Mars Attacks! (1996)
7/10
Burton's Craziest Hour!
10 May 2015
Based on the cult trading card series of the same name, 'Mars Attacks!' is Tim Burton's Craziest Hour! The Legendary Filmmaker has churned out some of the most morbid/dark subjects with zeal before, but this comic sci-fi flick, has to be his most absurdest to date.

'Mars Attacks!' Synopsis: Earth is invaded by Martians with unbeatable weapons and a cruel sense of humor.

'Mars Attacks!' is pure insanity. You see martians causing hell on earth, while the human characters are all caricatures. This isn't a film that should be taken seriously, mostly because, it itself knows how over-the-top & gleefully silly it is.

But, thats not a bad thing. 'Mars Attacks!' works tremendously well for the genre it follows. I laughed at places & I was engrossed by its comical characters. Yes, at times, I was like, is this happening for real? But Burton & co., give us some delicious moments to cover its flaws.

Jonathan Gems's Screenplay isn't full-proof, but it works nonetheless. Burton's Direction is over-the-top. Cinematography & Editing are average. Special Effects are ingeniously done. Make-Up is nicely done.

Performance-Wise: Of its ensemble cast, its Jack Nicholson, in dual roles, who takes the lead & is a joy to watch. The legend dons the role of the paranoid president well, but is a hoot as the greedy developer of Las Vegas. Martin Short as the sleazy press secretary, is in terrific form. Annette Bening, as the deranged women, is top-notch. Sarah Jessica Parker as the feisty TV star, is excellent. And Pierce Brosnan as a science expert, is highly effective.

On the whole, 'Mars Attacks!' may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it deserves a watch nonetheless for the versatility of Burton's vision.
13 out of 17 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Recently Viewed