Hot on the heals of Supernova and Pitch Black is yet another sci-fi film that does'nt deliver the goods. The film has already been called a low rent 2001, but Mission to Mars actually owes more to Close Encounters, The Abyss, and Cocoon than the Stanley Kubrick classic.

As directed by Brian DePalma (Carrie, The Untouchables, Mission Impossible), Mission to Mars is a sometimes effective, mostly laughable tale about a rescue mission and an intriguing discovery on the red planet. Actually, it's really not that intriguing.

DePalma has a decent cast to work with including the likes of Tim Robbins, Gary Sinise, and Don Cheadle. Mission to Mars, however, isn't at all about people, it's about effects and some of them are quite good (such as a thrilling space walk) while others are absolutely atroscious (the computer generated alien is one of the worst looking extra terrestrials I've ever seen in a film). And forget about the dialogue. Most of it is unintentionally funny.

DePalma is one of those film-makers that's hit and miss and Mission to Mars is one of those films that he probably wont be remembered for. What he really misses, is that sense of wonder and awe a film like this is supposed to evoke. It's a beautiful film to look at but there is no feeling of wonder. Still, I thank the good lord above that this film is substantionally better than Lost in Space.