So, the good news is, I'm alive.
Surprise!
The bad news is that my team left without me.
Which means I'm stuck here until a rescue can arrive.
But hey, at least I have...
"Red Planet" on DVD...
Yup, this is gonna take a while.
And this is Movie Night!
Hello and welcome to Movie Night, I'm your host Jonathan Paula.
Tonight we're traveling to the fourth-rock from the sun to review some Mars movies.
We'll begin with "Mission To Mars".
After its March 10th release in 2000 this sci-fi drama did slighter better than break-even
under the direction of acclaimed filmmaker Brian De Palma.
When the first manned mission to Mars encounters a mysterious disaster, a rescue team is sent
to investigate.
Our cast of courageous astronauts is led by Gary Sinise, in what feels a lot like a sequel
to his role in "Apollo 13".
He's a soft-spoken optimist with a thirst for knowledge, and a perfect choice to star
in the PG-rated movie.
Recalling a quote from his late wife, he explains his purpose in life, "To stand on a new world
and look beyond it to the next one."
Alongside him is Tim Robbins, Don Cheadle, Connie Nielsen, and Jerry O'Connell.
This is a talented group of friendly astronauts who clearly care for one another, which makes
the untimely departure of one of them resonate more effectively.
De Palma is well-known for his long takes that wind through a scene, and a 90-second
shot showing off the massive spacecraft set is really something.
It kicks off one of my favorite scenes in the movie, when Robbins and Nielsen share
a fun and romantic zero-G dance to Van Halen's "Dance The Night Away".
There's something so cute and memorable about the moment, that whenever I hear that rock
classic, I think of this movie.
But it's an EVA rescue attempt that is positively pulse-pounding in its simplicity and well-framed
execution.
The 113-minute film is paced well, and stays believable with realistic science and techniques.
The above-average visual effects don't hurt either.
The unique turn this picture takes in the final act will either alienate audiences or
captivate them.
"Mission To Mars" is a particularly divisive movie for this reason, but, I for one, appreciate
the ideas this picture explores, having re-watched it several times over the years.
Composer Ennio Morricone mixes strings, trumpets and even a choir for a beautiful score.
Blending smart science-fiction and action with more philosophical themes about mankind's
place in the universe, this is a vastly under-appreciated picture.
"Mission To Mars" is a poignant and exciting journey into the unknown.
I thought it was GREAT.
Next up, my thoughts on "Red Planet".
This $80 million dollar sci-fi thriller was a huge flop when it premiered in November
of 2000 - earning back only $33 million at the box office.
There are three big reasons for that; 1) "Mission To Mars" came out earlier in the year and
was a much more realistic; 2) prior to this picture director Antony Hoffman only had experience
with television commercials.
He never directed another movie, before or since.
And 3) the PG-13 rated story is a total mess of borrowed concepts.
A group of bickering astronauts travel to the titular world in search of solutions to
save a dying Earth - only to find themselves marooned on the barren planet when the mission
suffers catastrophic failure.
This causes one astronaut to sarcastically remark, "We just disappointed 10 billion people.
Not counting the ex-wives."
The 106-minute film features Val Kilmer as a self-proclaimed 'space janitor', Carrie-Anne
Moss as the team leader who provides some shameless partial nudity, Tom Sizemore as
a loud-mouth, Benjamin Bratt as an unfeeling Lieutenant, and Terence Stamp as the older,
wiser member of the team.
This cast of otherwise capable B-listers just aren't a great fit for the material, or each
other.
In fact, Kilmer and Sizemore hated each other so much during production, many of their scenes
were completed with body-doubles, as they refused to work together.
In-fighting aside, none have any real experience leading a big high-concept picture like this.
Well, except for Kilmer, but let's be honest: "Batman Forever" hardly qualifies as "experience"
for anything.
An obvious holdover from the 90s-action-movie-era - there's pointless and unmotivated strobe
lights and fog machines during the spacecraft's initial liftoff.
I see no logical reason why the brave astronauts would want the sensation of visiting a cheap
haunted house exhibit the moment before the most dangerous endeavor of their lives, but
whatever.
As if their razor thin margin for survival wasn't exciting enough, the movie completely
jumps the shark when a killer robot begins stalking them around the deserts of Mars.
