Critics Reviews
User Reviews Critics Reviews
| Aug 31, 2008Urban Cinefile
The oceans equivalent of Event Horizon with a little bit of Brainstorm thrown in for good measure, Sphere at times fascinates with top performances, but the plot dwindles towards the end with the outcome rather predictable.
"Sphere takes an intriguing concept, and delivers a sci fi thriller with psychological twists and a high flying cast to elevate it above sea level, but fails to reach the heights to which it aspires.
... Full Review
| Aug 01, 2008Boxoffice Magazine
Sphere" is not trashy, or silly, or exploitative;....and he wins strong performances from the whole cast.....Unfortunately, the film is ultimately derailed by the fatal flaw at the heart of Michael Crichton's source novel:....But in the final analysis, fine filmmaking cannot overcome mediocre material..... ... Full Review
| Jan 31, 2006Three Movie Buffs
As a science fiction/mystery Sphere works very well.
Hoffman is good as the therapist.
Sea snakes scare the crap out of Hoffman.
... Full Review
| Dec 29, 2004Defamer.com, CA
they churned up a New York Press review of the Sharon Stone/Dustin Hoffman/Samuel Jackson nightmare Sphere that's farging priceless ... Full Review
| Jul 17, 1998San Francisco Chronicle
The last half-hour of ``Sphere'' has problems.
Even more critical is that the ending, though emotionally satisfying, collapses under scrutiny.
The screenplay by Kurt Wimmer, Stephen Hauser and Paul Attanasio is a succession of strong scenes.
... Full Review
| Jul 04, 1998DVD MovieGuide
James Berardinelli's ReelViews --"By trying to satisfy every kind of viewer, it's possible that Sphere may end up pleasing no one.
Between the poor reviews and the fact that I don't much like director Barry Levinson, I passed on Sphere theatrically but thought I'd give it a chance on DVD; it was a gamble, but for about $20 MSRP, not much of one, so I gave it a try.
... Full Review
| May 29, 1998TotalFilm
But through all this, Sphere is neither terrifying nor exciting.
Theres the rose-tinted official view that its a terrifyingly suspenseful science-fiction thriller, based on the bestseller by Michael Crichton; or theres the honest, just seen it view that Sphere is another of Crichtons lightly-scripted techno-fables with a familiar plot (small group of people tinker foolishly with advanced technology that then tries to kill them), but set underwater.
... Full Review
| Feb 16, 1998Laramie Movie Scope
The acting in "Sphere" is quite good, but then you'd expect that with such stars as Dustin Hoffman, Samuel L. Jackson and Sharon Stone.
Most of the action takes place in an underwater habitat ring, which toward the end of the film becomes poorly lit.
... Full Review
| Feb 13, 1998San Francisco Chronicle
Experience tells us to expect ``Sphere'' to succumb to formula and blow it.
ENDING COLLAPSES The last half-hour of ``Sphere'' has problems.
Even more critical is that the ending, though emotionally satisfying, collapses under scrutiny.
... Full Review
| Feb 13, 1998Ain't It Cool Movie Reviews
It's a bit weighted with the new Warner's stuff, not near enough 30's and 40's Warners, which was when that studio was truly an awesome force in great filmmaking.
It's not a great movie, and yes it does try to be.
I liked SPHERE.
But I like SPHERE.
... Full Review