Compare this to the new movie Lucy for example.Most movies portray super-intelligent people as being emotionless. Yet this movie shows the opposite. A man suddenly becomes superintelligent, and not only does he not loose his emotions, but they appear to be reinforced. And it's not incompatible at all, his intelligence makes him see more beauty, not less. Of course, he is still able to feel anger, and sadness. He's become more human, not less. I love this movie.I found out about this movie when discussing with some transhumanists (I consider myself one) about the role of emotions in a future with radical intelligence augmentation. I was used to the idea that "emotions" were primitive and such from futuristic Hollywood movies. However, this movie made me realize the importance of emotion, and how naturally they go with intelligence.

Watched again and cried again. Been years since I last saw it but tonight was able to show it for the first time to my ten year old daughter. The message in this film was palpable. We are much more than we are showing so far as a human race. And human connection transcends most almost anything else in this physical dimension. Up there with Shawshank. Travolta and cast were excellent. I can't believe only a 6.4. Some say it was too much information in the ending. As if it could have been told any other way. Some are hung up on the telekinesis as if it were a castigation on humanity. What it displayed to me the untapped and unknown potential. If you have a problem with it then think of it metaphorically at least, the great potential. Spoiler alert...Just rang true with the humanity from the buying of the chairs to the bar scene at the end of the film.

It was right about at this time in John Travolta's career that he won the battle...the battle of convincing me that he was an actor of note. I grew up with Travolta on "Welcome Back Kotter", and I was not impressed. A number of movies went by, and I saw a few...and became cautiously optimistic that maybe he was at least an "okay" actor. But with a few films right around 1996, including this one, he won me over. No, he's no Laurence Olivier, but he's a very pleasant and often very interesting actor. This may be his best role, although you don't realize it until well into the movie when he begins to have a sort of breakdown, and you see the transformation of the character he plays.The story is a good one...a man she some flashes of light in the sky and suddenly becomes brilliant, learns things remarkably fast, develops complex and original ideas, etc. Of course, the government gets involved, and eventually -- when they realize he will soon die -- they want to do open brain surgery to learn as much as they can. Will they succeed? Meanwhile, throughout the film he is trying to win the heart of Kyra Sedgwick...who's a hold out of sorts...the rest of the town loves him...until his weirdness begins to freak them out.Personally, I'm not a fan of Kyra Sedgwick, and I wouldn't have cast her in this role...although she does "okay". Similarly, I wouldn't have chosen Forest Whitaker as the role of best friend. Robert Duvall is another actor I never cared for...but, it has been re-looking at roles like this that have led to me reconsidering the quality of his acting, and I have to admit I was wrong...he was and is a terrific actor, and demonstrates that again here. It was nice to see Richard Kiley as the brain specialist here, not that his character is one you are apt to like. Bruce Young seemed an odd choice as an FBI agent.The film doesn't have a happy ending, but it's just about the only ending that it could have. Highly recommended, at least once.

Although the story of the movie was OK it was the main characters is what made the movie worth. This was another movie showing that when someone is different and cant be explained for how they are some people tend not to be very kind to that person. Even though the movie is kind of science fiction it seems more of a plausible story that could actually happen. After what could be explained as a phenomenon experienced by a small town mechanic, suddenly has peculiar powers that end up making his life worse then better. People in the town start to make fun of him and treat him bad, but when something bad happens they come to him to help and he does. With his new found powers he starts to solve his every day problems and of others around him. He starts to devour books increasing his knowledge and starts to turn him into almost a circus side show, also ends up cracking some government codes and ends up being arrested and held in a secret location and thinking he is some kind of spy. The romance that develops between Travolta and Sedgewick and the chemistry they seem to have makes this another must see movie. This should be a must see movie for anyone who enjoys movies.