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Mission
To Mars |
| Rated
PG |
| Runtime:
1hr 54min |
| Staring:
Gary Sinise, Tim Robbins, Don Cheadle, Connie Nielsen |
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MFG
Rating: 3/5
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DVD
Features
Video:
Widescreen enhanced and exceptionally well done. There are
lots of brilliant rich colors as well as the deep blacks of
space, and this DVD pulls them all off perfectly.
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 and it is used very well here. Sometimes
SciFi movies go over the top, but this one makes good use
of both your subwoofer and rear speakers without being obnoxious.
Most of the time the sound is oriented toward front center,
it only goes for surround and boom when the scene calls for
it.
Extras:
The usual audio commentary and trailers are here, but we also
get a documentary and some really neat stuff relating to the
making of the visual effects including an animatics to final
scene comparisons.
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DVD
Quick Take
Although
not a bad movie by a long shot, this movie didn't excite us too
much in the theater. However, even then we were thinking what a
potentially good DVD this movie could make. We were a little worried
though because Touchstone (Disney) isn't excactly known for making
killer DVD's. But this time they delivered. Both the audio and video
are absolutely top notch. The video in particular will really let
you show off a large widescreen TV, and the sound although not raucious
is very tastefully well done and will wake up your subwoofer and
rear speakers when the scenes call for it.
-
Billy Bob
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this DVD to your collection
Movies
For Guys' Original Review of the Theatrical Release
Pitch
Black and Supernova
gave it a shot, but this is the first big SciFi movie of the new
millennium. Director Brian De Palma hits us with a strong cast,
some great effects, but unfortunately a bit of a mediocre screenplay.
We're
introduced to a couple of crews of astronauts who are involved in
the first manned missions to Mars. The first crew runs into some
problems on the surface and the movie really starts to unfold when
the second team has their mission converted to a rescue mission
to race to Mars to investigate and help the first team. They find
alot more than anyone expected.
The
premise is pretty good, the special effects are outstanding and
the cast led by Sinise and Robbins is excellent. There are several
really great sequences in this film that are pretty intense and
extremely well done. The problem is the stuff in-between really
drags at times. De Palma has obviously been watching alot of Kubrick's
2001: A Space Odyssey prior to making this, and unfortunately he
picked up a Stanley Kubrick habit of not knowing when to edit out
some dreck and just get on with the danged story.
This
is one of those movies that is best seen without knowing alot about
it going in, unfortunately the trailers themselves give away far
too much. You also do need to really see these effects on the big
screen. They didn't go for the jaw dropping visuals like Pitch Black,
instead they created scenery that was very believable and made us
believe the film really was in space. I would compare it very much
to the type of effects seen in Apollo 13.
We
give this movie 3 stars. I dont think it is one you'll want to watch
over and over again even if you are a hardcore SciFi fan. However,
it really should be experienced on the big screen. Unfortunately
this one is rated PG so not only will you see no breasts, expect
to have to tolerate a few kids in the theater. Catch it anyway,
we recommend the late show.
-
Billy Bob
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Gun Play
No
firearms but they did have this cool grappling hook gun.
Blood & Gore
Very
tame as the PG rating would imply.
Car Chases
They
imply that gas combustion isn't real popular in the future.
T&A
Not
even a decent cleavage shot.
Chuckles
Sinise
gets off a couple of a good lines with his reality checks. |
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