Mission To Mars (2000)

Average rating

(60%)

Starring:	Gary Sinise \| Don Cheadle \| Connie Nielsen \| Jerry O'Connell \| Kim Delaney \| Tim Robbins \| Armin Mueller-Stahl \| Elise Neal
Director:	Brian De Palma
Studio:	TOUCHSTONE HOME VIDEO
Run time:	109 mins
Genres:	Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Languages:	English
Dubbed:	Italian
Subtitles:	Croatian, English, Italian, Slovenian
Released:	August 01, 2005
Also available on:

In 2020, a group of astronauts headed by Luke Graham (Don Cheadle) set out to be the first humans on Mars. After they've landed, they investigate a strange noise near an unusual rock formation, and an unpredicted storm conjures up a living tunnel of sand that wipes out everyone except Graham. His pals back on a space station near Earth spring to his rescue despite the concern of their stodgy Russian captain (Peter Outerbridge) that in the year it will take to reach him, Graham will likely die. Nonetheless, they have to try it. Manning the spacecraft is Jim McConnell (Gary Sinise), a shaky but brilliant space cadet mourning the death of his wife (Kim Delaney); newcomer Phil (Jerry O'Connell); and married astronauts Woody (Tim Robbins) and Terri (Connie Nielsen). After various catastrophic setbacks, they make it to Mars in time to discover some shocking secrets, including the very origin of life in the universe. Highlighted by staggering special effects, this ambitious Brian De Palma film straddles the void between Kubrick's 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY and Cameron's THE ABYSS, with imaginative results. The music is by Ennio Morricone.

Rating of 2 stars out of 5

Barely adequate sci-fi programmer about the first American astronauts to land on Mars, only to face a challenge from a sun-activated, mechanical object called a polarite. Interplanetary explorers Darren McGavin and Nick Adams also encounter a frozen Russian cosmonaut, who returns to life and joins them in their war with the polarite. Restricted by a glaringly low budget — witness the shoddy model effects and the over-reliance on Nasa stock footage — famed director of cult turkey Santa Claus Conquers the Martians Nick Webster does manage at least to keep the drama on course. The soundtrack is pure dated hippy, with songs by the Forum Quorum. Actor Adams died of a drug overdose before the film was released.