Mars Attacks!

Director Tim Burton unleashes MARS ATTACKS!, a vicious, affectionate, brightly-colored homage to 1950s alien invasion movies. When a shiny silver flying saucer lands in the Nevada desert, a group of skull-faced Martians exit the gleaming craft. Although they claim to be peaceful, they promptly "vaporize" a gathering of unfortunate Earthlings, kicking off a bizarre high-tech war with wild special effects. This studiously campy sci-fi spoof, based on a series of Topps bubble-gum cards, gleefully parodies not only schlock B-horror movies, but also overblown blockbusters such as INDEPENDENCE DAY. This subversive film is helped along by an all-star cast including Jack Nicholson in dual roles as both a clueless U.S. President (with First Lady Glenn Close) and a Las Vegas sleazebag. The film follows the wacky WAR OF THE WORLDS-like proceedings from the points of view of numerous colorful characters, from the inane U.S. Press Secretary (Martin Short) to a trailer-park family (Lukas Haas and Sylvia Sidney), to singer Tom Jones (as himself).

Mars Attacks

Directed by Tim Burton and released in 1996, this movie features Jack Nicholson, Annette Bening, Glenn Close, Natalie Portman, Lukas Haas, Jack Black, Michael J. Fox, Sarah Jessica Parker, Pierce Brosnan, Danny DeVito, Pam Grier, Martin Short, and Christina Applegate among others. The better question is, who isn't in this movie?

The plot revolves around the age-old tale of Martians coming to Earth and invading. At first due to communication problems, everyone believes it's a misunderstanding and it isn't. Jack Nicholson is one of my favorite Presidents, mostly for his oration particularly when delivering the line, "I want the people to know that they still have two out of three branches of the government working for them and that ain't bad." Glenn Close plays the first lady who wants to redecorate the White House and Natalie Portman plays their brooding teenage daughter. It's a shame Natalie isn't in more of the movie. But I guess when you have all these big names going on and Jack playing two roles at once, there just isn't enough screen time to go around. Yes, Jack Nicholson also plays the owner of Galaxy hotel in Vegas and is married to an unhappy Annette Bening who turns to her crystals in times of crisis. Her space cadet quality has many humorous moments, but can get a trifle annoying when her voice approaches a certain octave.

Sarah Jessica Parker has always annoyed me and this movie is no different. Her character constantly primps herself and doesn't have an intelligent bone in her body. However, justice comes in and has her switch bodies with her little purse dog. She shamelessly flirts with Pierce Brosnan in this form, which is fantastic because he has been reduced to a floating head. All of this occurs because the Martians are a little experimental. I really enjoy Pierce Brosnan as the "Professor of the White House" because it's hilarious to see him puffing his pipe and reasoning that advanced beings are enlightened and therefore peaceful. I can imagine him as the professor on Gilligan's island, it would crack me up.

Let's see, other sub-plots. Lukas Haas, an actor we don't see enough of although he did appear in the first few episodes of season four of 24, plays a poor doughnut shop worker who is looked down upon by his family for not going around shooting everything he sees like his brother, Jack Black. Jack Black trains putting weapons together with a blindfold on and huffs and puffs into battle. At the first sign of action, he runs up to the aliens, delivers a sassy battle cry, and proceeds to be unable to fire because his gun falls apart. Karma, sweet karma. Don't worry, fans. I'm sure he'll rock it out when the Tenacious D movie comes out. Anyway, Lukas Haas and his grandmother save the world when they realize her horrible country crooning record makes the Martians' heads explode.

Let me just say I love Pam Grier in this movie in particular. If you haven't seen Jackie Brown, run, do not walk, to the nearest Blockbuster/Video rental store of choice. She plays a mother who has a difficult time keeping an eye on her children but works hard to raise them right. My favorite moment is when she spots them in an arcade after not being home for two days and promptly stops the bus she's driving to drag them home. The bus applauds. So did I. She is separated from Jim Brown who does an honorable job of facing down the Martians old-school boxing style to help friends get away.

Good, not great movie.

Ack! Ack! Mars Attacks! Ex-cel-lent!

This is a really fun movie. I have it on VHS but wanted it on DVD and got it for $8 on Ebay. It has almost everything! It has big stars; Jack Nicholson, Glen Close, Michael J. Fox, Sarah Jessica Parker and others. It has creepy skull-headed villains (the Martians). It has great death scenes, when Billy Glenn (Jack Black) gets fried early-on, the movie then has cheery parts.
It has pretend science theories delivered by Pierce Brosnan, who you secretly want to get fried. It has Chihuahua-headed staple-necked glam-thangs. ...I don't even know where that came from... It has douche-bag government imbeciles in Rod Steiger (reminds you of Chaney) and Martin Short plays a sexually frustrated press goob. Oh and it has a typical sci-fi 50's plot: Martians attack, we are inept and many die; a granny in Sylvia Sydney discovers that recordings of cowboy's yodeling kill the Martians by popping their skulls. The Martians crash into buildings, each other and eventually cause the movie to end. We have a happy ending: Teen boy kisses Queen Amadala what's-her'name-Portman. We survive and then the credits roll. Splendid. Nice popcorn flick. I give it three heart clogging sticks of butter. Oh crap, that's that Dean cooking Grannie. Oh well, my bad. The End.

Mars Attacks! is a movie you've got to own!

If you are a big fan of sci-fi, this one is a "must have" for your library. Reminiscent of the 1950's sci-fi "B" movies, except in full color and loaded with many big time actors such as Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito, Natalie Portman,etc. The movie was well written and has some really great special effects. I highly recommend this movie to anyone into science fiction!

Another Burton's Masterpiece!

Tim Burton is definitely a Genius!!! Brilliant as always in this direction with a superb cast. A Dream Team Cast with a Dream Team Director.

A fine dark comedy with eye-popping special effects... You will enjoy this movie a lot, even if you are not into dark humor...

I recommend for everyone who read this review to acquire this Masterpiece from Burton. WhY? This movie is getting more and more hard to find every single day.

If you are a DVD Collector... This one is a MUST HAVE!!!

SithPitt