Code Pandora

Probably because of the huge success "Under Seige" enjoyed, and I imagine continues to enjoy on video with action fans, Erika Eleniak of "Baywatch" fame has molded a career in and out of military action films. Most have been direct-to-video, all have been duds, including the Dennis Hopper comedy "Chasers." Considering that most ex-Playboy centerfolds concentrate on erotic videos it could be worse. If Erika's handlers were trying to mold her into a female Chuck Norris, okay, great idea, but she's mostly the damsel in distress, hence, a second banana. That's too bad, because Erika Eleniak is a good actress, easy on the eyes, and the type of star a studio used to mold into academy award winning status. She should have easily taken the roles offered to Sharon Stone and moved onto the roles offered Julia Roberts. I suppose when a great actress is saddled into cheap flicks she eventually reaches cult status (film noir queen Sally Forrest comes to mind).

The Pandora Project looks (and smells) like an ordinary action-movie, but the film is quite good. The action is ok, it is exiting. The bad thing about the movie is the end which is predictable. Specialy when Erika get caught by the bad guy.

A government agent (Daniel Baldwin) must find a stolen secret military weapon before a renegade (Richard Tyson) wreaks havoc upon the world.

Please, don't expect a masterpiece, but, in my opinion, it's a very watchable movie!

I know...there are better films in this genre... But it doesn't deserve the grade that many are giving here.

The plot is simple, and similar to the most action movies. The film's outcome is not surprising, it is quite predictable.

The action scenes are well done!

The cast's performance is good. Daniel Baldwin, Richard Tyson and Erika Eleniak were fine.

The ending is classic, don't expect surprises!

Rating: 6/10.

The movie was moving along fine, the hero has a beautiful princess, the bad knight kidnaps the princess, now the hero must rescue the princess from the black knight. Same ole, same ole. until they got to the big face to face. Baldwin is going to kill Tyson and keep the money for himself. But before he does that he tells Eleniak to exit the vehicle, when she gets next to the bad guy, you know it, bad guy grabs girl wrestles her into the truck and then we have the perennial chase, Baldwin dives into back of truck, starts punching bad guy while bad guys driving truck, How stupid do you think the viewers are? If the writers can't think of a good intelligent ending, please don't even start the movie.

The plot is hackneyed and I believe that some of the footage was actually taken from Top Gun and Patriot Games. This is just a BAD movie, which is a pity because Baldwin has done some quality stuff in the past, and Eleniak is actually a good actress. However, it seems that both need to do projects like this to pay their mortgages.