Life on Mars of the silver screen

In the early hours of August 6, Curiosity the robot is expected to land on Mars. Sent by Nasa, the Mars rover is fitted with high-tech cameras to capture clearer-than-ever-before images of the planet, images that will be broadcast around the world. Sci-fi fans, however, may be disappointed at all the pictures of craters and red rocks - after all, moviemakers have been visiting the planet for decades, delivering their own vision as to what the red planet really looks like.

Here are just a few of the fictitious Martian movies you can watch in preparation for Curiosity's real-life landing.

Total Recall

The sci-fi writer Philip K Dick's story We Can Remember it for You Wholesale was turned into a visually spectacular action movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1990. He's Doug McQuaid, a worker on Earth who has disturbing dreams about Mars and visits a virtual reality vacation company (Rekall) to simulate a trip to the red planet. Instead, his brain gets zapped and he comes out thinking he's a secret agent. Dick's favourite themes of perception, identity, real and imagined memories are all explored while Arnie kicks butt on his way to save the grumpy people of dusty Mars. (Note: in the 2013 remake starring Colin Farrell, McQuaid doesn't go to Mars at all).

Red Planet

Nasa refused to act as scientific advisers on this 2000 movie due to some huge scientific inaccuracies in the script. In the near future, a team is sent to Mars to terraform the planet. Tom Sizemore, Terence Stamp, Val Kilmer and Carrie-Anne Moss are among the crew who find themselves in trouble when their ship crashes and it's not long before they're dropping like flies on the planet's inhospitable surface and being hunted by the computer that's supposed to help them. The script is dull, but this is worth catching for the stark Martian landscape and for spotting the scenes of Kilmer and Sizemore together (they reportedly fell out and refused to be on set at the same time, meaning scenes were often performed to body doubles). Note: Brian De Palma's Mission to Mars, with Gary Sinise and Tim Robbins, was released in the same year and isn't much of an improvement.

John Carter

Edgar Rice Burroughs first introduced readers to John Carter 100 years ago (in the novel A Princess of Mars), but many ideas from his books had been appropriated by filmmakers before this 2012 movie adaptation. Taylor Kitsch plays the American Civil War vet Carter, who discovers a pendant in a cave that transports him from 1868 Arizona to the planet Barsoom (Mars). There he gets caught up in the war between Zodangans and Heliumites, befriends the odd-looking Tharks and falls for a princess. While not sure whether it's aimed at children, teenagers or adults, this nonetheless looks fantastic and is one of the few movies that makes Mars almost look like an interesting place to live (they have cool flying machines!).

Ghosts of Mars

The horror director John Carpenter visits Mars of the future (2176 to be exact), a place filled with unpleasant characters, including Ice Cube's bad guy Desolation Williams. It's up to Lt Ballard (Natasha Henstridge) to take him into custody but it's a tricky mission since most of the locals have become possessed by aliens since they opened a tunnel door that let out those ghosts of Mars. Uh-oh. It's like Carpenter's own Assault on Precinct 13 in space, as Ballard and Desolation grudgingly team up to try to survive the goth-like zombies with the help of Jason Statham in his first Hollywood role.

Capricorn One

A classic sci-fi thriller from 1978, written and directed by Peter Hyams, Capricorn One was inspired by allegations that the Apollo moon landing was a hoax. Just before the first manned mission to Mars, it is discovered a fault would kill the astronauts in-flight, so the craft is launched empty and the crew is flown to an abandoned army base where they are ordered to help fake the footage of the flight to Mars or put their families at risk. Few are in on the secret and when a journalist investigates, he finds his life in danger. Tense conspiracy fare, with brilliant performances from James Brolin, Elliot Gould and Hal Holbrook.

Mars Attacks!

Based on 1960s trading cards, this Tim Burton movie is camp, kitsch and utterly bonkers. A star-studded cast - including Pierce Brosnan, Martin Short, Natalie Portman, Annette Bening, Michael J Fox, and Jack Nicholson and Glenn Close as the US president and first lady - watch as dome-headed Martians surround Earth in flying saucers and launch a full scale invasion, zapping everyone in their path. Partially set in flashy Las Vegas, and complete with a cameo from Tom Jones, this homage to 1950s sci-fi B movies is packed with surreal humour and well worth seeking out.

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

Regarded as one of the worst movies ever made, this 1964 sci-fi flick has to be seen to be believed. The story, in a nutshell, is this: a group of Martians kidnap Santa (and a couple of Earth children for good measure) and take them back to Mars to bring happiness to Martian kiddies. With sets seemingly made of paper (much of the movie was filmed in a hangar on a budget of $200,000) and actors who couldn't act, this certainly earns its reputation as a bad movie, and a silly one at that.

