MARS ATTACKS
US, 1996, 103 minutes, Colour.
Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnan, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michael J.Fox, Rod Steiger, Tom Jones, Danny de Vito, Martin Short, Lukas Haas, Natalie Portman, Jim Brown, Pam Grier, Paul Winfield, Sylvia Sidney, Lisa Marie, Joe Don Baker, Barbet Schroeder, Christian Applegate.
Directed by Tim Burton.
Not exactly subtle, but, apparently, too subtle for American audiences, this is an all out parody of the Independence Day genre, subverting all the expectations about nice American presidents and the welcome to the aliens - and, while it reinforces our prejudices towards mean Martians, they are very much more interesting than they usually are. This is the work of Tim Burton whose experience as an animator and as the director of such entertaining oddities as Peewee's Big Adventure, Beattlejuice and two of the Batman films, as well as the excellent Edward Scissorhands and Ed Wood means that imagination is let loose - and who knows what will happen!
Burton says he lured his big name cast with the prospect that they could die spectacularly and/or with special effects. Jack Nicholson parodying the welcoming president and doing a turn as a Vegas hustler gets to die twice; Glenn Close tangles with a chandelier; Pierce Brosnan and Sarah Jessica Parker tangle with special effects. While not a big laughs spoof, it is an entertainingly original twist on familiar themes. Star-studded space and apocalyptic spoof.
1.An entertaining spoof of the popular trend of the '90s, especially with the popularity of Independence Day? Similarity of plots, difference of treatments? The popularity of the serious Martian attack versus the spoof?
2.The echoes of the '50s B-budget science fiction fantasies, the visuals, the strained special effects, the small-budget models etc? The themes and the simplicities of those movies? The influence of the 1962 bubble gum cards, Mars Attacks?
3.The films of Tim Burton? His awry perspective on American society? Humour, offbeat, black? The spoof on the US? The gentle touches yet the devastating and destructive touches?
4.The strength and range of the cast? Their being spoofed? The top stars being killed off? The survivors? The guest spots of four international directors like Barbet Schroeder (French President), Jerzy Skolimowski as the doctor?
5.The familiarity of the plot, the threat of the War of the Worlds and invaders from Mars? The tradition of the American reaction to War of the Worlds stories from the fear and panic of the '30s through the paranoia of the '50s, the nuclear fears of the '60s, the parodies of later decades? Seeing the Martians as enemies or friends?
6.The tradition of films about aliens? Hostile Martians or friendly ET? The range of American responses - at political level, military level, personal level?
7.The importance of the President of the United States and his executive decisions? Jack Nicholson as the President - and Jack Nicholson's screen persona? His listening to the advice of his aggressive Generals, of the academic scientists, of the pragmatic advisers? His speeches - especially that of welcome? Nicholson's deadpan interpretation of the President and the crisis? Reacting to the invasion, the official welcome, the devastation of the attacks and deaths, especially of the military greeting squad? Inviting the Martians to address Congress - and the devastation of Congress? The destruction of the White House? His wife, his daughter? The death of the American President?
8.Glenn Close as the First Lady, the Nancy Reagan touches? Tough, concerned about the house and its decorations, death under the chandelier?
9.The visualising of the Martians: the sequences of the special effects for their saucers and the fleet of saucers, the landings, the space travel, the red carpet, the weapons, their caricature forms, disguises? Skeletal and mechanical? The invasion, the destruction of the welcoming group? Their deceit and letting loose mayhem? Washington DC, tipping the monument to fall on the boy scouts, the destruction of Congress, the White House? The Martian girl and her infiltration of the White House? The attack in Las Vegas, the confrontation with the group, Byron and his single-handed fight against them? The destruction of the Martians - by Slim Whitman's records and voice! Their exploding and the green goo!
10.The military response, Rod Steiger as the aggressive General, the exercise of nuclear power? General Casey and the welcoming committee, their destruction?
11.The contribution of science, Pierce Brosnan as the dithering and academic adviser? The information, his being captured, meeting Natalie, the heads being severed, the final romance as they hurtle towards death?
12.The spoof on the media: Michael J. Fox as Jason, his coverage of the event, his jealousy of Natalie, Natalie and her flirting with the scientist, wanting to upstage Jason? His being killed and the death of the media? Natalie and her Chihuahua taken for ransom? Her head being transferred to that of the dog? Her romance with the scientist?
13.The portrait of ordinary American citizens, the cross-section? The crowds in the desert wanting to welcome the Martians? Those for, those against? The carnival-like atmosphere? The family in the trailer, Dad and his pride in Billy- Glen, Billy- Glen going off to the military, being in the welcoming squad and destroyed? Shirona and the other members of the family? Grandma? Richie, the nerdish young man, looked down on by his father, his being perceptive about the Martians?
14.Jerry and the pragmatic and womanising adviser at the White House? Martin Short's comic style? The advice, the encounter with the robotic Martian girl, her destroying him? The impact of Lisa- Marie as the Martian girl - real yet robot? Seductive yet destructive?
15.Jack Nicholson's second role as Art Land? His appearance, marriage to Barbara, sleazy, land deals, the Las Vegas glitz? His death?
16.Barbara and her New Age style, relationship with Art, going onto the mountain to welcome the Martians, her chant? Back to Las Vegas, the destruction, in the escape group?
17.The sleazy lawyer as gambler, Danny de Vito and his style, wanting to do deals with the Martians, the escape, his death?
18.Byron as the superannuated boxer, his work in Las Vegas, a failure? His wanting to get back to his wife and child in Washington? The picturing of the family in Washington? His fight to get back, the combat single-handed with the Martians, his survival and finally reaching his family?
19.Grandma and the family, Richie rescuing his grandmother, the innocent confronting the Martians, the discovery of their inability to sustain the sound of Slim Whitman's records? His destruction of the Martians? The President's daughter surviving and giving him the medal?
20.Tom Jones and his appearance in Las Vegas, his songs, joining the group to escape - the touch of self-parody?
21.Entertaining ingredients for a spoof of Martian attacks? The film as a Hollywood product - subverting expectations, subverting expectations about the cast, the humorous critique of the genre as well as American attitudes?
