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7

grandpajoe6191Oct 5, 2011

I don' really remember the precise details of "Mission to Mars" (I was a kid back then). But I do still remember the wonderful performance of Tim Robbins as well as his prominent sacrifice for his team. Overall, I believe I liked it.

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

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7

TokyochuchuOct 2, 2012

Mission to Mars is a nicely detailed science-fiction exploration movie. It harkens back to the spirit of 1950's Sci-Fi, where slimy monsters and gun fire was not an automatic box-check and the simple wonderment of the stars alone was enoughMission to Mars is a nicely detailed science-fiction exploration movie. It harkens back to the spirit of 1950's Sci-Fi, where slimy monsters and gun fire was not an automatic box-check and the simple wonderment of the stars alone was enough to carry a movie. That said, it's best not to look for any sense of realism in Mission to Mars, as just like all those classic 50's flicks, things aren't developed much past Flash Gorden. If however, you feel like an Errol Flynn style voyage of discovery, Mission to Mars is a delightful ride.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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8

SpartanEdgeJun 15, 2011

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I think the people who rated this film low,were probably expecting some action film,& dont 'get' what this film is meant to be about,or religious types,who dont their beliefs challenged.This film never claimed to be an action movie.Its a subtle & thought provoking film,that challenges the ideas & presents other theories of what started life on earth.The acting was top notch,& i was gripped from beginning to end.& so what if the Aliens were not bad guys! not every film has to be sinister,& it was refreshing to see the mystery at the end was not sinister at all,but something else.a paragon.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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6

MichMartMar 3, 2014

I enjoyed Red Planet a bit more, because Mission to Mars is a bit less interesting and has sometimes strange background sounds. The ending is also strange. But it has no stereotype characters and a good plot.

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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8

Liza89Oct 14, 2019

This is a bad movie, there's no two way of saying this. Brian De Palma is at home amongst guns and blood, and totally out of place in a sci-fi movie set on an alien terrain. Heck, even the special effects are lousy. Ineptly directed, badlyThis is a bad movie, there's no two way of saying this. Brian De Palma is at home amongst guns and blood, and totally out of place in a sci-fi movie set on an alien terrain. Heck, even the special effects are lousy. Ineptly directed, badly acted, and scripted with an eye towards stupidity and incoherence, the film is worthwhile only to those who are in desperate need of a nap. And, as is often the case when a big budget, high profile motion picture self-destructs, this one does so in spectacular fashion. Sifting through the rubble, the only salvagable element is Ennio Morricone's score - music that, while not among the composer's top work, is infinitely better than anything else in this misbegotten movie. One thing that makes Mission to Mars' action sequences so laughable is the poor quality of the special effects. In an era when even small budget movies can boast effective visuals, the kind of cheesiness evident in Mission to Mars is unacceptable.(Astonishingly bad).… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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3

SpangleSep 10, 2016

Mission to Mars is an abject disaster. I know Brian De Palma is an incredibly talented director, but this film is wholly derivative of better films dealing with alien encounters (2001: A Space Odyssey, Close Encounters of the Third Kind,Mission to Mars is an abject disaster. I know Brian De Palma is an incredibly talented director, but this film is wholly derivative of better films dealing with alien encounters (2001: A Space Odyssey, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Alien, E.T., and Contact, are ones that come to mind immediately) while being nowhere near as good as any of those films. It is clear that De Palma watched these movies, but it is equally clear that he had no sense as to how they turned out well. What is missing from Mission to Mars is the same sense of wonder and child-like awe at these discoveries, mainly due to the horrific writing.

The film is blessed with good special effects (even if the animals towards the end look as if they are straight out of Zoo Tycoon), mainly the effect of the tornado. That scene is a true wonder, as are most scenes in space from an effects standpoint. The camera work in the film really makes the most of this with big, sweeping shots throughout the space shuttles that are so good, it makes me sit back and wonder, "Was this movie really as bad as I am saying it is?" Unfortunately, these good effects and shots do not make up for the rest of the film.

