Mars: The Red Planet

With "Spirit" and "Opportunity" roaming the surface of Mars as this review is being written, sending back glorious pictures that have rocketed around the Internet (although the one shot of the Martians holding up the “Yankee Go Home” banner is a little suspect), interest in the fourth rock from the sun is literally sky high. Taking supreme advantage of the DVD format, Mars: The Red Planet offers viewers the choice of an “Entertainment Mode” that presents the full 90-minute program on the science, history, and exploration of Mars, or an “Interactive Mode” that adds an incredible selection of activities, including the search for over 200 Easter eggs, slideshows, interactive maps which virtually land you on the surface and let you explore the planet on your own, DVD-ROM accessible links to the latest lander and rover images, and much more. Although the main program dates from 1999, the updated extras make this an informative, exhaustive, entertaining and current look at Mars. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: I, J, H, C, P. (J. Carlson)