‘Red Planet’ 4K UHD Review (Arrow Video)
Stars: Val Kilmer, Carrie-Anne Moss, Tom Sizemore, Benjamin Bratt, Simon Baker, Terence Stamp, Jessica Morton, Caroline Bossi, Bob Neill, Neil Ross | Written by Chuck Pfarrer, Jonathan Lemkin | Directed by Antony Hoffman
1950s sci-fi films often revolved around saving Earth from some imminent peril. Growing up on these movies, I loved every second of them. The thrill of space exploration, whether realistic or entirely fantastical, was utterly captivating. Even if humanity might never travel to the stars, the movies allowed us to do so, letting imagination take the lead, no matter how unbelievable the scenarios. Fast forward to 2000, and Red Planet brought that sense of adventure into the new millennium. Headlined by Val Kilmer and Carrie-Anne Moss, the film delivers a classic space mission story with a modern touch.
Now, 25 years after its original release, Arrow Video has fully restored Red Planet for 4K Ultra HD, giving fans both nostalgia and a chance to experience the sci-fi spectacle in stunning clarity.
In the not-so-distant future, the ecological crisis on Earth has taken a turn for the worse, and humanity’s only hope may lie in seeking refuge on neighbouring Mars. After years of unmanned missions to terraform the planet, a crew of astronauts aboard Mars-1 are finally sent to establish Earth’s first Martian colony. But a giant solar flare sends their landing module crash-landing on the planet, leaving our pioneers stranded in a harsh crimson wasteland. As the crew battle the elements and rising inner tensions, they soon discover that Mars’ newly formed atmosphere has had unexpected and terrifying consequences.
When Red Planet hit theatres, it felt groundbreaking, especially in terms of special effects. Looking back 25 years later, it’s clear how far sci-fi visuals have come, but the film still has its moments. The story is a familiar one: a classic space adventure, but the cast gives it heart and credibility. Val Kilmer and Carrie-Anne Moss shine, and supporting performances from Tom Sizemore (Natural Born Killers), Benjamin Bratt (Demolition Man), Simon Baker (L.A. Confidential), and Terence Stamp (Superman) are all surprisingly grounded, helping the film avoid sinking under its sci-fi clichés. Despite its $80 million budget, Red Planet only grossed $33.5 million. That makes it seem like a failure, but it’s not nearly as bad as the numbers suggest. Part of the issue may have been timing: just eight months earlier, Mission to Mars had already fatigued audiences with another trip to the Red Planet. Still, for fans of 2000s sci-fi, there’s plenty to enjoy here.
Red Planet has been transferred to 4K Ultra HD in 2160p and presented in 2.39:1 aspect ratio. The audio track is the original lossless English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio. Finally, there is the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing. Arrow Video have taken the original 35mm camera negative that was scanned at Warner Bros./Motion Picture Imaging and restored it in UltraHD. And, as usual, Arrow Video has done another amazing job of restoration here – the audio track is clean and dynamic, and the colours are spectacular. But in all honesty, the crispness of the picture quality doesn’t do the special effects many favours.
Now, as with most Arrow Video releases, this 4K is a deluxe one. And it features some nice bonuses that will keep fans of this film entertained. Take a look at what is included:
Special Features:
- The Martian Chronicles, a brand new interview with visual effects supervisor Jeffrey A. Okun
- Suit Up, a brand new interview with helmet and suits designer Steve Johnson
- Angry Red Planet, a brand new visual retrospective with film critic Heath Holland
- Deleted scenes
- Theatrical trailer
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matt Griffin
- Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Mark A. Altman
Arrow Video added brand-new interviews along with beautiful new artwork by Matt Griffin. But to be perfectly honest, I would have liked to see a bit more in terms of bonus features from this release. After all, a 25-year anniversary is pretty epic! Ultimately, if you enjoy sci-fi films as much as I do, Red Planet – while not a great film – is still an enjoyable experience.
**** 4/5
Red Planet will be released on 4K UHD from Arrow Video on November 18th.
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