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MOVIES / ON DVD / MARS ATTACKS!
Mars Attacks!

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Mars Attacks! (1996)

49%
27%
65%
N/A
N/A
N/A
49 %
Reviews Counted: 45 Fresh: 22  Rotten:23 Average Rating: 6/10

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Runtime: 1 hr 48 mins

Synopsis: Director Tim Burton unleashes MARS ATTACKS!, a vicious, affectionate, brightly-colored homage to 1950s alien invasion movies. When a shiny silver flying saucer lands in the Nevada desert, a group of skull-faced Martians exit the gleaming craft. Although they claim to be peaceful, they... Director Tim Burton unleashes MARS ATTACKS!, a vicious, affectionate, brightly-colored homage to 1950s alien invasion movies. When a shiny silver flying saucer lands in the Nevada desert, a group of skull-faced Martians exit the gleaming craft. Although they claim to be peaceful, they promptly "vaporize" a gathering of unfortunate Earthlings, kicking off a bizarre high-tech war with wild special effects. This studiously campy sci-fi spoof, based on a series of Topps bubble-gum cards, gleefully parodies not only schlock B-horror movies, but also overblown blockbusters such as INDEPENDENCE DAY. This subversive film is helped along by an all-star cast including Jack Nicholson in dual roles as both a clueless U.S. President (with First Lady Glenn Close) and a Las Vegas sleazebag. The film follows the wacky WAR OF THE WORLDS-like proceedings from the points of view of numerous colorful characters, from the inane U.S. Press Secretary (Martin Short) to a trailer-park family (Lukas Haas and Sylvia Sidney), to singer Tom Jones (as himself). [More]

Genre: Comedies

Starring: Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnan, Danny DeVito

Director: Tim Burton
Composer: Danny Elfman
Story: Len Brown, Woody Gelman, Wally Wood, Bob Powell, Norm Saunders
Screenwriter: Jonathan Gems
Producer: Larry J. Franco, Tim Burton

DVD Info

Release:

Sep 6, 2005

[DVD Details]
  • Mars Attacks!
  • tim burton returns to the studio where he enjoyed his greatest successes, with "beetlejuice" and the first two "batman" movies
  • Source: Warner Home Video
  • Buy It On DVD

    Reviews

     
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    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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    Ratings Image
    4/5

    Burton is at his funniest when the Martians are zapping away like brats playing a video game.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    09/27/07
    Rob Gonsalves
    eFilmCritic.com
    Ratings Image
    B-

    It has a silly juvenile appeal in its unrelenting and subversive camp satire of the pop culture scene.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    01/06/07
    Dennis Schwartz
    Ozus' World Movie Reviews
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review | comment Comment
    02/09/06
    Derek Adams
    Time Out
    N/R

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    Full Review | comment Comment
    04/09/05
    Robin Clifford
    Reeling Reviews
    Ratings Image
    3/10

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    Full Review | comment Comment
    05/22/03
    Dragan Antulov
    rec.arts.movies.reviews
    N/R

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    Full Review | comment Comment
    05/20/03
    Janet Maslin
    New York Times
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    Ratings Image
    2/4

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    Full Review | comment Comment
    05/14/03
    Jeanne Aufmuth
    Palo Alto Weekly
    Ratings Image
    1/4

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    Full Review | comment Comment
    03/16/03
    Robert Roten
    Laramie Movie Scope
    Ratings Image
    4/5

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    Full Review | comment Comment
    11/07/02
    James Rocchi
    Netflix
    N/R

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    Full Review | comment Comment
    11/06/02
    Jeff Strickler
    Minneapolis Star Tribune
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    N/R

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    10/29/02
    Washington Post
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    Ratings Image
    3/10

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    Full Review | comment Comment
    10/29/02
    Jack Garner
    Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
    Ratings Image
    N/A

    Only moderately amusing.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    10/29/02
    Desson Thomson
    Washington Post
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    Ratings Image
    1.5/4

    It's got attitude, goodness knows; it has stars by the fistful; and it certainly was made with technical skill. What it doesn't have is enough of a story to fill an hour and 46 minutes.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    10/15/02
    Margaret A. McGurk
    Cincinnati Enquirer
    Ratings Image
    3/4

    Mars Attacks! is packed with memorable sights and hilariously ridiculous ideas.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    09/10/02
    Kevin N. Laforest
    Montreal Film Journal
    Ratings Image
    3/4

    When the film's energy kicks in, though, so does Burton's flair for black comedy.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    06/19/02
    Jeffrey Westhoff
    Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
    Ratings Image
    2/4

    Hilarity never seemed so tedious.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    06/18/02
    Peter Stack
    San Francisco Chronicle
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    Ratings Image
    3/5

    A bizarre combination of eye candy, warped humor, social satire and comedic ultraviolence.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    06/05/02
    Christine James
    Boxoffice Magazine
    Ratings Image
    2/5

    Como parodiar algo que já não se levava muito a sério originalmente?

    Full Review | comment Comment
    05/31/02
    Pablo Villaca
    Cinema em Cena
    Ratings Image
    N/A

    Mars Attacks will keep you laughing from first to last.

    Full Review | comment Comment
    04/17/02
    Leslie Rigoulot
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    Related Forums

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    Film review: I love Burton's ability, but this movie lost me
    by: stealth 5/17/03


    Film review: Childish, but hilarious
    by: Ali White 7/21/02


    Film review:
    by: jpeischl 7/14/02
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    News

    Critical Consensus: A Beautiful "Bride," A Bumpy "Flight," And a Bouncy "Bounce"
    posted by Tim Ryan September 22, 2005
    This week at the movies brings a twisted tale of love from beyond the grave ("Tim Burton's Corpse Bride"), a...

    Around the Network

    • Mars Attacks! at Rotten Tomatoes
    • Mars Attacks! at IGN
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