Hey folks, Harry here with Moriarty's favorite typist, Light House Shines' look at DePalma's MISSION TO MARS... Here ya go...
MISSION TO MARS REVIEW
This slowly hyped science fiction film about the possible origins of the
species on Mars is set to come out next month, and focuses on what a
hapless crew of four astronauts inadvertently discover while on a routine
survey mission to the red planet. Hence the film takes place just after
the first few successful Mars missions, though the exact time frame of the
movie is never quite clear, for while there are some futuristic elements
present in the film, most of its content seems to be fairly rooted in the
present. Only the display panels on computer and television screens appear
futuristic in nature; everything else looks remarkably like what you can
see around you in the world today...just a tad bit cleaner, I guess.
Either way, the first four astronauts land on Mars without so much as a
hitch, only to discover a huge structure that shouldn't be on Mars, as it
doesn't appear to be natural in origin. Which of course fuels the
astronaut's sense of curiosity and leads them to investigate the strange
and unearthly phenomena, with devastating results. As all but one of the
original astronauts are killed in what one might call a very lame yet big
dust devil or funnel, which swoops everyone up and literally tears them
apart. Extremely reminiscent of the water funnel creature in The
Abyss movie, as that is what will immediately come to mind once you
see the giant alien dirt devil onscreen (It really is that lame).
Thus a second crew of hapless astronauts is called in to see what happened
on Mars after a distress call is received from the planet, this crew being
the new or main focus of the film. As no one has any idea how many people
survived or if any of them survived, albeit Captain Woody Blake (Tim
Robbins) and his wife Terri Blake (Connie Nielsen), along side Jim
McConnell (Gary Sinise) and Phil Ohlmyer (Jerry O'Connell) are determined
to find out one way or another. As they attempt to successfully pilot
their ship to Mars under less than favorable conditions and rescue the
original astronauts if they can. Hence this film is a rescue film for the
most part with almost no emphasis on the rescue aspect of the film.
Especially since The film takes entirely way too long to get to the planet
or even inside the Alien construct they discover, as well as spends way
too much unnecessary time dealing with the supposed emotional
ramifications of all the trauma the astronauts have suffered in getting to
Mars. Loosing crewmen, loved ones, and friends, again and again and
again! Which quite frankly became a major bore within the first 30 minutes
of the film! And even more of a bore just after one of the film's major
character dies a most unpleasant death in space, in one of the most
literally painful to watch scenes, as everyone just sits around in a
trance feeling miserable or sorry for themselves for what seems an
eternity. Which simply doesn't work in the way that the film was done,
as you really do not feel a thing for any of the film's characters, and
subsequently when one of them dies, you really do not care.
A major, major flaw in the film, or any film for that matter. Especially
since for most films to be successful in general (or at the very least
enjoyable) there has to be some sort of connection made. Something the
audience can relate to, for if there isn't anything for the audience to
relate to or connect with, what's the point in watching the film in the
first place. Aside from the initially high concept behind the film or
medium to good use of special effects as is the case with this film. For
why watch a movie, any movie, if you couldn't care less about what was
going to happen to the people in it? As this is most definitely one of
the many problems keeping Mission to Mars from being a critical or
at least a commercial success. For it definitely wont be as it stands now,
specifically when you consider that there is almost no connection to be
made at all with any of the characters or their subsequent individual
situations presented in the film (good or bad). Plus to make matters worse
this is a Science Fiction film, which a lot of people already have trouble
connecting with to begin with. So if the powers behind this film cannot
make the audiences that normally enjoy watching science fiction feel
anything for the characters onscreen, what hope do they have for reaching
the people who aren't fans of the genre in the first place. Which
unfortunately is just another piece of bad news the many people associated
with this picture are going to have to deal with once this is released.
Though some positive changes to correct the film's many faults might still
be made before the film opens since not even one of the film's stars Gary
Sinise had seen a recent version of the film when I spoke to him briefly
at the premiere or Reindeer Games on Monday.
Oh and one last thing before I forget, if you do see this film don't
forget to bring the crackers! As this film is so full of cheese, albeit
real American cheese and not that processed Velvetta crap, you'll need
them to wipe up all the cheesy excess! Especially since there are so many
scenes in this film that will literally make you want to vomit, that are
so cheesy it makes me sick just thinking about it now. Like the fact that
Mission to Mars is pretty much a scene for scene rip off of like 3
other movies, most notably The Abyss and 2001 for obvious
reasons, right down the soothing voice of the ship's computer and even
some of the music. Though I have never been particularly adept at
identifying musical scores, even familiar ones. Still I hope Mr. De Palma
is thoroughly ashamed of himself for making a film repleat with so many
blatant rip-offs of other higher calibre films, and he certainly should
be. And to think we use to live in the same hometown and often got a
chance to talk together.
As always, if you have any questions or comments about anything I have
just said or written about. Please feel to email me at
lighthouseshines@hotmail.com and someone will get back to you, thanks!
Sincerely,
Light House Shines
