Featured Audience Ratings

• Carlos M

  
  What a ridiculous pseudo-philosophical sci-fi that makes no sense. Morricone's score is beautiful as always, but the horrid script is utterly implausible and illogical, with a blatant disregard for details and coherence.

• Chris W

  
  This was the first of two films released in 2000 that detailed trips to Mars. Incidentally, both movies were also quite poorly received by critics and audiences. Either people just had a hate for our neighboring planet, or we just coincidentally happened to get two similar bad films… More
  This was the first of two films released in 2000 that detailed trips to Mars. Incidentally, both movies were also quite poorly received by critics and audiences. Either people just had a hate for our neighboring planet, or we just coincidentally happened to get two similar bad films in the same year. The kicker with this one is that there's a good and interesting concept and ideas going on, and talented people involved, but things end up being a big messy failure. I place some blame on Brian De Palma, whose direction seems really lazy , and the screenwriters, who deliver a poorly written script with way too much cribbing from many far better films. And then there's also the characters, who should be smart since they're scientists, but act really dumb and unprofessional. I would like to say that the actors involved tried, since they are talents like Gary Sinise, Don Cheadle, and Tim Robbins, but even they seem to be sleeping through things, and failure to be all that compelling or interesting. At least Connie Nielsen is there to function (for straight men anyways) as a bit of eye candy. Even for 2000, the special effects are laughably bad, and really undercut any credibility of the movie or the developments of the plot they are connected to It's hard to take any of this seriously, and it's painful to look at. Like I said though, the film does have a nice concept to it, which is as follows: man's first trip to Mars doesn't end well, so another team is sent to rescue any survivors and figure out what happened. When the second team arrives, they discover some startling revelations where humanity and life are concerned. Having seen this after seeing Prometheus, I can't enjoy this as much sicne both are quite similar, but not entirely the same. That film was at least better acted, well made, and actually had some excitement to it. This one is just boring and dull. Since its De Palma, there is some decent camera work, and at least one trademark long take, but nothing all that great like in some of his other films. The only real thing that's without a doubt good is the score by Ennio Morricone. It's far from his best work, but it's still pretty good, and does save the movie from being a total failure. It's just too bad it's not associated with something better. Despite his influence and skill, De Palma remains a real hit and miss director. I tried to give this one a chance, but I can easily see why this is clearly one of his worst.

• Dan S

  
  A disappointing '2001' wannabe concerning a group of astronauts (led by Gary Sinise) who venture to Mars to rescue the lone survivor (Don Cheadle) of the first manned mission, but discover that there may be more to the planet than meets the eye. What could have been a nice… More
  A disappointing '2001' wannabe concerning a group of astronauts (led by Gary Sinise) who venture to Mars to rescue the lone survivor (Don Cheadle) of the first manned mission, but discover that there may be more to the planet than meets the eye. What could have been a nice little sci-fi philosophical exercise such as the recent "Prometheus" is instead a bloated, bad melodrama which takes too long to get to its destination. Granted, de Palma's creation of Mars is certainly impressive, and there is the potential that this could turn into something great that makes you keep watching. Alas, that never happens, with an ending that feels like such a a hackjob, it will be sure to piss off many viewers at its conclusion.

• Phil H

  
  As the end of the 20th Century came to a close, in the final year, we were given the first of two sci-fi films based on the planet Mars, this was the first released. It kinda came across that these films were like a kind of beacon, a sign for the start of greater things to come,… More
  As the end of the 20th Century came to a close, in the final year, we were given the first of two sci-fi films based on the planet Mars, this was the first released. It kinda came across that these films were like a kind of beacon, a sign for the start of greater things to come, perhaps we would reach Mars very soon, perhaps what we were to see in these films would become reality...alas no, not yet. Even with a musical score composed by the legend Morricone this film falls short and its such a shame, to be honest its not too bad but clearly tries to be an epic and simply can't fill those boots. The plot obviously is revolving around adventures on and orbiting Mars, you know exactly what to expect really, the dangers, the tone, the atmosphere, the look etc...you can see it coming a mile off but you look forward to it because its space adventure. The problem is the film is desperately trying to be like '2001' in terms of grandeur in scale and visions but its just too plain, there is an obvious attempt to make it as real as possible but nothing looks exciting or new at the same time, its all rather dull looking. The effects are quite good with models and cgi in use (too much of course), good sets, nice Mars work etc...but there is nothing truly EPIC here, it almost looks like a TV movie at times. Casting is good, you simply can't do a space film without Sinise haha you just can't, the man just makes it look so...real! The rest of the team are decent, sensible and not overblown but maybe too big for the roles, the usage of unknowns would have been better I think. The score again like the film just doesn't quite hit the mark in my opinion, Morricone is the man and his work here is good for sure but is it me or does it sound a bit too close to his 'Untouchables' score? everytime it played I just kept thinking of 'The Untouchables'. As for the rest of the score its unusual and simply doesn't work, emotional scenes are ruined by a quite odd and poor choice in music which totally takes you out of the moment, the film may be inspired by a Disney ride but there's no need to make it sound like a Disney kiddie film. The whole film seems a tad rushed really, the plot jumps from one section to another not even showing the launches from earth or much travel, sure there are time constraints but maybe make the film a bit longer and add some realism or filler? characters are fleshed out mostly in flashbacks which mean nothing really, dialog is really cheesy which equals some pretty wooden/hokey acting from even Sinise! hehe. Add to that a rather dodgy looking cgi alien, a basic plot finale which was sort of an anti-climax and tries a bit to hard to do the 'E.T.' thing with your emotions but kinda fails and then a very blunt flat ending. Enjoyable film which tries its best to really be something special but isn't, the better of the two Mars films, the more sensible one (the 'Deep Impact' of the two ;) )

