Red Planet (film)
Encyclopedia
Red Planet is a 2000 Technicolor
science fiction film
directed by Antony Hoffman, starring Val Kilmer
and Carrie-Anne Moss
. It was released on November 10, 2000.
is in ecologic crisis as a consequence of pollution
and overpopulation
. Meanwhile, automated interplanetary missions have been seeding Mars
with atmosphere-producing algae
for twenty years as the first stage in terraforming
the planet. When the oxygen quantity produced by the algae is inexplicably reduced, the crew of Mars-1 investigates, and must continue the mission of terraforming the planet for human colonization.
The team is composed of Quinn Burchenal (Tom Sizemore
), an agnostic geneticist, Bud Chantillas (Terence Stamp
), an aging philosophical scientist and surgeon, systems engineer and "space janitor" Robby Gallagher (Val Kilmer
), and beautiful, but no-nonsense commander, Kate Bowman (Carrie-Anne Moss
). Also on board are arrogant pilot Ted Santen (Benjamin Bratt
) and terraforming scientist Chip Pettengill (Simon Baker
).
Mars 1 arrives on February 5, 2057, but a solar flare
disrupts key systems, complicates their orbit and forces Bowman to remain aboard and repair them, while the others land. Their first goal is to locate an automated habitat established earlier on Mars in the Ares Vallis
area to manufacture 26 months worth of food and oxygen in preparation for the crew's arrival.
The landing craft is damaged entering the Martian atmosphere, veers off course, and crash-lands far from their landing zone near the habitat. In the process, they lose track of "AMEE"(Autonomous Mapping Exploration and Evasion), a military combat robot
re-purposed to serve as their "Mars surface navigator", and Chantillas suffers a ruptured spleen
in the crash landing. With limited air, Chantillas is left behind to allow the others to complete the mission.
Back in orbit, Bowman deals with several disasters. She manages to contact Earth, which informs her that Mars-1 will crash on the red planet in 31 hours. However, mission control also believes it can restore engine function for a main engine burn and exit from Mars orbit before this happens.
The disheartened men reach the automated habitat only to find it destroyed. With only minutes of air remaining, the men contemplate death by suffocation. Pettengill and Santen wander away to see as much of Mars as they can before dying. They reach a canyon and await death. Pettengil and Santen argue about the success of the mission and eventually fight, with Pettengill inadvertently pushing Santen over the cliff. Distraught, Pettengill returns to Burchenal and Gallagher to await death and lies about Santen’s fate. Believing that he would die anyway, Gallagher opens his visor and discovers that Mars's atmosphere is thin but breathable. For the moment, the three survivors are safe, though Pettengill is guilt-ridden about Santen’s demise.
Despite the presence of breathable air, they remain stranded on the surface of Mars and are unable to communicate with Bowman. AMEE reunites with the crew, and the three astronauts notice the robot is damaged and try removing its power supply to reserve exclusively for her guidance device, effectively terminating her artificial brain. Perceiving their actions as a threat, AMEE's military programming re-initializes, targeting the men as enemies. It attacks the men, and cripples Burchenal. From then on, the robot stalks the landing party's trek across the Martian surface.
Eventually, Gallagher is able to construct a make-shift radio using parts from the Mars Rover
from the Pathfinder
mission. With communications restored and only 19 hours left, Bowman instructs the men to reach an old Russian probe 100 km away and use its sample-return system to launch themselves to orbit.
The three men begin the trek and discover patches of algae. However, during the trip, Bowman tells Gallagher that the Mars probe can only hold two people. Pettengill, paranoid about being abandoned, runs away with the radio in the early morning, only to be attacked alone by AMEE, which purposely transmits savage images to the survivors. Pettengill's corpse becomes infested with insect-like creatures feeding on his flesh, which Burchenal calls "nematodes." Burchenal discovers that the insects explode when exposed to flame. Along the way, they reach a large algae-covered field and Burchenal reveals that the insects are native Martian life lying dormant until the algae arrived. The insects eat the algae and excrete oxygen, explaining their volatile physiology. Burchenal retrieves a sample of the Martian life for returning it to Earth, stating that the insects can produce oxygen, which explains the fact that they can breathe, saving but altering the Mars project.
Unfortunately, the insects go into a feeding frenzy and swarm Burchenal when blood drips from an open wound. Burchenal passes his pressure suit’s and sample bugs to Gallagher, sacrificing himself by igniting the bugs, burning the algae and much of the region's atmosphere.
