9. Red Planet
A classic case of a film that was out of its depth. Oh sure, the early signs
were promising: star-studded cast; big budget; hungry first-time director, though that was where the promise ended. Surely, alarm bells at Warner Bros. should have been ringing after NASA refused to be involved on the grounds of gross inaccuracy. NASA;
the definitive space programme refused any involvement or association. Aside from this early snub, the writers of
Red Planet also neglected to cross-check the factual elements of its script, meaning that it not only included astronomical inaccuracies, but anatomical mistakes as well. This laziness was mirrored in the dialogue and plot, with the film choosing to focus on brawn and failed wit. As such, the film's star, Val Kilmer, was rarely given the leeway necessary to properly perform. In fact, viewers were so dismayed by the mindlessness of
Red Planet that Antony Hoffman, the aforementioned directorial debutant, never directed a film again; this is probably for the best.