Mission To Mars (2000)

The first manned mission to Mars lands safely on the red planet. But the Martian landscape harbors a shocking secret and a mysterious vortex destroys the expedition, leaving only one survivor (Don Cheadle). When a distress message is received, a rescue mission is sent but an amazing discovery awaits them. Directed by Brian De Palma, the film was panned by U.S. film critics (Pauline Kael was one of the few mainstream critics who had some good things to say about it) but in Europe, it was very well received and Cahiers Du Cinema named it one of the year's 10 best films. 20 years later, I'm with the European critics. This is not to say the film is not flawed, it has a lot (there's too much sentiment, the dialog is pedestrian) but there are some incredibly beautiful moments in the film and it puts forth a theory that while it may upset creationists, I found imaginative and brave. The production design, art direction and CGI are first rate. This is definitely thinking man's sci-fi. The shimmering score by Ennio Morricone is one of his best. With Gary Sinise, Tim Robbins, Jerry O'Connell, Armin Mueller Stahl and Connie Nielsen.