The movie does get credit for a realistic and pretty exciting zero-gravity fire sequence
though.
And glimpses of their flexible, transparent iPad-like scrolls is a really neat bit of
future tech.
A good portion of the exteriors were filmed in Wadi Rum, Jordan - which apparently has
doubled for the red planet in almost every Mars-based picture.
As absurd as the story is, the picture functions well on a technical level, the editing, visual
effects, and pacing are above-average.
But unlikable characters, stupid developments, and familiar tropes sink this picture before
liftoff.
Nothing is downright awful though, even if everything here is accomplished more successfully
in other films.
Possibly worth seeing once for fans of survival-themed space movies, "Red Planet" is a darker, less
satisfying and version of familiar ideas - but it's an ALRIGHT movie.
Finally, a review for "The Martian".
Produced on a budget of $108 million, and released nationwide on October 2nd, this sci-fi
picture is a triumphant return to form for director Ridley Scott.
Well-known for classics like "Alien", "Blade Runner", Gladiator", and "Black Hawk Down"
- I dare say this PG-13 rated film is his best yet.
Based on Andy Weir's 2011 novel of the same name - Matt Damon stars as an astronaut who
is incorrectly presumed dead, and left behind on Mars, forced to survive by himself for
over a year until a rescue team can arrive.
As expected, Damon is absolutely perfect in the lead role, commanding the attention, and
empathy from the audience - thanks to his optimistic attitude and determination.
Against impossible odds, he remains hopeful when declaring quietly to himself; "I'm not
gonna die here."
Feeling a bit like "Robinson Crusoe", watching this astro-botanist literally colonize the
Martian soil so he can grow enough food to stay alive is a wonderful thing to witness.
Despite its lengthy 141-minute runtime the high concept story about survival and perseverance
remains positively captivating throughout.
Especially an unflinching scene when Damon performs surgery on himself to fish shrapnel
out of his abdomen.
Scott and Damon reportedly drew inspiration from the mountain climbing documentary "Touching
The Void" as well.
As daunting as his situation is, it's also a bit limited from a storytelling perspective.
Thankfully, there's a parallel narrative back on earth, dealing with the pragmatic politics
of NASA and how best to handle a risky rescue mission.
It's here where the talented supporting cast truly shines; Jessica Chastian, Jeff Daniels,
Michael Peña, Kate Mara, Sean Bean, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and even Kristen Wiig all do excellent
work.
Daniels and Ejiofor are especially great sparing against each other with differing opinions
on how to save their lost astronaut.
An upbeat montage set to David Bowie's "Starman", showing NASA's plan coming together is a real
highlight.
The movie, rather amusingly, also incorporates a good deal of in-universe disco music into
the soundtrack.
It's this lighter tone, coupled with Damon's sarcastic wit and humor that make "The Martian"
such a fun and rewatchable film - especially when he resolves to "science the shit out
of this".
But Scott doesn't dumb down the narrative either, showing complex mathematics, hex-code
based communication, and plenty of equations on thrust and velocity.
This is an idealistic vision of an unspecified future that respects and utilizes hard science
instead of marginalizing it.
This technical accuracy also serves as a wonderful advisement for the continuation of manned
space flight.
Plus, it goes hand-in-hand with the flawless visual, which expertly blend CGI, mammoth
soundstage sets, and a Jordanian desert to faithfully recreate the surface of Mars.
Other sequences in the vastness of space, and onboard the Ares rocket are handled just
as effortlessly.
Combining the isolated elements of "Cast Away", with the improvisational problem-solving of
"Apollo 13", and the visual action of "Gravity" - this picture is a true classic.
Speaking of "Gravity", for the third year in a row, we've been treated to an absolutely
excellent space survival movie.
A respectful and satisfying drama, this is a true high-water mark for modern science
fiction, and a completely engaging experience.
Crowd-pleasing from start to finish, and easily one of 2015's best - "The Martian" is a brilliant
masterwork showing man's incredible capacity for survival.
It's an AMAZING movie.
That does it for tonight's episode, but here's what we'll be discussing in a couple weeks
if you'd like to leave a comment review.
And if you click this information-icon, some related videos will slide out for to watch.
Once again, my name is Jonathan Paula, thanks for watching and have a good Movie Night!