Roving Mars (2006)
68 %
Reviews Counted: 34 Fresh: 23 Rotten:11 Average Rating: 6.6/10
Consensus:
Roving Mars is a decent thrill ride even when it starts feeling like a commercial plug for NASA's failing space program.
Runtime: 40 mins
Theatrical Release: Jan 27, 2006 Limited
Box Office: $9,351,505
Synopsis: Follow the adventures of NASA's rovers Spirit and Opportunity as the robotic vehicles explore the surface of Mars and transmit images back to Earth. With a score by Philip Glass (THE HOURS, NOTES ON A SCANDAL) and an introduction by Paul Newman, ROVING MARS recounts the preparation behind the... [More]
Genre: Education/General Interest
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Reviews
Comment
Originally made for IMAX screens, George Butler's Roving Mars is a visual marvel %u2013 even if it boils down to a piece of corporate propaganda.
05/08/08
Standard IMAX docu fare: a few talking heads, some lush narration, and a whole heap of impressive visuals.
06/25/07
The actual images from the barren surface of our solar neighbor don't fill the giant screen.
02/22/07
One of the most educational and entertaining large-format movies ever.
09/15/06
Not having a way to capture images of the machines at work means that too much of Butler's film ... is disappointingly made up of computer simulations.
08/18/06
Top Critic
Capably accomplishes its mission to Mars by blending solid science with sci-fi eye candy.
06/16/06
Top Critic
The first third of the film is weak, but from there it blasts off with strength and connects emotionally, visually, intellectually and even motivationally with the audience.
04/13/06
Too small for the giant Imax screen, Roving Mars is an interesting enough documentary about space exploration but doesn't deliver sufficient gee-whizzery.
03/27/06
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02/04/06
It's harder still not to root for anthropomorphized Spirit and Opportunity as time and again they perform like whirring, beeping little robots-that-could, far exceeding the expectations of the people who designed and built them.
02/04/06
Top Critic
Considering what it promises compared to what it actually delivers (especially when you factor in the inflated IMAX prices), even the most indulgent fan of space exploration is likely to walk away from Roving Mars feeling slightly ripped-off.
02/04/06
Only a series of pics featuring a set of strange little nodes that look like blueberries planted in a pile of red rocks carry any kind of translatable otherworldly kick.
02/01/06
Top Critic
Probably isn't as enthralling as its makers hoped, but interesting enough to make for good, informative family entertainment.
01/28/06
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01/28/06
That's about what it plays like: a gigantic commerical for more space travel, from a contractor who stands to benefit financially if we go, and a government agency whose budget is threatened.
01/27/06
Top Critic
There aren't enough pyrotechnics in the paltry 40-minute run time to justify the ticket price.
01/27/06
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