"Pandorum" and "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past"

IN THEATERS

Out today is the science fiction/horror movie “Pandorum.” Dennis Quaid and Ben Foster star as two astronauts who wake up aboard a ship, in the middle of space and have no memory of any past events. They believe they are the only ones aboard and soon discover something more terrifying than they ever would have thought.
Now it’s up to the two crew members to save not only themselves, but possibly all of mankind due to a disease called Pandorum, which causes the brain to turn against itself after you’ve traveled in deep space for too long.

So this is one of those horror films that has just sort of come out of nowhere and all of a sudden is released in theaters. The two leads are both pretty well known, especially Quaid so it might have some promise to it. “Alien” did the best with the science-fiction/horror angle, and since then there haven’t been any that have been able to put fear into space like it did.

While this one probably won’t break any new barriers, it might strike a few chords with those science-fiction fans that enjoy that side of Hollywood where there are monster/aliens aboard a spaceship looking to kill everyone.

It might do decent over the weekend with no more than “Fame” and “Surrogates” to compete against. The built-in audience for this one might be all it needs.

ON DVD

Out today is the romantic comedy, “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.” Matthew McConaughey is Connor Mead, a famous photographer and all-out womanizer. So on the eve of his younger brother’s wedding, he is visited by his late Uncle Wayne (Michael Douglas) who has been sent to tell him that he will be visited by ghosts of past, present and future in attempts to get him to change his wild ways and finally settle down. The hook in the visits is that the three ghosts are actually three of his ex-girlfriends who are there to show him where he’s been and where he’s headed if he doesn’t begin to analyze his life.

So it’s clear this is just another version of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” And what’s funny is that it doesn’t even seem to be sorry for doing it. But Hollywood doesn’t have much shame when it comes to cashing in with its big stars to draw in the crowds and a recycled story. And surprised as some might have been, it made nearly $60 million while in theaters. I guess the powers that be are doing something right.

If you’re into these romantic comedies and have a taste for McConaughey, which most women do, then you’re sure to find some entertainment in this one. Just put aside the fact that it’s a story you’ve already heard just with a different title and different actors.

And while some found it funny and others dull, it’s just gonna come down to how easily entertained you are and how much the sheer presence of Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner is able to move you. You know how it’s gonna start and you know how it’s gonna end, but for some that won’t matter. And for those, then this one’s for you.

Comments (0) |

---

By submitting your comment, you are agreeing to islandpacket.com's user agreement.

Views: