Very disappointing documentary of a crew going through the North passage in the Arctic to Devon island (where they set up a Mars camp) to recreate a Mars style expedition. What almost put me to sleep was Zachary Quinto (the new Spock). His voice is extremly monotonous, he's no Leonard Nimoy that's for sure. He narrates on behalf of the crew or leader of the expedition. We see no interviews with any of the crew which I think was a missed opportunity. No interviews with Nasa people or Mars specialists. They went for a celebrity as a narrator. Also I found the narration and the music/songs used to be overdramatic and at times laughable (do humvees dream of diesel sheep? ... ugh). I think this would have worked better as a 50 minute documentary on National Geographic instead of 90 minutes of boredom. Skip it, there are better documentaries about Mars out there. This adds nothing new. But do watch if you can't sleep. You'll doze off in no time.
32 Reviews
Journey to Mars but not through space..
samabc-3195223 November 2021
Mars Temperature: -200°F to 68°F
Arctic Temperature: -5°F to -50°F (Winter)
Mars Terrain: dry, rocky, canyons, craters
Arctic Terrain: snow, thin ice, water, crevasses
Mars Challenges: sandstorms, dormant volcanos
Arctic Challenges: snowstorms
As these parallels mimic the conditions on Mars, NASA sent a crew of explorer, engineer, analyst, photographer and recorder to test-drive of a prototype Humvee called the Haughton-Mars Project (HMP) Okarian across the frozen ground of arctic to the inhibited Devon Island through the Northern Passage. A rover simulator for mock Mars missions.
Though this documentary does not offer an immersive experience but spectacular imagery, stark details of harsh arctic climate, unembellished storytelling make it compelling and a good watch.
Though this documentary does not offer an immersive experience but spectacular imagery, stark details of harsh arctic climate, unembellished storytelling make it compelling and a good watch.
Artificially dramatic
muraveill22 October 2016
Frozen landscapes and views of dead Martian rocks are beautiful - so are they on YouTube; the comparison, although not new, was not a bad idea, but that is about all.
All right, it is supposed to simulate what explorers of the planet mars can expect to live through. But every picture of Mars this movie shows is about red dust in a cold rocky desert, and you'd expect NASA to plan its space expeditions a little better.
I found the movie extremely boring due to the background commentary from a member of the crew telling us every minute how the crew risks to die at every instant. After all, *they* decided to cross the arctic at the wrong season and at the most dangerous place without a backup plan, so they better either be enthusiastic about it or not go. It makes me think of all these horror movies where a family goes purposely spend a week in a haunted house just to see if they can make it out, except these don't sound depressed before even entering the house.
Is is even a documentary or a survival drama? Where is the suspense if a technical problem happens: they have about a week to fix their low-budget van, you know the film stops if the cameraman sinks, and you do want this voice to sink anyway so that you can finally admire the gorgeous landscapes in the natural silence these people went to disturb.
All right, it is supposed to simulate what explorers of the planet mars can expect to live through. But every picture of Mars this movie shows is about red dust in a cold rocky desert, and you'd expect NASA to plan its space expeditions a little better.
I found the movie extremely boring due to the background commentary from a member of the crew telling us every minute how the crew risks to die at every instant. After all, *they* decided to cross the arctic at the wrong season and at the most dangerous place without a backup plan, so they better either be enthusiastic about it or not go. It makes me think of all these horror movies where a family goes purposely spend a week in a haunted house just to see if they can make it out, except these don't sound depressed before even entering the house.
Is is even a documentary or a survival drama? Where is the suspense if a technical problem happens: they have about a week to fix their low-budget van, you know the film stops if the cameraman sinks, and you do want this voice to sink anyway so that you can finally admire the gorgeous landscapes in the natural silence these people went to disturb.
Boring
bgar-8093218 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
A group goes on an expedition in the artic that is supposed to emulate mars. They travel through ice, snow, and crazy winds. Mars has no ice or snow so I'm not sure where they decided this emulates mars but I'm sure NASA funded the expedition. The narrator is boring though as its not a bad idea for a documentary. I just kept getting distracted and didnt really care until near the end because after some issues they were finally going to meet their goal. I wouldn't really recommend this to anyone. There's better documentaries out there.
