Mission to Mars (2000)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Director:

Brian De Palma

Writers (WGA):

Lowell Cannon (story) and
Jim Thomas (story) ...

Release Date:

10 March 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Let There Be Life.

Plot:

When the first manned mission to Mars meets with a catastrophic and mysterious disaster, a rescue mission is launched to investigate the tragedy and bring back any survivors.

Plot Keywords:

Mars | Sandstorm | Spacecraft | Beautiful Woman | Loss Of Husband

Awards:

1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Nov. 15

4:00 PM

SYFY

Cast

Gary Sinise	...	Jim McConnell
Tim Robbins	...	Woody Blake
Don Cheadle	...	Luke Graham
Connie Nielsen	...	Terri Fisher
Jerry O'Connell	...	Phil Ohlmyer
Peter Outerbridge	...	Sergei Kirov
Kavan Smith	...	Nicholas Willis
Jill Teed	...	Reneé Coté
Elise Neal	...	Debra Graham
Kim Delaney	...	Maggie McConnell
Marilyn Norry	...	NASA Wife
Freda Perry	...	NASA Wife
Lynda Boyd	...	NASA Wife
Patricia Harras	...	NASA Wife
Robert Bailey Jr.	...	Bobby Graham

Also Known As:

M2M (USA) (promotional abbreviation)

MPAA:

Rated PG for sci-fi violence and mild language.

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX | SDDS | DTS-ES

Certification:

Iceland:L | Iceland:LH (video rating) | Malaysia:U | Canada:PG (Ontario) | South Korea:All | Brazil:14 | USA:PG (NO. 37274) | Australia:M | Finland:K-12/9 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Mexico:B | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | Philippines:G

Filming Locations:

Jordan

Company:

Jacobson Company, The

Trivia:

The rotating circles that signify the alien countdown are indeed *counting* down... in binary. The circles in their horizontal and vertical configurations correspond to zeroes (0) and ones (1) respectively, and the least significant bit (LSB) on the viewer's left. The sequence in which they turn correspond to a binary countdown. The leftmost lit circle is not part of the binary count. There is an initial pattern of "all horizontal", following which the countdown actually begins (starting with "all vertical").

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the weightless scene inside the space station, Woody's watch slips down his arm, indicating the presence of gravity.

Quotes:

Woody Blake: Some couples dance, others go to Mars.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)

Soundtrack:

Dance The Night Away

Unfairly Bashed

I have seen many reviews bashing Mission to Mars. I see why they've attacked the film but I think they missed that the excitement, action and deep humanity of this film far outweigh the forced quality of a few scenes. There is scene after scene in this movie that pulls the viewer's heart and mind nto some of the deepest veins of human emotion. More than once I felt myself drawn into the middle of intense depictions of love, terror or excitement. If a little subtlety were mixed into just a few scenes this movie would have stood out as one of the greatest and lasting human dramas in science fiction history. I heartily recommend this movie; it will transport you and involve you if you are just a little forgiving.