Early on, this film manages to fool you into the belief that it will be formulaic. A pretty standard two- dimensional crew on a standard spaceship. We've seen it all before. However it soon becomes something much more, as all aspects of the movie pick up the pace until we end up with a fast-paced, inventive, well- acted and above all very scary thriller.
Based loosely on the Isaac Asimov story Nightfall, the film follows the crew of spacecraft and the dangerous criminal they are transporting (Diesel) as they try to escape after crashlanding on a remote planet. The planet is the home of a race of bloodthirsty aliens - however they are afraid of the light, and on a planet with three suns the crew should be safe. It's a real shame that a once-in-a-lifetime tri-solar eclipse is just around the corner...
This is one of those films that surprises you by delivering much more than you expect. With excellent performances by Mitchell (as the captain) and Diesel (described by one reviewer as "the thinking woman's alien-slaying bad-ass"), an eerily beautiful setting and a hectic pace, it will keep you on the edge of your seat. Just give it a chance to get going.

Welcome to the far future. Humanity's centuries-long peace is shattered as a brilliant scientist goes missing - taking with him plans for the Ultimate Weapon! Luckily, Spacewoman Barbarella is on hand to save the day! She takes off in her tastefully carpet-lined spacecraft to track down the missing scientist.
Landing on a distant and barbarous planet, Barbarella plunges into a surreal adventure - a kaleidoscopic whirl of mad scientists, sadistic rulers, over-enthusiastic revolutionaries, hairy-chested hunters, wild children, killer dolls, the essence of pure evil and, of course, Pygar the blind Angel. My favourite line - "De-crucify the Angel or I'll melt your face."
Based on a French comic strip of the sixties, Barbarella is a camp classic and great fun. Outlandishly colourful sets and costumes add flavour, but it is Jane Fonda in the title role that makes it worth watching. I'm not talking award-winning acting here - just the perfect note of sexy innocence (or is that innocent sexiness) to make the movie work.
It's obligatory to mention that the pop group Duran Duran took their name from the evil scientist character in this film (many of you may have to ask someone older what I'm talking about - how depressing).