Mission to Mars Review

Mission to Mars

Release Date: 6th April 2000 - Australia

Production Companies

Touchstone Pictures (presents)
Spyglass Entertainment (presents)
The Jacobson Company
Red Horizon Productions

Distribution

Walt Disney Studios Motion 

Pictures Australia

Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: M

Runtime: 101 minutes


Budget: $100,000,000

Box Office Gross: $110,983,407
(Worldwide)

Plot Summary

The year is 2020, and the 

first manned mission to 

Mars, commanded by 

Luke Graham lands 

safely on the red planet. 

But the Martian landscape 

harbors a bizarre and 

shocking secret that 

leads to a mysterious 

disaster so catastrophic, 

it decimates the crew. 

Haunted by a cryptic last 

message from Graham, 

NASA launches the Mars 

Recovery Mission to 

investigate and bring back 

survivors – if there are any. 

Confronted with nearly 

insurmountable dangers, 

but propelled by deep 

friendship, the team finally 

lands on Mars and makes 

a discovery so amazing, it 

takes your breath away

Cast

Gary Sinise - Jim McConnell

Tim Robbins - Woody Blake

Don Cheadle - Luke Graham
Connie Nielsen - Terri Fisher
Jerry O'Connell - Phil Ohlmyer
Kim Delaney - Maggie McConnell
Peter Outerbridge - Sergei Krov
Kavan Smith - Nicholas Willis
Jill Teed - Renee Cote
Elisa Neal - Debra Graham
Robert Bailey Jr. - Bobby Graham
McCanna Anthony Sinise - Young Jim McConnell
Chantal Conlin - Young Maggie

Crew

Director - Brian DePalma

Story/Screenplay - Jim & John Thomas

Story - Lowell Cannon

Screenplay - Graham Yost
Associate Producers - Ted Tally, Chris Soldo and
Jacqueline Lopez 
Executive Producer - Sam Mercer

Producer - Tom Jacobson
Co-Producers - David S. Goyer,
Justis Greene and Jim Wedaa
Technical Consultants - Joseph P. Allen,
Matthew Golombek and Story Musgrave
Consultants - Dave Scott and Robert Zubrin
Choreographer - Adam Shankman

Production Designer - Ed Verreaux
Conceptual Artist/Vehicle Designer - Syd Mead
Art Directors - Andrew Neskoromny and
Thomas Valentine

Costume Designer - Sanja Milkovic Hays

Director of Photography - Stephen H. Hurum
Second Unit Director - Eric Schwab
Stunt Coordinator - Jeff Habberstad
Stunt Coordinator: Vancouver - Melissa R. Stubbs
Special Effects Supervisor - Garry Elmendorf
Special Effects Coordinator - Randy Shymkiw

Visual Effects Supervisors - John Knoll and
Hoyt Yeatman

Co-Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM - George Murphy
Visual Effects Producer: DQI - Rae Griffith
Co-Visual Effects Producer: DQI - Kristina Reed
Visual Effects Art Director: ILM - Alexander Laurant
Digital Effects Supervisor: DQI - Darin Hollings
Character Design Supervisor: Alien, ILM - Jeff Mann
CG Animation Supervisor: ILM - Dennis Turner
Animation Supervisor: DQI - Matthew O'Callaghan
Miniature Effects Supervisor: DQI - Scott Schneider

Film Editor - Paul Hirsch

Music - Ennio Morricone


Review

Before I got to see the overlooked basic sci-fi film 'MISSION TO MARS (M2M)', it was released at the beginning of the 21st century and was paired up with another Mars-related film 'Red Planet' on two different dates. These films are both set on the planet's red scenery, neither of these space-faring exploration films ever outdoes the other nor received any critical praise. Without its few flaws, I believe 'M2M' would have been more popular. Compared to the classic '2001: A Space Odyssey' from what I've heard, 'M2M' shares some of its principles and technical wizardry. While watching 'M2M', I felt it was progressing well as an ordinary flick until it reaches the final half when it seems to be constructed with a few second-rate CGI sequences. Without being as hallucinogenic as '2001' and with the advice from Stanley Kubrick on his deathbed, director Brian DePalma was able to make this the new version. In order to do this, De Palma added emotion, adventure and a faster pace.

However, the film is able to keep up with the cinematography drawn from '2001's same techniques. It's gotten more vivid in these angles to demonstrate a certain skill in creativity. I appreciated the high standard of the acting from some cast members. Gary Sinise and Tim Robbins were not unsuitable and show no signs of their sometimes-expressionless performances.

Say what you will about 'M2M', I'm of the consideration that it is not the best movie of its year. This film is solid but audiences need to be thrilled and captivated which 'M2M' doesn't achieve.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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