Mission to Mars (2000) review

While conducting research on Mars, astronaut Luke Graham (Don Cheadle) and his team make the groundbreaking discovery that there's water on the planet and they report this information back to the World Space Station before being attacked by a gigantic tornado, so a rescue squad consisting of Jim McConnell (Gary Sinise), Phil (Jerry O'Connell), Woody (Tim Robbins) and his wife Terri (Connie Nielsen) fly there to look into what happened, but the journey proves hazardous.  Having made the very successful Mission: Impossible in 1996, I wonder if De Palma thought he could just rely on his technical prowess to complete this Disney-adjacent sci-fi movie - which was "inspired" by a defunct amusement park attraction! - since it's downright pitiful when it comes to basics like character development and generating audience sympathy (Jim misses his deceased spouse, Luke is away from his son, Woody sacrifices himself).  The special effects are pretty good for the very early 2000's - they find what appears to be a human face, are invited inside and meet an alien lady who "explains" the birth of mankind - although the final product is not only ice cold but immediately forgettable ... and yet I imagine writer Andy Weir watched it and took quite a few notes.