Gallagher finally reaches the Mars probe with only 50 minutes left for his launch window. Examining the probe, he finds that there is enough fuel to power the rocket engine, but not enough power in the battery to launch the probe. Gallagher creates a trap for AMEE, disables her, and retrieves its power core, using it to launch his improvised escape module.
Bowman detects the launch and recovers the module; however, Gallagher has lost consciousness. Quickly reviving Gallagher with CPR, the two passionately kiss and celebrate their success in saving Earth.
, grossing $33 million worldwide against an estimated budget of $80 million.
"Red Planet" DVD Rental/Sales: $22,700,000 (USA).
Information can be found at - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0199753/business
Burchenal also calls the Mars insects "nematodes," which are actually microscopic unsegmented worms, rather than the beetle-like omnivorous insects found feeding on the algae.
Due to significant scientific inaccuracies, NASA refused to serve as a scientific adviser for the film, which it normally does for science fiction films. "The science was just so off the wall that eventually we felt, 'You guys go ahead and make your movie.' If there's something that's going to be so misleading to the public that we don't want to participate, then we'll say no," said Bert Ulrich, a NASA spokesperson. "The big thing is, we want to make sure we're not misleading the public completely."
, with performances from French singer Emma Shapplin
.
Technicolor
Technicolor is a color motion picture process invented in 1916 and improved over several decades.It was the second major process, after Britain's Kinemacolor, and the most widely used color process in Hollywood from 1922 to 1952...
science fiction film
Science fiction film
Science fiction film is a film genre that uses science fiction: speculative, science-based depictions of phenomena that are not necessarily accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial life forms, alien worlds, extrasensory perception, and time travel, often along with futuristic...
directed by Antony Hoffman, starring Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer
Val Edward Kilmer is an American actor. Originally a stage actor, Kilmer became popular in the mid-1980s after a string of appearances in comedy films, starting with Top Secret! , then the cult classic Real Genius , as well as blockbuster action films, including a supporting role in Top Gun and a...
and Carrie-Anne Moss
Carrie-Anne Moss
-External links:...
. It was released on November 10, 2000.
Plot
In 2056 AD, EarthEarth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
is in ecologic crisis as a consequence of pollution
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
and overpopulation
Overpopulation
Overpopulation is a condition where an organism's numbers exceed the carrying capacity of its habitat. The term often refers to the relationship between the human population and its environment, the Earth...
. Meanwhile, automated interplanetary missions have been seeding Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
with atmosphere-producing algae
Algae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
for twenty years as the first stage in terraforming
Terraforming
Terraforming of a planet, moon, or other body is the hypothetical process of deliberately modifying its atmosphere, temperature, surface topography or ecology to be similar to those of Earth, in order to make it habitable by terrestrial organisms.The term is sometimes used more generally as a...
the planet. When the oxygen quantity produced by the algae is inexplicably reduced, the crew of Mars-1 investigates, and must continue the mission of terraforming the planet for human colonization.
The team is composed of Quinn Burchenal (Tom Sizemore
Tom Sizemore
Thomas Edward "Tom" Sizemore, Jr. is an American film and television actor and producer. He is known for his roles in films such as Saving Private Ryan, Strange Days, Pearl Harbor, Heat and Black Hawk Down....
), an agnostic geneticist, Bud Chantillas (Terence Stamp
Terence Stamp
Terence Henry Stamp is an English actor. Since starting his career in 1962 he has appeared in over 60 films. His title role as Billy Budd in his film debut earned Stamp an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and a BAFTA nomination for Best Newcomer.His other major roles include...
), an aging philosophical scientist and surgeon, systems engineer and "space janitor" Robby Gallagher (Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer
Val Edward Kilmer is an American actor. Originally a stage actor, Kilmer became popular in the mid-1980s after a string of appearances in comedy films, starting with Top Secret! , then the cult classic Real Genius , as well as blockbuster action films, including a supporting role in Top Gun and a...
), and beautiful, but no-nonsense commander, Kate Bowman (Carrie-Anne Moss
Carrie-Anne Moss
-External links:...
). Also on board are arrogant pilot Ted Santen (Benjamin Bratt
Benjamin Bratt
Benjamin Bratt is an American actor. He is most famous for his role as Rey Curtis on the TV series Law & Order; and his appearances in the movies Blood in Blood Out, Miss Congeniality, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Traffic, and Piñero.-Early life:Bratt was born in San Francisco, California,...
