Contact :: essays research papers

The movie Contact, based on the novel by Carl Sagan, is a fascinating journey through the kind-hearted mind that attempts to answer the questions that humans have been asking since the dawn of time, &8220Are we alone in the Universe? Ellie Arroway (portrayed by Jodie Foster), the main character of the movie refers to the past number upon whichthe movie is based, contact with an alien civilization, as one of the most significant events in human history, and rightly so. This film explores the religious implications of such an event as well as the faith that one has to have afterwards. Arroway&8217s journey indeed resembles that of the &8220hero&8217s quest. Of course Ellie being the hero, is faced with something the sphere has yet to encounter contact from aliens. She then voluntarily sacrifices herself for what seems to be &8216a greater good&8217.....to be the first human to converse with an extra-terrestrial existence, only to be disregarded because of her beliefs. That was one hurdle she had to overcome. The religious extremistwas a &8216demonic adversary&8217 that, for a moment in the movie, appeared to have terminally halted the entire project. past &8216the wise counselor,&8217 the man with cancer, emerged with his purpose to lead Arroway on the right path. Faced again with taking the journey thatcould only be taken alone, she of course had to meet a reason that would make it harder to leave, the &8216companion&8217 (Matthew McConaughtey&8217s character). This was another hurdle she had to overcome. She takes the journey to come out a changed person, for the better, as the movie evidently is implying. And in the end, the hero is reunited with the one she loves, her &8216companion.&8217This movie bridges the gap between science and religion. How else can you explain the moving ending of an agnostic scientist trying to explain what right happened to her without the benefit of one shred of proof?