Year:
2000
Studio:
Touchstone Pictures
Movie:
2/5
DVD:
2/5
Movie
The year is, well,
sometime in the not so far future. Earth's first manned Martian
expedition has discovered something. And then things went horribly
wrong. Now a second expedition is sent to rescue the first one,
assuming there are any survivors of course. Everything gets dicey when
the second expedition encounters troubles of its own.
Mission to Mars
reminds me of a disaster movie — things go wrong and its amazing that
anybody survives the harsh environments of space and Mars. The movie
has some great visuals of space and the space ship and Mars.
Unfortunately, I've always thought and still think that it is a rather
bland movie.Things happen, movie ends. If not for Jerry O'Connell's
character this movie would be as boring as 2001 (which, fine movie that it is,
edge-of-your-seat gripping it is not).
Actors
A fine cast mired in a special-effects heavy movie. Gary Sinise, Tim
Robbins, Don Cheadle, and Connie Nielsen play characters that for the
most part I was not interested in.Other than the dramatic and sad death
scene they had understated characters. Jerry O'Connell's character,
whilst not having a big role, had some great lines and livened up the
movie.
|
DVD
The audio commentary, like the movie, looks good but is not
interesting. Four people, all in the special effects side of the movie,
provide commentary on of course all the CGI that went into the movie.
Even when they're enthusiastic and excited about certain effects, it's
still boring listening to them. Things like why certain story decisions
were made or on-the-set anecdotes, both of which I like, are not there.
There is also a 20-minute documentary on the visual effects, plus
visual effects analysis and animatics for a couple of the long
special-effect laden scenes.The production art is yet another element
that underscores how much effort went into visual effects and not into
storyline.
The theatrical trailer is also included.
Recommendations
Mission to Mars
and Red Planet came out the
same year, with Mission to Mars
coming out first by being rushed through post-production. You can't
tell because the visual effects are still amazing. Storywise Red Planet has the more interesting
plot. In the end I'd rather have people watch Red Planet than Mission to Mars.
|