posted 01-02-2006 07:56 AM
Trailer for Roving Mars, the IMAX film that hits IMAX thaetres in late January.
It looks like it could be stunning - so I'll probably try get to Birmingham or Bradford see this one.
DavidH Member
Posts: 1217 From: Huntsville, AL, USA Registered: Jun 2003
posted 01-03-2006 09:11 AM
Anybody seen release dates for this? I was just looking, and couldn't find them (save for a few individual theaters that had made announcements). The IMAX site apparently doesn't even reflect the name change.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-03-2006 09:15 AM
The release is set for Jan. 27.
thump Member
Posts: 575 From: washington dc usa Registered: May 2004
posted 01-27-2006 09:29 AM
I was at the premiere last night at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. and must say, in my opinion, that's an enjoyable movie. The producer, many who worked on the landers, and astronaut Carl Walz were also in attendance.
Judging by crowd reaction, the people at my screening also enjoyed the film.
randy Member
Posts: 2176 From: West Jordan, Utah USA Registered: Dec 1999
posted 01-27-2006 12:32 PM
I saw it last night and I have one word for it — FANTASTIC! I was spellbound through the entire movie. It's only about 45 minutes long and it covers both Spirit and Opportunity. It is very well done. It is a mixture of computer graphics and film footage. I can't wait to get my own copy!
katabatic Member
Posts: 72 From: Oak Hill, VA, USA Registered: Jun 2005
posted 01-28-2006 09:55 AM
Saw it last night at the National Air and Space Museum with my son — very well done, and takes full advantage of the IMAX format.
The initial liftoff of the Delta (which I'm pretty sure is real footage and not computer-generated) is worth the price of admission by itself... BOOM! And the high-speed trip through the Mars valley is very cool.
I recently read Steve Squyres' book on the project, and the movie dovetails nicely.
Ben Member
Posts: 1896 From: Cape Canaveral, FL Registered: May 2000
posted 01-28-2006 10:42 AM
Yes, it's real footage of the launch. I can't wait to see it, likely in New York around Feb. 18-20.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-28-2006 01:10 PM
I just saw the movie and enjoyed it immensely. There may have been better documentaries about the missions (the Nova special comes to mind) but for what it is and taking into consideration the limitations of IMAX, this was worth every penny of the price of admission.
The intial lift-off sequence is a combination of real footage and computer animation. IMAX had its cameras at the launch but seamlessly blends their photography with CGI scenes to produce a very dramatic result.
They do the same the same with the scenes shown of Mars, which I think the general public could have benefited from at least once being distinguished (in other words, on their first sight of the rover's view of the surface, I would have had Squyres [who narrates that particular scene] say something alone the lines of "What you are looking at is the real Mars. This is not computer animation but a real photo sent back by Spirit."). But that's a nitpick and its omission does not detract from the film.
What I found most amusing was the way certain actions by the rover elicited a humorous response. For reasons I really can't explain, when Spirit deploys its airbags during descent, I laughed. It was just something about the animation that made the scene appear comedic in theme.
Highly recommend for the entire family (though children under 10 may lose interest at times).
Moonpaws Member
Posts: 685 From: Lee's summit, MO Registered: Jan 2005
posted 02-19-2006 11:39 AM
Roving Mars was absolutely spectacular. This is a must see production.
posted 02-19-2006 10:15 PM
I just saw "Roving Mars" at the Cradle of Aviation Museum on Long Island. It was incredible and I highly recommend it to all
Ben Member
Posts: 1896 From: Cape Canaveral, FL Registered: May 2000
posted 02-19-2006 10:51 PM
And I just saw it on my visit to NYC for the weekend.
I thought it was very good. I wish the launch scene (particularly the actual footage) did not go so fast so I could soak it in more. But overall it was very enjoyable and well done. Beautiful camera work inside the cleanroom.
Astro Bill Member
Posts: 1329 From: New York, NY Registered: Feb 2005
posted 03-12-2006 08:56 PM
Tonight I was treated to a viewing of "Roving Mars" as a birthday present from my son. He knows of my interest in the space program.
The movie is very impressive and interesting. This is particularly true of the launch sequence. I did not know that the launch sequence was so complicated with so many different rockets turning on and off. After cruising to Mars for seven months the lander plummeted through the atmosphere and bounced to a landing surrounded by large balloons. I had seen these animations on TV before, but seeing them on IMAX made a big difference.
The complexity of both Spirit and Opportunity was apparent as was the endurance capability of these golf-cart size craft, that have functioned years beyond their life expectancy. Even today they are both working on Mars surveying the terrain and sampling the rocks and minerals. At times, the angle of the special-effects camera made the spacecraft appear to be much larger than their actual size.
Actual images from the spacecraft were mixed with recreations of the movements of both Spirit and Opportunity produced by the Disney studios.
At the end of the 35-minute film I was left with two impressions:
That the film was too short. I have seen longer reports on Spirit and Opportunity on the Discovery/Science Channel, and
That humans will some day land on the Red Planet. The film gave me the impression that the mission, while extremely complicated, was a manageable situation for a human crew. I realize that a manned mission will be many times more complicated and many times more expensive. But now it appears to be a possibility. Mars did not appear to be an "alien planet."
I recommend the film, in spite of its brevity. You will have plenty of time left after the film to go to your favorite restaurant for dinner as we did.
Posts: 2331 From: Sturgeon Bay, WI Registered: Jan 2000
posted 03-13-2006 12:08 PM
quote:Originally posted by Astro Bill: ...that the film was too short.
Good IMAX movies on space stuff are always too short!
Dwayne Day Member
Posts: 532 From: Registered: Feb 2004
posted 10-16-2006 11:57 AM
There's a reason — IMAX uses a big film and when that is all wound up, it is really large. This creates a limit of how long they can run a single film strip.
I don't know how they solve this when they show popular movies in IMAX format. I sort of suspect that they are not true IMAX.
posted 01-02-2006 07:56 AM
advertisement