John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars

Rating:
Summary: Under looked action move!
Review: If you like lots of fighting, gore, bad language and strong violence, then this is your movie. This is one of the more better action-violence movies out there.

Rating:
Summary: An OK rental, but buying it??
Review: I saw this movie at the theatre (Hey, I had a free pass and two hours to kill, so there) and it was an OK diversion. Would I buy this film? No way, its not THAT good a diversion. The "acting" is pretty bad and the futuristic window dressing does'nt really add that much to the story. The plot: A group of cops on Mars stumble upon a town inhabited by people possesed by the "Ghosts of Mars". What do ghosts like to do? Well, kill people of course! Mayhem ensues which leads up to stabbings and guttings, then gunfights, then explosions, then nuclear explosions.

You get the picture.

Rating:
Summary: Haunted by John Carpenter's past....
Review: I have been a huge fan of writer/director John Carpenter for years. From his humble beginnings with "Assault on Precinct 13" through "Halloween," "The Thing," "Starman" and up to his underrated but superb "In the Mouth of Madness," his hip, darkly comedic, visually strong anti-hero tributes are unique to the multiple genres (sci-fi, horror, suspense) he weaves in and out of like some demented kid in a celluloid candy store.

After seeing "Ghosts of Mars," however, I have come to the conclusion that perhaps Mr. Carpenter should consider hanging up his filmmaking guns. Derivative, clunkly and laughably bad, "Ghosts of Mars" combines elements of the already-mentioned "Assault..," with "Escape From New York," "Dawn of the Dead," "Vampires," and, of course, "Rio Bravo." But it lacks the style or wit of any of those mentioned films.

Quite simply, "Ghosts of Mars" rivals "Big Trouble in Little China" as being the worst Carpenter film ever made. The problems, almost too many to mention, include multiple flashbacks within flashbacks, completely destroying any momentum the film may have had; the casting of bland beefcake in pivotal roles (slowly becoming a Carpenter trademark); a story so predictable as to be excrutiatingly dull; and an infantile comic book mentality.

Mars miners discover tomb of planet's former inhabitants which seems to possess ghosts. These alien spirits possess the planet inhabitants turning them into bloodthirsty killers with a thing for body piercing. Possessed folks eventually surround a motley crew made up of criminals, policemen and Pam Grier. Motley crew has to fight for their lives (mainly with machine guns and dynamite) to make it back to train. Did I miss anything?

I used to think John Carpenter was a genius. After "Ghosts of Mars," a thick-witted though admittedly stylish flick with several Carpenter trademarks, I have decided it is time to accept the fact that his most influential and groundbreaking work was left behind him long ago. Today we are left with the ghost of what Carpenter once was.

Rating:
Summary: Ghosts of Mars
Review: 2 stars is almost two too many for this lame SCI-FI. The special effects are the only reason I gave it a 2. The acting is pitiful in this movie. The screaming, possesed, Marilyn Manson look-a-like, was stupid and annoying. Why couldn't the leader of the Ghost be more of an organized type of leader sending his troops out to fight in a more rational strategy against the human invaders? Of course the human soldiers, cops, whatever, were idiots too. I just thought this movie was not thought out well, AT ALL!...

Rating:
Summary: GHOSTS OF MARS is pretty silly, but fun
Review: Kind of a cross between NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD and STARSHIP TROOPERS, John Carpenter's GHOSTS OF MARS is one of those guilty pleasures. It's not meant to be taken seriously and the film is easily forgotten when it ends. Natasha Henstridge is spot-on as the space cop who must survive the attack of warrior space-zombies, while Ice Cube lends ample support as the crook she joins forces with in order to survive. Pam Grier, who never seems to put in a bad performance, is wasted in an all-too small role. As with most of Carpenter's films, the gore is a bit over the top and the film is well paced. The DVD commentary with Carpenter and Henstridge is informative and amusing. Overall, this film is pretty silly stuff, but has enough action in it to keep one amused.

Rating:
Summary: Not up to His usual Standards, John Carpenter blows this one
Review: This movie is not up to John Carpenter's usual high standards in production.

