Mars Mars Mars. Did I Stutter?

Back on a warm day during the Summer of 1997, two movies were released that featured the same subject: Volcanos. Although the two movies, DANTES PEAK and VOLCANO, dealt with the same subject, the stories were nonetheless VERY different. Then last Summer another two movies were released that featured the same subject. These two movies, ARMAGEDDON and DEEP IMPACT, dealt with the possibility of the Earth being obliterated by a rouge comet/asteroid. Here too the movies took the same subject and handled the story differently. This year is not too different in the movies THE HAUNTING and, 'er THE HAUNTING?

The Summer of 2000 is no different than the last few years, although this time the stories seem to be extremely similar.

The movies MARS, starring Val Kilmer and Carrie Ann Moss, and MISSION TO MARS, read the review of the script, feature almost the same plot; the first manned mission to Mars is marred when one crew member is left stranded on the planet. The race is on to return to the planet to rescue this person. As far as I can tell, there is little or no difference in the first half of these two movies. The only difference between these movies is that the endings will different.

Now news has emerged that James Cameron has shown interest in making a movie about Mars himself. Here too the story would seem to be that of the first manned mission to Mars being marred when one crew member is left stranded on the planet.

Is Hollywood in such a slump that three movies has to have almost the same story? It's bad enough when two movies feature the same subject matter, it's something entirely different when two movies FEATURE BASICALLY THE SAME STORY? I can't really see a movie-goer paying $8.00 each time to see a movie three times in one Summer. 7/26/1999

 Read the review of the script MISSION TO MARS