Pandora's Clock (1996) (TV)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Eric Laneuville

Writers (WGA):

John J. Nance (novel)
David Israel (teleplay)

Release Date:

10 November 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Thriller | Drama

Plot:

Quantum Airlines flight 66 has just taken off from Frankfurt, Germany bound for New York's JFK International Airport with 247 passengers aboard...

Plot Keywords:

Virus | Airplane | Based On Novel

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Richard Dean Anderson	...	Capt. James Holland
Daphne Zuniga	...	Dr. Roni Sanders
Jane Leeves	...	Rachel Sherwood
Richard Lawson	...	Capt. Daniel Robb
Stephen Root	...	Mark Hastings
Tim Grimm	...	CIA Agent Steve Ellis
Edward Herrmann	...	President
Robert Guillaume	...	Ambassador Lee Lancaster
Robert Loggia	...	CIA Director Jonathan Roth
Jerry Hardin	...	Rev. Garson Wilson
Kurt Fuller	...	Chet Walters
Jennifer Savidge	...	Barb Rollins
Kate Hodge	...	Brenda Hopkins
Scott Bryce
Penny Peyser	...	Lisa Erickson

Also Known As:

Doomsday Virus (UK)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some violence and a brief sexual innuendo.

Runtime:

176 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Seattle, Washington, USA

Company:

Citadel Entertainment

Trivia:

The oval office set was built originally for Dave (1993).

Goofs:

Continuity: When the plane landed, two engines were visible hanging on the left wing, when one of them was apparently shot by the air-to-air rocket and exploded.

Quotes:

CIA Director Jonathan Roth: [Roth's corollary to Newton's law] Bodies in motion tend to stay in motion. Bodies at rest tend to be left behind.

An Intelligent Thrill Ride

I began watching a replay of this TV movie on a Sunday afternoon, thinking it was just another dumb airplane disaster flick. I was wrong.

"Pandora's Clock" is an intelligent political thriller that is far beyond the quality of most TV movies. It could just as easily have made its debut on the big screen.

The cast is excellent, including veteran actors Richard Dean Anderson, Edward Herrmann, Robert Guillaume, and Robert Loggia. Daphne Zuniga turns in one of her best performances as a medical specialist working for the CIA, and Frasier's Jane Leeves is also very good.

The dialogue is well-written and the story is compelling throughout. In fact, the final hour is so filled with plot twists and suspense that you can't leave your seat for a second. If you get a chance to see this movie, invest the time -- nearly four hours. You will be richly rewarded!