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IMDbPro

Special Report: Journey to Mars

  • TV Movie
  • 19961996
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
4.9/10
196
YOUR RATING
Keith Carradine and Alfre Woodard in Special Report: Journey to Mars (1996)
  • Drama
  • Sci-Fi
The last two hours before a manned spaceship's landing on Mars are transmitted on a TV news channel on Earth. Problems arise.The last two hours before a manned spaceship's landing on Mars are transmitted on a TV news channel on Earth. Problems arise.The last two hours before a manned spaceship's landing on Mars are transmitted on a TV news channel on Earth. Problems arise.
IMDb RATING
4.9/10
196
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Robert Mandel
  • Writers
    • Rasha Drachkovitch(story)
    • Augustus Taylor(teleplay)
  • Stars
    • Keith Carradine
    • Judge Reinhold
    • Alfre Woodard
Top credits
  • Director
    • Robert Mandel
  • Writers
    • Rasha Drachkovitch(story)
    • Augustus Taylor(teleplay)
  • Stars
    • Keith Carradine
    • Judge Reinhold
    • Alfre Woodard
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 13User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Keith Carradine
    Keith Carradine
    • Capt. Eugene T. Sladeras Capt. Eugene T. Slader
    Judge Reinhold
    Judge Reinhold
    • Ryan Westas Ryan West
    Alfre Woodard
    Alfre Woodard
    • Tamara O'Neilas Tamara O'Neil
    Philip Casnoff
    Philip Casnoff
    • Nick Van Peltas Nick Van Pelt
    Rosalind Chao
    Rosalind Chao
    • Dr. Lin Yo Yuas Dr. Lin Yo Yu
    Elizabeth Wilson
    Elizabeth Wilson
    • President Elizabeth Richardsonas President Elizabeth Richardson
    Michael Murphy
    Michael Murphy
    • Dean Rumplemeyeras Dean Rumplemeyer
    Richard Schiff
    Richard Schiff
    • Eric Altmanas Eric Altman
    Diane Venora
    Diane Venora
    • Lt. Tanya Sadavoyas Lt. Tanya Sadavoy
    Richard Young
    Richard Young
    • Astronaut Charles Downingas Astronaut Charles Downing
    Michael Chinyamurindi
    Christine Estabrook
    Christine Estabrook
    • Amanda Whitneyas Amanda Whitney
    Maria Mayenzet
    Maria Mayenzet
    Dean Jones
    Dean Jones
    • Dr. Scott Berlinas Dr. Scott Berlin
    Gibby Brand
    Gibby Brand
    • White House Correspondentas White House Correspondent
    Leonard Kelly-Young
    Leonard Kelly-Young
    Deborah Lacey
    Deborah Lacey
    Tiiu Leek
    Tiiu Leek
    • Director
      • Robert Mandel
    • Writers
      • Rasha Drachkovitch(story)
      • Augustus Taylor(teleplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Goofs
      Crew in orbit around Mars have conversations with ground control and Earth media in real-time, in reality there would be an 20 minute communications delay due to the distance.
    • Connections
      Featured in Troldspejlet: Episode #21.6 (1999)

    User reviews13

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    An original approunch to old concept, at times splendid
    The year is 2005. After months in interplanetary flight, the manned spacecraft Destiny prepares for the final two hours before separation of the landing module, and its flight to the surface of the Red Planet. The news agency GNN (Global News Network) covers these last two hours before the historic touchdown, using state-of-the-art technology, and even a correspondent aboard Destiny itself. However, powers are at work that aims at stopping the historic landing, and bring utter chaos back home. All we can do, is watch the show...

    Journey to Mars is a great TV-movie, even though it has quite a few scientific errors (as how they conquered the speed of light - which is necessary to send instant transmition from Earth to Mars - which takes 4 hours each way with today's radio-technology - maybe they use some kind of Tachyon-beams?), but if you are willing to forgive these errors, you may find this quite a good movie - certainly something out of the ordinary.

    The film is made as GNN's live coverage of the historic landing, and like the hit-series "24", events occur in real-time. They succeeded admirably in making it look like we really were watching a special, braking-news report of CNN (or in the case of the movie, GNN), and the atmosphere really feels as such, which makes the movie even more interesting.

    The plot evolves a lot over the course of the movie, and takes quite some unexpected turns, in the end you'll be sitting glued to the screen as Destiny zooms over the Martian surface - it really feels as if it's actually happening for real!

    The acting is generally quite good, near perfect at times, but the atmosphere is what really makes this film something really special, as it builds up over time.

    The last few minutes are arguably the best and most atmospheric moments you'll ever experience in a TV movie like this, so I wont ruin them for you, but just suffice to say they are well above excellent.

    The special effects really aren't so important in this kind of movie, but they are still quite well done. Although you may loose hope after seeing the opening zoom-over of the Martian surface (which is taken from a NASA animation by the looks of it), the effects gets a whole LOT better over time.

    So, as I overall liked this movie because of good plot and atmosphere, and also because of mostly good acting, I give it a final score of 8/10.
    helpful•3
    0
    • Felisian
    • Jan 1, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 25, 1996 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Der lange Weg zum Mars
    • Filming locations
      • CBS Television City - 7800 Beverly Boulevard, Fairfax, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • 44 Blue Productions
      • Fred Silverman Company
      • Viacom Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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