nations,religions and ethnicities.It's a beautiful thing.
moon-yong <kafka172002@hotmail.com>
Tuesday, August 13, 2002 at 10:05:44 (PDT)
I watched it dosens of times. the movie always make me easy.
and remind my dream when i was young
It's an awefully waste of space if we are live alone in this universe. it's an maxim
I love everything that movie and I wanna be a astronomer eventhough in my thought.
I'm southkoean
I'm much pleasure to find many people love "contact"
chris mac donald <chris_virgo74@hotmail.com>
Thursday, August 08, 2002 at 10:41:30 (PDT)
I believe that this was one of the better movies i seen in a
long time. The only other movie i really enjoyed comparatively,
was good will hunting. Contact delivers the seemingly contradiction
between faith(maybe religion) and science(proof). Ellie is a firm
believer in science, although ironically, it is her faith that
makes her journey possible. In addition, the supposed panel believed
in some sort of God. Though they had no faith in ellie. thus, ellie
believed only in science, though it's science, or lack of proof that
let's her down. The panel of judges believe that a person of faith
shoud endeavour this mission, though when the time comes, and there
is no proof, they do not believe her.
chris mac donald <chris_ virgo74@hotmail.com>
Thursday, August 08, 2002 at 09:52:28 (PDT)
I do not think this movie is about aliens. Contacts real motive is
to reastablish the seemingly contradiction between faith(maybe
religion) and science(proof). In the beginning ellie believes in
proof, not faith. Though, ironically it is her faith that guides
her through her journey. It's funny how 90% of the world in this
movie believe in some religion or another, but have no faith in
ellies' proof of alien existence.
Bill Wendt <wendt@sunflower.com>
Monday, August 05, 2002 at 00:21:02 (PDT)
Does anyone know if someone has posted an animated gif of the
machine in action, either slowly rotating or with the emf storm
in the center with high rotation????
Mike
Saturday, August 03, 2002 at 13:48:52 (PDT)
Will there be a follow up film to Contact? Does anyone here have some information as to this?
Mike
Luciano Fioreze <josuefioreze@hy.com.br>
Sunday, July 14, 2002 at 15:17:19 (PDT)
Caros amigos, primeiramente eu gostaria de dizer que eu adorei este filme.
Eu gostaria de saber se existe algum lugar onde eu possa comprar uma maquete
da " Maquina " , e gostaria também de receber outras informações sobre
a " Maquina ", como, por exemplo, quem a criou, etc... .
Obrigado pela atenção, e fico aguardando uma resposta,
Atenciosamente.
tomas <bata@data54.com>
Tuesday, July 09, 2002 at 19:14:33 (PDT)
Julie you sayd , you don´t know if it was her father or not, I think it
wasn`t, because he sayd that he took that form to make the things better,
i mean , to not produce a high impact in Judie`s feeling, i think this
could be a possible explanation,
So I believe he was an alien in fact.
Finally I think that the human civilitation must use all his potential
and his money and his ideas in investigate the universe.
sorry for the language mistakes, i`m learning english.
And this forum is awesome ! thanks to all of you
Julie S <gobfuse@yahoo.com>
Tuesday, June 04, 2002 at 12:46:05 (PDT)
I watched this movie again last night, and I gleen more from it each
time. I've argued with myself whether the 'father' image on the beach
is actually her dad or ?, and I had a feeling it might be her father. When
Ellie says that the aliens 'downloaded' her thoughts for this experience,
they were all experiences that her and her father shared - (and to which
the 'being' on the beach neither confirms or refutes that statements, so
that's Ellie's own conclusion) the beach, the meteor shower they experience
before she 'leaves' etc. The symbolism that occurs at least three times
in the movie of the common shape, shown by the popcorn on the floor, when
her dad collapses (sort of like a crescent shape), then the points of light
in the sand he picks up and shows her on the beach, then at the end of the
movie when Ellie picks up the dirt, and the points of light are present
again. Also on the beach, Ellie says 'why did you contact us?' and her
'father' says 'you contacted us', it's interesting here to note how Ellie
went to her little radio after her father's death and calls out for him
on the radio - was that perhaps the 'contact' that prompted him to send
her a message?
