Michael O'Keefe
On January 4, 2004 Sean O'Keefe, Director of NASA, announced the "Spirit" had landed. Three years earlier the scientists and researchers at NASA Jet Prepulsion were assigned to build two identical robotic rovers to send to Mars and feed data back to Earth. The two rovers were named "Spirit" and "Opportunity", which were successful in presenting a brand new view of what Mars is really like...and actually proving at one time there was water on the mysterious planet. This 40 minute documentary is directed and narrated by George Butler. Shot in IMAX and with life-like animation, ROVING MARS answers decades old curiosity about the soil and terrain of Earth's closest planetary neighbor. You just wish you had a longer glimpse. A wonderful tool for classrooms.
mgar295
I saw this at an Imax in LA last week - I'm still in awe. Maybe the previous commenter was a rocket scientist himself, but for me, the hurdles these people had to accomplish in the time they did, and the unbelievable success they had is something that made me proud to be an American when I left the theater. The visual aspects of the film left me holding my breath at times. And the story - it was the same story we've all seen 100 times - a small group of people working together to achieve the impossible. Only this time, the story is true, the people are real and the goal is the advancement of humanity. Something we can all be proud of in a time when there are not that many things that we should be proud of. Take everyone you can drag with you - there isn't anyone who won't be moved by the vistas of a distant planet sent here by a couple tiny robots built by a small group of men and women from the planet Earth who had a dream. Why a 9 instead of a 10? It ended too soon.
jlee654321
Short documentary, and just good enough to keep the attention of young viewers... great action sequences and as mentioned, the animation from live footage is nearly indistinguishable... the NASA experience shared here both in actual footage and staff interviews makes for great enjoyment for any space buff... well worth seeing as an IMAX candidate! I suppose the only drawback is no green men or any Hollywood fantasies here, you have to actually use your mind to imagine the possibilities of what's out there, given the tidbits of evidence about water and rock material collected from the mission... should be enough for any mortal man, but don't go in expecting to see Tom Cruise battle any aliens. :)
Keri L Rogers
I went to this at the IMAX today and I found my 30 minute drive well worth the trouble. Although a short documentary, it is an extremely informative one.Although there seems to be some license given to the sound of the film, it creates a stunning aura to the scenes both on Mars and in Space. The film is actually quite dramatic. Kids will find themselves staring saucer-eyed at the visuals as well as the soothing and informative narration given by an all too familiar voice that I cannot place.I recommend this film and give it a high rating due to the fact that it has accomplished something I value most in Documentories- Making Learning fun. Watching children and adults alike leave the theater chatting animatedly about the "possibilities of life" in the universe made me beam happily through the rest of the museum.
AD
