Mars: the Red Planet

Watching Mars: The Red Planet, I was beginning to warm to the idea that maybe by the year 2029 we might start sending people to live in biosphere stations on Mars (people like Rush Limbaugh, perhaps). Think about it: with an average daily temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit, who's to say that sitting in a lounge chair, sipping pina coladas through your space helmet and watching a perennially red sky is such a bad deal? Ah, but the nights are a bit brisk (-220 degrees Fahrenheit), and there are those pesky dust storms which would send you and your pina into orbit. Writer/director Hartley Johnson, a veteran filmmaker for NASA/Kennedy Space Center has crafted an eye-popping educational introduction to Mars, which is hosted by young space explorer's Michelle and Michael. Combining footage shot in the "Mission to Mars" space exhibit, currently touring the U.S. (I saw it in Seattle, and it's cool) with footage taken from the Mariner and Viking missions, the program offers a good overview of facts about the geography of Mars, speculations about colonization, and an inspired defense of the space program (as well as a not-so-veiled plea for more bucks). Plus, there's some fine computer animation, and a fun rap song called "Goin' to Mars." An excellent and entertaining video for kids and their parents. Highly recommended. (R. Pitman)