Phenomenon - 9 stars out of 10

Phenomenon - 9 stars out of 10

"Phenomenon" was, well... phenomenal!!!  This movie gets off to a perfect start with beautiful themes composed by Thomas Newman in his ethereal style.  John Travolta delivers a passionate performance.  I am not typically a fan of his work but he really delivered in this film.  I think that every audience member can connect with him as he experiences the changes in his life.  Though he undergoes the physical transformation, the amazing aspect of this movie is that the conflict is driven by the tranformation of the people around him and their treatment of him.  I wasn't impressed with the chemistry between Travolta and Sedgwick at first, but after the hair cutting scene, I was in love with their love.  There are some amazing scenes in this movie, including two incredibly emotional moments with Robert Duvall that will tear at your heart.  I also think that the special effects deserve to be complimented.  They are so simple and well-executed that you forget that they even ARE special effects!  I approached "Phenomenon" with skepticism (mainly because of Travolta), but with a realistic sci-fi plot that is well explained in the end and strong acting performances by all, this is a spectacular cinematic achievement.