Watched for first time. Loved it, but so depressing. Spoilers!
I did not know this movie would depressing. Did these people know they were going to die? How bleak! I also thought it was really psychedelic.
shareYou are correct, this film is definitely not warm and fuzzy. But still a great and solid sci-fi experience.
Personally, I feel that the only characters that believed that they would be returning home were Harvey and Corazon. Somewhere I read that those two characters were the only ones that were married (not to each other). All of the others seemed to pretty much understand that they were on a one way trip, it was even stated during one of their discussions that they were all expendable. Mace and Capa seemed to understand this concept the most, with Mace losing it when he discovered that he wouldn't be able to send one last communication package to his loved ones.
And Searle was well on his way to becoming another Pinbacker.
Great movie!