Mission to Mars: Critic Reviews

There doesn't seem to be an original moment in the entire movie.

Mission to Mars is sentimental, corny, and at times irredeemably campy.

De Palma's touch is wrong at the most crucial moments.

Mission to Mars is blandly directed by Brian De Palma.

This movie's special effects, set design, actionsequence staging and swirling cinematography offset the weak story.

At its best, Mission to Mars is a visually inspiring motion picture that takes you to another world and shows off the amazing sights.

Despite a few breathtaking snapshots en route, it can't quite figure out the aesthetic itinerary -- where it's heading and why.

The film is worthwhile only to those who are in desperate need of a nap.

A movie as cold and distant as the Red Planet itself.

So-so sci-fi; may be too intense for some kids.

Whatever's shoddy or limp about Mission to Mars, however conspicuous while the film unfolds, all becomes admirably pale as the full viewing experience recedes and the good stuff emerges in proud bas-relief.

Mission to Mars' redemptive coda opened the door for the subsequent film's continuing figurative and literal sanguinity.

The race for the worst movie of the year is on!

Typically, while a good screenplay only requires a single author, this unimaginative, derivative dreck required at least four, even with the massive cribbing from 2001: A Space Odyssey.

There's some throwaway fancy camerawork at the beginning and a repeat of his shock-shot trick from Raising Cain, but otherwise De Palma's own ride appears to be largely on autopilot.

The too-many-cooks rule applies to this script, which borrows wantonly from sci-fi classics of the past.

If Brian DePalma's Mission to Mars were a book, it would have a yellow cover and the title '2001 for Dummies.'

It's the waste of the impressive ensemble cast on cheap, pedestrian dialogue and a tabloid-style hypothesis of Martian civilization that makes this Mission impossible to watch.

Bears the distinct imprint of helmer De Palma, still one of the best visualists to work in the action/adventure genre.

The film just doesn't offer anything new to the genre, so why bother making it?

Silly, turgid and devoid of even the hints of original thinking, Mission to Mars is a testament to shameless creative theft.

All I can really say for the film is this: they meant well.

Avoid at all costs.

I gave up on this barren mission before it ever left earth.

The ensemble's performances are adequate.