Post by George Willson on Dec 19, 2005 17:56:21 GMT -5
KIM Rating: 3.5.5
This film can be best classified as "typical sci-fi fare" with your run of the mill under-characterized adventurers, such as the outcast, the cute girl captain, the philosopher, and the other guys who we not only don't know who they are, but don't care either. Add to this some far-fetched ideas on how stuff works, and you've got this movie.
The plot is easy enough to follow. Go to Mars to figure out why the algae they sent up there to produce oxygen died. Apparently, they presented a theory of Mars producing carbon dioxide should feed some algae to the point that they will produce oxygen and therefore start a life cycle and build an atmosphere on Mars. Well, the oxygen levels went up for awhile, and then dropped, hence the need for a trip to find out why.
If you do want to see this film, I will avoid the plot point spoilers, but those points are far-fetched, to say the least. One that isn't much of a spoiler is a modem made into a radio, and as if that wasn't enough, they manage to hook the modem/radio up to another computer and download something through it.
Several moments that beg the mental commentary of "That's convenient" just add to the eye rolling drama.
The characters are just flat. I knid of knew the names of some of them by the time their inevitable deaths occurred, but nothing to cling to, relate to, or care about. They made some vain attempts to round out these guys, but nothing worked, and I'm not sure why. We sort of knew the main pair (the outcast and the girl captain), but only my own morbid curiosity of how it would finally pan out carried me through to the end.
Finally, there were these creatures on Mars. While I understand why no explanation could be given, one should have been concocted or something, because they broke the common notion of "no life on Mars," and while this is fine, you have to give the audience a reason to make it plausible. Who cares if it is possible or not, but you've got to have plausible. These things played an important part in the plot as it was, but beyond this they made no sense. If they had, it would have at least given this movie some measure of worth.
So what's the verdict? Well, there's nothing new or groubdbreaking in this films in terms of effects, plot, character, ideas, or anything. It's just, as I said, standard fare sci-fi, so if you like sci-fi and don't mind extreme suspension of disbelief, then you'll probably enjoy this film. Me? I don't hate any movie, and they all have their good qualities. I liked the ride for what it was, and there was a decent little mystery going on here, despite the solution did little but raise more questions. It wasn't the worst film ever made, and I do enjoy the occasional sci-fi flick, so it gets a solid "ok" from me.
This film can be best classified as "typical sci-fi fare" with your run of the mill under-characterized adventurers, such as the outcast, the cute girl captain, the philosopher, and the other guys who we not only don't know who they are, but don't care either. Add to this some far-fetched ideas on how stuff works, and you've got this movie.
The plot is easy enough to follow. Go to Mars to figure out why the algae they sent up there to produce oxygen died. Apparently, they presented a theory of Mars producing carbon dioxide should feed some algae to the point that they will produce oxygen and therefore start a life cycle and build an atmosphere on Mars. Well, the oxygen levels went up for awhile, and then dropped, hence the need for a trip to find out why.
If you do want to see this film, I will avoid the plot point spoilers, but those points are far-fetched, to say the least. One that isn't much of a spoiler is a modem made into a radio, and as if that wasn't enough, they manage to hook the modem/radio up to another computer and download something through it.
Several moments that beg the mental commentary of "That's convenient" just add to the eye rolling drama.The characters are just flat. I knid of knew the names of some of them by the time their inevitable deaths occurred, but nothing to cling to, relate to, or care about. They made some vain attempts to round out these guys, but nothing worked, and I'm not sure why. We sort of knew the main pair (the outcast and the girl captain), but only my own morbid curiosity of how it would finally pan out carried me through to the end.
Finally, there were these creatures on Mars. While I understand why no explanation could be given, one should have been concocted or something, because they broke the common notion of "no life on Mars," and while this is fine, you have to give the audience a reason to make it plausible. Who cares if it is possible or not, but you've got to have plausible. These things played an important part in the plot as it was, but beyond this they made no sense. If they had, it would have at least given this movie some measure of worth.
So what's the verdict? Well, there's nothing new or groubdbreaking in this films in terms of effects, plot, character, ideas, or anything. It's just, as I said, standard fare sci-fi, so if you like sci-fi and don't mind extreme suspension of disbelief, then you'll probably enjoy this film. Me? I don't hate any movie, and they all have their good qualities. I liked the ride for what it was, and there was a decent little mystery going on here, despite the solution did little but raise more questions. It wasn't the worst film ever made, and I do enjoy the occasional sci-fi flick, so it gets a solid "ok" from me.