Richie-67-485852 Good story that is easy to follow with suspense here and there and of course it takes place in space which is always exciting because there is so much we do not know. Here we are introduced to crews in space making a go of it and things go wrong but they also go right too. This has one of the most powerful endings in Science Fiction that I have come across. I rate it as follows: If a movie or scene in sci-fi manages to trigger your imagination and then engage it, ten we are getting maximum return on the concept and then some. That's what takes place here. The discussion to follow the movie afterwards with a friend would enlighten and entertain of itself. Enjoy Gary Sinese who is a solid actor earning his keep in trade. Go toward this movie and.....

graham77777 Interesting concept, visually impressive, but the story is full of ridiculous plot holes. Read other reviews or the Goofs section to see these. The dialog is equally lame, despite the strong actors delivering their lines.However, what REALLY kills this movie is the awful, inappropriate music. Once you start paying attention to the soundtrack, it's impossible to ignore. The soundtrack makes what could be a suspenseful, gripping movie into a cartoon.Two stars. Generously.

zkonedog "Mission To Mars" is not a very good movie. There is little denying that. What's really sad, however, is that the idea behind the movie and its themes seem like surefire winners. Unfortunately, the execution and final product is so bad that the themes completely get lost in the drivel.For a basic plot summary, this movie is set in the year 2020, when humans are beginning to send manned space vehicles to the planet Mars. The first mission is led by Luke Graham (Don Cheadle) and ends almost as quickly as it begins when a seemingly sentient sandstorm wipes out almost the entire crew. For the rescue mission, Jim McConnell (Gary Sinise), Woody Blake (Tim Robbins), Terri Fisher (Connie Nielsen), and Phil Ohlmyer (Jerry O'Connell) arrive on the red planet sometime later, where they make a discovery that could alter mankind as we know it.The idea behind making "Mission To Mars" is a great one, such as the human spirit for adventure, the exploration of a new planet, and some character struggles for each of the leads. Looking strictly at the themes, this film has very much in common with the recently-made "Interstellar", despite not even being in the same universe (pardon the pun) of Nolan's film overall. Basically, "Mission To Mars" showed me how fine a line there is between success and failure when tackling such ambitious themes.There are three main reasons why this film ends up being a dud:1. The backstory created for certain characters leads nowhere. There are some potentially interesting character-development areas introduced in the films opening act, but not a single one still resonates by the end of the film. 2. The script/acting, which is bland throughout. Despite such solid names as Cheadle, Robbins, and Sinise, the script gives them absolutely nothing to work with in terms of dialogue. Adding Jerry O'Connell to the mix is just an absolute joke, as his character is so out of place in such a serious film. 3. The main problem, however, is that a movie that should be about the exploration of Mars spends very little time actually on its surface. Scenes in the beginning of the film set the mission as a go, but then there is nearly an hour of boring spacewalks and visuals from the shuttle in space. Then they finally get to Mars...and waste some more time. Essentially, what is teased in the opener isn't resolved (or even looked at) until the final 15 or so minutes.I can't give this film a bottom-of-the-barrel one star, although it is very close to it. Like I said, its heart is in the right place but it just doesn't execute. I read somewhere that director Brian De Palma wanted "Mission to Mars" to be his ode to "2001: A Space Odyssey". If that is the case, it seems about right, as this movie focuses more on gravitas and visuals than story/characters. If you get bored easily, you might not make it through this one.

Predrag Brian De Palma's "Mission to Mars" is one of the most frequently slammed films of all time. I believe there is a psychology behind this that is rooted in the "herd mentality." What De Palma has done is to give us a realistic look at what a manned mission to Mars might be like, with the very real risk of mission failure. NASA purportedly worked very closely with the filmmakers to ensure that everything was accurate. Of course, it goes without saying that De Palma's people withheld the key "alien" plot point, which angered NASA people when they found out. It is from this source that most of the negativity is coming from for this film, and the public picked up on that. However, even those who knew nothing about the NASA fracas would conceivably reacted in a visceral fashion since De Palma, in a sense, not only deceived NASA, but the audience, by playing it strictly by the book until the aliens step in, and then it's off to Oz. I think this is what upsets people, because I cannot think of one criticism that is valid here except that one.The performances, FX and musical score are all above-average. But could it be possible that De Palma didn't want to make an "Ordinary People" in outer space. D'ya think? Clearly the story is not meant to focus upon the characters or in dramatic exchanges, except to the point where the death of Maggie is given new meaning and her surviving husband experiences reconciliation with the universe. The ending, and the alien's "back story" is not only compelling but innovative. We already know that Mars had a cataclysm because the planet is virtually dead...there is almost no strength in what remains of its electromagnetic field. The idea that life could have been born on Mars is not only fascinating but quite likely, given what we know about Mars today and its water. The music was the biggest surprise. This score is far, far better than anything I have heard onside of the DeBussy / Vaughan Williams / Delius grouping, and it is a great piece of work in it's own right. It culminates in the glory of incomparable possibilities. Highly recommended if you care for discerning cinema!Overall rating: 8 out of 10.