If it's crap... We'll tell you
Fear what happens next: 'Pandorum' Review
First off, forget about all the comparisons you've heard of this film to Alien, Aliens, Dead Space, Event Horizon, and Resident Evil. In some ways, Pandorum is more creative than these titles...though that's not to say it's better. Still, let me just start off by saying that this film is much better than you may think it will be.
The film opens with Bower, played wonderfully by Ben Foster, awakening from hypersleep and covered in slime. His memories are as shoddy as the lighting system on this ship, the Elysium, a massive transport meant to act as a type of futuristic ark on its way to a new Earth-like planet. Years from now humans have driven Earth into the ground and resources are scarce, so when a new planet is discovered that may give mankind a clean slate, into space we go. The problem, however, is that when Bower wakes up things are not only dark, they're in ruin, and his only company is Payton, played by Dennis Quaid...oh yes, and vicious creatures prowling the ship's corridors.
Make no mistake, the story of Pandorum is indeed interesting and has enough substance to keep you guessing in between jump scares. The visuals, often aided by the use of bright green or blue lights, are pretty good and the acting is more than decent - for all of you who have gotten sick of Dennis Quaid in recent years, this movie may spare you anymore pain. He's actually not half bad and holds his own with a great young talent like Foster - and for a film with roughly five characters, I'd say that's important. So, what exactly is the problem with Pandorum?
The problem, as you may have already figured out after seeing me praise the story, acting, and cinematography, is the direction. I am not familiar with the work of director Christian Alvart, but if I could speak with the man face to face, I'd ask him to put down the straw and stop snorting so much coke. Don't get me wrong, he puts many a beautiful and dark image on screen, but in many scenes, particularly the action scenes, things happen so fast and so incoherently that sometimes it is difficult to see exactly what is happening. Bourne in space, let's say. Perhaps you could call this a problem with the editing, not the direction, but either way it is something that should have been corrected. It often acts as a nagging distraction from all the wonderful paranoia and fright.
Speaking of scares, lets talk about the creatures. I will not go into detail about them, but I will say that this glaring problem with fast cuts and disorienting action directly affects the scenes with the creatures, because you will find yourself leaning forward just to try and get a better look at them amid all the chaotic editing. Of course you eventually get to see them up close, but what's missing from this film is a nice shot of these things hurling themselves at the survivors without cutting to six different vantage points in a span of three seconds.
But what you're really interested in is whether or not this film is worth seeing. Well, if you're not a fan of science fiction, then no. Stay the fuck away from Pandorum. But if you enjoy the sort of films that I listed at the beginning of this review, then I would say yes, definitely see this film. Be warned that this is in no way better than the likes of Alien, and you will find yourself not liking certain lines of dialogue or finding some of the action scenes a bit absurd - for instance, apparently surviving any extended period of time on a ship crawling with monsters grants you the ability to know martial arts - but overall, Pandorum is visually stunning and the story is clever enough to earn the money of any sci-fi fan.
Rating: Matinee
Have you seen it? Think my review is crap? Share your thoughts!
The film opens with Bower, played wonderfully by Ben Foster, awakening from hypersleep and covered in slime. His memories are as shoddy as the lighting system on this ship, the Elysium, a massive transport meant to act as a type of futuristic ark on its way to a new Earth-like planet. Years from now humans have driven Earth into the ground and resources are scarce, so when a new planet is discovered that may give mankind a clean slate, into space we go. The problem, however, is that when Bower wakes up things are not only dark, they're in ruin, and his only company is Payton, played by Dennis Quaid...oh yes, and vicious creatures prowling the ship's corridors.
Make no mistake, the story of Pandorum is indeed interesting and has enough substance to keep you guessing in between jump scares. The visuals, often aided by the use of bright green or blue lights, are pretty good and the acting is more than decent - for all of you who have gotten sick of Dennis Quaid in recent years, this movie may spare you anymore pain. He's actually not half bad and holds his own with a great young talent like Foster - and for a film with roughly five characters, I'd say that's important. So, what exactly is the problem with Pandorum?
The problem, as you may have already figured out after seeing me praise the story, acting, and cinematography, is the direction. I am not familiar with the work of director Christian Alvart, but if I could speak with the man face to face, I'd ask him to put down the straw and stop snorting so much coke. Don't get me wrong, he puts many a beautiful and dark image on screen, but in many scenes, particularly the action scenes, things happen so fast and so incoherently that sometimes it is difficult to see exactly what is happening. Bourne in space, let's say. Perhaps you could call this a problem with the editing, not the direction, but either way it is something that should have been corrected. It often acts as a nagging distraction from all the wonderful paranoia and fright.
