Starring
Jihae Kim, Oliver Martinez, Ben Cotton, Clementine Poidatz, Sammi
Rotibi, Alberto Ammann, Anamaria Marinca, Cosima Shaw, John Light.
Directed by Everardo Gout. (2016, 283 min).
Mars
is National Geographic's ambitious six-part miniseries that's part
documentary, part speculative fiction which takes place in the years
2033 & 2037. While it's initially a mixed bag, things do improve
as it goes along.
The
story involves an international crew embarking on a privately funded
journey to the Red Planet. The goal is to
eventually establish a permanent, self-sustaining colony, a process
expected to take several years. The endeavor is fraught with
obstacles and complications, such as the physical effects of longterm
space travel, creating a livable environment under severe Martian
conditions and the psychological impact of living in relative
isolation. For the most part, the crew is only one mechanical
malfunction or screw-up away from certain death.
 |
| The crew felt like proud pioneers...until one of them spotted a discarded beach ball. |
Interspersed
throughout the story are interviews with present-day experts
(including astronomy's resident rock star, Neil deGrasse Tyson) who
discuss the feasibility of such a journey in real life. We also see
ample footage of experiments conducted on and around Earth which
might help prepare us for life on a hostile world. Incidents and
dramatic turns in the plot are supported by evidence confirming their
authenticity. And if nothing else, Mars is painstakingly
detailed in its effort to present Martian life as realistically as
possible.
Of
course, being that this is a National Geographic production, the
science is irrefutable and often quite fascinating. The series does a
terrific job showing us that, not only would simply getting to
Mars be a herculean task, actually living there would, for the most
part, really suck.
However,
what makes interesting science doesn't always translate into
compelling drama. From a narrative standpoint, the first few episodes
are almost too methodical in presenting the struggles of the crew,
few of the whom are interesting enough characters to care about.
Additionally, the frequent shifts back-and-forth from the story to
present-day interviews are difficult to get used to.
But
Mars improves dramatically,
right around the time a
months-long dust storm threatens the colony and a botanist starts to
use his marbles. Similarly, when scientists discuss the psychological
impact of extreme isolation on the human psyche, we develop a certain
amount of admiration for anyone willing to subject themselves to it
(such as astronaut Scott Kelly, who spent an entire year on the
International Space Station). The show also finds a more consistent
rhythm in segueing between reality and fiction.
With
top-notch production design, mostly-convincing special effects and
effective use of terrestrial locations, Mars is visually
impressive; we seldom feel like we're watching actors on a
soundstage. It takes awhile to get going, but while the story and
characters pale in comparison to The Martian (and you will
make such a comparison), Mars is a fairly enjoyable and
informative miniseries. It also leaves the door open for another
season (which National Geographic just recently announced).
EXTRA
KIBBLES
MAKING
MARS - A full length episode about the miniseries;
BEFORE
MARS - A 30 minute prequel focusing on Hanna & Joon as
teenagers
FEATURETTES:
"Getting
to Mars," "Living on Mars" & "More Mars"
- several promotional mini-docs (though not explicitly related to the
show);
"Behind
the Scenes" - A three-part featurette;
"Cast
& Crew Interviews";
"Before
Mars: Behind the Scenes"
DIGITAL
COPY
KITTY CONSENSUS:
NOT BAD...LIKE CAT CHOW
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