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Red Planet

Red Planet

List Price: $14.98
Your Price: $13.48
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: WOWZER...
Review: Red Planet's plot goes something like this, while on a mission to mars boy sees girl naked in the shower, makes snappy remark then girl falls in love with boy.(women are sorta funny that way)

Then via a solar flare, they get seperated (gasp boo-hoo gasp) Boy and Boys go to mars, while the girl does the greatest zero-g "Backdraft" tribute ever forced on to film. Boy and Boys lose uptight british guy who mumbles about god etc,etc. They need to get to some mars corn silo... find out that they can breath on mars?!?!?!?! Julia Roberts boyfriend takes a low gravity swan dive, robot goes postal, bugs that make air and crave human flesh, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

If you are a member of Mensa, this would be a good movie to test your skills with, only a true genius can absorb and make sense of the fifty different plots and subplots and numerous fire/explosions.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good acting, location, effects redeem trite plot
Review: It's the year twenty sixty-something, the Earth is dying from pollution, and a spaceship is orbiting Mars to find out why the algae that have been seeded by previous unmanned craft have died--introducing living plants or "terraforming," then emigrating to Mars, is humankind's last best chance of surviving. The crew consists of an incredibly complicated but beautiful female pilot, a guy who's something of a jerk, a guy who's really a jerk, an elderly scientist/philosopher, a glorified mechanic/janitor, and a loveable Ernest Borgnine type. For various technical reasons I won't bore you with, the guys make a rough landing on Mars, losing their watchdog robot, AMEE.

They find their prefabricated space station in ruins and don't know why. There follows a struggle to survive and those of you who follow this type of movie have probably guessed by now who gets it in the neck and who doesn't. I will say that the special effects were state-of-the-art and the locations were great, primarily deserts in Australia and Jordan filmed thru a red filter but it looked so forbidding and alien.

The acting was a notch above the usual lockjaw astronaut movie, too. Actors like Val Kiler, Tom Sizemore and Benjamin Bratt really got to act, not just react. This movie is good drama as long as you can put up with some of the trite plot points (and there are surprises, as well).

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: THE BEST MARS MOVIE
Review: A lot of people are confusing this very satisfying sci-fi action adventure with the laughably pretentious, boring, goofy, message-laden atrocity MISSION TO MARS! The two mars-themed films couldn't be further apart.

It's the middle of the 21st century and a dying earth reaches out to colonize Mars as a last hope. Val Kilmer, Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix), Benjamin Bratt, Tom Sizemore and Terrence Stamp represent all humankind in the first landing on the mysterious red planet. Also on board is the extraordinary, multifunctional robo-assistant AMEE.

But, wouldn't you know it, a malfunction has forced her into a relentless killing-machine mode hell-bent on destroying the crew. And that's not all the crew must deal with; barren Mars has breathable oxygen and -- other inhabitants. Like the poster says: "They didn't find life on mars. It found them."

This somewhat by-the-numbers adventure is saved because it's looks great (the sets, locations and props are always credible) and the action never lets up. The striking Martian landscape is rendered vast and real and, yes, red. Recommended. (Color, Widescreen, Dolby Surround, 107 Minutes, Rated PG-13)

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Red Planet, one of the better Mars movies
Review: When I first Watched it, my eyes and ears were hearing a symphony. This is becuase, over the last few years, there have been a lot of Mars movies. Mission to Mars for instance, which gave me weak impressions about ANY sequels. Yet, when I put Red Planet in, I was finally seeing a better crafted movie based on our nearest planet. Val Kilmer soared, with perfect acting right down to the tense moments where he.... opps, don't want to spoil it for you! Anyway, Carrie-Anne Moss did one of her pbest performances since The Matrix. The supporting characters also added a bit more flavor to the scenes. Like Antony Hoffman, who played a want to know it all scientist. There were still some areas missing from the storyline, but it is my top pick for any Sci-Fi movie lover. Also, if you like good acting, a well done script, and a great cast, I suggest you watch Red Planet!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Wacky Adventures
Review: The mysterious Thomas and the hapless Patrick make Red Planet a true genius of a film. The suspence really gets open when Thomas' exlaims....