Boring pseudo documentary
chuckxx16 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Now this movie is supposed to be an expedition to Mars. It's fair to show how the austronauts are trained. Even fair that they used the arctic becaus of the rugged terrain as to be expected on Mars.
But the script writers did not do their job. As shown in the beginning atmosphere is co2 not o2. The diesel just will choke and not run. Furthermore the paiload for a rocket to transport the him ie is far too high.
So the whole pseudo documentary is more a documentation of an arctic expedition. There are better ones than that.
Not Wort watching
But the script writers did not do their job. As shown in the beginning atmosphere is co2 not o2. The diesel just will choke and not run. Furthermore the paiload for a rocket to transport the him ie is far too high.
So the whole pseudo documentary is more a documentation of an arctic expedition. There are better ones than that.
Not Wort watching
Passage to Nasa incompetence
nova369F5 January 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Spoiler alert, this is not about the planet Mars!
So, a diesel engine for a test for Mars..... Nasa newer heard of solar power, the most idiotic test for going to another planet.
Testing and ice vehicle for a planet that has no water or ice we know of...
Having a sonar thingy that can scan only under the vehicle, so sees cracks when your already in the hole.....
Look at the cute polar bear...awwwww, lucky he didn't eat us...or unlucky for the viewers who must go through another hour of fails after fails, stupid ways of doing simple things, and such a crazy lack of imagination on what a Mars exploration vehicle should be, it cries incompetence.
For those who want something about Mars, this is not it, its a team of people who wanna play Mars explorers on ice with a Humvee and that do stupid things every 15 minutes. Amusing in a way.....
So, a diesel engine for a test for Mars..... Nasa newer heard of solar power, the most idiotic test for going to another planet.
Testing and ice vehicle for a planet that has no water or ice we know of...
Having a sonar thingy that can scan only under the vehicle, so sees cracks when your already in the hole.....
Look at the cute polar bear...awwwww, lucky he didn't eat us...or unlucky for the viewers who must go through another hour of fails after fails, stupid ways of doing simple things, and such a crazy lack of imagination on what a Mars exploration vehicle should be, it cries incompetence.
For those who want something about Mars, this is not it, its a team of people who wanna play Mars explorers on ice with a Humvee and that do stupid things every 15 minutes. Amusing in a way.....
A minority sport
Looking_for_a_thrill22 December 2016
Granted all those nice and exciting things as mentioned by other viewers (e.g. astronauts, engineers etc), but this is not even within a mile near anywhere that I would describe as 'film entertainment' because the story is a series of challenges (of survival) that you might expect in the north pole. Don't get me wrong that this is not a serious attempt to create an interesting story. It is.
If this is the type of documentary you want to see, fair enough. I thought I should give it a go too, but I was wrong about myself and what might engage me. I was bored stiff and desperately contemplating to press the stop button on the remote. Half way into the film, I did - had enough.
If this is the type of documentary you want to see, fair enough. I thought I should give it a go too, but I was wrong about myself and what might engage me. I was bored stiff and desperately contemplating to press the stop button on the remote. Half way into the film, I did - had enough.
Exciting, strangely poetic road movie
samuelstein10 October 2016
Filmmakers and NASA explorers take us to the remote corners of Earth and Mars.
A Humvee, the Okarian, must cross 2,000 miles on frozen ocean to reach a NASA outpost where they train to explore the red planet!
It's real, I had no idea such a place even existed. so we're on a road trip. Dangerous, uncertain. The ship seems no match for the challenge, but the crew never gives up.
What got me here is the immersive poetry of the film, taking our mind to remote places of our imagination. This film is no so much about Mars than about ourselves and our vivid curiosity for the unknown. Stunning.
A Humvee, the Okarian, must cross 2,000 miles on frozen ocean to reach a NASA outpost where they train to explore the red planet!
