Roving Mars (2006)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

George Butler

Writers (WGA):

George Butler (written by) and
Robert Andrus (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

27 January 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Short

Tagline:

A Whole New World Awaits.

Plot:

A pair of uncrewed vehicles transmit images from Mars. |

Plot Keywords:

Mars | Space Probe | Opportunity | NASA | Space

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

US Showtimes:

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Cast

Paul Newman	...	Introduction by
Steve Squyres	...	Himself
Rob Manning	...	Himself
Charles Elachi	...	Himself (as Dr. Charles Elachi)
Wayne Lee	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Beck Hofmann	...	Himself (uncredited)

Directed by
George Butler

Writing credits (WGA)
George Butler		(written by) and
Robert Andrus		(written by)
George Butler		(narration)

Produced by
George Butler	....	producer
Tara Grace	....	associate producer
Frank Marshall	....	producer
Scott Swofford	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Philip Glass

Cinematography by
T.C. Christensen
Sandi Sissel
Matthew Williams

Film Editing by
Nancy Baker

Production Management
Rick Gordon	....	post-production supervisor
Scott Swofford	....	unit production manager

Sound Department
John P. Fasal	....	sound mixer
Steven C. Laneri	....	sound mixer
Michael L. McDonough	....	sound designer (as Michael McDonough)
Roger Phenix	....	production sound mixer
Roger Phenix	....	sound mixer
Ryan Purcell	....	foley artist
Gary Rizzo	....	sound re-recording mixer
Karl Rosengren	....	assistant sound editor

Visual Effects by
Johnathan R. Banta	....	digital supervisor: Sassoon Film Design
Aja Bogdanoff	....	digital artist
David Booth	....	scanning & recording
Tim Enstice	....	digital production manager
Colin Feist	....	digital compositor
Jason Jue	....	digital compositor
Dan Maas	....	visual effects supervisor
Alan G. Markowitz	....	visual effects supervisor
Jeremy Nicolaides	....	supervising compositor
John Niehuss	....	digital artist
Tom Piedmont	....	digital compositor
Benjamin Schweighart	....	digital artist
Jun Watanabe	....	digital effects artist
Justin Wick	....	software consultant

Camera and Electrical Department
Zep Christensen	....	first assistant camera
Rhett E. Fernsten	....	gaffer
Tyler Meiners	....	dolly grip
John Beck Hofmann	....	additional camera operator: documentary (uncredited)
Scott Hulme	....	additional camera operator: documentary (uncredited)

Animation Department
Eric DeJong	....	animator: space sequences

Editorial Department
Tina Ballou	....	post-production coordinator
Chi Yoon Chung	....	assistant editor

Music Department
John Carbonara	....	assistant music editor
Susan Jacobs	....	music supervisor
Scott Johnson	....	music editor
Suzana Peric	....	music editor
Michael Riesman	....	conductor

Transportation Department
Brett Miller	....	transportation coordinator

Production Companies

• Kennedy/Marshall Company, The
• Sassoon Film Design
• Vineyard Productions
• Walt Disney Pictures
• White Mountain Films

Distributors

• Buena Vista International (2006) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Pictures (2006) (USA) (theatrical)

Special Effects

• Maas Digital LLC

Other Companies

• Michael McDonough Sound Design  sound editorial
• Skywalker Sound  post-production sound services

Also Known As:

Mission to Mars (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

40 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.44 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:G | Singapore:G

Company:

Kennedy/Marshall Company, The

Soundtrack:

Glósóli

Very promising concept ends stale.

This had the _opportunity_ to be a great documentary. It started with less of the crappy motivational speeches and some bits of actual science. They showed the construction phases of the two rovers that went on Mars and the animations were great.

I expected this to turn into a detailed log of the travels of the two rovers and the emotions involved and the science and engineering decisions that were made. But the film ended abruptly, after only 38 minutes. The rovers landed and finished their mission in less than 10 minutes of film time.

What was a great concept and a refreshing presentation style ended up in mediocrity. And what was Paul Newman doing narrating the beginning of the film? God, he sounded old.