Mission to Mars (2000)
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A crewed Mars exploration mission goes awry, leading to a desperate rescue operation and a discovery of mysterious humanoid formations.
The story
In 2020, the Mars I mission travels to the planet Mars, where the crew discovers a bright white formation in the Cydonia region suspected to be a subsurface geothermal column of water. After reporting the find to the Earth-orbiting World Space Station, the team investigates the formation and begins hearing a low sound on their communications system. However, a vortex kills everyone except the commander, Luke Graham, and reveals the formation to be part of a large humanoid face. Realizing the pulse damaged the Earth Return Vehicle, the World Space Station repurposes the Mars II mission into a rescue operation.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 2020, the Mars I mission discovers a white formation in the Cydonia region, which is revealed to be a humanoid face after a vortex kills most of the crew. The World Space Station repurposes the Mars II mission into a rescue. The rescue team, including Jim McConnell, faces micrometeoroids and engine failure, leading to the death of Woody Blake. The survivors find Luke living in a greenhouse on the surface. Luke reveals the pulses represent a 3D model of human-like DNA missing a pair of chromosomes. Jim determines they must complete the sequence to pass a test. As a massive dust storm approaches, Jim, Terri, and Luke enter an opening in the structure. They see a projection of the Solar System showing Mars being struck by an asteroid and Martians evacuating the planet, having sent seeds to Earth to create life. Jim accepts an invitation to follow the Martians to their new home in a capsule, while Terri and Luke barely escape the dust storm to return to the ERV.
- First release year
- 2000
- Runtime (minutes)
- 114
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Brian De Palma
- Writers
- Jim Thomas · screenplay; John Thomas · screenplay; Graham Yost · screenplay; Jim Thomas · story; John Thomas · story; Lowell Cannon · story
- Cast and characters
- Gary Sinise · Jim McConnell; Don Cheadle; Connie Nielsen; Jerry O'Connell; Kim Delaney; Tim Robbins
- Genres
- science fiction; adventure
- Themes
- astronomy; extraterrestrial life; space exploration
- Tone and mood
- visually stunning; mystico
- Setting
- Mars in 2020
- Premise and plot tags
- space adventure; alien life; rescue mission
- Source material / true-story basis
- Disney's theme park attraction of the same name
- Reception
- The film was both a critical and commercial disappointment, receiving mainly negative reviews in the United States, though it was received more positively by French-language critics.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 24% · review count: 113; Metacritic · score: 34 · scale: 100 · review count: 36
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Raspberry Award · Worst Director · 21st · lost
- Production trivia
- Brian De Palma was hired after Gore Verbinski walked away due to budget concerns.; Over 400 technicians were involved in the production of the special effects.; The film was shot primarily on location in Vancouver, Jordan, and the Canary Islands.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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