RED PLANET
US, 2000, 95 minutes, Colour.
Carrie Anne Moss, Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Terence Stamp, Benjamin Bratt, Simon Baker.
Directed by Antony Hoffman.
Earlier in 2000, Gary Sinise and Tim Robbins and others went on a Mission to Mars, discovered its hostility but then discovered the mystery of life in the universe. In this expedition to Mars, Terence Stamp has the chance to suggest to astronauts and to the audience that there are cosmic issues about God and creation. However, when the crew reach Mars, they find that the vegetation so carefully controlled from earth to prepare for colonisation has been destroyed and the group have to struggle across the surface of the planet to rendezvous with the spaceship and the clock is ticking. Filmed in deserts in Jordan and Australia, the film stars Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore and Carrie Anne Moss. It is enjoyable in its own way and raises issues.
1. The popularity of films about Mars exploration? The reality of Mars exploration from the year 2000?
2. The re-creation of the spacecraft, the attention to technological detail? The ship itself, vocal command? AMEE and its capacity for view finding, its aggressive nature? The station on Mars, its being destroyed? The technology of making the surface green and life-bearing on Mars? The musical score?
3. The title, Mars as intriguing, distance from Earth, the possibility of colonising it, the need for air and water, for vegetation?
4. The voyage, the various members of the crew introduced, their interactions? The nature of the mission, the explanation of each of their functions?
5. Bowman as commander, a woman commander, her efficiency, her relationship with the other members of the crew, with Gallagher (and the shower sequence, the flashback and the possible kiss)? The solar flare, the radiation danger, her keeping control of the craft? Her decisions? The possibility of repairing the craft, the contact with Houston, in contact with the men on the surface, the dark side of Mars and lack of contact, her urging Gallagher to come back, going out of the craft to save him? Their return to Earth? A serious character and commander?
6. Terence Stamp as the scientist turned philosopher? The conversations with Gallagher about science, philosophy, about the existence of God? Gallagher not believing, remembering his words later? On the surface, his being injured, not knowing that there was air, his decision to remain behind and die, his having seen Mars, his discovery of God?
7. Burchenael and his role as a geneticist, landing, the trek, the relationship with Gallagher? The fights, the disappearance of the technician? The cowardly member, the fights, his disappearance? His injuries, his getting an understanding of the vegetation, the air, the insects discovered in the philosopher's body? His getting the sample? Urging Gallagher to go on? His death?
8. The member of the crew who was in deputy command, the expedition, the journey, his taunting of the young scientist, his being pushed over the cliff?
9. The young scientist, the substitute, looking genial, his growing fears, being taunted, pushing the deputy leader over the cliff, his return, his lies? His escaping with the water, his being killed by AMME?
10. The trek on the surface of Mars, its looking forbidding, the lack of air, the discovery that oxygen was present? The dripping water? The last vegetation, the solving of the mystery of the insects? The possibility of this information being of use for humans to go to Mars? The popularity of this kind of interplanetary action adventure with the scientific background and the touch of religion?