Speaking of scares, lets talk about the creatures. I will not go into detail about them, but I will say that this glaring problem with fast cuts and disorienting action directly affects the scenes with the creatures, because you will find yourself leaning forward just to try and get a better look at them amid all the chaotic editing. Of course you eventually get to see them up close, but what's missing from this film is a nice shot of these things hurling themselves at the survivors without cutting to six different vantage points in a span of three seconds.
But what you're really interested in is whether or not this film is worth seeing. Well, if you're not a fan of science fiction, then no. Stay the fuck away from Pandorum. But if you enjoy the sort of films that I listed at the beginning of this review, then I would say yes, definitely see this film. Be warned that this is in no way better than the likes of Alien, and you will find yourself not liking certain lines of dialogue or finding some of the action scenes a bit absurd - for instance, apparently surviving any extended period of time on a ship crawling with monsters grants you the ability to know martial arts - but overall, Pandorum is visually stunning and the story is clever enough to earn the money of any sci-fi fan.
Rating: Matinee
Have you seen it? Think my review is crap? Share your thoughts!
Tags: ben, dennis, film, foster, horror, pandorum, quaid, sci-fi
Add a Comment
-
Comment by slevin117 on September 28, 2009 at 7:30pm -
mister keitel
tyler durden and joe? joe was not the main characters name, he was simple known as the narrator and the closest thing to a name we can get is in fact, tyler durden
-
Comment by David on September 28, 2009 at 6:01pm - Yeah, I find myself wanting to watch it again knowing what I know now. While this isn't a classic by any stretch, I liked it quite a bit and am already pretty sure I'll pick it up on DVD.
-
Comment by MisterKeitel on September 28, 2009 at 1:34pm - SPOILER ALERT! I might have to watch the movie again just to see the whole interchange between Dennis Quaid and his ghost younger self. Knowing what I know now, I would see that conversation as being very different. Like between Tyler Durdan and Joe, or Ferris Bueller and Alan Ruck.
-
Comment by MisterKeitel on September 28, 2009 at 8:43am
-
I saw this film over the weekend. It was much, much better than I thought it would be. In a way it's like those really cheap SyFy Chanel "original" movies (translation: direct to DVD quality). There is the haggared looking, and somewhat ass-a-holish crew members on a Ridley Scott looking ship (the same corridors shown again and again). But the story was really good. I never knew which way the plot would turn and the payoff way -I thought- well worth it.
Pound for pound, I thought it was well worth it. Of course, what I really did way pay a matinee price to see Surrogats and then after seeing that "wandered" over to the next theater to see Pandorum for free. Don't hate me, I'm poor.
It was much better than Surrogates, which eventhough it held a few supprises, did not deviate much from what you learned in the preview trailer.
-
Comment by WitchKing on September 28, 2009 at 12:09am - I agree. I just saw it at matinee and thought it was worth it. It's not just a carbon copy of movies we've seen before. It does have similarites to movies such as Alien and The Descent, but it's original enough. There were at least two parts that really made me squirm. Not going to stand the test of time, but fun if you're a sci-fi fan. I liked the Vietnamese fighter. He was kickass.
-
Comment by David on September 27, 2009 at 2:35pm
- Yeah, you should definitely go see it if you're a fan of this genre. The plot is what makes it worthwhile and not just another space monster movie, in my opinion.
-
Comment by elecmikey on September 26, 2009 at 9:10pm - really wanna see it
-
Comment by Jonesy on September 26, 2009 at 12:58pm - Sounds interesting, but I don't know... Maybe I'll grab a matinee this weekend.
-
Comment by Lord Tzeentch on September 26, 2009 at 5:47am - sounds good i hope to check it out.
-
Comment by el foggy on September 26, 2009 at 3:13am - Cool Review.
Follow Spill on Twitter!
Latest Activity
Watching this again - really good film.
The Noughties, whether I like it or not, is the decade for my generation; all of our pop culture references will likely come from the '00s and we will have nostalgic memories of seeing them in the theater, whether good or bad. Still, would it make...
If you like the most powerful rock band ever created, sasquatch, karate, friendship, worshiping Satan (after rocking his ass off) or rocket sauce; Prepare yourself for the D.
Music
© 2009 Created by The Spill Crew
You need to be a member of The Spill.com Movie Community to add comments!
Join this Ning Network