Mars Attacks!

For those who are into Hollywood B-movies from the so-called Golden Age of Science Fiction of the 1950s (like me), this is a must. I believe I would have a lot to talk to Burton about, at least about all the inspirations from the greatest classics that this film is literally riddled with. (11.12.2005)

Mars Attacks! is an example that even a master carpenter sometimes cuts their finger. It is hard to say what the poet - sorry, Burton - actually wanted to say with this unsuccessful genre mishmash. As a parody of old B-movie sci-fi films, it seems desperately unfunny to me, or rather, whenever I expect a punchline in a hopeful scene, Burton simply buries it. It is uneven, scripturally unfinished. On the other hand, I am certainly not objective; if it weren't for Burton, from whom I expect a film with a capital F, I would add a second star... Overall impression 30%. (18.01.2008)

I'm not at all surprised that this nonsense is the work of Tim Burton, he strikes me as a very peculiar person, which was only confirmed here. Initially full of dull and boring dialogue, the film gradually turns into a mix of insane action scenes starring such crazy looking aliens that it's simply indescribable. Unfortunately, it's not nearly as funny as it might seem at first glance, and if it weren't for Jack Nicholson, who plays the role of the American president perfectly, who knows how this madness would have turned out. This way it's solely because of him at 3*. (03.06.2012)

Tim Burton schien sich nach seinem letzten Biopic über Ed Wood nicht aus seinen berüchtigten Filmen befreien zu können und hat beschlossen, seinen eigenen Wood-Film zu drehen. Mars Attacks! ist nämlich überaus bizarr, aber nicht im "Burton'schen", sondern im "Wood'schen" Sinne. Ich verstehe die Absicht des Regisseurs, den Film so zu drehen, wie er gedreht wurde, oder ich versuche, sie zu verstehen, aber wie immer ich es drehe, dies ist (für mich persönlich) sein schwächster Film. Die Zerstörungssequenzen waren gut, auch wenn der genauso alte Independence Day deutlich besser war, und ich war fasziniert von Lisa Maries Rolle, die mich wie schon in Sleepy Hollow für sich gewinnen konnte, ohne eigentlich zu sprechen. Insgesamt war ich überrascht, wie viele bekannte Gesichter in dem Film zu sehen waren - umso enttäuschter war ich, dass mich der Film weder als Komödie noch als Science-Fiction ansprach. (04.01.2022)

Another one of my favorites. And of course, this Burton hit the spot for me. It has a great 50s vibe, yet it's modern, entertaining, and there's also room for great performances, especially from Jack Nicholson, who easily dominates the film. I had fun, I laughed, and I enjoyed this great B-movie story. (27.11.2015)