MovieChat Forums > Pandorum (2009) Discussion > If you liked this movie then check out.....

If you liked this movie then check out...


First off, I just watched this yesterday and I LOVED it. I went into it with an open mind, not knowing what it was about except that it had a horror aspect to it. I suppose I was expecting something like Alien but I was pleasantly surprised that it was actually quite different (don't get me wrong, I love Alien). Loved the twist with the "aliens", as well as the end. For me a good movie is one that goes beyond instant entertainment and makes you think about it afterward.


As a fan of the Sci-Fi genre (and a big fan of the "stuck on a big space ship/station" genre), I thought I'd list some other movies that you might enjoy if you liked this one as much as I did. Top ones are my favorites.

Sunshine (2007)
The Fountain (2006)
Serenity (2005) - but watch all of Firefly first!
Moon (2009)
The Thing (1982)
Event Horizon (1997)
The Abyss (1989)
Alien (1979)
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
The Thing (2011)
Solaris (2002)
Mission to Mars (2000)

And a couple TV shows:

Battlestar Galactica
Stargate Universe - This is sure to piss off a lot of the SG:1 and SG:A fanboys as it went in a very different direction, but from purely a "stuck on a big ship" standpoint, I think this show was spectacular. I was pretty disappointed when it got cancelled after the 2nd season.

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(and a big fan of the "stuck on a big space ship/station" genre)


Me too. Something about the minimalist "stuck on a big space ship/station" approach really gets the imagination working.

I agree with all your picks, especially Moon, Solaris, Alien and 2001. Here are a few more...

Sphere (1998) - stuck in a spaceship at the bottom of the ocean
Outland (1981) - stuck on a moon of Jupiter with Sean Connery
Space: 1999 (1976) - stuck on the earth's moon flying into space
2010 (1984) - stuck in an ill-advised sequel to the greatest scifi film ever, but still not bad

and honorable mention goes to...
Buck Rogers episode "Space Vampire" (1978) - stuck on a space station with a vampire but more importantly with Erin Gray in hot pants homina homina

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Exactly. It's the intensity, and intrigue of several individuals stuck on a space craft somewhere in space that grips me, for some reason. Plus, the more realistic the environment inside the ship is, the better. The more buttons, holograms, shiny metal surfaces, futuristic concepts, etc... the better.

Basically a gorgeous visual space combined with the characters' actions, and progresses. The human mind.

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The whole movie message was, by year 2150~ world pop will be larger than we can sustain, earth of course can sustain like 50-100 billion people IF we live in perfect harmony and have non depleting food resource making ways and infinite power generators, but that's impossible, not with the current economy system, it has to change, everyone should be working equally or more if they choose to, get the same amount of resources, more if they need, BUT THATS just a fairy story that i wll never happen.

The increase in human knowledge is the cause of the decline of religions.

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Pandorum was far better film than 2001 that was most boring film ever I thought.


www.youtube.com/eastangliauk

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Thanks for the Movies guys - I found some gems in there!

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In reality if u we're stuck in a spaceship thats drifting nowhere, the storyline would go as following, you're stuck with nothing to do with a couple of people, who are going to die from boredom, sure one guy might go nuts but that's what sedatives are for, do you really think they send ppl in space with psycho tendencies? Maybe in the far future where space travel is as common as taking a plane flight or driving.

The increase in human knowledge is the cause of the decline of religions.

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I really think The Fountain is a bad film because, while pretty to look at and really weird to watch, it is SO unnecessarily confusing. I skimmed around the internet for a few days after I saw it and still didn't get anywhere as to what the F the movie was exactly about. It's one thing to leave the audience asking questions and delving into possible theories about one thing or another, and it's an entirely new level to just create a film that makes no sense unless you study it as if you were taking a class on it. I don't particularly enjoy coming out of a film entirely unsure as to what I just sat through.

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I really think The Fountain is a bad film because, while pretty to look at and really weird to watch, it is SO unnecessarily confusing. I skimmed around the internet for a few days after I saw it and still didn't get anywhere as to what the F the movie was exactly about. It's one thing to leave the audience asking questions and delving into possible theories about one thing or another, and it's an entirely new level to just create a film that makes no sense unless you study it as if you were taking a class on it. I don't particularly enjoy coming out of a film entirely unsure as to what I just sat through.

Agreed -- Fountain was nonsense, and it has no business being compared to Pandorum. Even if you like Fountain, its nothing at all like Pandorum.


But I suggest adding Pitch Black to the list as Pitch Black rules. Not about being stuck on a big ship, but about being stuck on a planet while being attacked by scary creatures. Also has the crew purging plot element as well.
Actually, I found Pandorum through the Pitch Black forums.

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I added The Fountain because of it's similarity to how time is represented in Pandorum. True, the films are different in just about every other way (you could argue they share the "stuck on a space ship" motif, but I'll admit it's a stretch).

I'll agree that The Fountain was a bit disorganized in jumping between distant past, present, and distant future, but the greater story was not very confusing for me. Without giving anything away - it essentially explores timelessness, immortality and its consequences. Similarly, Pandorum depicts an environment where a great deal of time has elapsed between when the main characters first went into cryogenic sleep and when they awoke to a very different environment.

I liked The Fountain for the same reasons I liked Pandorum - because they make you think about it afterwards.


Pitch Black is a cool movie. A bit more action-oriented and less thought-proviking (in my opinion), but nonetheless original and entertaining.

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No event Horizon?

Come on ppl!


Supernova


Leviathan



"What color is the boathouse at Hereford!?"

-Sam

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The OP mentioned Event Horizon.

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And there is no boathouse at hereford! Uh-oh, coffee cup! Duck!

