[6]
Val Kilmer headlines this serviceable sci-fi survival story of astronauts who become stranded on Mars. As their oxygen depletes and their damaged robot accidentally enters ‘war mode’ and hunts them down, their commander in orbit (The Matrix‘s Carrie-Anne Moss) works with NASA to figure out how to get them off the planet’s surface. If Red Planet had better character development, particularly between Kilmer’s and Moss’s characters, the third act would pack more of a punch. There’s also an interesting thematic element ‘God vs. science’ that could have been explored more meaningfully. Even though it leaves some potential untapped, it moves at a brisk pace, contains some nice visuals, and captures a unique vibe of isolation and impending doom. While none of the characters are especially memorable, they’re played by a terrific ensemble that includes Tom Sizemore, Terence Stamp, Benjamin Bratt, and Simon Baker. Directed by Anthony Hoffman — his first and only feature film.