Mars Attacks! (1996)

just watch it!

What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Earth is invaded by Martians with unbeatable weapons and a cruel sense of humor. Mars Attacks! has a terrific cast of actors such as Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito, Pierce Brosnan, Michael J. Fox and more but pretty much half of them are wasted in roles that even tho their alright they either get killed of half way threw the film or just in the end with some stupid way. I mean Tom Jones did more than most of them, hell even the kids were better than the entire freaking Army. The special effects are a bit dated tho but we all know that's not the real issue. (5/10)

There is truth in (or around) comedy. Look at any great comedy work where the world is nuts, for instance The Bob Newhart Show, Seinfeld, The Three Stooges, Arrested Development or Blazing Saddles. They all have a straight man in its world of crazy to counterpoint the wackiness. They offer a voice to react to it and argue on behalf of the audience against it... for the side of sanity. When all the characters are crazy, it is like a lecture of foolishness with no real point. Comedy, like any story genre, needs an argument for all sides of the issue. Mars Attacks! was simply loony for its own pretentious sake. Note that I say loony, and not funny. Don't waste your brain cells on this train wreck. Better off enjoying a knock knock joke.

I had the pleasure of recently watching this movie and let me tell you it did not disappoint. Considering my favorite actor of all time is Jack Nicholson i already had this on my to watch list and boy am I glad I did. Martians have surrounded the planet with multiple alien warships and, after a failed peace treaty with them involving a dove released by a hippie, are soon invading every continent and country on the globe. The Movie focuses on many different characters as they deal with the invasion and the humorously cartoonish aliens. The cast in this movie is wonderful and features a slough of big name actors. Jack Nicholson Glenn Close Martin Short Pierce Brosnan Pam Grier Rod Steiger Micheal J. Fox and that's only naming a few. Tom Jones also joins our protagonists as a hilarious version of himself also on the run from the aliens. Tim Burton is a great director and always will be, he's had several misses but luckily this one takes the cake for me. It's definitely not for everyone, but if your into over the top fun romps like I am, give this a watch.

Mars Attacks (1996): Dir: Tim Burton / Cast: Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Natalie Portman, Pierce Brosnan, Michael J. Fox: Satire of alien invasion films where little green people invade earth. They have ray guns that can fry people into skeletons. The title is a satire onto itself presenting a media frenzy. Great idea with a clever solution that bares resemblance to Attack of the Killer Tomatoes. The structure is such a mess that one must wonder if director Tim Burton allowed everything to run amuck while the cameras run. Burton is a visual genius with such films as Beetlejuice and Batman but here the visuals are plainly the only element of function. The gigantic cast is a waste including Jack Nicholson as the President and Vegas hotel owner. Glenn Close plays the First Lady. Natalie Portman plays their ignored daughter. Pierce Brosnan plays the President's chief of staff who is abducted with Sarah Jessica Parker where the aliens remove their heads and place them on the bodies of dogs. Michael J. Fox plays a reporter or media personality who doesn't last long in the celebrity wasteland that this film becomes. And the list goes on but many of them are nuked before we care. The film seems to be a parody take on old alien invasion films and the spirit is there but the payoff seems to be off target. The visual effects and production are a payoff but the story turns to guck. Score: 5 / 10