) and terraforming scientist Chip Pettengill (Simon Baker
Simon Baker
Simon Baker is an Australian actor. Since 2008, he has starred in the CBS television series The Mentalist.-Early life:...
).
Mars 1 arrives on February 5, 2057, but a solar flare
Solar flare
A solar flare is a sudden brightening observed over the Sun surface or the solar limb, which is interpreted as a large energy release of up to 6 × 1025 joules of energy . The flare ejects clouds of electrons, ions, and atoms through the corona into space. These clouds typically reach Earth a day...
disrupts key systems, complicates their orbit and forces Bowman to remain aboard and repair them, while the others land. Their first goal is to locate an automated habitat established earlier on Mars in the Ares Vallis
Ares Vallis
Ares Vallis is an outflow channel on Mars, named after the Greek name for Mars: Ares, the god of war; it appears to have been carved by fluids, perhaps water...
area to manufacture 26 months worth of food and oxygen in preparation for the crew's arrival.
The landing craft is damaged entering the Martian atmosphere, veers off course, and crash-lands far from their landing zone near the habitat. In the process, they lose track of "AMEE"(Autonomous Mapping Exploration and Evasion), a military combat robot
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
re-purposed to serve as their "Mars surface navigator", and Chantillas suffers a ruptured spleen
Spleen
The spleen is an organ found in virtually all vertebrate animals with important roles in regard to red blood cells and the immune system. In humans, it is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. It removes old red blood cells and holds a reserve of blood in case of hemorrhagic shock...
in the crash landing. With limited air, Chantillas is left behind to allow the others to complete the mission.
Back in orbit, Bowman deals with several disasters. She manages to contact Earth, which informs her that Mars-1 will crash on the red planet in 31 hours. However, mission control also believes it can restore engine function for a main engine burn and exit from Mars orbit before this happens.
The disheartened men reach the automated habitat only to find it destroyed. With only minutes of air remaining, the men contemplate death by suffocation. Pettengill and Santen wander away to see as much of Mars as they can before dying. They reach a canyon and await death. Pettengil and Santen argue about the success of the mission and eventually fight, with Pettengill inadvertently pushing Santen over the cliff. Distraught, Pettengill returns to Burchenal and Gallagher to await death and lies about Santen’s fate. Believing that he would die anyway, Gallagher opens his visor and discovers that Mars's atmosphere is thin but breathable. For the moment, the three survivors are safe, though Pettengill is guilt-ridden about Santen’s demise.
Despite the presence of breathable air, they remain stranded on the surface of Mars and are unable to communicate with Bowman. AMEE reunites with the crew, and the three astronauts notice the robot is damaged and try removing its power supply to reserve exclusively for her guidance device, effectively terminating her artificial brain. Perceiving their actions as a threat, AMEE's military programming re-initializes, targeting the men as enemies. It attacks the men, and cripples Burchenal. From then on, the robot stalks the landing party's trek across the Martian surface.
Eventually, Gallagher is able to construct a make-shift radio using parts from the Mars Rover
Rover (space exploration)
A rover is a space exploration vehicle designed to move across the surface of a planet or other astronomical body. Some rovers have been designed to transport members of a human spaceflight crew; others have been partially or fully autonomous robots...
from the Pathfinder
Mars Pathfinder
Mars Pathfinder was an American spacecraft that landed a base station with roving probe on Mars in 1997. It consisted of a lander, renamed the Carl Sagan Memorial Station, and a lightweight wheeled robotic rover named Sojourner.Launched on December 4, 1996 by NASA aboard a Delta II booster a...
mission. With communications restored and only 19 hours left, Bowman instructs the men to reach an old Russian probe 100 km away and use its sample-return system to launch themselves to orbit.
The three men begin the trek and discover patches of algae. However, during the trip, Bowman tells Gallagher that the Mars probe can only hold two people. Pettengill, paranoid about being abandoned, runs away with the radio in the early morning, only to be attacked alone by AMEE, which purposely transmits savage images to the survivors. Pettengill's corpse becomes infested with insect-like creatures feeding on his flesh, which Burchenal calls "nematodes." Burchenal discovers that the insects explode when exposed to flame. Along the way, they reach a large algae-covered field and Burchenal reveals that the insects are native Martian life lying dormant until the algae arrived. The insects eat the algae and excrete oxygen, explaining their volatile physiology. Burchenal retrieves a sample of the Martian life for returning it to Earth, stating that the insects can produce oxygen, which explains the fact that they can breathe, saving but altering the Mars project.