1) Bad acting - especially from the lead actress, who can't even wince correctly when being stitched up without the benefit of painkillers;

2) REALLY bad cinemaphotography - I can understand what John was trying to do with this film, but it never got there - too many bad fades from one scene to another made the film too disjointed to watch;

3) Bad special effects - WAY too much gore in some places, WAY not enough in others - although this film has to set a record for on-screen decapitations (I counted at least 12 and then gave up - note, this does not count the 40+ heads on stakes in one scene!!);

4) This plot doesn't cut it - way not enough time spent on the 'Ghosts', their reasoning, their civilization (except through the drug-induced trance suffered by the lead actress in one scene, which provides not enough info - for example, why Egyption hieroglyphs (yes, I paused the movie there!) on the seal of the 'crypt'? Give us a break, and give us the tie-in, not some lame explaination from some one who is obviously NOT qualified to be a scientist.

All in all, one to add to a collection of John Carpenter's work; but NOT one to add just because the case or title look cool. Save your money - I wish I had!

Ed Otto
[e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: A guilty pleasure, though not at all original
Review: The Living Dead meet Subspecies. I'll admit my main reasons for seeing this were Jason Statham, Pam Grier, and Joanna Cassidy whom I like very much. Yes, it was typical sci-fi horror fare. The zombie aliens reminded me of living dead vampires, and were things I'd seen before. Many times. But it was still fun to watch. Until the ending which was just plain stupid. *Spoiler* Why did Ice Cube's character live? Just so he could say a final cheesy line? Is there going to be a sequel? Oh dear. With my favorite 3 people dead, I can guarantee I won't go see the next one...

Rating:
Summary: Call the police a crime has been comitted
Review: John Carpenter and Ice Cube, this film should have been great, all the ingredients for a good film were here, but what did we get ?, elements of a zombie movie, elements of The Thing, elements of pitch black all good ingredients and a good director but this film just didn't hang together, the special effects had the look of the dodgier effects from total recall and the plot whoooaaaah ! it stank. I bought this film on the strength of the combined cast and director and wish I rented it first, Is it worth the cost of a rental Yes !! buying? well you decide but I'd rent it first and save your money for a better film.

Rating:
Summary: THIS FILM WILL HAUNT JOHN CARPENTER...
Review: This is a sci-fi/horror hybrid that looks like it may take the viewer along for an interesting ride, only to fall into a morass of absurdity, with bad acting amd worse dialogue. Written and directed by John Carpenter, it is not one of his better efforts.

The premise of the movie is relatively simple. It is the twenty second century and Mars is colonized by humans who live in some sort of matriarchal society, an issue which is never addressed nor explained, though reference is made to it. The Mars police are given a mission. They are to send a team of officers to a remote mining outpost, where there is a prison and bring back one of Mars most wanted, "Desolation" Williams (Ice Cube), to stand trial for murder.

The team, headed by two women (Pam Grier and Natasha Henstridge), arrives at the remote outpost, only to be greeted by apparent desolation (no pun intended). A closer look reveals indescribable carnage. They soon discover that many of those from the miming operation and from the prison have become possessed and turned into a frightening band of Marilyn Manson and Kiss doppelgangers who have pierced their bodies in indescribable fashion and are looking to finish off anyone who still looks human, all while roaring, howling, and screaming gibberish. Of course, the police joins forces with the surviving mining personnel and prisoners, including "Desolation" Williams, in an attempt to survive. Predictable carnage and action scenes follow.

Pam Grier is pathetic as the commanding officer, as her acting is so bad. Natasha Henstridge is better and has potential, though it is difficult to assess with the lousy dialogue she has been given. Moreover, why Joanne Cassidy accepted a part in this movie is beyond me, as it will definitely do nothing for her career. Ice Cube plays the part of a bad guy with enough panache that he leaves the viewer rooting for him. While most of the film is so-so, there are some truly chilling and interesting scenes. Unfortunately, the film also has more than its share of bad scenes.

If you enjoy sci-fi, horror, or John Carpenter films, you will probably enjoy this one somewhat. If not, deduct one star from this review.

Rating:
Summary: What a waste of resources
Review: This is one of the worst films I've ever seen. Complete formula based flop. I am a fan of Carpenter's work but Vampires indicated a new, campier direction for him, and this film takes this probelmatic formula to it's painful extreme. Don't waste your time or money. Where are the likes of In the Mouth of Madness and The Thing? I'm very disappointed.