meet Mars Expressa special ode to French and Japanese animation that is already being compared to Ghost in the Shell. In fact, the sci-fi film has a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes and can be seen in Dutch cinemas.
When you think of animated science fiction films for adults, you probably think of anime. Ghost in the Shellcountless Gundamseries and of course the downright iconic Akira; the Japanese film industry has had a huge impact on Hollywood for decades. Yet Japan is not the only country with a rich tradition of entertainment for adults. France also fits perfectly into that box. In fact, in the past, Japanese and French studios have regularly joined forces for productions.
Mars Express: French sci-fi film
That heritage gets a modern twist with Mars Express, a brand new science fiction film. The project premiered last year at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, resulting in very, very enthusiastic responses. Critics present called the animation gem, among other things, ‘the new one Ghost in the Shell‘ and praised its unique visual style. This summer will get Mars Express finally a wider cinema release, which is celebrated with a spectacular new trailer and a monster score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Before we dive into the reviews, let’s take a look at the synopsis of this special project. The animated film is set in the future, where Aline Ruby and her android partner are hired by a wealthy businessman to track down a notorious hacker. On Mars, they descend deep into the underbelly of the planet’s capital, where they encounter brain farms, corruption and a missing girl. A girl who holds the key to the secret of the robots that threaten to change the universe forever.
100% on Rotten Tomaties after reviews
That is the approach of what is described as a “funny and exceptionally stylish film noir full of cinematic action.” The voice cast of the French film includes Léa Drucker, Mathieu Amalric, Daniel Njo Lobé and Marie Bouvet. Anyway, you probably don’t care about the names involved anymore; the trailers convince within the first few seconds with a style that is completely unique. No anime, no Disney, but a serious and modern style that fits perfectly into the film history of France, combining 2D and 3D in a convincing way. Something you can’t always say about the way Japanese studios use 3D elements.
Anyway, if the images haven’t convinced you yet, the first reviews will do the job. After sixteen it has very favorable reviews Mars Express namely a perfect score of 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average review score of 7.8. Variety calls it a “A gripping, rollicking and refreshing 2D animation about the dangers of human and machine coexistence…”
Ghost in The Shell and Dutch cinemas
According to the reviewer from Forbes, you will even forget that you are watching an animated film: “A visually exciting, smart and captivating detective story that impresses with its animation quality and ultimately even makes you forget that you are watching animation.” Film critic Max Covill also makes the comparison Ghost in the Shell: “Fans of Ghost in the Shell can indulge themselves. It is a slick, entertaining and thought-provoking science fiction story.” Kiek, if the film can really reach that bar, then sci-fi fans have a gem to look forward to. This brings us to the big question Mars Express; When can we go see it? While in America they have to wait until later this year, we have good news for you.
In the Netherlands, the film is already showing in a handful of cinemas. So your options are limited, but the fact that we can check out this gem on a big screen is great news. Would you rather wait for a streaming release? In the meantime, we recommend that you check out this promising new sci-fi series, starring a Star Wars star.
