Mission to Mars (2000)

When the first manned mission to Mars meets with a catastrophic and mysterious disaster after reporting an unidentified structure, a rescue mission is launched to investigate the tragedy and bring back any survivors.

Director:

Brian De Palma

Writers:

Lowell Cannon (story), Jim Thomas (story)

Stars:

Tim Robbins, Gary Sinise, Don Cheadle

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gary Sinise	...	Jim McConnell
Tim Robbins	...	Woody Blake
Don Cheadle	...	Luke Graham
Connie Nielsen	...	Terri Fisher
Jerry O'Connell	...	Phil Ohlmyer
Peter Outerbridge	...	Sergei Kirov
Kavan Smith	...	Nicholas Willis
Jill Teed	...	Reneé Coté
Elise Neal	...	Debra Graham
Kim Delaney	...	Maggie McConnell
Marilyn Norry	...	NASA Wife
Freda Perry	...	NASA Wife
Lynda Boyd	...	NASA Wife
Patricia Harras	...	NASA Wife
Robert Bailey Jr.	...	Bobby Graham

Storyline

When a mysterious storm kills all but one crew member of the first manned mission to mars, a rescue mission is launched. Once on the red planet, the crew finds the sole survivor of the first mission who informs them that this was no ordinary storm. It was meant to protect something. But what?

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Plot Keywords:

human on mars | based on theme park ride | mars | astronaut | human in outer space | 

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Taglines:

For centuries, we've searched for the origin of life on Earth...We've been looking on the wrong planet.

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Genres:

Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for sci-fi violence and mild language

Details

Official Sites:

Cinopsis [Belgium] (French)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 March 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

M2M

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$100,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$22,855,247, 12 March 2000, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$60,883,407

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$110,983,407

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Spyglass Entertainment, Red Horizon Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX SDDS DTS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Peter Outerbridge's character is named Sergei Kirov. Sergei Mironovich Kirov was a leader of the communist movement in the former URSS, being head of the party on former city of Leningrad (actual St. Petersburg). He was one of the first to be killed in Joseph Stalin's "Great Purges".

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Goofs

(at around 32 mins) In the weightless scene inside the space station, Woody's watch slips down his arm, indicating the presence of gravity.

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Quotes

Jim McConnell: What is she now?
Phil Ohlmyer: A frog...?

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Crazy Credits

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's cooperation and assistance does not reflect an endorsement of the contents of the film or the treatment of the characters depicted therein.

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Connections

Featured in The Life of Brian (2002)

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Soundtracks

Ma 'Tit Fille
Written by Buckwheat Zydeco (as Stanley Dural, Jr.)
Performed by Buckwheat Zydeco
Courtesy of The Island Def Jam Music Group
By Arrangement with Universal Music Special Markets

User Reviews

Hits home as a solidly great sci-fi movie

In this day and age of computer generated eye candy, it is very common to see movies that are based solely on special effects and nothing else. Movies like Wing Commander have great graphics, but the story line and acting leave you back at the ticket booth.

Mission to Mars does not fit in this category. When I saw previews, the special effects looked great, but I could also tell that there was a plot to this movie. For once, I was right on the mark. Mission to Mars made you think about what was happening and what the consequences were going to be. The suspense takes a firm grip on one's eyelids and pulls them up to the ceiling.

What truly makes this movie stand above others of its ilk is the great acting of the characters. In sci-fi shoot 'em ups, the viewer develops a way of not caring for the characters, as they are uncreative and inflexible. Mission to Mars made me care about every single character; I was eagerly awaiting every twist and relished every event.

The climax (which I will not at all spoil) was hair raising and at the end extremely satisfying. Upon leaving the theater I quickly realised that I haven't seen a better movie all year.

I give every recommendation I know to go see this movie. And, by the way, look out for some foreshadowing. It's in there.