Roving Mars (2006)

70% of critics liked it
(37 reviews)
73% of users liked it
(813 ratings)

Mars is Earth's closest planetary neighbor, and for decades scientists have been curious about the so-called "Red Planet," wondering if it's possible that life exists there, how its soil and terrain differs from our own, and if water can be found. While sending a manned space mission to Mars has… More Mars is Earth's closest planetary neighbor, and for decades scientists have been curious about the so-called "Red Planet," wondering if it's possible that life exists there, how its soil and terrain differs from our own, and if water can be found. While sending a manned space mission to Mars has been considered beyond the reach of America's space program, in 2001 the National Aeronautics and Space Administration approved a mission to send two "rovers" to Mars -- wheeled robots that would send images and data back to Earth. A two-year crash program resulted in two robotic rovers (dubbed "Spirit" and "Opportunity") being sent to Mars, which have given scientists and researchers on Earth a brand new vision of what the planet is really like. Roving Mars is a documentary which offers a detailed look at the people behind the Mars rover program, how the machines were built and what they can do, and what has been learned since they reached their target. Roving Mars was shot and originally exhibited in the high-definition IMAX film format. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: G, 40 min.
Directed By: George Butler
Written By: George Butler, Robert Milo Andrus
Genres: Documentary, Special Interest

In Theaters: Jan 27, 2006 Limited
On DVD: Jul 31, 2007
Studio: Buena Vista

Critic Reviews

Ethan Gilsdorf, Boston Globe
Despite audiences knowing the happy ending from the get-go, [director] Butler manages to inject considerable drama.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
One of the most educational and entertaining large-format movies ever.
Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times
Not having a way to capture images of the machines at work means that too much of Butler's film ... is disappointingly made up of computer simulations.
John Monaghan, Detroit Free Press
Capably accomplishes its mission to Mars by blending solid science with sci-fi eye candy.
Bob Townsend, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It's harder still not to root for anthropomorphized Spirit and Opportunity as time and again they perform like whirring, beeping little robots-that-could, far exceeding the expectations of the people who designed and built them.
Gregory Kirschling, Entertainment Weekly
Only a series of pics featuring a set of strange little nodes that look like blueberries planted in a pile of red rocks carry any kind of translatable otherworldly kick.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
The interaction of two amazing NASA roving robots, named "Spirit" and "Opportunity," with the mysterious terrain of Mars is authentically captured by writer/director George Butler on IMAX cameras.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...has been designed to appeal primarily to viewers with an inherent interest in all things outer space...
Ryan Cracknell, Calgary Movies
Originally made for IMAX screens, George Butler's Roving Mars is a visual marvel %u2013 even if it boils down to a piece of corporate propaganda.
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
Visually impressive, but it's not as exciting as you'd expect.
Bill Gibron, DVD Verdict
Clocking in at a mere 40 minutes, and lacking much of the visual scope an IMAX presentation would have in its original viewing circumstances, Roving Mars comes across as a well-meaning shill for NASA's ongoing obsession with the angry red planet.
David Cornelius, DVDTalk.com
Standard IMAX docu fare: a few talking heads, some lush narration, and a whole heap of impressive visuals.
Rex Roberts, Film Journal International
The actual images from the barren surface of our solar neighbor don't fill the giant screen.
Arthur Salm, San Diego Union-Tribune
It's shot through with edge-of-your-seat excitement.
Ross Anthony, Hollywood Report Card
The first third of the film is weak, but from there it blasts off with strength and connects emotionally, visually, intellectually and even motivationally with the audience.
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
Too small for the giant Imax screen, Roving Mars is an interesting enough documentary about space exploration but doesn't deliver sufficient gee-whizzery.
Peter Sobczynski, eFilmCritic.com
Considering what it promises compared to what it actually delivers (especially when you factor in the inflated IMAX prices), even the most indulgent fan of space exploration is likely to walk away from Roving Mars feeling slightly ripped-off.

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Roving Mars (2006)

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