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"ROVING MARS" (2006) (Documentary) (G) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons None None None Minor None Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Minor None Minor None None Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence None None None Moderate None QUICK TAKE: Documentary: A look at the work of NASA and Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientists and technicians as they attempt to land and operate two exploratory robots on the surface of Mars. PLOT: Documentary filmmaker George Butler follows the scientists and technicians of NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory as they set out to design, manufacture and deploy two robotic rovers for Mars where they hope to use them to find signs that surface water once existed on the planet. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're into space-related subjects, that's a definite yes. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: G For not containing material that would warrant a higher rating. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: The scientists and technicians presented in the film are the real people who serve as good role models regarding what can be done with planning, perseverance and education. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this G-rated documentary. Beyond a few slightly suspenseful moments and related dramatic music (mainly the tenuous landing on Mars -- only applicable to younger kids) and thematic elements (a brief comment about the search for the origins of life) the film is free of material in the rest of its categories. Even so, if you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, a computer-generated fly-by across the Martian landscape (through canyons, etc.) may induce that reaction while some footage inside mission control appears handheld (and thus a little bouncy). ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE None. BLOOD/GORE None. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE None. FRIGHTENING SCENES When seen in IMAX theaters, the launch and its preponderance of chest-rattling bass might be a little intense for kids (only due to the audio). The Mars landing may be a little suspenseful to younger kids (as presented by the film in terms of the NASA personnel looking uncertain, etc.). A person comments that if the rovers' solar panels get covered with too much dust, the batteries won't recharge, and if that's the case, the cold will do in the rover, adding that it won't wake up one morning (some younger kids might be unsettled by that comment). GUNS/WEAPONS None. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR The film could inspire some kids to want to be scientists or space engineers/technicians when they grow up (and that's a good thing). JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A bit of dramatic music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY None. SEX/NUDITY None. SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES None. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT The question of how life began and whether life did or does exist anywhere else in the universe. The ability to send the rovers on such a long journey (300 million miles over 7 months) with near pinpoint accuracy. The math and physics involved in such a mission. Whether humans will ever visit Mars. Whether surface water ever existed on Mars. How the scientists control the rovers from such a long distance. The fact that there's no sound in outer space (unlike as presented here during the space flight). VIOLENCE None. Reviewed January 24, 2006 / Posted January 27, 2006

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