Mission to Mars (2000) - 10 mistakes

Factual error: Their complete and utter disregard for the most basic scientific facts in this movie is amazing. It's already been said that Gary Sinise couldn't possibly have recognised the DNA sequence as human (that segment may have been enough to produce a single protein common to any lifeform). The thing that gets me is that he recognises that the DNA is missing a couple of "chromosomes" to complete it. DNA is made of units called nucleotides (remember A,T,C,& G?); chromosomes are formed by huge strings of DNA wound together (not the other way around). You don't need a degree in Biology to know this, you just need to have stayed awake in high school.

Continuity: The atmosphere pressure of Mars is 0.07 Bar, Earth is 1 Bar, about 14 times greater. Yet the plastic covering of the greenhouse is shown flapping with the outside breeze. With the inside of the greenhouse having an Earth-like environment its plastic covering would have been inflated like a balloon against the weaker Mars atmosphere.

Continuity: The computer terminal used by Don Cheadle's character has a grey cable connected but the connector appears damaged - twisted out of alignment. A few seconds later the same cable appears connected normally then, a few seconds after that, it is damaged again.

Continuity: At the moment where you can see Gary Sinise is standing in the white surroundings filling up with water (he's going to be drowned), you can see the camera team reflected in the little mirror.

Factual error: The young guy builds the "woman of his dreams" with M&M's in that space ship. The double-helix rotates around its own axis, though it wouldn't do so - even in zero gravity.

Continuity: The spinning habitation module is far too small and is spinning too slowly to produce any sort of force to simulate gravity. e.g. If you assume that the module has a radius of 5m, and is spinning at 0.2 revs/sec, then an astronaut would be subject to an acceleration of 0.2 m/s squared, or 0.02g.

Factual error: There are scenes showing the astronauts battling against a fierce martian wind. In fact the atmosphere is so pathetically thin on Mars that even a 200mph wind would feel like nothing more than a gentle breeze.

Continuity: In the opening sequence, the lone astronaut is descending in the landing module toward the surface of Mars. He is wearing a full spacesuit, including helmet. Upon landing, when he peers out the craft's window, he is not wearing any headgear. He then opens the door of the lander and steps out onto the surface, and his helmet is back in place.

Factual error: The gravity on Mars is about 1/4 of the gravity on Earth. So, the astronauts weight 1/4 as much, but their mass is the same. Yet, they move about and carry things as if they are on Earth. Objects should have been much lighter, and they should have been slower and more deliberate in their movements, for a lower-gravity environment.

Continuity: How could Gary Sinise see the reflection of Don Cheadle's hand in the water, when they first met in Mars? Don Cheadle was two or more steps behind his back, so it could never happen that way, unless Don was in the roof, jumping over Gary Sinise.