TeenzTen An action-packed slog

TaryBiggBall It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

Derry Herrera Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

Sarita Rafferty There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Spikeopath Communion is directed by Phillipe Mora and adapted for the screen by Whitley Strieber from his own book of the same name. It stars Christopher Walken, Lindsay Crouse and Francis Sternhagen. Theme music is by Eric Clapton, with the musical score by Allan Zavod. Photography is by Louis Irving, with locations for filming at Big Bear Valley and Running Springs in California."Based on the true story of one American family" It continues to be a controversial movie to this very day, its subject matter, that of alien abduction/experiments, one that ensures the most divisive of audiences. Director Mora insists it's a film for those of an open mind, triumphantly proclaiming that he made a deliberately ambiguous and agnostic film against the big studios wishes. The trouble here is not in the subject matter, for it is a fascinating story, true or not, the problem is that the director isn't sure what to do with such material. In his attempt to flip the finger at the big wigs refusing to back his movie, he's made a mess of a picture. At times genuinely creepy, potent even, at others laughable and tacky. Were it not for a powerhouse eccentric performance from Walken, this would not be worthy of further inspection. It also feels like a collage of other sub-genre movies, eschewing the philosophy and scientific theories of Strieber's best selling book, in favour of Walken wielding a shotgun and freaking out under the inevitable hypnosis treatment. Strieber would later claim dissatisfaction with the movie, which while consistent with his own inconsistencies, is quite understandable. Because whether you believe or not, at the core is an intriguing and provocative story, sadly this film, in trying to be smug, loses the plot quite early on. 5/10

jabberttp I've been on an "alien movie" kick of late, having recently seen (in no particular order), Fire In The Sky, Night Skies, Altered, The Forgotten, and Fourth Kind. All as an adult. As a child, alien movies were the few types of movies that would give me nightmares. I wasn't sure if I'd ever seen Communion before. Turns out I would've NEVER forgotten this movie. As I was watching it, with most movies I start with a 7 (by default) and adjust upward or downward based upon if there's something I actively like or dislike about it. As I was watching this, I started with a '10' due to impact, atmosphere (I loved the NY ooze of Christopher Walken and Lindsay Crouse and the 1989 vibe as 1989 was a magical year for me - I just never realized it back then), message, blending of genres, and potential for being memorable to me (kinda like impact, lol). And I immediately deducted 1 point each for a) a slightly meandering plot/very occasional dragging and b) I personally thought the short "grays" looked stupid/comic and the floating aliens too "undetailed" compared to some of the other movies. And thus "thought" I rated the movie an '8'. Quite respectable. After "sleeping on it", I decided to read what others said about "Communion" on IMDb (reviews and message board threads), and was surprised to realize I actually rated it a '9'. I decided "b)" above was a bogus deduction as who the hell am I to think the aliens looked silly if this was a movie really based upon a reputable guy who did NOT just cook these things up for intriguing movie effect? When I came back, as I'm reading IMDb because I'm more eager to read other's thoughts, have searched Google for Whitley Strieber, and now will probably read all Whitley Strieber novels based upon true (to him) encounters. Then I looked at my own voting history and looked at the few other movies I rated a '10'. All were due to impact and overall "plot" issues to me. And I finally gave this movie a '10' as although it still is NOT perfect, uh, it's impact on me actually was as memorably great as the others. For comparison, here's the other movies I rated a '10' (no flames please), will probably discuss more about Communion as I truly grooved to it: Falling Down (1993), Hard Candy (2005), Mr. Brooks (2007), Taking Lives (2004), Tape (2001), The Butterfly Effect (2004), Vanilla Sky (2001), Babel (2006)(The only movie above that I was truly shocked when I realized I'd rated it in that lofty '10' category was "Taking Lives". As it didn't pass the impact test as I barely remember what that movie was about - how's that for amnesia impact? But changing that to an '8' or '9' for that? Nah, lol)

Samiam3 In 1985, sci-fi novelist Whitney Striber had a dream which led to a close encounter. It became the subject for his book 'Communion' which became a best-seller. Four years later he gives us this. True story though it may be, it is clearly too personal for Striber to manipulate (even just a little bit) to make it the right shape and form for a movie. Instead it remains too abstract, and subsequently clumsy. But that is only half the problem.Communion wins my award for biggest miscast in cinema history. Christopher Walken does everything wrong, starting with the way he delivers his dialogue. He is not even remotely engaged in the story, he is emotionally dead. Walken is portraying somebody who went though what must've been the most traumatic experience that a person could have. The only time he comes close to showing signs of trauma is his ability to make himself cry (a little) at the end of one scene. Next, there is the matter of visual effects. If you were to walk into a room where this was on TV, and up to the part when we meet the 'little blue doctors' and their slightly taller, skinnier red-skinned cousins, you might think you were watching an Ed Wood flick, or something from that decade. Looking at these creatures, one is more likely to think they are cute rather than creepy or surreal. Anything that looks like rubber on strings belongs in a puppet theatre, not in a sci-fi thriller.I guess the only crew member who did a competent job in their field is Eric Clapton, who wrote a good theme for an otherwise mediocre score. Communion has much potential, but sadly it ends up being one of those films that you are glad when it is over.

Paul Green There's a close contest between the other-worldly beings and Christopher Walken as to who is creepiest in this (allegedly true) tale of a writer who isn't sure if he's being visited by aliens or by insanity. It doesn't help that the creatures are referred to at one point as the little blue doctors, and in this is the essence of the movie – never has there been such a fine line between being scared and in hysterics, simultaneously. The visitations are eerie, dream-like events that are sometimes unsettling although there is also a mildly ridiculous feel to the proceedings which lends these scenes a strange narcotic quality. The plot itself is primarily concerned with Walken's character and his gradual mental collapse, along with the strain his behaviour has on his wife and child. Walken is predictably fascinating as a seriously eccentric author, and is supported by an assured cast.80% - Close Encounters, 10% - Hunter Thomson, 10% - Weird dreams,