It's real, I had no idea such a place even existed. so we're on a road trip. Dangerous, uncertain. The ship seems no match for the challenge, but the crew never gives up.
What got me here is the immersive poetry of the film, taking our mind to remote places of our imagination. This film is no so much about Mars than about ourselves and our vivid curiosity for the unknown. Stunning.
Woooooowwww this is so BORING!
mapj-5231111 September 2021
I have an avid interest in in understanding how the training is achieved. But this is unbelievably boring. The narrator has one slow monotone throughout the entire film. The intro takes almost 12 minutes and has more credits, than any other film I've ever seen in my life. The people in the room "watching" this film were so bored, they kept stretching and trying to stay awake. Eventually they started talking to each other and completely ignored the movie. Very disappointed.
Brilliant, fun and magnetic.
derrickgomez10 October 2016
We are now so much immersed into science fiction and fantasy material that we've lost touch with real space adventure. Passage to Mars gives us a glimpse at it. This NASA expedition is not only how we prepare for our Martian treks. it explores why. Why we must go there. And this is when the movie really takes off for me, playing with jaw-dropping concepts about extraterrestrial life and our own small existence. Out of this Arctic survival trip, jumping from Earth to Mars, the film becomes almost a dream, driving through ethereal Arctic snow and at times drifting Martian sands.
Quinto's narration is right and subtle, reading the original "shiplog" of the Okarian, the experimental Humvee-rover. The film successfully accomplishes the most important thing: capturing our imagination, keeping us intrigued constantly. Brilliant and immersive. Beautiful and inspired!
Quinto's narration is right and subtle, reading the original "shiplog" of the Okarian, the experimental Humvee-rover. The film successfully accomplishes the most important thing: capturing our imagination, keeping us intrigued constantly. Brilliant and immersive. Beautiful and inspired!
embarrassing
pter-0648110 December 2016
as other reviews have stated ,some nice shots , but passage to mars ? If anything it shows why were never going anywhere as single point failures abound ,and that's on Earth , add no atmosphere and no air supplies and ...
Its a shame they didn't have to suit up every time they went outside and carry there own air and co2 scrubbers . And a diesel vehicle ? and at least show they were doing more science than drilling a hole to see how thick the ice was and how old ..duh !.
How did they go to the toilet ? Did they save up there waste in case they had to grow potatoes on Devon island ??? So many interesting things were left unexplored ,even there own thoughts and fears were sort of disneyfied .
Oh dear.
Its a shame they didn't have to suit up every time they went outside and carry there own air and co2 scrubbers . And a diesel vehicle ? and at least show they were doing more science than drilling a hole to see how thick the ice was and how old ..duh !.
How did they go to the toilet ? Did they save up there waste in case they had to grow potatoes on Devon island ??? So many interesting things were left unexplored ,even there own thoughts and fears were sort of disneyfied .
Oh dear.
Would have worked better as a Gif
iwalker119 November 2016
If you wish to be bored out of your mind then please do watch this documentary, a few people climb into an arctic vehicle and plod along the snow and ice, break down a couple of times and carry on.
That's it that's all that happens, you get a few shots of Mars but nothing out of the ordinary.
If you have to watch a something featuring vehicles and snow then watch the Top Gear Polar Special instead, it's so much more entertaining than this.
Fair play to them for putting up with the conditions of working out there but it does not make for entertaining viewing, I just couldn't wait for it to finish, if they had to make an episode out of it then they should have cut it down to 30 minutes.
That's it that's all that happens, you get a few shots of Mars but nothing out of the ordinary.
If you have to watch a something featuring vehicles and snow then watch the Top Gear Polar Special instead, it's so much more entertaining than this.
Fair play to them for putting up with the conditions of working out there but it does not make for entertaining viewing, I just couldn't wait for it to finish, if they had to make an episode out of it then they should have cut it down to 30 minutes.
NASA will be soon broke with expeditions like this
bedencic6 October 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Cmon are u serious, north pole expedition, with sleeping beds in truck.
