Mission to Mars

The movie takes place some time in the not too distant future.  Mankind is about to embark on the first manned mission to mars.  The mission is divided into 2 parts: the first lead by Don Cheadle to be followed up by the second commanded by Tim Robbins, while Gary Sinese remains on Earth.  When the first mission group encounters a strange rock formation disaster strikes.  The second mission objective has now changed:  it is now a rescue mission to save whatever survivors remain and to find out what happened.  Gary Sinise is brought on board as the usual burn-out case who is "the only man qualified to lead the mission."  Once the rescue mission reaches Mars, a series of disasters and accidents occur.  Everything that can go wrong does go wrong.

The movie is filled with great special effects and equally impressive production designs.  The space craft and equipment are all believable and realistic.  The science and physics behind much of the disasters seem plausible.  The plot itself is interesting as well.  However the actual execution is very lacking.

The disasters that threaten life and limb never really deliver any impact.  There is no sense of urgency or danger despite the movie's constant attempts to knock you over with reminders that things are amiss, that there is danger around every corner.  A perfect example involves a scene where the crew is in danger of losing all of their oxygen.  They frantically search for the leak while the computer counts down how much time is left before the asphyxiate.  Even with the artificial device of the countdown, there is no tension or suspense created.  Even the mysterious force that lays buried underneath the surface of Mars generates only a mild sigh.  It fails to create any sense of wonder or awe.

The performances are suprisingly wooden given the high caliber of the cast.  Robbins, Cheadle, and Sinese seem to be going through the motions.  The performances fail to deliver any believable emotion even where the plot provides ripe cliched' heart tugging material.

Obvious comparisons can be drawn by the far superior 2001: A Space Odyssey.  Both seem to follow the same plot pattern: mysterious force found in space, failed manned mission, and the discovery of earth shattering proportions.  But where 2001 succeeds, Mission to Mars slowly limps past the starting line.

Mission to Mars is a very flat movie.  The tone it generates in its first opening scene is the only tone it seems capable of generating or sustaining throughout.  Is Mission to Mars a good movie?  No it isn't.  Is it a bad movie?  No, it isn't either.  What it is is an attempt to generate thrilling action and mystery.  An attempt that produces only a mild yawn.