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List Price: $9.98 | | Label: Warner Home Video
Salesrank: 4869
Released: June 1, 2004 |
| Our Price: $3.74 |
| Used Price: $3.72 |
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MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
IN THIS SCI FI EPIC MARTIAN SPACESHIPS ARE APPROACHING EARTH. SHOULD THE PRESIDENT BOMB THEM OR EMBRACE THEM? FROM THE OPENINGSCENE IN A TOWN CALLED LOCKJAW, WHERE A BLAZING FIRE SPRINTS THEROAD, TO THE APOCALYPTIC FINALE YOULL NEVER KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT SOPHOMORIC FUNNINESS, BLACK HUMOR, OR A GENUINE FRIGHT.
Description of Mars Attacks!:
It's enlightening to view Tim Burton's Mars Attacks! as his twisted satire of the blockbuster film Independence Day, which was released earlier the same year, although the movies were in production simultaneously. Burton's eye-popping, schlock tribute to 1950s UFO movies actually plays better on video than it did in theaters. The idea of invading aliens ray gunning the big-name movie stars in the cast is a cleverly subversive one, and the bulb-headed, funny-sounding animated Martians are pretty nifty, but it all seemed to be spread thin on the big screen. On video, however, the movie's kooky humor seems a bit more concentrated. The Earth actors (most of whom get zapped or kidnapped for alien science experiments) include Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnan, Danny DeVito, Martin Short, Sarah Jessica Parker, Rod Steiger, Michael J. Fox, Lukas Haas, Jim Brown, Tom Jones, and Pam Grier. --Jim Emerson
Mars Attacks! Reviews:
When Burton jumped the shark. 
2009-12-16 - A lot of funny little bits here, particularly at the beginning with the oddball 50s atmosphere and caricatures that Burton loved back in his early career. Alas, it all goes downhill very quickly as this agonizingly "fun" film becomes utterly tedious and nothing more than a cheeky Art Director's idea of hilarity. It is just not very inspired to have a bunch of loud, yapping Hollywood stars act like imbeciles -- makes it more like a Cannonball Run film. And while it is an in-your-face send-up of old 1950s Sci-Fi junk, most of the gags run to the needlessly violent and sadistic, which is a sign of creative desperation.
And worst of all, Mars Atttacks! really occupies a sad place in Burton's career where he lost the magic of his first work, particularly Edward Scissorhands and to some degree Ed Wood. Since then, he has directed some seriously awful films, apparently having lost the deft touch he temporarily exhibited. But what does he care -- I see he now has an exhibit of his cartoon drawings at the MOMA.
Feedback 
2009-12-15 - A comedy spoofing an alien attack from Mars; very funny and with an all-star cast. A Tim Burton movie the whole family can enjoy. Thanks!
One star for one chuckle. 
2009-11-24 - I chuckled over what causes the demise of the Martians. Everything else is so over the top that it's simply not funny.
ACK! ACK! ACK! (trans: Tim Burton Is Our leader!)
2009-10-05 - MARS ATTACKS! is sort of a melding of EARTH VS. THE FLYING SAUCERS and WAR OF THE WORLDS, w/ the ingenious idea of both paying homage to and doing a parody of 50s sci-fi in general. Using the infamous trading card collection as inspiration, Mr. Burton fleshes it out w/ non-stop hilarity and satire. The cast of big-name stars reminds me of the cast of IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD, WORLD. The martians are perfectly sinister in their bid to destroy mankind. The scene w/ Lisa Marie as the "hot" chick / martian in disguise is a classic! The weapon that finally proves to be the martians' undoing is VERY similar to that found in ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES, and even more effective! Tim Burton is one of my favorite directors. His oddball stuff never ceases to intrigue and / or entertain me. Long may he live...
No Sound
2009-09-25 - I orignally purchased this item along with some other dvds. I have purchased movies from amazon before but this was the first dvd that did not work. You can only hear the background music. No dialogue. I figured that it was a defective dvd and requested a new copy. Amazon was very helpful in the return process. They sent me a replacement dvd right away. Unfortunately, the new dvd had the same problem as the other, no sound. I had send both dvds back and requested a refund. I received my refund in about a week. This has been the only problem that I have had with Amazon. But, they handled my return/refund so well, I continue shopping from them.
