This is a beautiful movie on many levels. It's fascinating and believable science fiction and gorgeously produced. Cinematography and special effects are first rate with a most intriguing story line that reminds me of that other excellent science fiction movie, "2001", which I think this equals. This is not the typical Spielberg/Lucas comic book sci-fi flick as seen with Star Wars or Star Trek. There's an artistry and depth here that pulls you in emotionally on many levels. The acting is excellent as is the outstanding musical score - Ennio Morricone was at his best here. The story and music go so well together and have a level of emotional impact that's rare these days. I don't at all understand the cynical view of this movie taken by others. I was shocked that the cable TV rating system gives it only one and a half stars. In France, it was rated the 4th best movie of the year. There must be some psychological damage with American audiences. My personal suspicion is that this movie explains life's origins outside the context of religion, and in the American Puritan culture, this isn't liked, accepted, or tolerated. The way the film portrays human origin, evolution, and development doesn't jibe with their biblical and religious traditional beliefs based on God and creationist stories. What a pity. I highly recommend this movie as one of the all time best in science fiction.

The only reason I gave 2 stars instead of 1 was the cast. I'm the first one to say that willful suspension of disbelief is needed in many cases to enjoy a movie, but this movie is so rife will scientific inaccuracy and ridiculousness that simple suspension of disbelief doesn't work.

This movie is so bad it would take me the rest of my life to enumerate its failures. Just off the top of my head: Special effects that would get laughed out of the theatre even before Star Wars in 1976, Set design that includes Don Cheadle's Mars greenhouse wrapped in orange Glad bags that I use to throw away my leaves and grass clippings in the fall. Dialogue written by the proverbial thousand monkeys on a 3-day coke and Jack bender. Acting so far beneath the talents of the cast I bet each of them rates this as their worst movie. Actors who smile at each other like they are playing footsie just off- screen. How did Cheadle get so nicely cleaned up? Did the rescue crew bring a Gillette Mach 3 with them? Why is the token female still wearing her space suit after Sinise is down to his T-shirt? Did she forget to pack a change of clothes? And why is the other dude still wearing his helmet? This is easily one of the worst sci-fi movies I have ever seen. Not Planet 9 bad, but Ed Wood didn't have $100 million when he made that turkey. Movie financiers would have been better off taking their money and shooting it into space. For $100 million I could have shot a better movie on my iPhone and had $99 million left over for hookers and blow.