Red Planet had the potential to be a gripping sci-fi survival film, but it falls short due to weak writing and lackluster execution. The plot follows a team of astronauts sent to Mars for a critical mission, but the movie struggles to maintain tension or make the stakes feel real. The directing is serviceable but uninspired, never really leaning into the survival elements or making the action feel urgent. Visually, the cinematography does a decent job of capturing Mars' desolate landscape, though the CGI, while better than expected, feels underwhelming for its time. The film misses opportunities to create a more immersive or visually striking atmosphere. The acting is mostly passable, with a few performances standing out more than others, but the script does the cast no favors. Dialogue is stiff, and character interactions often feel unnatural or rushed. The story also takes some questionable leaps in logic, which make it hard to stay invested. The AI element, a key part of the plot, is handled in a way that feels inconsistent. The score doesn't add much to the experience, and the dramatic moments often lack weight, partially due to the uninspired music choices. Overall, Red Planet had a solid premise but failed to execute it in a way that makes it worth revisiting

Pointless movie where absolutely nothing happens. The only highlight was Carrie Anne Moss looking hot in a tank top. Not sure what they spent their $80 million budget on but it definitely wasn't the writing.

Taking a useless robot that goes mad at the drop of a hat and tries to kill everyone ... what an awful piece of writing. Apart from that, it was an ok story. I'd like to get to know God better - I wonder if they'll send me to Mars?

Great movie, I don't know why some people are so down on it. Very entertaining

It was much better than I expected. A very good exciting movie.

A great movie. I would have given it 4 stars if it had not been so outrageously misjudged. The purpose of movies is primarily to be interesting enough to spark the interest in the subject, to tell a story in a way that is memorable. Those memorable moments are there for the keen eye, even in an arid red desert. It is not always supposed to be an overintellectualised masterpiece... For me and a few others it worked, precisely because the thin athmosphere does not support the mainstream audience.

Not remotely exciting enough.

It's objectively not a great movie but I still like it and I can't even really explain why. One of my biggest guilty pleasures.

Weird Mars movie that makes zero sense

Its ‘Saturn 3’ meets ‘The Martian’ and pretty ‘meh’ at that

Meh. I enjoyed this well enough when it first came out, but I'm not quite feeling it anymore. It's a decent sci-fi thriller, but it doesn't really do anything standout, and there's just too many hokey moments.

Story/Screenplay: (3/5) A sci-fi flick that couldn't help but manufacture drama just as our intrepid astronauts reach Mars. So silly. Had great potential, but instead we're left with an insipid storyline driven by marginally appealing characters. Duration/Tempo: (4/5) At 1 hour and 46 minutes, it's an average length movie that felt short. Lots of interesting action scenes. Cast & Crew: (3.5/5) Val Kilmer and Tom Sizemore were fun to watch in this film. The overall cast performance was solid. Summary: (3.5/5) The story was flawed, but the cast was good and the film felt short. A thumbs up.

A nice surprise, this. I wasn't expecting much from it, but it actually delivers a very good sci-fi space film. 'Red Planet' has aged, for the most part, impressively well given it was released twenty years ago as I type. The visual effects for the majority, bar the outdated (understandable) computer technology, is still very solid - especially AMEE the robot. The film starts off strongly, before losing slight footing once they reach Mars but quickly regains itself. I enjoyed watching it all unfold. It does go for some majorly heartfelt moments, not all of which come off; mostly due to the timing/set-up of them. Onto the cast. No disrespect intended to Val Kilmer (Gallagher) and Carrie-Anne Moss (Bowman), as they are comfortable and satisfying together, but this could've done with a bigger onscreen presence from a top, top actor/actress. The performances from Kilmar, Moss & Co. suffice though. I even kinda digged Gallagher and Bowman's 'thing' by the end, which is unexpected as it's nothing special or overly well crafted. This makes for enjoyable viewing - I didn't predict I'd be saying that to be honest.

Val Kilmer makes this worth watching. Good special effects. Entertaining. Decided to post because it is underrated here.

Red Planet has so much going on, and it doesn't have control of any of it. Not a single actor fits their character, except possibly Carrie-Ann Moss, who spends basically the entire runtime too benched to really count as a character in 99% of the story anyway.

Well its better than Mission to Mars anyway. More dull perhaps but less stupid.

It's really not as bad as some will make it out to be. Ya the thought is pretty un-original. But some of the effects are well done. Some of the CGI is dated but its not bad for its time.

Finally watched this (for Val Kilmer obviously) and was surprised to find that The Martian basically was just a better made version of this film. Nearly every beat was the same. And that's not a bad thing.

I do not understand the fury against this film, the effects are extraordinary, the acting of the actors is excellent, the soundtrack is fantastic, all this hatred against this film is unjust

Red Planet came out when there was a rush for Mars films(there was also De Palma's Mission to Mars released the same year). This is a decent film featuring some good actors and fine special effect but the plot is bare. A group of scientists head to the red planet and something goes awfully wrong and they are stranded. Then it is a matter of time and life and death. I won't spoil anything for you but this is one of those in flight movie type of films that you watch and forget. Not bad- just average.