[The News Bot]

Reviewed by Andrew Mogford, 29th September 2009
The film may be a guilty pleasure, but I do enjoy Event Horizon. There may be glaring weaknesses in plot and dialogue, but the film plays like Hellraiser in space. The first act builds up the tension well, and the second and third act deliver in spades with plenty of horror and gore. All this is delivered in some stunning sets and with some fairly decent acting from a stellar cast.

The picture, despite one glaring flaw that has always been present in home formats, is a very solid upgrade, as is the sound. The extras package is extremely comprehensive and adds a lot to the whole experience.

If you enjoy the film, and only have the vanilla DVD then this is a definite upgrade. Those who imported the special edition DVD are likely to have a slightly more difficult choice. As for those who have never seen the film, if you have any interest in sci-fi horror then you should really give this a try. It is Anderson’s best work by a long way and delivers on the scares and the atmosphere.


Read the full review...

[max222]

Andrew. Thank you for your review which I enjoyed reading and in the main I would agree with. I have Event Horizon on BD and indeed had the imported DVD SE before that. Its an easy and pleasing watch as you suggest. One thing I would offer an alternative opinion on is your comparison with Sunshine. Now I have Sunshine on BD as well. Both have a similar element in the "mad baddie" with supernatural powers etc. However I think that is the one element which actually spoils Sunshine. Up until that point it is an almost "realistic" (if you can such a thing about sci-fi) and beautiful looking/sounding movie about trying to restart the sun. I so much prefer Sunshine to Event Horizon. Even though I like Event Horizon it is not beautiful in the way Sunshine is....I find Sunshine is like 2001 or The Fountain or Solaris in that I can watch it just for the pleasure of seeing and hearing it rather than following a story. I find it deeply moving hence for myself it will always be the superior film. Just my opinion and an alternative view. I do stress I still like Event Horizon and indeed seem to like any film with Sean Pertwee in - he is so very watchable.

[Andrew Mogford]

I did actually consider mentioning Pertwee more in the review. He is hardly Brando, or Pacino, but watcheable is correct !

I did think long and hard about whether to bring Sunshine into the review or not, but in the end felt that although the films were in no way identical there was enough of a similarity there to make it worthy of mention.

As for Sunshine, I should probably not make my opinion on it clear - as I have no wish to cause any offence

However, you have persuaded me to revisit it. i shall rewatch it this weekend and see what I think of it on a second viewing.

Anyway, back to Event Horizon!

Glad you liked the review. thanks for the feedback.

[Jim Di Griz]

Id definitely agree with the review. And its certainly the director's best film no question!

Sunshine could have been a great film. As it is - its very good but a bit of a shame. If they had just avoided the whole zombie/monster thing it could have possibly been this generation's 2001. Its still very good but when I watch it Im always thinking "what if...". The other thing I think of watching Sunshine is "oh theyve done an Event Horizon!". I always get the feeling that Danny Boyle has gone so far with it and has then been told "look we need some zombies/gory stuff to attract the kids to watch it" and hes given in...no doubt he'd argue otherwise!

Event Horizon is a great sci-fi horror. This is one film where I wish it would have been a fair bit longer, I think its 90 minutes or maybe not even that? It does feel at times that they have edited it to make it as short as possible (although I havent watched it for a while now). Like Sunshine, I sometimes wonder "what if they hadnt introduced the gory horror aspect and gone another way?" as I suspect it could have then reached minor classic territory!

Ah well! theres always Solaris for the more celebral watch! (the new one, not the old - I just cant get on with the 1970s one!).

Any sci-fi fans who havent seen Event Horizon or Sunshine rent or buy them now - you wont be disappointed. Just dont compare them to 2001 or Alien! Id give Sunshine and Event Horizon a solid 8/10 each. They both have great soundtracks too which is a big plus for me.

[max222]

The soundtrack to Sunshine is superb - available I believe only on MP3 download. I have it and love it. Also if you like ambient music I would recommend the Solaris soundtrack too which I also have. Now if only they'd make a movie using Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient Works volume 2 that would be a very scary sci -fi movie ! For me its the soundtrack to a very good sci -fi movie - but just one that hasn't been made yet ! Back to movie's I have now ordered Moon (unseen by me) in the hope it will in some way be a similar type of good sci fi like Event Horizon, Sunshine and Solaris. Hard to categorise but in other words NOT the Star Wars/Star Trek type sci-fi. (both of which I like although recently Star Wars is starting to bore me for some reason).

