science fiction

Mission to Mars Movie Review

Starring: Gary Sinise, Tim Robbins
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Review Summary
This is one of the worst sci-fi movies I have ever seen. It is the very slooooow story of a spaceship that goes to Mars. You can tune in at the last 15 minutes and not miss much, except for one great scene where the dopey Tim Robbins opens his helmet and exposes himself to the vacuum of space. At the end the crew finds themselves in an alien ship that looks like a cheap Hollywood set with stark white backgrounds.
a, Resident Scholar

The first mission to Mars in 2020, headed by astronaut Luke Graham (Cheadle) encounters a mysterious power located at a structure that resembles a gigantic face, it kills almost everyone and cuts off communication with Earth. A rescue mission headed by Woody Blake (Robbins) and Jim McConnell (Sinise) makes its perilous way to the planet to save whoever is still alive and discover the secrets of the incredible force. Directed by scare-meister Brian DePalma, this 2000 film is visually lovely, surprisingly reverent and sedate (even Ennio Morricone's musical score is understated, although there is a little action and mayhem), and features solid acting and a so-so script -- sort of 2001-lite. Kim Delaney has brief appearances as Sinise's ex-wife, and Armin Mueller-Stahl appears uncredited as Ramier Beck, a mission commander back on Earth's "world-space station."
David Loftus, Resident Scholar

Set in the near future, the film shows an initial landing on Mars and the subsequent tragedy. The rescue (2nd mission)involves most of the movie. The plot is a familiar theme and soon recognized to those interested in Mars. The acting is very good, the sets are believable, the special effects are up to todays standards (but they are not dominant). This is a good,well acted movie that should have done better with the critics and at the box office.
E Robertson, Resident Scholar

The first manned expedition is sent to Mars. They discover an odd structure and are attacked by an unknown entity and they lose contact with earth. A year later a rescue party is sent, they run into many problems on the way, but three of the four survive and make it to the planet's surface. They find one surviving member from the first expedition. Together they discover that the sounde that were put out by the alien structure are really a test for them to solve, so they try to answer it.
Mark, Resident Scholar


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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Movie
Actual chase scenes or violence - 10%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzle - 60%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%




**Fantasy or Science Fiction?** - science fiction story
Explore/1st contact Yes
Explore plotlet: - "primitive"/present day space travel

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - explorer
Age: - 20's-30's
Hair color? - brunette (Brown)
Hair type - (man) short/medium straight
Body type - muscular (man)
Events of movie makes character more... - introspective
Ethnicity/Nationality - White (American)
Sense of humor? - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Secondary Main Character
Identity: - Male
Hair color - blonde
Hair style - (man) short/standard straight
Body type - average build (man)
Ethnicity/Nationality - White (American)

Main Adversary
Sense of humor? - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Physical condition - average physique

Setting
Which planet? - Mars
Spaceship setting: - primative (present, near future) human spaceship - a space station
Takes place in spaceship? Yes
Not Earth, but in Solar System? Yes
In Space? - in spacesuit

Style
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Kinds of F/X - exploding spaceships - exotic aliens - exotic alien landscape
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