The One Where Mars Attacks!

ACK ACK ACK ACK! I watched Mars Attacks! (1996) for the first time on Thursday night. It was one of the few Tim Burton films I had not seen. This is simply because it took forever to find this film in stores. Nevertheless, it was definitely worth the wait, I absolutely loved it. Just check out the awesome cover for starters(!):

Directed by: Tim Burton
Screen Story & Screenplay by: Jonathan Gems

It features an all-star cast with Jack Nicholson as the American President, Glenn Close, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnan, Danny DeVito, Martin Short, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michael J. Fox, Tom Jones playing himself, Natalie Portman, Slyvia Sidney AND Lisa Marie as the Martian Girl.

It is a hilarious, SCI-FI type film and it all starts when the American President and Jerry Ross discover that Martian UFOs are above Planet Earth and should land any time. The Americans believe that when they arrive, they will come in peace and we will all live together in harmony, "as one Solar System". But, when they eventually do arrive on Earth, everybody discovers that the Martians actually wish to attack Earth! I really loved the concept of this film, it was so unique and unusual. Classic Burton, which I personally, adore :)

The Martians in this film were especially freaky. Despite what I read about the effects being cheesy on purpose, I think they're great. The Martians look just as any other person would actually picture Martians to look like. Check them out:

Everybody in this film was perfectly cast. Everybody suited their characters so well. Jack Nicholson and Pierce Brosnan were great in their roles.

Jack Nicholson as President of the USA: (he also played a man situated in Las Vegas who is eager to open a casino):

Pierce Brosnan as Professor Donald Kessler:

I really loved Sarah Jessica Parker as Nathalie Lake and Michael J. Fox as Jason Stone. Here they are having breakfast, both preparing for their day; (I don't care what people say, Parker looks beautiful in this film) :)

I saved the best character for last, of course. The character I am talking about is the Martian Girl! :) Even before I saw this movie, I knew I would love her. Her and Nathalie Lake are my favourite characters. The Martian Girl is a wonderfully sexy, alluring character who is really one of the scary-looking Martians in disguise. She is hot!

And of course, I must mention the dog in the film, Poppy. In real life, Poppy belonged to the film's director, Tim Burton and his girlfriend at the time, Lisa Marie. Poppy is so adorable :) In the film, Poppy was Nathalie's dog, she took it everywhere.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this film. The ending is hilarious, so weird, yet so appropriate. I would agree that it is definitely re-watchable. An amazing musical score by Danny Elfman, as usual. :) Also, a great role for Tom Jones. Hearing him sing 'It's not unusual' was awesome.
I give it 3.5 out of 4 stars. And if you're wondering why I rate the films I watch out of 4, it is because this is how Leonard Maltin reviews the movies he watches in his movie guides, and I am a big fan of this rating system, always have been :).

If you're interested in watching this movie, check out the trailer, you won't be sorry:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYHeZCEFwhI

Rating: Pg-13
Runtime: 106 mins

Taysha. x