It seems coincidental that her father passes away around the same time
that Vega started beaming their 'message' down to earth. Maybe this
was a very self-centered, Ellie-centered movie, where just this experience
could have only been meant for her, and somehow her dad knew she would be
the one to answer the call for it.
The part where they say the 'ball' passes straight through the space ship
and falls into the water, is ridiculous, because the observers are just
seeing it from one time-space point of view. It could have appeared to
drop through to the water in a matter of seconds, but when it went
through the ship itself, maybe that's when the 18 hours of blank video
occured, etc. People judge on appearances.
Oh well, I ramble on, I'm still not sure about the father thing, but I
have a feeling it's not an alien, but her dad and his race on Vega that
sent the signal in hopes that Ellie would 'bite'. Oh well, it's just
one way of looking at it - I'm sure next time I see the movie, I'll have
another way!
Gunnar <gunnar@csi.com>
Thursday, May 30, 2002 at 11:44:35 (PDT)
So, after having a while to digest this movie, what does everyone think
this movie is all about? In my opinion, it's deliberately vague on the
answer to the question: Does God Exist. The thesis of the movie is
definitely all about the question. From a science fiction point of
view, it makes no sense. Why would aliens make contact, and then not
really make contact with humanity, only Ellie. Why would aliens appear
to her as her father? It's not less jarring for her to see the alien
in a way that is totally unexpected to her. Why would he say "your
mother's hands", when this information could not have come from her
mind? I think this movie is Carl Sagan saying to the world, "I
thought there was no God, but I was wrong".
NCOLON7545 <NCOLON7545@YAHOO.COM>
Sunday, May 19, 2002 at 11:11:19 (PDT)
Can anyone tell me the actual beach the scene with Jodie Foster and
her "alien" father were filmed at. What country, etc...Thank you.
Piotr Bizukojc <bajzon@gmx.net>
Wednesday, May 15, 2002 at 13:54:21 (PDT)
"Some...celestial event. No! No words! NO words...to describe it!
Poetry! They should have sent a poet! It's so beautiful!"
That's what i can say about this breathtaking mastrpiece.
The site is great and so informative i found here a lot of great infos.
great job
Piotr
isilme
Tuesday, May 07, 2002 at 17:05:04 (PDT)
help! who plays the blind guy?!
Mustafa Ozgur Aydogan <oaydogan@metu.edu.tr>
Saturday, April 20, 2002 at 16:07:48 (PDT)
a perfect movie, no more words! again n again watching! in every aspect,
lots of fascinating small details! like an infinite degrees of freedom
system! thanks...
Omar <omar_emmanuel@hotmail.com>
Friday, April 12, 2002 at 13:13:20 (PDT)
Humm... Well, this movie in many ways defined the person I have become
and the life in science I wish to persue, for this, I am greatly thankful.
Many times a one, I have sat down and cried, because of the pychological
impact it has on one's perspective of reality and the purpose of being,
thanks to this movie and the ideas I catched from it like Occam's Razor
or Agnosticism, I not only question the universal concept of a supreme
being, but I demand of myself an equal pressure on what science has to
say on the matter, I question not one god, but anything that might be
out there posing as one.
In synthesis, Contact allowed me to view the extraterrestrial issue and
the "God" issue from a firm standing, all I can ask of myself is
toleration and cultural respect in the synagoge, church or its associates.
Ethemenesque.