Quatermass and the Pit (aka Five Million Years to Earth)

Quatermass and the Pit began as a 1950s BBC TV serial created by Nigel Kneale and was then translated into a trilogy of sci-fi/horror movies from Hammer productions featuring the character Professor Bernard Quatermass. In this 1967 movie, the professor deduces that an object discovered underground in London is an ancient Martian spacecraft. Humans are apparently linked to the dead alien race subconsciously, which explains why people are soon running around screaming at each other because they're possessed by ETs. "Men will be turned killers by a mysterious power! Women will be defiled! It could happen in your lifetime!" exclaimed the trailer - you have been warned.

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin

Director: Shawn Levy

Rating: 3/5

Jawan

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Sole survivors

Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.

Plastic tipping points

Plastic associations point to recycling and consumer behaviour for pollution

Woman with genetic disorder says single use plastics are 'vital' to her life

Company%20profile

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Killing of Qassem Suleimani

National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate

Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble

Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks

Damien McElroy: A CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence

Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground

Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile

Captain Marvel

Director: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck

Starring: Brie Larson, Samuel L Jackson, Jude Law, Ben Mendelsohn

4/5 stars

The lowdown

Bohemian Rhapsody

Director: Bryan Singer

Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee

Rating: 3/5

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

A MINECRAFT MOVIE

Director: Jared Hess

Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa

Rating: 3/5

While you're here

Hussein Ibish: Could it be game over for Donald Trump?

Joyce Karam: Trump's campaign thrown off balance

Trump tests positive: everything we know so far

On Women's Day

Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action

Shelina Janmohamed: Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?

Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality

The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Almnssa

Started: August 2020

Founder: Areej Selmi

Based: Gaza

Sectors: Internet, e-commerce

Investments: Grants/private funding

Key facilities

Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

While you're here

Kareem Shaheen: Even a pandemic could not unite today's America

Michele Wucker: The difference between a black swan and a grey rhino

Robert Matthews: Has flawed science and rushed research failed us?

At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

While you're here

Bryant Harris: What Joe Biden did during his first week as US President

Kareem Shaheen: Omar Alghabra outshines the racists who malign him

Kareem Shaheen: Canada is failing those who bear its greatest Covid-19 burdens

ARGYLLE

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Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.

My Cat Yugoslavia by Pajtim Statovci
Pushkin Press

At a glance

Fixtures All matches start at 9.30am, at ICC Academy, Dubai. Admission is free

Thursday UAE v Ireland; Saturday UAE v Ireland; Jan 21 UAE v Scotland; Jan 23 UAE v Scotland

UAE squad Rohan Mustafa (c), Ashfaq Ahmed, Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Naveed, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan

While you're here

Johann Chacko: Why Maldives has become a theatre for US-China rivalry

C Uday Bhaskar: What is India's Indo-Pacific strategy?

C Uday Bhaskar: The 'Asian Century' depends on China and India working together

Kareem Shaheen on Canada

Canada should look past the US election outcome

There would be no Alphonso Davies without open borders

Hard-hit Canada is springing back to life – or to the already cliched 'new normal'

COMPANY%20PROFILE

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Sustainable Development Goals

1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere

2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation

10. Reduce inequality within and among countries

11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects

14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development

The specs

Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder

Power: 220 and 280 horsepower

Torque: 350 and 360Nm

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Price: from Dh136,521 VAT and Dh166,464 VAT

On sale: now

JERSEY INFO

Red Jersey
General Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the leader of the General Classification by time.
Green Jersey
Points Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the fastest sprinter, who has obtained the best positions in each stage and intermediate sprints.
White Jersey
Young Rider Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the best young rider born after January 1, 1995 in the overall classification by time (U25).
Black Jersey
Intermediate Sprint Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the rider who has gained the most Intermediate Sprint Points.

Champions parade (UAE timings)

7pm Gates open

8pm Deansgate stage showing starts

9pm Parade starts at Manchester Cathedral

9.45pm Parade ends at Peter Street

10pm City players on stage

11pm event ends

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While you're here

Mustafa Alrawi: To get the 'jab' done, there must be patience and empathy

Damien McElroy: Anti-science attitudes in America are proving lethal

Editorial: What makes the UAE such a good place to test vaccines?

Editorial: The fight against Covid-19 should be guided by science

Specs

Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)

Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)

Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)

Opening day UAE Premiership fixtures, Friday, September 22:

Dubai Sports City Eagles v Dubai Exiles
Dubai Hurricanes v Abu Dhabi Saracens
Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins

On Women's Day

Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action

Shelina Janmohamed: Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?

Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality

Justin Thomas: Challenge the notion that 'men are from Mars, women are from Venus'

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Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)

The%20specs

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THE SPECS

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine

Power: 420kW

Torque: 780Nm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Price: From Dh1,350,000

On sale: Available for preorder now

What is graphene?

Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.

It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.

Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.

By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.

At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.

It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.

But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.

In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.