Is this survival mission, or just pure road trip for spoiled people? Their experienced mechanic, cant plug off fuse to check for steering fluid, and they have to turn off vehicle to check it (while alternator not working).
Was there really so thin ice, or did they just pour water in snow that it looked that they were stuck in incredibly thin ice (for dramatization).
Couldn't watch it till end.
Idk where this is relating with future mars people expedition.
Is this survival mission, or just pure road trip for spoiled people? Their experienced mechanic, cant plug off fuse to check for steering fluid, and they have to turn off vehicle to check it (while alternator not working).
Was there really so thin ice, or did they just pour water in snow that it looked that they were stuck in incredibly thin ice (for dramatization).
Couldn't watch it till end.
Idk where this is relating with future mars people expedition.
Nothing really happens
folofolo6 October 2016
This is movie is about the difficulties and every day life of a small crew that wants to travel across the Arctic in order to realize what it's like to travel on Mars.
That itself, is not very exciting.
And on top of that, nothing really happens in the movie. It's just a very odd thing to show to people because it's more or less pointless. You almost never here the crew talking to each other, just the narrative voice-over. You get to know the characters a little, but not enough to care what happens to them.
Avoid this, do something else with you free time. It's a very boring movie.
That itself, is not very exciting.
And on top of that, nothing really happens in the movie. It's just a very odd thing to show to people because it's more or less pointless. You almost never here the crew talking to each other, just the narrative voice-over. You get to know the characters a little, but not enough to care what happens to them.
Avoid this, do something else with you free time. It's a very boring movie.
7 min intro?
ngvinr26 April 2022
Sorry, but this documentary film believes it is a blockbuster movie. And it's attempt at pulling that off is less than sophomoric.
Next time, the intro should be done in 1 min. Just get to the point. We all know Mars... you don't have to take 7 mins to explain it to us with dramatic music and very slow dialog. Slowest credit role in history. Again, just get to the subject... you're a documentary (and a boring one), not the next Avengers movie.
The music was overly dramatic for the subject. It was no March of the Penguins.
Hats off to those that did the trek, the photographers, Zachary that did the narration. But the editor should be sent to Mars... it fails in edit on so many levels.
Next time, the intro should be done in 1 min. Just get to the point. We all know Mars... you don't have to take 7 mins to explain it to us with dramatic music and very slow dialog. Slowest credit role in history. Again, just get to the subject... you're a documentary (and a boring one), not the next Avengers movie.
The music was overly dramatic for the subject. It was no March of the Penguins.
Hats off to those that did the trek, the photographers, Zachary that did the narration. But the editor should be sent to Mars... it fails in edit on so many levels.
As an astronaut, I give two thumbs up. Striking doc. The real deal.
spaceclervoy7 October 2016
I'm an astronaut. Flew several times to the ISS. I love this film. It's the real stuff. A suspense winner in Arctic adventure and a lesson for future humans on Mars. The goal, the team and the engagement are key. Such battle against the Arctic cold and harsh terrain is definitely the gate to getting ready for Mars expeditions I wish I were there with them feeling like on Mars with its challenges, doubts and joy. On this tough journey in the Arctic we feel like being already on Mars. it's tough, it's cold, it's unknown...
The film translates so well the reality of being on a confined space travel. We don't speak, we survive, we plan, we think, we hope and we work. We think of home. A very rare film. Striking.
The film translates so well the reality of being on a confined space travel. We don't speak, we survive, we plan, we think, we hope and we work. We think of home. A very rare film. Striking.
Magnificent and complex, innovative filmmaking. Very entertaining.
barbaralew11 October 2016
Director Jeauffre uses the fascinating landscape and the quest of a NASA crew to create an unusual tale of poetry, cinematography and humanity.
A festival of subtle sensations and mind-blowing thoughts on our place in the universe. The blend of action, suspense and scary moments with ethereal drift into the unknown, both on Earth and Mars, makes you feel you are on board this epic extraterrestrial adventure.
