MOVIE REVIEW: PANDORUM

I think the sci-fi/horror genre is one that needs a major boost. We only get a good one once every few years. My problem with the genre is not only is there not enough of them, but most the time they have cool parts or ideas, but the movie as a whole falls short. I wouldn't say Pandorum falls short, but it certainly could have been better.

In the year 2174, the Earth's resources are close to being depleted. The spaceship Elysium is sent to colonize the planet Tanis.

When Corporal Bower (BEN FOSTER) and then an hour later Lieutenant Payton (DENNIS QUAID) awaken from their hyper-sleep, many years have passed and they seem to be the only two people left on the ship. They go on to find the ship's power reactor is in flux and not getting any better. They are stuck in the hyper chamber and cannot get through the door to reach the ships bridge without restarting the reactor.

Payton has Bower climb up through a vent shaft to see if he can find his way back to the other side of the door so that they can get out and figure out what's happened. But Bower discovers something that only worsens their situation, some sort of humanoid mutant hunters that are extraordinarily fast and strong and have apparently been feeding on other humans on board.

He discovers there are other survivors, genetics team member Nadia and agriculture worker Manh who've managed to avoid the hunters, much like the crazed Leland who's gone to extreme measures to keep himself fed.

Back in the hyper chamber, Lt. Payton discovers another survivor, Gallo, in the vents. Once he is helped out, Payton realizes that Gallo is suffering from Pandorum, which is a severe psychological condition brought on by being in deep space for an extended period of time. Pandorum causes sever paranoia and vivid hallucinations. As Bower makes his way toward the reactor, and Payton deals with his new company, everyone's sanity comes into question...

Parts of this movie were absolutely awesome. I loved the beginning and I loved the ending, but the middle seemed a little over the top in parts. I liked the idea and the explanation of the humanoids, but I think they really missed on how they made them appear on screen. Pandorum was on the right track eighty percent of the movie, but jumped off the tracks a few times. Three and a half out of five.