Mars Express (2023)
7.8
A taut and gripping thriller that imagines a world where AI has gone rogue
Movie
France
French, German
Action, Animation, Mystery, Science Fiction
2023
JÉRÉMIE PÉRIN
Daniel Njo Lobé, Emmanuel Bonami, Geneviève Doang
89 min
TLDR
As I type this, someone in Hollywood is probably crafting a live-action remake of this gem.
What it's about
When private detective Aline Ruby (Léa Drucker) and her robot partner Carlos (Daniel Njo Lobé) are hired to investigate the disappearance of a college student, they uncover a secret that puts their lives, and plenty of others on Mars, at risk.
The take
The premise of Mars Express may not be novel, especially when films like Blade Runner have already gracefully explored the philosophical ramifications of the human-tech conflict. But the French animated movie’s richly built world, (digitally) hand-drawn characters, genuinely gripping action, and far-reaching ideas about space make it a refreshing watch. The plot is taut and tight, too, peppered with twists and grounded by character depth. It may look simple at first glance, predictable even, but by the end, you’ll be over the moon by the film’s imagination and ambition.
What stands out
The world-building, hands down.
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