Unfortunately, the insects go into a feeding frenzy and swarm Burchenal when blood drips from an open wound. Burchenal passes his pressure suit’s and sample bugs to Gallagher, sacrificing himself by igniting the bugs, burning the algae and much of the region's atmosphere.
Gallagher finally reaches the Mars probe with only 50 minutes left for his launch window. Examining the probe, he finds that there is enough fuel to power the rocket engine, but not enough power in the battery to launch the probe. Gallagher creates a trap for AMEE, disables her, and retrieves its power core, using it to launch his improvised escape module.
Bowman detects the launch and recovers the module; however, Gallagher has lost consciousness. Quickly reviving Gallagher with CPR, the two passionately kiss and celebrate their success in saving Earth.
Cast
- Val KilmerVal KilmerVal Edward Kilmer is an American actor. Originally a stage actor, Kilmer became popular in the mid-1980s after a string of appearances in comedy films, starting with Top Secret! , then the cult classic Real Genius , as well as blockbuster action films, including a supporting role in Top Gun and a...
as Robby Gallagher - Carrie-Anne MossCarrie-Anne Moss-External links:...
as Cmdr. Kate Bowman - Tom SizemoreTom SizemoreThomas Edward "Tom" Sizemore, Jr. is an American film and television actor and producer. He is known for his roles in films such as Saving Private Ryan, Strange Days, Pearl Harbor, Heat and Black Hawk Down....
as Dr. Quinn Burchenal - Benjamin BrattBenjamin BrattBenjamin Bratt is an American actor. He is most famous for his role as Rey Curtis on the TV series Law & Order; and his appearances in the movies Blood in Blood Out, Miss Congeniality, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Traffic, and Piñero.-Early life:Bratt was born in San Francisco, California,...
as Lt. Ted Santen - Simon BakerSimon BakerSimon Baker is an Australian actor. Since 2008, he has starred in the CBS television series The Mentalist.-Early life:...
as Chip Pettengill - Terence StampTerence StampTerence Henry Stamp is an English actor. Since starting his career in 1962 he has appeared in over 60 films. His title role as Billy Budd in his film debut earned Stamp an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and a BAFTA nomination for Best Newcomer.His other major roles include...
as Dr. Bud Chantilas - Neil RossNeil RossTheodoric Neilson "Neil" Ross is an English voice actor and announcer, born in London, England and now resident and working in Los Angeles, in the United States. He has provided voices for in many American cartoons, particularly those based on Hasbro products and Marvel Comics, and numerous...
as Space Suit (voice) (uncredited)
Box office
Red Planet opened at #5 at the North American box office making $8.7 million USD in its opening weekend. The film was a box office bombBox office bomb
The phrase box office bomb refers to a film for which the production and marketing costs greatly exceeded the revenue regained by the movie studio. This should not be confused with Hollywood accounting when official figures show large losses, yet the movie is a financial success.A film's financial...
, grossing $33 million worldwide against an estimated budget of $80 million.
"Red Planet" DVD Rental/Sales: $22,700,000 (USA).
Information can be found at - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0199753/business
Critical response
The film received negative reviews, with only a 12% "rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.com as of December 2008 Stephen Holden's review in the New York Times was almost entirely negative, calling the film "a leaden, skimpily plotted space-age Outward Bound adventure with vague allegorical aspirations that remain entirely unrealized."Errors
During a conversation between Burchenal and Gallagher, Burchenal mistakenly lists the 4 letters of genetic code as A, G, T, and P. The correct letters are A, G, T, and C.Burchenal also calls the Mars insects "nematodes," which are actually microscopic unsegmented worms, rather than the beetle-like omnivorous insects found feeding on the algae.
Due to significant scientific inaccuracies, NASA refused to serve as a scientific adviser for the film, which it normally does for science fiction films. "The science was just so off the wall that eventually we felt, 'You guys go ahead and make your movie.' If there's something that's going to be so misleading to the public that we don't want to participate, then we'll say no," said Bert Ulrich, a NASA spokesperson. "The big thing is, we want to make sure we're not misleading the public completely."
Music
The music for Red Planet was composed by New Zealander musician Graeme RevellGraeme Revell
Graeme Revell is a New Zealand film score composer.Revell attended Auckland Grammar School, where he finished his final year in 7A...
, with performances from French singer Emma Shapplin
Emma Shapplin
Emma Shapplin is a French operatic coloratura soprano.-Biography:...
.