What is not bad, however, is the general plot outline and De Palma's ambition. Using this film as a footing to try and find where we come from, Mission to Mars is a truly optimistic film about discovery, love, and loss. In these areas, De Palma hits consistently. The plot is compelling and interesting, as well highly inventive. Yes, it is derivative, but the plot pulls all the best parts of previous science fiction films and puts it into one film, which hey, I am not going to argue against it too much.

However, the sentimentality of the film is ultimately too much, namely because it feels as if the film is highly manipulative and lacks any heart of its own. This manipulation of emotions largely derives from the horrific writing. The first half hour is not that poorly written. However, afterwards, the film is a slog to get through because of the horrible dialogue. Around every corner is a terrible line from Phil (Jerry O'Connell) that is only matched by his horrible acting. The rest of the cast also suffers from being given terrible lines, but their performances often slip in and out from being solid to atrocious. Don Cheadle is particular has a scene in which he is supposed to cry, but it physically made me ill to watch him try. Gary Sinise is hard to judge since he is so television nowadays. All I see is the guy from CSI: NY, but even then, his performance is so underwhelming, it hurts.

This bad dialogue is so bad, it makes the rest of the proceedings feel incredibly nonsensical and causes them to fall flat. Now, this is also due to the bad storytelling. I like the plot, but it feels as if the film was chopped up in the editing room or just suffered from horrific editing. Either way. As it stands, Mission to Mars practically skimmed through the story and then looked at you at the end of the film and screamed, "CRY AND FEEL AWE". Sadly, it does not work. The ending is so hokey and so half-baked, it ruins any good will the film had stored up from the very beginning. De Palma's attempt at being an explanatory journey of self-discovery feels like an idea that a stoner come up with while, well, baked.

The final sin committed by Brian De Palma's failed Mission to Mars is the pacing. The pacing is dreadful. Towards the end of the movie, I looked at the progress bar and discovered I was merely an hour in. The pacing is simply that bad. This film feels like it ate up my whole evening, yet it took just under two hours.

Mission to Mars is a film that if it were caught up in a tornado and left to die on Mars, nobody should make an attempt to rescue it. Though it has a truly terrific premise, the film is undone by being a highlight reel of better science fiction films, except if those films had no idea how to tell a story, write dialogue, edit a film, or create any emotion, awe, or wonder. As it stands, Mission to Mars is pretty, but simply does not work on really any level.… Expand

1 of 6 users found this helpful15

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7

DerekS.Oct 6, 2008

I felt the movie was underplayed because of the ending. Overall the movie was good, though the acting in some parts was a little wooden. Special effects were top notch and I liked the premise.

0 of 2 users found this helpful

9

BeauFullerAug 18, 2016

Gotta say that I have fond memories of this movie. With that said, I would have to say that it's quite a different take on a Mars movie and a departure from the usual "Aliens are always the bad guys" type of space movie.

Anyways, got toGotta say that I have fond memories of this movie. With that said, I would have to say that it's quite a different take on a Mars movie and a departure from the usual "Aliens are always the bad guys" type of space movie.

Anyways, got to rate this much higher than the other ppl on here cause it's dang good.… Expand

0 of 6 users found this helpful06

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10

shogggMar 25, 2014

A space movie that is about hope, awe, and wonder rather than the anti-human-aliens and space-horror fest that has been the norm in this genre for the last 35 years. A rare gem in science fiction cinema.

0 of 8 users found this helpful08

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10

Atrium89May 25, 2021

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0 of 5 users found this helpful05

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5

J_Thom123Aug 30, 2013

So, this movie earns the five stars that I gave it entirely through its beautiful (and fairly accurate) portrayal of near-future space exploration technologies. The ships used and the problems (like micro-meteorites) encountered by the shipsSo, this movie earns the five stars that I gave it entirely through its beautiful (and fairly accurate) portrayal of near-future space exploration technologies. The ships used and the problems (like micro-meteorites) encountered by the ships illustrated fairly plausible space exploration scenarios. The films ancient humanoid progenitors-to-mankind where visually interesting both in their appearance and the majestic appearance of their technology. However, where it loses stars is in its treatment of ethics in the storyline. As the movie progresses towards the great revelation of mankind's (and all Earth lifes') extraterrestrial origin the gruesome deaths of the astronauts in the first quarter of the movie are all but forgotten.

