Continuity mistake: 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. (01:13:00)
Continuity mistake: When the three astronauts move from the "white room" into the viewing room, they all take their helmets off and carry them into the viewing room. They watch the whole 3D show while holding their helmets, but when the show ends, they are no longer holding them, and when the countdown starts, all three helmets can all be seen on the floor back in the white room. (01:26:40)
Continuity mistake: 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.
Continuity mistake: In the scene where they have first entered "the Face" they realize they can take off their helmets. Before they do so, you can see there are tubes going from the backpacks to the helmets, but when the view changes to an overhead shot, the tubes are nowhere to be found.
Continuity mistake: 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.
Answer: There was no actual blood or graphic display.
No graphic display? A man is shown on camera being violently torn to several pieces by high G-forces, and there was indeed blood visible. There's also a scene later in the movie where shrapnel completely pierces the palm of a man's hand, complete with a zero-gravity blood spurt.
Phaneron ★
I remember watching it for the first time thinking it was a pretty graphic death scene for a PG rated film, but I think it's a stretch to say it was verging on R rated. There isn't that much blood, the guy is in a space suit, and it happens very fast. Studios can lobby the MPAA for what rating they feel the film deserves, and it is likely Disney argued for a lower rating than PG-13, and the MPAA agreed.
BaconIsMyBFF
Well, by "verging on R-rated," I meant that even in a PG-13 film, that scene would have been pushing the envelope. I would imagine there were a lot of parents at the time who took their young children to see the new Disney film about going to Mars and were not pleased with that scene.
Phaneron ★
A PG rating does not mean family friendly. A "Parental Guidance" rating warns there may be strong language, sexual content, violence, or graphic images. No one should expect a G-rated Disney film. I watched the "twister" clip on YouTube and wouldn't say it's gruesome. It's not a close-up shot of the rapidly spinning body being pulled apart; it's rather blurred, and there wasn't much blood. I realise it's a matter of opinion regarding what is considered too violent.
raywest ★
Yes, but you're also an adult, and you watched the clip having an idea of what you were about to see. If you read the comments on that clip, you'll see a lot of people saying that scene traumatized them as children. Violence like that from earlier PG films is why the PG-13 rating was later invented, and it just struck me as odd that that was able to get a PG rating in the year 2000.
Phaneron ★
My point is that parents were (or should have been) aware of the PG rating before taking their children to see it and that it might be unsuitable for younger audiences. It falls upon them to make sure they do not take their children to a film that could contain disturbing scenes. By 2000, movie violence had become far more graphic and mainstream.
raywest ★