No, wait... That's another, imaginary, but doubtless better film.

Red Planet is one of the worst movies, ever. Mission To Mars was very derivitive of other sci-fi films, but it had an attraction. RP, on the other hand, revolves around hacking the "off the shelf" modem of Sojourner to quick call Earth and warn them that killer beetles have oxygeniated the atmosphere while the killer robot, running in "military mode," tries to kill them all.

Really.

Awful movie.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: BORING!
Review: Red Planet is a boring sci-fi movie ever! no wonder it's fail at the boxoffice last year.The story is weak and not much action in it,the robot name amee is the wrost cyborg ever.I watch this movie and it make me sleep at the half of the movie,I can't beleive my brother buy this DVD.If you want to see it,I suggest you rent it.END

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: I can only pull my brain out for so long!
Review: Mars needs writers! I just watched this technically pretty, but tragically stupid movie and I'm having trouble breathing. I can usually forgive an SF movie for a few bad spots of science, but this one has too many howlers to forgive. AGTP for the genetic code instead of AGTC, a gamma ray burst from the Sun, an unconvincing terraformed ecosystem that wouldn't be able to produce oxygen, but it did and so much more. The audience for this kind of movie isn't that stupid! Come on Hollywood, spend some flipping money on a writer with access to astronomy and biology books.

If you liked the movie, then I suggest you read a book like Mars Crossing by Geoffrey A. Landis to see how this story can be done well!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A good Sci Fi movie
Review: A good sci fi movie & its even better than mission to mars but dont expect too much from it , coz it`s a 1 time view movie then you`ll forget it by the next day , dont get me wrong it`s an entertaining movie. im a big fan of Val kilmer & he`s performance was cool in this movie . the ending is really wonderful :)

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Better than "Mission to Mars" and "Pitch Black."
Review: Out of the three space-related films of the year 2000, "Red Planet" is definitely the best. The movie towers over the slow-moving "Mission to Mars" with a nicely-paced sequence of events, and takes a front seat to "Pitch Black" by not going too much into violence and gore. The characters are intelligent and likeable, and the plot develops itself to cover all of its bases once the final moments settle in. I had to remain skeptical in watching this, due to the flack it received from numerous other critics, yet I found myself enjoying the movie immensely.

The movie begins with the narration of Commander Kate Bowman, as she describes how, after fifty years, the earth is running out of resources, and becoming increasingly uninhabitable. This is the reason for their mission: the first manned space mission to Mars in order to determine whether or not human life could exist on such a planet. This is a nice setup, far more intellectual and interesting that the setup for "Mission to Mars." Unlike that film, there is an actual stated reason for this mission, and the astronauts actually have a purpose in going instead of just going there to observe.

The characters are introduced to us at this time, giving us a chance to warm up to them before throwing them into the expected mayhem to come. Commander Bowman is highly intellectual and fervent in giving orders, and expects nothing but the best from her ship and her crew. The crew consists of Robby Gallagher, a maintenance operator, Dr. Quinn Berchenal, Ted Santen, Chip Pettengill, and Dr. Bud Chantilles. The crew and commander get along well for the most part, with some minor tension between certain characters as well as developing love interests among Gallagher and Bowman.

In the first attempt to attain an orbit around the planet, a solar flare disables the spacecraft, and everyone is able to land on the Red Planet but Bowman, who must stay behind and revive the spacecraft. Their landing on Mars proves to be quite eventful, and as the group begins to make their way across the landscape, they make some interesting discoveries: there is oxygen within the atmosphere, which allows them to breathe without their helmets. A machine which was designed to move about in places they cannot goes berserk, threatening their lives. And there is the constant feeling that they are not alone on the planet, that something else is inhabiting the very terrains they are searching.

