Two decades past, the Martian cinematic landscape saw a head-to-head battle between 'Mission to Mars' and 'Red Planet'. However, the question remains unanswered: who truly emerged victorious?
Hollywood's penchant for mirroring stories is well-documented, with numerous films sharing similar themes, settings, and narratives. Two such instances involve "Deep Impact" and "Armageddon," as well as "Mission to Mars" and "Red Planet," both released eight months apart in 2000. As they celebrate their 25th anniversaries in 2025, the question lingers: which of these Mars-centered films stands out?
To tackle this question, we have pitted "Mission to Mars," directed by Brian De Palma, against "Red Planet," helmed by Antony Hoffman, in a head-to-head comparison. Let's delve into the plot, cast, directing, box office performance, and the final verdict of these interplanetary epics.
Plot
"Mission To Mars" emerges as an optimistic narrative, depicting the first manned mission to Mars that meets a tragic end due to a cyclone, leaving a solitary survivor. A rescue operation is mounted, and the survivor finds refuge in a mysterious, Martian structure shaped like a humanoid face. As the team learns about Mars' past – hit by a killer asteroid forcing the Martians to evacuate and plant DNA seeds on Earth – one of the astronauts volunteers to travel to the new Martian home.
In contrast, "Red Planet" starts with the trope of an uninhabitable Earth, focusing on a Martian terraforming endeavor gone awry. When oxygen-generating algae disappear, a crew is sent to investigate, landing along with a malfunctioning robotic dog named AMEE. The team struggles to survive and salvage solutions to save a dying Earth, searching for algae-eating nematodes. The film presents a darker, more somber atmosphere and excels in storytelling.
Cast
"Mission To Mars" boasts a well-rounded cast including Tim Robbins, Gary Sinise, Connie Nielsen, Jerry O'Connell, Kim Delaney, Don Cheadle, and Armin Mueller-Stahl. While the ensemble does a decent job within the melodramatic confines of the script, some find that Tim Robbins seems out of place as a spaceman. Sinise's casting as an astronaut is also criticized for its repetition after his role in "Apollo 13."
"Red Planet" features Val Kilmer, Carrie-Anne Moss, Tom Sizemore, Benjamin Bratt, Simon Baker, and Terence Stamp. However, the weak, heavily recycled plot limits the actors' potential for any meaningful interaction, with reported tensions between Kilmer and Sizemore manifesting as an on-set fistfight.
Director
Brian De Palma, a seasoned filmmaker with credits like "Carrie," "The Untouchables," and "Mission: Impossible," directs "Mission To Mars." Despite the sci-fi material's potential, the script appears to be a challenge for De Palma. The direction feels bland, lacking the bite one would expect from such a skilled director.
Antony Hoffman, a South African filmmaker known for his background in cinematography and journalism, directs "Red Planet." His first and only feature film, it represents an ambitious step from commercials for brands like Budweiser, Lamborghini, and Ferrari.
Box Office
With a budget of over $100 million, "Mission to Mars" struggled to break even at the box office, collecting $110 million globally. Its 24% Rotten Tomatoes score demonstrates the film's unfavorable reception.
"Red Planet" received a cooler welcome, garnering a 14% Rotten Tomatoes score and collecting just $33 million worldwide. Both films failed to meet expectations, with audiences likely opting for other films over two Mars releases in the same year.
Winner?
Upon careful analysis, "Red Planet" edges out "Mission to Mars" due to its more coherent storyline and better character development. While "Mission to Mars" offers a more interesting screenplay from a storytelling perspective, its cheesy dialogue and predictable dialogue dilute its impact. "Red Planet" is praised for its suspenseful scenes, superior hybrid score, slick sets, immersive sound design, cooler wardrobe, flashy cinematography, saturated color palette, and bold edits.
If you're interested in hosting a double-feature watch party to celebrate these Martian milestones, "Mission to Mars" is available on Fubo in the US and on Disney in the UK. You can watch "Red Planet" for free on Hoopla (with a library card) or rent/buy it digitally elsewhere.
- In the field of science fiction cinema, both "Mission to Mars" and "Red Planet," released in 2000, offer contrasting portrayals of Mars exploration, with the former adopting an optimistic, optimistically tragic narrative and the latter focusing on a darker, somber atmosphere.
- Addressing the question of which film stands out amidst their 25th anniversaries, a critical analysis favors "Red Planet" due to its coherent storyline, better character development, and stronger elements in cinematography, sound design, and editing.
- For movie enthusiasts who want to explore these Martian epics, "Mission to Mars" can be found on Fubo (US) and Disney (UK), while "Red Planet" is available for free on Hoopla (with a library card) or for rental/purchase elsewhere.
