Christmas on Mars

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

Movie Info

The film takes place during Christmastime on Mars, as the colonization of the Red Planet is underway. But, when an oxygen generator and a gravity control pod malfunction, Major Syrtis and his team fear for the worst. Syrtis hallucinates about the birth of a baby, and many other strange things. Meanwhile, a compassionate alien superbeing arrives, inspiring and helping the isolated astronauts.

Rating:

NR
Genre:

Musical & Performing Arts, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Directed By:

Wayne Coyne, George Salisbury, Bradley Beesley
Written By:

Wayne Coyne
In Theaters:

Sep 12, 2008 limited
On Disc/Streaming:

Nov 11, 2008
Runtime:

82 minutes
Studio:

Cinema Purgatorio

Cast

Steven Drozd

Michael Ivins

Wayne Coyne

Kliph Scurlock

Scott Booker

Adam Goldberg

Elijah Wood

Jimmy Pike

Steve Burns (V)

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Critic Reviews for Christmas on Mars

All Critics (6) | Top Critics (5)

Warmth and humor, Flaming Lips calling cards, are nowhere to be found.

Oct 31, 2008 | Rating: 1.5/4 | Full Review…

Joan Anderman
Boston Globe
Top Critic
This mostly black-and-white, dreamlike yuletide fable does possess its own dorky DIY charm.

Sep 22, 2008 | Full Review…

Ronnie Scheib
Variety
Top Critic
Many rock bands have a moment when they flirt with cinema, but the best efforts are...endearingly ragged projects, destined for cult status. For the Oklahoma group the Flaming Lips, that movie is Christmas on Mars.

Sep 12, 2008 | Rating: 4.5/5 | Full Review…

Andy Webster
New York Times
Top Critic
It's mainly pregnant with pauses that too frequently suck all the fun/oxygen out of each scene, like some art-film parody.

Sep 10, 2008 | Full Review…

Aaron Hillis
Village Voice
Top Critic

View All Critic Reviews (6)

Audience Reviews for Christmas on Mars

Dec 20, 2018

Christmas on Mars does just about the worst thing a movie can do: be boring. From the start, it's clearly going for a strange 70's sci-fi tripfest feel, and at first I really was on board with it. The visuals were very interesting, using blatantly low budget sets in interesting and making color a deliberate choice, it gave it all a very retro and eerie vibe. Once that charm wears off though, and it will wear off, it becomes clear there just isn't anything under the surface. The Flaming Lips are not actors, and their performances are often cringey, but even the bit parts from real actors like Fred Armisen are forced and awkward. The story, what there is, is meandering and dull. The funny thing is a lot of the ideas and philosophies the movie presents are the same as the ones presented in The Flaming Lips music, but where it somehow works in their music, when it's presented in narrative form it comes off as annoyingly forced and pretentious. I literally just watched the movie and I've already forgotten most of it. I remember the visuals and the atmosphere, and that is something, I do give it credit for that. I do like the eerie atmosphere and odd visuals it gave, but there were no bones to hold them up and thus the whole thing fell apart. Maybe as a short it could have been a masterpiece. As a feature, it's forgettable and tediously boring.

Michael M Super Reviewer
Nov 09, 2011

This could've used some editing. And some acting. There are some great (budget) visuals, and disturbing, creepy atmosphere, but nothing else worth mentioning. It's the type of film one should watch high in order to enjoy it to it's fullest. Unfortunately, I was stone sober and this movie was pretty much a challenge to sit through.

Devon B Super Reviewer
Jun 05, 2010

haha, oh the Flaming Lips, we love you.

Kyle M Super Reviewer
May 18, 2009

It really has that cheesy 50s-60s sci-fi film feel, with all the purposefully cheap sets, and (possibly purposeful) bad acting. You also have that snail's pace that is common of the sub-genre, but within the slow movement you actually have some serious mood being built. The film is shrouded in a heavy, creepy, and dreamlike feel that really sucks you in. It's no Kubrick, but it's still one heck of an experiment.

Patrick D Super Reviewer