The Martian Chronicles

Rating:
Summary: Not Scientifically Correct ... But Tir Is Still Captivating
Review: This is the 1980 mini-series based on the Ray Bradbury novel on 2 DVDs and is nearly 300 minutes long.

If you can get past the weak special effects, scientific errors, and obviously incorrect timeline, it is an interesting and captivating story despite all that.

Mars is apparently a lot more hospitable than we were led to believe as astronauts walk about the planet in unprotected leisure suits. Large fluffy clouds, occasional rain storms, and canals (yes...they are back), also defy current science of what Mars is like.

The first flight to Mars also takes place in 1999!!! In 2004 we are not even close to this milestone. But it's not a documentary and in 1980 after the Apollo successes, perhaps the Mars flight seemed almost imminent.

Sci-fi films should perhaps avoid hard dates as they really age the production once the time is past.

But Rock Hudson, Darren McGavin, Bernie Casey, Roddy McDowell, Fritz Weaver and others give good performances as humans trying to understand, adapt, and live in a new alien environment.

And most importantly, they try to coexist with the native inhabitants who, of course, rightly regard them as alien invaders.

The video transfer is acceptable and the electronic music score is interesting. No extras at all unless you count scene selection and subtitles.

The ending seems to fizzle somewhat but may appeal to some.

Certainly worth having for science-fiction fans and especially so if you like Ray Bradbury and/or Mars (or Tir as the Martians refer to it).