Mars Attacks! (1996)

InformationGeek · July 24, 2011, 02:15:42 PM

So I was going over some movies from my collection when I pulled this one out. It's been a while since I've seen it, but I do remember enjoying it quite well. Basically, a Tim Burton directed film that parodies of the classic sci-fi b movies of the past and is based off the trading cards from the 60's. Martians come down and decide to wipe us humans off the face of the Earth for laughs, while pretty much everyone acts like an idiot.

If you have seen it, what did you think of the film?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYHeZCEFwhI

RCMerchant · July 24, 2011, 07:09:30 PM

I thought it great! Much better than the 'serious' alien attack movie of the same year INDEPENDENCE DAY.
It was nice to see Jack Nicholson,Pam Grier,and Jim Brown-all old AIP veterens-in the same film.
Slyvia Sydney as Gramma was a treat t0o-she made her first film in 1929!!!
Oh-and the ZAP!ZAP!ZAP! sound effects were groovy!

WingedSerpent · July 24, 2011, 08:16:32 PM

Its been a while since I've seen it. I remember not really hating it, but not really liking it either. I remember being able to point out some homages to other classic sci-fi movies-particallary Earth vs the Flying Saucers and somewhat being surprises as to how lived and who died. It really did have a lot of star power in it.

Maybe if I see it again I'll be able to give a better answer.

Mr. DS · July 24, 2011, 08:18:22 PM

I like this one, its fun and never takes itself too seriously. Plus it really does have an allstar cast.

Silverlady · July 24, 2011, 08:42:11 PM

This one is a guilty pleasure for me. I just love the way the martians "float".

InformationGeek · July 24, 2011, 08:56:40 PM

Quote from: RCMerchant on July 24, 2011, 07:09:30 PM
I thought it great! Much better than the 'serious' alien attack movie of the same year INDEPENDENCE DAY.

Me too. Shame it won Saturn Award for Best Sci-Fi movie that year over M.A.

Quote from: Silverlady on July 24, 2011, 08:42:11 PM
This one is a guilty pleasure for me. I just love the way the martians "float".

I personally love their duck noises.

bob · July 24, 2011, 09:20:12 PM

I'm calling yoooooooou

JaseSF · July 24, 2011, 11:45:06 PM

I really liked it..it was so crazy over the top it was a lot of fun to watch and so filled with stuff obviously lovingly borrowed from classic films.

Hammock Rider · July 25, 2011, 12:21:37 PM

I liked it. It's a fun movie and never pretended to be anything but that.

WyreWizard · July 27, 2011, 08:51:48 AM

Y'all know my opinion of this film.

BoyScoutKevin · July 28, 2011, 07:12:01 PM

I agree with DarkStar, that it has an all-star cast with . . .

Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnan, Danny DeVito, Martin Short, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michael J. Fox, Rod Steiger, Tom Jones, Jim Brown, Lukas Haas, Natalie Portman, Pam Grier, Lisa Marie, Jack Black, Ray J, Paul Winfield, Christina Applegate, and Joe Don Baker, etc. but . . .

I really have a split opinion on Tim Burton's films. Some I just love and can watch over and over again, such as a "Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Ed Wood," then there are his films like "Mars Attacks." I not only disliked it, I found it totally unwatchable. Not a half hour into the film, I had to get up and turn off the TV set on which I was watching it. Then, I never cared much for the trading cards upon which the movie was based.

RCMerchant · July 29, 2011, 04:01:54 AM

In a way-I agree.
Not about MARS ATTACKS,though.
I am split on Tim Burton's films too.
I loved ED WOOD,MARS ATTACKS,PEE WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE-the rest-not so much.
Don't even get me started on his PLANET OF THE APES catastrophe. Ugh.

Torgo · August 01, 2011, 02:29:29 PM

I've always liked Mars Attacks and actually saw it in a theater during it's initial release. While the movie does have some problems, it does possess such an infectious and irreverant tone that it's really hard not to like. Plus, Tom Jones is featured as himself in a main role!