• xGary X

  
  An interplanetary mission is launched to the red planet to discover the fate of an scientific team stationed there. Directorial hack Brian DePalma once again cack-handedly fails to conjure any sense of wonder or tension in this half arsed space adventure that's all dry techno… More
  An interplanetary mission is launched to the red planet to discover the fate of an scientific team stationed there. Directorial hack Brian DePalma once again cack-handedly fails to conjure any sense of wonder or tension in this half arsed space adventure that's all dry techno babble at the start, giving way to ludicrous alien encounters at the end. The first half is basically Apollo 13 but even more dull, full of clumsy melodrama and absurd flag waving while the second tries desperately (and fails miserably) to create the kind of wonderment of 2001 or Close Encounters. Basically you have to endure an hour of space bound boredom just to find out that the pay off is really weak CGI and some unbelievably patronizing dialogue. It's a shame that a decent cast got involved in this simplistic nonsense, mainly because it's what duped me into sitting through it. Zero suspense in zero gravity.

• Conner R

  
  With a better budget and access to special effects, it would have been a great film. However, I donâ??t think weâ??ll ever get to see what Brian De Palma envisioned when he started working on this project. The performances are really what make it a compelling and interesting space… More
  With a better budget and access to special effects, it would have been a great film. However, I donâ??t think weâ??ll ever get to see what Brian De Palma envisioned when he started working on this project. The performances are really what make it a compelling and interesting space movie, but itâ??s just a visual disaster. Some things look very good, but donâ??t even come close to something like 2001: A Space Odyssey. I also really liked the idea and I think it would have been extremely effective had things worked out.

• Tim S

  
  Interesting, but poorly executed.

• Emil K

  
  Brian De Palma reaches high with this uneven sci-fi stoy and ends up resulting with one of the weirdest and cheesiest of them all. There is hardly anything to recommend here, besides Stephen H. Burum's cineamtography that serves us couple of good looking shots in space. This is… More
  Brian De Palma reaches high with this uneven sci-fi stoy and ends up resulting with one of the weirdest and cheesiest of them all. There is hardly anything to recommend here, besides Stephen H. Burum's cineamtography that serves us couple of good looking shots in space. This is one of those films that gets only worse the further they go and in the end you are left with the question "what the hell were they thinking of?" The climax is truly that bad and the journey to there ain't that exciting neither. While the intentions may have been good, it is a sad fact that this is a failure from Palma and one of his worst films also.

• Anthony L

  
  Not a great film but it?s a bit of escapism innit. It has some really funny moments (all unintentional though!)

• Alexander W

  
  I enjoyed this sci caper that tells about Mars exploration and what could happen if we find that there is room for life on the hostile planet. Although I think the end 20 minutes was a bit over the top. Good for the dads and sons of the family to watch on the weekend.

• Morgan S

  
  Out of all the nastey death scenes I've seen in the movies, there was one in here that I find the MOST DESTURBING! The guy gets sucked up by the wind tunnel and is spinning sooooo fast that his limbs are ripped off!! My mouth literly fell open when I saw that. It was just,,,,ahh… More
  Out of all the nastey death scenes I've seen in the movies, there was one in here that I find the MOST DESTURBING! The guy gets sucked up by the wind tunnel and is spinning sooooo fast that his limbs are ripped off!! My mouth literly fell open when I saw that. It was just,,,,ahh discusting!

• Film C

  
  i liked this movie but i hated the ending it was pretty unbelievable i like sci fi's but i dont like some movies where its going well and you think there is going to be a great ending but end up giving you a shit excse as to way things happened its like the ending to indiana… More
  i liked this movie but i hated the ending it was pretty unbelievable i like sci fi's but i dont like some movies where its going well and you think there is going to be a great ending but end up giving you a shit excse as to way things happened its like the ending to indiana jones 4 which i also didnt like as it was great and then the ending is a let down!!

• Pierluigi P

  
  Clearly inspired by Kubrick's 2001, DePalma visits outer space, weaving a planetary panspermia theory of evolution, and choreographing some impressive shots. Despite the weaknesses of the story, and the exclusively scientific and introspective point of view, the last minutes are… More
  Clearly inspired by Kubrick's 2001, DePalma visits outer space, weaving a planetary panspermia theory of evolution, and choreographing some impressive shots. Despite the weaknesses of the story, and the exclusively scientific and introspective point of view, the last minutes are lifted audibly, visually and emotionally by Ennio Morricone's ethereal music; and the capableness of its director and lead actor.

• Curtis L

  
  Pretty stupid.

• Candy R

  
  Movie about a trip to Mars and what do they find?

• Mike S

  
  Ok movie, but got very silly in the end. They should have some better cgi people next time :P

• Jason S

  
  They paid a lot of money to kill off Tim Robbins five minutes in.

• danny d

  
  Don Cheadle should have run from this movie.

• Aaron N

  
  Flawed film, but good casting makes it enjoyable. A very strange choice for De Palma. A lot of good scenes make this movie better than it should be, but at points it tries to be an almost epic journey, when it really isn't.

• Luke B

  
  A film that is so terribly ridiculous it should almost be good. Unfortunately the cast play it dead serious, as though they are tackling hard hitting issues. It is ultimately a forgettable film with no redeeming qualities.

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