Finally, a well-rounded, satisfying sci-fi flick!

Rating: 8/10 (26 October 2000)

I was originally going to see this film when it came out in February, but I said, "Nah, it looks pretty bad..." When I started reading the amounts of positive reviews of it, it was already out of the theaters. So I waited...and waited...and sure enough, I waited until Tuesday (Oct. 24) to get it on DVD. It was a $20 well spent!
This is one smart movie. The story line keeps you going, it is NOT predictable (something pivotal to this genre of movies), and have some of the coolest monsters! The sound and visuals of them were pretty horiffic. Spectacular cinematography, too -- the work on this one is the best I've seen in a science fiction movie in a long time! The coloring and scenery are simply amazing! Even the light feedbacks from the CG suns behind the characters as the camera panned around was stunning. Also, the acting was pretty decent. I mean, how cool was Vin Diesel at his role as *the* perfect bad guy in a film? (I WANT MY EYES LIKE THAT! ;] ) The casting could not have been better for this movie -- to tell you the truth, I've never actually sat down and saw a movie with either Radha Mitchell or Cole Hauser, but these actors were born for the roles of Fry and Johns, respectively. I was also very surprised at how the film turned out in the end (no spoilers!). So, if you see this movie expecting a movie with bad acting, predictable storyline, and a no-brainer plot, go see something else. If you want the exact opposite, see Pitch Black. 9.5/10