Mars Attacks ---- SUCKS Big Time
Robert Burgess
I just saw "Mars Attacks" and being a collector of the cards when I was
younger,I was disappointed and digusted by the lack of loyalty to the
cards series. Baby Boomers like myself would do well to wait for this
movie to go on video and then don't rent it.
Tim Burton failed to follow the story line that the cards presented and
only put forth a few talented actors in a bad movie, with obvious and
preditable humor. Come on Mr. Burton, why not follow the cards, why even
attempt to spoof the premise of the story line that the cards presented.
I feel any one devoted to the orignal cards will be displeased at an
obvious and pretentious plot of stupid humor.
There were plenty of opportunities by the cards to produce very cool
special effects with gigantic insects, tidal waves, city destruction,
and Earth retaliating against Mars. But these are no where to be found
in the movie. With a block buster like ID4, it is a shame that this
movie is a big DUD!!
Save your money, your time, and your sanity, don't see "Mars Attacks"
Geoff Burkman
Robert Burgess <loc...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>I just saw "Mars Attacks" and being a collector of the cards when I was
>younger,I was disappointed and digusted by the lack of loyalty to the
>cards series. Baby Boomers like myself would do well to wait for this
>movie to go on video and then don't rent it.
As a fellow Boomer, and MA cards collector, I respect your opinion and even
agree with you that I was disappointed that Burton did not hew to the original's
storyline. However, this film is a big screen experience and should definitely
be experienced that way.
>Tim Burton failed to follow the story line that the cards presented and
>only put forth a few talented actors in a bad movie, with obvious and
>preditable humor. Come on Mr. Burton, why not follow the cards, why even
>attempt to spoof the premise of the story line that the cards presented.
>I feel any one devoted to the orignal cards will be displeased at an
>obvious and pretentious plot of stupid humor.
Nope. Not me.
>There were plenty of opportunities by the cards to produce very cool
>special effects with gigantic insects, tidal waves, city destruction,
>and Earth retaliating against Mars. But these are no where to be found
>in the movie. With a block buster like ID4, it is a shame that this
>movie is a big DUD!!
Agreed. I definitely wanted to see the giant insects munching on the humans.
I suspect that budgetary restraints precluded that.
>Save your money, your time, and your sanity, don't see "Mars Attacks"
Wanna save money? Go to a matinee showing.
The time and sanity questions are too subjective to debate. This is a film that
you are either going to love or hate. Probably just what Burton wanted.
Regards,
Geoff
--
Geoff Burkman, proprietor
Renaissance Music Media
1924 S. Smithville Rd.
Dayton, Ohio 45420
(513) 258-1038 12-7pm EST daily
gbur...@erinet.com
buying and selling entertainment since 1979
Matt Martinez
Robert Burgess wrote:
>
> I just saw "Mars Attacks" and being a collector of the cards when I was
> younger,I was disappointed and digusted by the lack of loyalty to the
> cards series. Baby Boomers like myself would do well to wait for this
> movie to go on video and then don't rent it.
>
I totally agree. If Burton had made this movie to be exactly like the
cards (only adding some characters), it could have surpassed all my
expectations. I felt that the original material of the cards (although
intended to be serious) was much funnier than the contrived laughs in
the movie. Although I loved parts of MARS ATTACKS!, the other hour and
a half was just too boring and not funny.
--
Matt
"Do not be so proud of this technological terror you have constructed.
The ability to criticize Star Wars is insignificant next to power of the
Fans"
-Brandon David Short
Geoff Burkman
Matt Martinez <jsej...@alpha.wcoil.com> wrote:
>Robert Burgess wrote:
>> I just saw "Mars Attacks" and being a collector of the cards when I was
>> younger,I was disappointed and digusted by the lack of loyalty to the
>> cards series. Baby Boomers like myself would do well to wait for this
>> movie to go on video and then don't rent it.
>I totally agree. If Burton had made this movie to be exactly like the
>cards (only adding some characters), it could have surpassed all my
>expectations. I felt that the original material of the cards (although
>intended to be serious) was much funnier than the contrived laughs in
>the movie. Although I loved parts of MARS ATTACKS!, the other hour and
>a half was just too boring and not funny.
Hi, Matt:
Guess I'll chime in on this particular thread. I was just looking at the Topps
'94 reprint set the other night, and would have to say that one of the LAST
things those cards were was funny. The original intent was definitely NOT to
make you laugh. Unrelenting gore, violence, and horror is what they were.
I'd say that the only unintentional humor of the cards was the sophomoric
written material on the card backs. They basically read as if they were written
by a fairly clever 5th grader (which is what I was at the time).
When I first heard about the project sometime last year, my first feeling was
the same as yours--I hoped that Burton would do a "straight" retelling of the
card set. Then I pulled out the reprint set, studied them, and realized that
that would be a tremendous mistake. Go check out the main website for the card
set; I believe they have all the cards and card backs reproduced there. The
storyline is full of holes, has very little "authenticity," and no character
development (or characters at all!); it's all very, very WWII/Cold War action
involving the good ol' USofA being assaulted by an evil empire. The giant
insects dominate the last half of the set (talk about unrelenting repetition of
a theme), and the counterattack against Mars quite literally materializes out of
nowhere. In overall feel, to be quite honest (and not to pick a fight with you,
since I know you're a fan of the film), reminded me alot of ID4 (see, I don't
have to get that IQ4 jab in EVERY time....oops, I just did it again, didn't I?)
:)
So anyway, I think Burton did the smarter thing, using the Mars Attacks! idea as
a springboard for a broader pastiche/satire of the whole genre of Sci-Fi/BEM
Cold War paranoia films of the period.
And, as I've commented before, I think what's most interesting about the ongoing
threads on Mars Attacks! (as well as ID4 and others) is that it shows that
people have a wide range of interests and likes/dislikes AND that, by and large,
we can (at least here on Usenet) exchange our thoughts and ideas about things
like movies in a (usually) civilized manner, and all (perhaps) gain a little
something from the exchange. Certainly more than those bloodyminded little
Martian maniacs were interested in, hunh? Ack! Ack! Ack!
Matt Martinez
Geoff Burkman wrote:
>
> Hi, Matt:
> Guess I'll chime in on this particular thread. I was just looking at the Topps
> '94 reprint set the other night, and would have to say that one of the LAST
> things those cards were was funny. The original intent was definitely NOT to
> make you laugh. Unrelenting gore, violence, and horror is what they were.
> I'd say that the only unintentional humor of the cards was the sophomoric
> written material on the card backs. They basically read as if they were written
> by a fairly clever 5th grader (which is what I was at the time).
>
I guess, to me, the most unintentionally funny part of the card story
was the way it ended. The idea of Earth just suddenly building
spaceships and going to trash Mars is absurd! Aside from that, Mars
explodes! I mean, wouldn't that throw the entire solar system out of
whack? I guess I don't really think Tim Burton should have directly
copied the cards to film, but he should have been a bit more faithful.
(The giant insects could have been some great, kooky fun, too!)