My MO when it comes to movies is pretty well established. I like sci-fi the best but am also a fan of horror. But when it comes to sci-fi/horror mashups… well… my feelings are mixed. Sometimes it works really well, like in Alien but usually I feel like the horror just gets in the way of a good sci-fi concept.  And usually sci-forror starts out strong and just devolves into a monster movie, which annoys me.  So at least Pandorum avoids that pitfall by starting out as horror right off the bat.  In fact, it sort of takes the opposite direction of standar sci-forror in that it starts as horror and progresses into a rather pleasing sci-fi concept. 

So what it comes down to is this:  I quite liked the sci-fi elements, but could have done without the horror.  The bad guys were cliched and didn’t really make much sense.  Ever seen The Descent?  Well then you don’t really need to see Pandorum, ’cause the creature design is pretty much identical, except The Descent did it better.

You know what I really don’t get?  Why those Hollywood bigwigs don’t consult me before releasing movies.  They don’t need focus groups, they just need me.  I could easily tell them how dumb their creature design is and how much potential their space story had.  But noooOOOooooo!  Instead they ask the beer-guzzling frat-boy holding his dick in his hand what he wants to see in a movie and he says “Boobs!  Shit blowing up!  Scary monsters!  Every main character being a white male!”  And then that’s what they put in the movie.  *sigh* it’s all about the bottom line.  Such is life.

[rating:30]