Balance of nature is restored in this refined, lavish film. Complex, much is hiding under the ice layers, beneath the apparent bold Arctic-Martian road trip: references to our past as a species of explorers, the fine line between science and fiction (smart references to HG Wells - and the haunting voices from O. Welles famous 'War of the Worlds' radio show, Neil Armstrong, JFK... resonate in space discretely like from drifting radio waves. Ray Bradbury, through a moving voice appearance by Charlotte Rampling, quoting over Mars river beds ghostly Martian reflections.
"Passage to Mars", beneath and above the icy crusts of its alien worlds, celebrate a once lost spirit of adventure. More, much more than a "doc" about a NASA endeavor, the film reflects on our capacity to go beyond our natural frontiers to search for crucial answers, in a beautiful concert of emotions that all of us can connect with. Magnificent.
A festival of subtle sensations and mind-blowing thoughts on our place in the universe. The blend of action, suspense and scary moments with ethereal drift into the unknown, both on Earth and Mars, makes you feel you are on board this epic extraterrestrial adventure.
Balance of nature is restored in this refined, lavish film. Complex, much is hiding under the ice layers, beneath the apparent bold Arctic-Martian road trip: references to our past as a species of explorers, the fine line between science and fiction (smart references to HG Wells - and the haunting voices from O. Welles famous 'War of the Worlds' radio show, Neil Armstrong, JFK... resonate in space discretely like from drifting radio waves. Ray Bradbury, through a moving voice appearance by Charlotte Rampling, quoting over Mars river beds ghostly Martian reflections.
"Passage to Mars", beneath and above the icy crusts of its alien worlds, celebrate a once lost spirit of adventure. More, much more than a "doc" about a NASA endeavor, the film reflects on our capacity to go beyond our natural frontiers to search for crucial answers, in a beautiful concert of emotions that all of us can connect with. Magnificent.
Loaded with magic and si-fi references. Stylish and powerful.
francisemos11 October 2016
If you're a space buff - as I am - this is for you! This doc is out of this world. Super loaded with hidden references and wrapped with pure beauty. Not sure NASA realized what the filmmakers did - I guess it was approved - but the film breaks out from the formatted genre and takes it to a new level: complex and emotional narration, dimensional layers, both in storytelling and visually (the back and forth between Earth and Mars are stunning and so smartly executed).
The director definitely pushed the envelop. To a point that it's hard to call it a documentary. It's a movie, tracking with an impossible true-life road trip - and it's the first movie of this kind I see.
Watched it twice to make up my mind. First I was just got caught up, blending in the Arctic and other crazy shots (spectacular). Then got deeper into the reflection. Powerful. This film stays with you like a great wine.
The director definitely pushed the envelop. To a point that it's hard to call it a documentary. It's a movie, tracking with an impossible true-life road trip - and it's the first movie of this kind I see.
Watched it twice to make up my mind. First I was just got caught up, blending in the Arctic and other crazy shots (spectacular). Then got deeper into the reflection. Powerful. This film stays with you like a great wine.
If you need 90 minutes on another planet, watch this!
jamesparks-865989 October 2016
Astonishing documentary. Hard to call it "documentary" though. Let's say a film, a tale, documenting a NASA adventure. It's more than a doc, as it triggers emotions and appeals to our imagination, senses. It's an experience, with a complex narrative mode (the voice by Zachary Quinto is the actual expedition's journals). if it had been in 3D, the immersion would have been complete. The characters are simple guys, obviously unwilling to fake the usual TV reality shows dramas. They get along, do the job - you feel the humility and the tension as they face the predicaments of merciless Arctic milieu. The whole goal of the expedition is fascinating: a 2,000 miles crossing on the sea ice on board an experimental Humvee to simulate a Martian long range road trip. Great concept both for a scientific experiment and a movie. if you need 90 minutes on another planet, just watch this!
