Signals is trying. It is shot in 70mm and wants to be a serious science fiction film in the vein of 2001: A Space Odyssey. It does not quite succeed in its ambitions.
Signals is an East German film about a second mission to find the origins of mysterious signals coming from space. The first mission was lost. The film is very much pro-science and pro-humanity. Disagreements are settled amiably and any suspicions parties have are relieved by the end.
Signals was clearly made because of the worldwide success of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. In fact, Signals borrows some of 2001's concepts. Signals includes a weightless scene, which is more playful than the one in Kubrick's film. Less successful, the film borrows the astronaut floating in space scene from 2001, albeit with a happier ending than what happened to Frank Poole. There are other homages or borrowings as well.
Signals is trying, but it never quite comes off. Aside from the familiarity, the film suffers with its special effects. The film may be shot in 70mm, but the filmmakers cannot hide the wires on the spaceships. The Deaf Crocodile Blu-ray makes this painfully obvious. In addition, while I admire the film for having no villain (not even a killer computer like in 2001), that lack of conflict is also a hindrance to enjoyment.
Signals is not so much a bad film as it is a film that one wishes were better than it actually is. It is a nice try though.
