The Martian Chronicles (1980)
Review by Doc Ezra
Film:
DVD:

Written by Richard Matheson, based on the novel by Ray Bradbury
Directed by Michael Anderson
Starring Rock Hudson

Features:

• None
  

Released by: MGM
Region: 1
Rating: NR, suitable for audiences 13+
Anamorphic: N/A

My Advice: Rent it.

Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles is a classic of science fiction, and arguably some of the best writing Uncle Ray ever did. And while Will Smith is fucking up Isaac Asimov stories on the big screen and the abomination that was Starship Troopers has a direct-to-video sequel recently unleashed upon the world, it's nice to see that somebody, once upon a time, was willing to adapt the classics of science fiction without turning them into brainless effects platforms. This miniseries brings Bradbury's text to the small screen in an adaptation that stays true to the intellectual roots of the text--more concerned with the human condition described--than how many frames of CGI can be squeezed into the running time.

The story is divided into three chunks, each of which runs a bit over ninety minutes. We open with the tragic tale of the original Martian expeditions launched by NASA, all three of which end in the death of nearly all involved, save Col. John Wilder (Hudson), mastermind of the Mars program and leader of the third expedition. Wilder then heads up a settlement effort, bringing hundreds of humans to Mars to start the first twelve settlements. The Martian natives are seemingly extinct, but strange encounters with the mysterious Martians continue out on the fringes of the settled areas. While these appearances are starting to increase and merit further investigation, the attention of the humans is suddenly diverted by word from Earth.

As those stubborn settlers who refused to answer the evacuation call watch in horror, World War III reduces Earth to a red-hot radioactive wasteland. Mars is the new home of humanity, and to complicate matters, the Martians are preparing to get a little more strident about what parts of their planet they are willing to cede to these strange, hairy Earthlings. Col. Wilder must work desperately to prevent the extinction of not only his species, but that of the native Martians as well.

As noted, the miniseries does a fantastic job of sticking to Bradbury's text, due in no small part to Matheson's excellent screenplay. In order to maintain some continuity for viewers, the timeline of Bradbury's book gets condensed, which allows for the character of Wilder to remain central throughout the series. Matheson also didn't feel compelled to update the science of Bradbury's original, despite three decades of increased understanding of space. This has the effect of making the science somewhat laughable (people wandering the surface of Mars in leisure suits rather than space suits, for example), but this story is so little about the science, it doesn't matter much.

For fans of classic science fiction, this is definitely worth checking out. The total lack of special features is irritating, especially given the Uncle Ray isn't likely to be with us much longer *cough*commentary track*cough*, so I'd recommend rental prior to purchase. With any investment in bonus material (not like there's a shortage of info on the damn story out there...it's friggin' Bradbury), this could have been a must-own title. Definitely a missed opportunity in that regard, but excellent viewing material nonetheless.