Stunning and sometimes scary. A invitation to explore.
jessmeyer-613736 October 2016
Saw this doc. with my two young sons on a big screen. I had the feeling to really take them to another planet. What we loved is that it's a real adventure. The landscape, the story, the narration, and above all, those actual images of Mars that I had never seen before. The film took me off guard. I din't know what to expect. The style is both cutting edge and classic. Classic because the story telling reminded me of some old epic adventure movies. This expedition journals, keep you on track with dates, temperatures and locations with amazing, beautiful animated maps, adding to the feeling of being on board with these NASA guys. The Mars imagery is stunning (I wish there were more, it's just fascinating), but after all, they are preparing the Martian journey here, on Earth, in what seems to be the next most hostile environment after Mars: the high Arctic. Also, loved the characters. They don't speak much, they are in their world, and we are invited to share their world. You learn many things about Mars and yet, what stays with you, is the beauty and the mystery of it all. It makes you want to go there, to be an explorer. Stunning and sometimes scary. Just bought it again on Amazon for the kids.
You are on board with the crew, immersed. Incredible documentary. See it on the big screen if you can!
dukejrod6 October 2016
What a fantastic movie! It had me on the edge of my seat right from the beginning. Plus, those incredibly beautiful shots. This doc sounds and looks like a fiction (neat cinematography and sound), but this is the real deal. A true-life adventure. Thought-provoking, epic, haunting. The film stays with long after. The narration is unusual. Zachary Quinto reads the expedition log of NASA mission leader (Pascal Lee) as he would write it out loud. Purely engaging and intriguing. The parallel journey between the Arctic and Mars is very subtle and brings those worlds together in an almost surreal manner. There is more poetry than science - even though you learn bunch of new things about Mars. You are on board with the crew, immersed. Incredible documentary. See it on the big screen if you can!
Arty and outside the box. Breaking documentary rules. Inspiring.!
kristinapaget10 October 2016
Loved the elements in this film, the snow, the ice, the wind, the glittering stars passing by when we travel through space, the Mars sand dunes, the storms, the red dust... The sounds, or the quietness of it all, in space or on the ice. A film calling for our senses. including fear.
Very spectacular and magnetic. It won't please everybody, cause this doc. breaks many rules and might confuse the routine of some viewers. It's nothing like the classic, formatted TV doc. It's a "movie movie" of its own, arty and outside the box.
I loved it. Very sensible and inspirational. Some science, not much, just enough for me. Enough to understand I actually knew very little about Mars (there's is not only water there, but snow, four seasons, and a day last 24 hour like here, a dust storm can cover the entire planet... But above all, there might be life there, and that's what we are looking for).
but the science is not what stays with you for days after. You just don't watch the sky in the same manner. You feel very small. But you feel puzzled to be surrounded by so much life, when there is so little of it all around Earth. Very sensible and inspiring movie.
Very spectacular and magnetic. It won't please everybody, cause this doc. breaks many rules and might confuse the routine of some viewers. It's nothing like the classic, formatted TV doc. It's a "movie movie" of its own, arty and outside the box.
I loved it. Very sensible and inspirational. Some science, not much, just enough for me. Enough to understand I actually knew very little about Mars (there's is not only water there, but snow, four seasons, and a day last 24 hour like here, a dust storm can cover the entire planet... But above all, there might be life there, and that's what we are looking for).
but the science is not what stays with you for days after. You just don't watch the sky in the same manner. You feel very small. But you feel puzzled to be surrounded by so much life, when there is so little of it all around Earth. Very sensible and inspiring movie.
A thought provoking film with a vision.
lcollinsbabe6 October 2016
Surprisingly good. I'm not a fan of documentary genre, but this one is so different. It has guts, depth, vision. It's a journey, and they take you with them from start to finish, with fierce. Quinto is just great.He delivers a a fine, complex performance, reading the original log of the expedition leader. Making the narration quite different from the classic voice over films. This is one of the film's highlights. It creates a solid emotional bound with the viewer. He delivers a very subtle, low key and at times moving performance. We are so far from the Discovery Channel reality show crap when they give you those fake/staged human conflicts. Here it's all more real. As it must be on a NASA journey. Music is great and the Mars and Arctic landscapes are jaw-dropping. Compelling and very original in the directing. A must see!!
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