Film Screening 10th September, 2010

Poster for Creation

Creation 

8:00 PM, 10th September, 2010

  • PG
  • 108 mins
  • Unknown
  • Jon Amiel
  • John Collee
  • Paul Bettany, Jennifer Connelly, Jeremy Northam, Toby Jones

It is hard to believe that a film like this struggled to find a buyer for its distribution rights even though its theme is still very current in many people’s minds. Creation touches upon the delicate religious controversy that debates the ideas of Darwinism versus Creationism.

The movie from its beginning shows potential, and its leading actors make the story flow as naturally as Charles Darwin’s book “On The Origin Of Species”. Darwin is played in a very convincing and instinctive way by Paul Bettany, opposite an admirable performance by Jennifer Connelly as his wife, Emma. Both of them carry their roles flawlessly, though Bettany as Darwin is inherently a more convincing and likeable character.

The film, as expected, is an epic struggle between the ideologies behind religion and science, all revolving around a marital struggle between Emma, a devout catholic, and Darwin, an agnostic scientist trying to fracture the superstitions of religion. It is interesting to see during the film how these different ideologies clash, not only in society, but also within Darwin’s own home.

Fortunately, the film avoids the melodramatic route, making it all the more credible and interesting to watch. Aided by powerful performances and enticing cinematography, Creation is a great movie that will leave you thinking and debating as you leave the theatre.

Hector Valdes

Poster for Pandorum

Pandorum 

10:03 PM, 10th September, 2010

  • MA
  • 108 mins
  • Unknown
  • Christian Alvart
  • Travis Milloy
  • Dennis Quaid, Ben Foster, Cam Gigandet, Antje Traue

Two spaceship crew members, Bower (Foster) and Payton (Quaid), wake up from a long cryogenic snooze completely disoriented. They don’t know their mission or their location, and have only vague memories of life back on Earth. The ship is in darkness and is eerily quiet.

With Payton staying behind and remaining on the end of the radio to give directions, Bower sets out to find the ship’s reactor and reboot it. On his travels, he meets Nadia (Traue) and Manh (Cung Le) who have been awake a good deal longer and have turned into fighters, living by their wits. It turns out that there are others aboard the ship… and they are not nearly as friendly.

Unlike the user-friendly versions in Star Trek this ship seems to be built like an industrial tanker. With the ship in darkness and the quick blink-and-you’ll-miss-it shots you will certainly be feeling claustrophobic in no time. This merely adds to the creepiness of the whole thing and allows you to immerse yourself in the sensations of terror experienced by the characters. As the end-credits rolled I felt an immense sense of relief, with the ability to breathe normally again.

Jacinta Gould