To me this would have brought up some grave concerns about the ancients. For one, the fact that they built a security system which triggers a bloody, Jigsaw-esque booby trap after one incorrect response to a query that people are unlikely to understand over a billion years after the security system was created makes them either a) incredibly inept or b) horrifyingly cruel. In either event the fact that they only want to explain their history to their direct descendants makes them xenophobic to the extreme. So, why would any of the astronauts want to go visit them?… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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4

avatar16May 4, 2012

Brian De Palma au service d'un film de science-fiction, le tout basÃ© sur des faits scientifiques, Ã©tait un projet des plus allÃ©chants! Malheureusement, il semblerait que le rÃ©alisateur soitBrian De Palma au service d'un film de science-fiction, le tout basÃ© sur des faits scientifiques, Ã©tait un projet des plus allÃ©chants! Malheureusement, il semblerait que le rÃ©alisateur soit restÃ© dans la Lune, nous livrant ici un produit bien en-dessous des attentes et de son talent. A commencer par un scÃ©nario, plutÃ´t brouillon et un peu trop hollywoodien (sur les bons sentiments), qui empÃªche de faire croire Ã ces faits scientifiques (certaines sÃ©quences et rÃ©vÃ©lations Ã©tant tirÃ©es par les cheveux : le ver de sable, la rÃ©vÃ©lation finale, la nature du "son"...). Avec en plus des effets spÃ©ciaux inÃ©gaux et un Ennio Morricone pas au mieux de sa forme. Mais il faut bien reconnaÃ®tre que les scÃ¨nes spatiales sont bien plus intÃ©ressantes que les moments sur Mars, superbement rÃ©alisÃ©es! Et le casting reste honorable. MalgrÃ© cela, le film semble incomplet (pour ne pas dire bÃ¢clÃ© et parfois grand-guignolesque), se laissant quand mÃªme regarder, mais pas avec l'oeil que l'ont aurait souhaitÃ©...… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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6

BroyaxMay 22, 2023

Brian De Palma livre une sorte de chronique martienne naïve et au début un peu lent mais excellemment réalisée : effets spéciaux convaincants, fluidité de la caméra, rigueur du cadrage… c’est le style De Palma, sa patte reconnaissable entreBrian De Palma livre une sorte de chronique martienne naïve et au début un peu lent mais excellemment réalisée : effets spéciaux convaincants, fluidité de la caméra, rigueur du cadrage… c’est le style De Palma, sa patte reconnaissable entre toutes ! et cela joue beaucoup sur l’ambiance générale élégante et soignée.

La musique de Morricone y participe aussi, grandiloquente et digne. Les acteurs appréciables sont à l’avenant, donnant le meilleur d’eux-mêmes. Dommage cependant, cette naïveté générale du propos qui entache l’ensemble et sa crédibilité… on attendait, on espérait mieux tout de même…

Plus on avance en effet, plus le scénar ressemble à celui d’un vieux nanar plutôt ballot, sans égaler, sans tomber aussi bas, bien entendu, qu’une spielbergerie du troisième type ! Mais c’est un peu trop neuneu pour convaincre, c’est peu de le dire ! ce bon vieux Brian est certainement fleur bleue à ses heures perdues ou naïvement naïf.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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5

HellHoleHorrorFeb 16, 2022

It looked like a generic space movie but it still had style and finesse as well as great graphics. Nice involving sound mix that occasionally held back a bit too much. It was a bit slow and lacking depth. It was more a series of events than aIt looked like a generic space movie but it still had style and finesse as well as great graphics. Nice involving sound mix that occasionally held back a bit too much. It was a bit slow and lacking depth. It was more a series of events than a story. The sappy ending was a bit of a let-down. It was quite emotional near the start but not elsewhere.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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