Mars

I saw Mars two nights ago at Revelation Film Festival here in Perth. There is just so much wit and creativity in this movie. The script is sharp, the visuals are brilliant, and Kinky Friedman is the sort of President I'd vote for if I was American. Apart from Kinky the cast were unfamiliar to me, but their performances were all spot on. The marsnauts were especially good in the way they portrayed the shifts in and between their characters. The movie's animation style is somewhat like Waking Life - or some parts of Ralph Bakshi's Wizards - with live action being the base and other elements drawn in. The credits show very neatly how a scene with two marsnauts in their rover is built up. Two people sitting in chairs, with a little magic and a lot of hard work, become space travelers driving across the martian landscape. So why only 9 out of 10? Because so far as I can tell, there is no DVD release in the offing. Damn, because I'd really like to see Mars again. And again.

If I would rate this movie only on the visuals and soundtrack, I would give it a whole ten. But incorporating other important aspects of the movie, it is difficult to give such a high rating. The acting sucked! The story itself was very interesting, but the way it unraveled was so immature and predictable. The movie dragged on for almost 2 hours and again, the only reason I actually finished watching it was because of the cool, psychedelic visualizations and an amazing soundtrack. If I would have to, I would recommend this movie to someone who is looking for a laugh, because this movie is fun to ridicule. A similar type of movie but much better acting and story is "Waking Life", in case you need a comparison.

Mars won't appeal to everyone that decides to see it. Some will be offput by the lack of action, and those wanting something like Titan AE won't like it either. If you like strange Sci Fi, offbeat Indie flicks, or Richard Linklater Rotoscope movies you will like Mars.

Mars has some fun animation. Mars has some trippy visuals and a great performance from Mark Duplass. It's effortless charming and likeable if you like indie films. I was really impressed for what the director did with the budget.

First of all don't watch this if you are expecting a cartoon - this is "rotoscope" animation, with live actors being converted to animation by computer and entirely CGI settings, none of it very well done at all. Likewise don't expect a hard SciFi thriller or actioner. In fact, don't expect a formula plot of any kind.

But if you like quirky, off-beat, a little bit corny comedy this one is completely harmless and fun. No you won't laugh out loud, but you'll chuckle, and you may just smile from credits to credits. The acting is pedestrian but charming, the story is deep as a teaspoon, but the script is cute and the CGI is sort of like the drawings of a sixth grade class. Don't expect much and you'll enjoy this little 90 minute diversion.

Enjoy this sci-fi valentine. Netflix recommended this hybrid animation, so I was game. At first, I was put off by the whole thing, being more of a hard sci-fi fan. But I am also into theater and storytelling, and in that sphere, I ended up really enjoying this piece of art. It has heart and it is earnest and quirky. Once you buy into the style of acting and storytelling (but I suspect many cannot) you will be rewarded with a pleasant and unique sci-fi movie. As another review had noted, the live animation is not as smooth as Linklater's efforts, but it has its own charm. Watch the credits. Very enjoyable. Seriously though, why so much hair gel?