-- -- -- --
"Okay, son, I'll give you my authorization code. It's E-A, T-M, E."

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It's true that Pitch Black isn't "thought provoking" in the same way that Pandorum and Fountain are (even though I disliked Fountain, it does make you think, there's know denying that). Pitch Black is more about the characters in the movie, and seeing how they change, and in my opinion, its pretty profound. So it's not thought provoking like "Whoa, what happened", more like "Whoa, I see now how these events fundamentally changed how these characters see the world, and others, and possible God".
I also think Pandorum (I am on the Pandorum board, right) was pretty action oriented, even more so than Pitch Black.

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I agree, Pitch Black definitely belongs in this discussion. Not a high concept movie like some of the others, but there is fantastic interplay between characters. Sphere is highly underrated too IMO.

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I only just discovered this movie. And thought it was just great. But I also recently discovered Sphere and would probably rate it just slightly higher than this. I'v got my eyes wide open for other lesser known and underated sci-fi movies. Preferably newish ones made after 2000.

"If we can hit that bullseye the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards, checkmate"

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Deep Star Six

Leviathan

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Sorry i do not like:

Moon (2009)
The Thing (1982)
The Thing (2011)
Event Horizon (1997)
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) (i like 2010 (1984)
Solaris (2002)
The Fountain (2006) (I don't know, never seen it)

From the list you put up here i only like:

Serenity (2005)
The Abyss (1989)
Alien (1979)
Mission to Mars (2000)

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[deleted]

[quote]From the list you put up here i only like:

Serenity (2005)
The Abyss (1989)
Alien (1979)
Mission to Mars (2000) /quote]

Sounds like you prefer the "actiony" sci-fi movie-- I guess you are the reason that's why there're so many "random" action scenes in Pandorum, which broke the sci-fi/character mystery vibe for me...


If you care enough to go around telling people you don't care... you obviously care.

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I find the Moon (2009) boring.

And also i find 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) boring.

And Solaris (2002) i just find it one of the most boring movie i have ever seen.


And

The Thing (1982)
The Thing (2011)
Event Horizon (1997)

I don't like them because you can't call that sick movie(s) a Sci-Fi movie(s).

They are simply just disgusting, and has nothing to do with Sci-Fi, they are just extreme Horror movie.

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The Thing (1982)
The Thing (2011)
Event Horizon (1997)

I don't like them because you can't call that sick movie(s) a Sci-Fi movie(s).

They are simply just disgusting, and has nothing to do with Sci-Fi, they are just extreme Horror movie.


I don't like the movies you listed above, you are in for a life-time of disappointment if you think that you can call the shots on what is a "Sci-Fi" movie....

What I mean is that you seem to be a bit of a "genre fanatic", like I was when I was younger-- you liked a few films in a genre so much, that you are trying to "redefine" the whole genre just so it will only consist of films that you like. Sci-fi has been around long before we were born and will be around long after we die.

I mean, liking chocolate doesn't give me the right/insight to say any kind of chocolate I don't like is not chocolate.



If you care enough to go around telling people you don't care... you obviously care.

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Same here, I prefer watching scifi movies made after 2000.

One movie that doesnt really belong to these kinds of movies but is still a scifi and extremely good,

Man from earth.

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Yes man from earth was a very good find for me

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Man from Earth is so underrated.. so very good for what it was..

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i agree, moon,2001 and solaris are really boring but the thing and event horizon sick?please watch cold fish ;) :D

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The Thing (1982)
The Thing (2011)
Event Horizon (1997)

I don't like them because you can't call that sick movie(s) a Sci-Fi movie(s).

I find the Moon (2009) boring.

And also i find 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) boring.


You deserve a slap.

You don't consider Event Horizon and The Thing (*beep* the new one) Sci-fi. What's the matter? Did you wet yourself? It's evident that you don't actually like science-fiction (you like action films that happen to be set in a sci-fi universe) and you clearly have no grasp of how diverse science-fiction is. You have no right to be dictating what science-fiction is if you found 2001 and Moon 'boring'.

______________________________

'I don't expect you to get it, Mr Burton'

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You are a stupid person.

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Haha your taste is crap, good luck finding your Disney sci-fi movie there kid.

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Very surprised no one has mentioned Cube yet. There's 3 of them, all very much delivering what Pandorum does.

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I'd say they do belong together, based only on "feel." To me they both "feel" like each other.

Just like, "Videodrome," "Requiem for a dream," and "Smiley face" have almost nothing in common, other than they all "feel" similar.

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Thanks Max

Great list.

Some of the Cube movies are kinda good too, mainly the first one

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remove the fountain, is has nothing to do with pandorum, the only simillar and good movie is event horizon.

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Give Saturn 3 (1980) a try. Haven't seen it since I was 6 but it left an impression and it's in the "stuck on a big space ship/station" genre.

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Cargo. Such a great movie.

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The fountain is one of the greatest thought provoking movies that hollywood has ever produced. Not exactly for the Avenger fanboys though! lol

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The score alone makes it worth the watch.

You're the funniest thing I seen since Biter chewed off that Septa's teats - Rorge

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No star ????

No Apes ????

No Blades ????

No monkeys ????

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Those movies are all good. I like Pandorum because it is dark, mysterious, and a wtf is going on kinda movie when you first watch it. I'd add Ghosts of Mars to your list and Sphere. Sphere is by far the best of any of those types of movies.

If you want some more wtf is going on movies I'd watch.

Feast(2005) Awesome, Strange, and Funny.

The Woman(2011) Don't be fooled this movie will make you go wtf am I watching.

When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, The world will know peace. -Jimi Hendrix

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