Sci-fi frenzy this weekend
The Quaid brother who was not arrested recently stars in "Pandorum"
Sci-fi lovers will have a heyday at the box office this weekend, possibly making a return trip so they can see both “Pandorum” and “Surrogates.” The only other wide release, dance drama remake “Fame,” got horrible reviews. If you ask me though, the worse a dance drama flick is, the better it is. I think some of my faithful readers know exactly what I mean.
Anyway, aside from the small fraction of moviegoers who love terrible dance-themed movies (I am going to see “Fame” Tuesday) sci-fi is pretty much the only option this weekend. Comedy lovers have to wait until next weekend to see “The Invention of Lying.”
‘Pandorum’ movie reviews
“Pandorum” and “Surrogates” both got mediocre reviews, but “Pandorum” scored higher on Rotten Tomatoes (no Metacritic score yet) so we will start with “Pandorum” movie reviews. The space program might be investing in armed forces loans after they see this thriller about aliens terrorizing astronauts on a mission to colonize a new planet.
Justine Elias from the Boston Globe says “Pandorum” is a “dark, disquieting dream worth watching out for.” Elias gives the filmmakers credit for knowing how to make a good, scary sci-fi film.
Sci-fi central
Many critics agreed with Matthew Razak from The Examiner, who said “For fans of the genre, I can’t see ‘Pandorum’ being disappointing.” However, I am assuming Brian Orndorf of Sci Fi Movie Page is a sci-fi fan, and he said “Pandorum” is “primarily claustrophoba and glow sticks.” He also said “this sci-fi/horror voyage into the dark recesses of the mind is perhaps best appreciated with the sound off.”
Peter Howell from the Toronto Star took more of a middle-of-the-road stance, saying “The long middle portion does get tedious, obvious and downright laughable, but sci-fi fans probably won’t regret the experience.” His conclusion on the film was that it is adequate.
‘Surrogates’ movie reviews
Peter Howell reviewed “Surrogates” as well as “Pandorum,” and he considered “Surrogates” the better film of the two. Most critics, however, did not agree with Howell’s assertion that the film is strong, deep and superior to director Jonathan Mostow’s other recent work.
Liam Lacey from the Globe and Mail said he thought Mosto’s “Terminator 3″ was better than “Surrogates,” which is “a provocative idea – followed by a formula action movie, with shootouts, helicopter chases and a digital counter before the solution.” Trust me, he does not mean “formula action movie” as a compliment.
Living through ‘Surrogates’
Jake Coyle from the Associated Press thought “Surrogates” was a pretty good flick, even though he said the film itself was a surrogate. He says “Surrogates,” a movie about a world where most people sit at home while letting their robotic surrogates conduct their lives for them, incorporates the same ideas seen in “Minority Report,” “Blade Runner” and “WALL-E.”
It’s hard to miss the message or the nihilistic glee the film takes in seeing a world of robot surrogates suddenly collapse – a Second Life apocalypse that effectively forces society to unplug and step outside, Coyle writes.
Which will pull in the most sci-fi fans?
It’s going to be a knock-down, drag-out fight at the box office. I don’t have a good guess as to who will come out the victor after reading “Pandorum” movie reviews and “Surrogates” movie reviews.
“Surrogates” benefits from having the much-loved Bruce Willis at the head of its cast. But Dennis Quaid plays the lead in “Pandorum.” Perhaps all of the attention his brother Randy has gotten for his recent arrest led a few extra people to find out about the movie.