[Jim Di Griz]

Originally Posted by max222

The soundtrack to Sunshine is superb - available I believe only on MP3 download. I have it and love it. Also if you like ambient music I would recommend the Solaris soundtrack too which I also have. Now if only they'd make a movie using Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient Works volume 2 that would be a very scary sci -fi movie ! For me its the soundtrack to a very good sci -fi movie - but just one that hasn't been made yet ! Back to movie's I have now ordered Moon (unseen by me) in the hope it will in some way be a similar type of good sci fi like Event Horizon, Sunshine and Solaris. Hard to categorise but in other words NOT the Star Wars/Star Trek type sci-fi. (both of which I like although recently Star Wars is starting to bore me for some reason).

Great minds think alike and all that! I love the Solaris soundtrack and Sunshine too of course! I would also recommend Gattaca, Blade Runner (the best soundtrack full stop) and Event Horizon.

Aphex Twin Ambient Works Vol 2 is so similar to these, it was made for a sci-fi film! Its quite unsettling, sometimes I sleep to it and it wakes me up near the end!

Ambient Works Vol 1 is also good in a different way - not quite as chilled but still some great ambient/detroit techno there.

Im hoping Moon is good too (havent seen it yet) - hopefully the soundtrack will be similar to the above, I imagine it wont be a rock guitar opus anyway! Is there anything worse than massive guitar solos during action films?! The amount of times ive said out loud "if only theyd done something with the soundtrack.."

Whats that Brian Eno track called...you know, the one that gets played a lot on 28 Days Later (amongst others). Very chilled and atmospheric...need to get hold of that one and anything similar hes done.

[max222]

Originally Posted by Jim Di Griz

Whats that Brian Eno track called...you know, the one that gets played a lot on 28 Days Later (amongst others). Very chilled and atmospheric...need to get hold of that one and anything similar hes done.

I think thats's An Ending (Ascent) from Apollo. Another superb album - does conjur up so very well the feeling of floating through space ever further from Earth.

We seem to have very similar and I would say good taste in movie soundtracks

[Jim Di Griz]

Originally Posted by max222

I think thats's An Ending (Ascent) from Apollo. Another superb album - does conjur up so very well the feeling of floating through space ever further from Earth.

We seem to have very similar and I would say good taste in movie soundtracks

Great Ill check that one up.

I cant help feeling the guy in my avatar picture could make some great film soundtracks given the chance. Or some films could pinch his old stuff anyway! (not so keen on his new stuff though)

[Jim Di Griz]

Originally Posted by The News Bot

Reviewed by Andrew Mogford, 29th September 2009
The film may be a guilty pleasure, but I do enjoy Event Horizon. There may be glaring weaknesses in plot and dialogue, but the film plays like Hellraiser in space. The first act builds up the tension well, and the second and third act deliver in spades with plenty of horror and gore. All this is delivered in some stunning sets and with some fairly decent acting from a stellar cast.

The picture, despite one glaring flaw that has always been present in home formats, is a very solid upgrade, as is the sound. The extras package is extremely comprehensive and adds a lot to the whole experience.

If you enjoy the film, and only have the vanilla DVD then this is a definite upgrade. Those who imported the special edition DVD are likely to have a slightly more difficult choice. As for those who have never seen the film, if you have any interest in sci-fi horror then you should really give this a try. It is Anderson’s best work by a long way and delivers on the scares and the atmosphere.


Read the full review...

Hellraiser in space! Yes, thats a great description.

I suppose Sunshine could be described as 2001 meets an Alien on the way to a Dark Star and then ends up at an Event Horizon!

The Fountain - Its very pretty to look at but I really could not get on with this film at all! I kept wanting to turn it off but I made myself watch it...I wish I hadnt. Big let down.

[max222]

Originally Posted by Jim Di Griz

Great Ill check that one up.

I cant help feeling the guy in my avatar picture could make some great film soundtracks given the chance. Or some films could pinch his old stuff anyway! (not so keen on his new stuff though)

I just noticed your avatar ! - Gary Numan - very talented guy - Down in the Park and We Have A Technical are superb - and very sci-fi. In fact the whole of Replicas is superb. A masterwork. Yes his music could very easily be a movie soundtrack.
I think we just basically like the same music