That was QUITE an achievement actually. The original "Solaris" was world-reknowned as one of the single most tedious, interminable motion pictures of all time. And Grand Master Clooney managed to crank out a remake that was WORSE.
Have to disagree here. The original Tarkovsky-made Solaris is a beautiful and poignant film, as well as terribly sad. The remake was different but good in its own way. If one was expecting an action-adventure shoot-em up, then yes, there would be disappointment. Tarkovsky's original film was inspired by Stanley Kubrick's 2001 (another wonderful classic sci-fi film.) Intelligent science fiction film has deteriorated markedly since Kubrick & Tarkovsky's original films. Fortunately there have been some films like A.I., Minority Report, eXisTenZ, Dark City, etc. to keep *intelligent* sci-fi before the public, even if it never makes as much money as the babes in tight leather with blasters films.