SciFi is showing a movie called “Escape From Mars”, featuring the guy who plays the linguist on Stargate SG-1.
So far, it’s been a clumsy montage of space cliches and contrived exposition, to the point that the sudden onset of melodrama was actually laugh-inspiring. The producers apparently used the same Space Shuttle rental set as seen in Stranded, and borrowed the “meteor shower” from Mission2Mars.
What is it that makes it so difficult to make a decent Mars movie?
I think there have been a few decent Mars movies out there. Conquest of Space (FINALLY coming to DVD on 10/19!!!!) for one. The one with Gary Sinese had its moments (but would have been better if they weren’t trying to remake 2001: A Space Odyssey).
The problem with the SkiFiii Channel “originals” is that the budget just isn’t there except for a few like Battlestar Galactica and the Dune movies. Otherwise they churn them out faster than all those flicks from the 50’s that we’d see Saturday night on shows like “Chiller Theatre” and “Creature Features”.
Maybe if Cameron ever decides to do Robinson’s “Mars” books…
“Maybe if Cameron ever decides to do Robinson’s ‘Mars’ books…”
I don’t know. I think Cameron can do better than to adapt a novel, particularly the novels in question. But then, I seem to be the only reader on the planet who didn’t much care for Robinson’s books. I’m hard to please when it comes to SF, in whatever medium.