Claire <Stern127@sympatico.ca>
Sunday, March 31, 2002 at 18:34:38 (PST)
No matter how many times I see this masterpiece, I'm blown away ! There
are no words to describe it. It gives such perspective and depth to what
we believe in, be it scientific or regious. I've always had a ''thing''
for gazing at the stars. I don't think there's anything quite so beautiful
to look at to be honest. But after seeing this gem of a movie a dozen
times, I really try to see further when I gaze at the heavens. In my
opinion, no other movie compares to this one, and none ever will !!
Peace to all ...
John <tail_skid@yahoo.com>
Thursday, March 28, 2002 at 11:04:52 (PST)
Contact was on TV last week. Everytime I see the movie it's better than
the last time. I am 59, and this is my Favorite Movie of all time.
Dinos Mavridis <dinosm@winweb.gr>
Monday, March 18, 2002 at 14:09:54 (PST)
Amazing! I almost cannot believe this forum still exists! :-)
Greetings to old and new peers here, and most of all, to Al! Since I last
wrote in here, lots of "format c:"'s (as would fit a computer
freak that I used to be) and generally changes have occured. I just now
re-discovered this forum running a search on Yahoo! for my oldest email
address... ya know, of the searches us (ex-)computer freaks run for
fun... ehm... academic purposes.
Anyway, I'm so glad this forum is going on! I still hold Contact as
on of my greatest movies ever, and I do of course have it on DVD. I
guess a lot must have been said over the course of 4-5 years that this
forum exists. Are we still talking about Contact, analysing its meanings
and expressing our own feelings and ideas about the concepts presented therein? :-)
As would be the natural thing, I have revised and/or elaborated further
on most of my beliefs and knowledge of the world since I first wrote in
here, in 1997... So I have my bit to add still ;-)
That's all for now though... Be back later for more (wanna get some
replys from you first!).
Dinos.
David Sanchez <davidsanchezvasquez@hotmail.com>
Sunday, March 10, 2002 at 21:29:10 (PST)
That movie is really great.... it's the most great I've seen in my life.
Now I am reading the book and looking for some Carl Sagan information.
If somebody want to talk about the film mail me.
Al <contact@turning-pages.com>
Tuesday, March 05, 2002 at 15:50:28 (PST)
What did you buy, and where? Was it brand new? The DVD has the complete
movie, and extras.
Cindy <cindy_neuendorf@baxter.com>
Tuesday, March 05, 2002 at 13:18:05 (PST)
I had rented this as soon as it became available. I just bought it and
am very disappointed - some of the best scenes were partially cut! Especially
parts of Ellie's journey into space. What's up with that? Anyone know
where I can get a complete version? Help!
Cindy <cindy_neuendorf@baxter.net>
Tuesday, March 05, 2002 at 13:17:53 (PST)
I had rented this as soon as it became available. I just bought it and
am very disappointed - some of the best scenes were partially cut! Especially
parts of Ellie's journey into space. What's up with that? Anyone know where
I can get a complete version? Help!
David <dho@islandnet.com>
Tuesday, February 05, 2002 at 04:20:50 (PST)
Colleen, It's Occam's Razor, and the name comes from William of Occam. :)
Chris <champact@plu.edu>
Monday, January 14, 2002 at 02:34:08 (PST)
I just wanted to say that I absolutely love this movie
and that it has been very interesting to read the great
variety of comments and insights by other people.
My own take on the movie is that, in addition to the
feelings of hope and discovery that it inspires, it
is very much concerned with the reconcilliation of
all world views, be they religious, scientific, or
idealogical. The movie is made in such a way that
if you take it all completely literally then it will
relate to you scientifically, and if you take it
metaphorically then it relates to you on a spiritual
or religious level. I have been glad to see that
people from all different perspectives have interpreted
the movie as speaking specifically to them and their
idealogy. I think they would all be right.
Cheers to everyone, and happy New Year! 2002!
colleen <colleen@filogix.com>
Sunday, January 06, 2002 at 20:01:11 (PST)
in the movie they mention a principle - that is all
things being equal the simplest solution ....(works)
- I need the correct name - best I could make out is
aukum's principle
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