Sphere MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +3 Content: -1

Norman Goodman (Dustin Hoffman), is a psychologist and author of a government report on meeting unidentified life forms (ULF). Although he admits to fudging some of the information, he never expected the government to read the report. Now it's the guidebook when a huge spaceship is found on the ocean floor. His team includes Beth (Sharon Stone), a biochemist; Harry (Samuel L. Jackson), a math genius; and Ted (Liev Schreiber), an astrophyicist. The spaceship appears to be American, but from the future, and carries a huge golden sphere. After Harry encounters the sphere alone, strange attacks and accidents begin to occur. But Norman and Beth have also been alone with the sphere. Soon, the three are the only survivors in the deep sea habitat. When they discover the secret of the sphere, can they survive to reach the surface and should they tell the government?

An intriguing science ficition thriller, SPHERE keeps the audience guessing along with the team. Although Stone is noted for more sexual roles, this film has no sex or nudity. There is reference to a past affair between Howard and Beth when she was his student. Howard later apologizes saying his actions were wrong. A suicide attempt by Beth is also mentioned as taking pills. Beth also refers to abusive pill taking in her past. There are also references to her study of Zen Buddhism. Before an explosion, Howard is asked about his religion, implying that prayer might be helpful. He replies that he's an atheist but flexible. While there are a number of tense scenes, violence is limited to a few attacks but the implied damage is severe. A mass of jellyfish attacks a diver and she drowns in writhing pain. During a fire, a safety door slowly crushes a man but the scene is not gory or bloody. Ted is burned to death, but only the approaching fireball is shown. A giant squid attacks the housing but it's never seen. A crew members body is found in the water with small cuts all over but there's little blood. The major objection is the frequent use of profanity and crudities. Although most of the foul language is mild, there are 5 s-words and one mumbled f- word. Regular profanity occurs 12 times and God's name is frequently used as an exclamation. This frequent profanity and crude language sinks Sphere.

Preview Reviewer: Paul Bicking
Distributor: Warner Bros., 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA, 91522