The only real reason that this material works is that there is an explanation for each and every one of the above-mentioned events that never gets too out-of-hand or confusing. The available oxygen is there because of algae-carrying pods sent to the planet many years ago from Earth in order to create life-giving plants and organisms, which would also provide an explanation for the presence of life forms on the planet as well. There is an actual reason for their mission, as stated above. The malfunctions of the spacecraft that are caused by the solar flare also have a purpose in the film, and are explained by the conversations between Bowman and her computer, which seems to have a mind of its own.

The movie is a techie's paradise: all sorts of little gadgets and machines bring a futuristic sense to the story. The robot Amee is one such example: it can be controlled by humans, but once it develops a mind of its own, it is virtually unstoppable. This is a nice testament to machine-building getting out of hand, as we are creating machines smarter than the human race everyday. I especially liked the tie-back to our present day with the modem/radio that is used to establish contact between the Mars survivors and the spacecraft, providing me with a hearty chuckle while keeping the story moving.

Story movement goes at a steady pace, never getting too slow and agonizing or too fast and incomprehendable. The story may be viewed as simplistic by some, but it ccertainly never reaches the juvenile likings of "Mission to Mars." This story is much more intelligent, and through its dialogue and plot execution, it shows us that it's aware of this factor. It never dives into too much violence or gore, either. The life forms that inhabit Mars are dangerous, but it never gets to the point where we must turn away. The special effects are spectacular, vividly creating an almost dream-like place where fantasy and reality are undiscernable. Mars, yes, is a red planet, but it is during the night that this planet reveals its breathtaking vistas and algae-covered landscapes. Scenes in space are convincing and well rendered. Sound design is extremely bass-heavy, adding to the presence of the spacecraft while also creating a sense of unease with its chords of music.

Casting is uniquely done as well, with a group of actors that seem out of place with one another. Carrie-Anne Moss is Commander Bowman, with Val Kilmer as Robby Gallagher. Their chemistry never really has a chance to get off the ground, but while it's in take-off stage, it's believable and well-acted. Moss is especially convincing in seriousness as a captain of a ship. Benjamin Bratt, playing Ted Santen, is arrogant and forceful, while Simon Baker as Chip Pettengill, and Terence Stamp as Dr. Bud Chantilles are humorous and mysterious. Tom Sizemore does not attain enough screen time for us to get a feel for his character, who indulges in philosophy, but his early death keeps us from needing to know any more than that about him.

"Red Planet" may seem like another addition to the failing sci-fi genre, but it's not without its good points. It has a nicely crafted story that is told lucidly and effectively, with moments of intensity and suspense that fit into the plot. The performances are convincing and well-acted, while the special effects are dazzling and meticulous. I didn't expect much out of this movie, and I guess that helped me to like it as much as I did.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: A Failure of Science Fiction
Review: As a fan of great science fiction (come on, who isn't), I feel it is my duty to notify the public of this terrible... of everything science fiction is meant to be, both from a story and character point of view. First, the story of Red Planet. I only watched the movie once (so maybe I'm not exactly the expert here), but from what I could tell, the mission that the characters were involved in was neither terribly important, nor worth the cost of human life. Yet, as the Hollywood tradition says, one must spend much and make with the death in order to succeed. For Val Kilmer movies, the formula seems to work. Now for the characters. I do have one question, why in the world would you pay for Terrence Stamp simply to sell him off like he was a used car. Here's an idea, don't allow us to sympathize with anyone who will only been in the movie for 15 minutes. Tom Sizemore has also seen better days...roles...directors...movies. When you look at his past career (I know not everyone liked The Relic the same way I did), he could have had a much more likable part. Val Kilmer plays a half-wit in a half-wit movie, so I won't torture him. As for Carie Ann-Moss (of the triple name armada), she could be more monotonous, but only if this movie had a higher budget. AMEE is a HAL-9000 type, so at least she has more character than everyone else in the film.

Aside from the acting, the special effects were atrocious. Am I the only one that thought the effects were terrible? That matting on all the dark sky scenes is horrible. It's like they gave a three year old the scissors and said "cut away." I hope that Warner Bros. can recover from this gigantic flop of a movie.

P.S.... I wouldn't buy the DVD.


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