Space Exploration And Those Left Behind A Never-Ending Tale

As representatives of all the humans who have come before us, we’re an arrogant lot. Not only have we created myths to justify our very existence, we continually use those myths to justify behavior that is at best misguided, at worst suicidal.

Hey, the Earth is dying. No sweat. We’ll just find someplace else to live.

The search for a new home has been a favorite subject of science fiction. The animated film “Titan A.E.,” which is available this week for home entertainment (see capsule review below), is a case in point. “Red Planet,” which opens in theaters today, is an even fresher example.

But what about those who must stay behind? The poor, the outcast, the unchosen who, for one reason or another, don’t get to make the trip? Movies about that crowd have proven an even more popular sci-fi genre.

Following are a few of the more memorable offerings:

* The “Mad Max” trilogy — Directed by Australian George Miller, “Mad Max” debuted in 1979 (1980 in the United States) and, though little more than a cult effort, it still managed to cause a ripple in America. That was mainly because of its rough sensibilities (in a world swiftly going savage, our hero seeks revenge for the deaths of his wife and child), because of its rough-but-effective production standards and because of the rough-but-pretty presence of its leading man (Mel Gibson in his yet-to-be-a-star days). The second installment, “The Road Warrior” (1982 U.S.), which has Max roaming the countryside as a reluctant hero, is arguably the best of the three. The final film, 1985’s “Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome,” is brightened by the unusual presence of Tina Turner, who sings the title song. (All available in VHS, DVD).

* “A Boy and His Dog” (1975) — L.Q. Jones, whose main fame is due to the many character roles he played in such movies as “The Wild Bunch” and “Hell is for Heroes,” adapted his screenplay from a post-Holocaust story by Harlan Ellison. A young Don Johnson plays Vic, the hope of an underground culture that is in desperate need of fresh … blood? (VHS, DVD).

* “Omega Man” (1971) and “Soylent Green” (1973) — Charlton Heston, once one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, began slumming in the ‘70s. Nevertheless, his presence lent credibility to these two otherwise cheesy sci-fi quickies. But both had at least a faint hint of a story line — “Omega Man” featuring Mr. NRA sacrificing himself for humankind, “Soylent Green” offering a study of how low the rich will stoop to hold onto their own. And the latter boasted another Hollywood legend: Edward G. Robinson.

* “On the Beach” (1959) — Based on the Nevil Shute novel, this is the cinematic version of a potboiler story posing as literature. It concerns life in Australia, the only continent left intact following a nuclear war, and a lone U.S. submarine whose crew is determined to see if there’s any sign of life back home. Gregory Peck plays the submarine commander, Ava Gardner his love interest. (VHS, DVD. Note: Showtime did a two-part remake of Shute’s novel last May that is available on VHS only.)

The week’s home-entertainment releases on VHS/DVD:

Titan A.E. ***

Saving humanity, if not the Earth, is a science-fiction staple. In that respect, “Titan A.E.” offers nothing new. But this Don Bluth/Gary Gordon animated feature boasts more than simply a leftover plot. It is a visual treat, filled with computer-enhanced visuals that make magic out of everything from the glow of a spaceship’s engines to the ice crystals of a distant galaxy.

Oh, sure, you have the almighty quest (reuniting the dregs of humanity after Earth has been destroyed by a race of energized aliens), the young hero (18-year-old rebel Cale, voiced by Matt Damon), the self-possessed woman of his dreams (intrepid Akima, voiced by Drew Barrymore) and the secret weapon (the super spaceship of the movie’s title). But it all moves well enough, the villains are somewhat of a surprise and the overall look is so eye-catching that any notion of familiarity doesn’t much matter. Just strap in, sit back and hold on.

Special note to parents: While the film boasts some sexual suggestiveness (Akima is very shapely), the violence in “Titan A.E.” seems no more daring than that of Disney’s “Dinosaur.” (VHS, DVD) Rated PG.

Mission: Impossible II **

That director John Woo has talent can’t be denied. All you have to do is rent some of his best Hong Kong work (“Hardboiled,” “The Killer”) to see that. But Hollywood seems to have blunted his skills. With the possible exception of “Face/Off,” his more recent films seem ponderous where before they played like a kind of violent ballet. Violence has always been integral to Woo’s style, but now it seems obligatory rather than — well, celebratory.

In this second installment of a Hollywood franchise (Brian De Palma directed the first), Woo takes on a dumbed-down screenplay that is straightforward to a fault. It involves both a lethal virus and its antidote, and producer-star Tom Cruise reprises his role as Mission: Impossible team leader Ethan Hunt whose job — should he choose to accept it — involves finding the virus, nullifying the villains (led by Dougray Scott) and romancing the obligatory love interest (Thandie Newton).

The film is filled with car crashes and cool explosions, but not one sequence matches the climactic Chunnel sequence of De Palma’s original. The upshot: “Mission: Impossible II” is not bad, it’s just eminently forgettable. (VHS, DVD) Rated PG-13.