A look at sci-fi Hollywood films based on the planet Mars

Indias recent mission to planet Mars has been touted to be less than the budget of the 2013 Hollywood space film Gravity At around 74 million it was way short of the budget of the George ClooneySandra Bullock flick which was pegged at 100 milionMars being the closest planet to Earth has always fascinated us Though Indias space agency has released pictures of Mars taken by its satellite Martians are depicted as little green men or giant aliens in Hollywood flicks Heres a look at some of the scifi films based on the red planetSanta Claus Conquers the Martians 1964This flick occupies pride of place on the list of the worst films ever made on the red planet Directed by Nicholas Webster it stars John Call as Santa Claus The story revolves around how the Martians upset that their children have become obsessed with Santa Claus hatch a plan to kidnap him The Martians bundle Santa to Mars but Santa ends up spreading cheer among Martian kidsMars Attacks 1996Based on the cult trading card series of the same name the comedy sees the Earth invaded by Martians with invincible weapons and a cruel sense of humour The cast included Jack Nicholson Glenn Close Pierce Brosnan Natalie Portman and Sarah Jessica Parker An army of Martians surround Earth in flying saucers with an intention to colonise Earth The filmis about how the American President deals with the threatsTotal Recall 1990Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sharon Stone headlined the cast in this film about a man who goes on a virtual vacation to Mars However a harrowing series of events forces him to go to the planet for realSpecies II 1998After returning from the first successful manned mission to Mars the astronauts are forbidden from sexual activity for a certain time However one of them disregards the diktat and turns into an alien Directed by Peter Medak it starred Natasha Henstridge Michael Madsen and Marg Helgenberger mdash who were also part of the first installment Species 1995 which was about scientists tracking down a killer alien seductressRocketMan 1997This comedy was directed by Stuart Gillard starring Harland Williams Jessica Lundy and William Sadler While preparations are on for a manned mission to Mars an eccentric programmer finds himself hit by the model of the spacecraft that injures him The Mars mission is in jeopardy as NASA has to decide whether to delay the programme or find a new person for the jobMy Favorite Martian 1999Starring Christopher Lloyd and Jeff Daniels the film is a comedy about a Martian who is bundled off to Earth and is intrigued by friendship bondsRed Planet 2000An Antony Hoffman flick Red Planet is about astronauts searching for solutions on Mars to save a dying Earth only to have the mission go terribly wrong The cast included Val Kilmer CarrieAnne Moss andTom SizemoreMission to Mars 2000In 2020 a manned Mars exploration mission backfires American astronaut Jim McConnell then plans and coordinates a rescue mission for his colleagues Brian de Palmas movie was high on special effects and starred Gary Sinise Tim Robbins and Don CheadleGhosts of Mars 2001The movie is about human colonists on Mars who have to be rescued after they get possessed by Martian ghosts The action horror film directed by veteran horror director John Carpenter The Thing starred Natasha Henstridge and Jason Statham but it proved to be a dud due to its ridiculous plot that gave way to laughterLost on Mars 2002It portrays what it might have been like if Mars had a civilisation and an atmosphere billions of years ago Written and directed by Eric Shook the cast included David Long and Megan GlosserDoom 2005Inspired by the video game series of the same name Doom tracks the journey of space marines who are sent to investigate strange happenings on Mars Directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak it starred Karl Urban and Dwayne The Rock The marines have to contend with humanoids with an artificial extra chromosome pair that makes them superhumanMars Needs Moms 2011Simon Wells film centred around Milo a nineyearold boy who finally comes to understand the importance of family and has to rescue his mother after she is abducted by MartiansJohn Carter 2012The film is based on the book A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs A war veteran gets transported to Mars which is inhabited by 12foot tall barbarians He is imprisoned but manages to escape only to encounter a princess who is in desperate need of a saviour The cast was headlined by Taylor Kitsch in the title role