Mars Attacks!
Mars Attacks! is a comedy and science fiction movie by Tim Burton based on the popular card series Mars Attacks. It was released in 1996 by Warner Bros.
The film combines the storyline and tone of a B-movie (or B-movie spoof) with the budget of a blockbuster movie. It features an ensemble cast. The film is highly dependent upon special effects. The soundtrack by Danny Elfman makes extensive use of the theremin.
The
film received mixed reviews from US critics, though it was more popular in Europe.
It grossed some $101 million worldwide, and was considered a moderate box office
success because of its $70 million cost.
Spoiler
Plot Summary
The destruction of
the spaceship-themed Las Vegas hotel was the actual demolition of the Landmark
Hotel and Casino, though aliens were edited in. It was imploded to make way for
a parking lot at the Las Vegas Convention Center.[citation needed]
A large
portion of the original trading cards series included oversized bugs that the
Martians used to exterminate the humans. No oversized bugs were seen in the film,
although flying saucers and robots were featured.
The producers approached
the U.S. Army for cooperation in filming the movie. The Army refused, after learning
that the story involved Slim Whitman's song "Indian Love Call" being
more effective against the invaders than the military.[citation needed]
Novelist
Martin Amis was employed as a script consultant on the film.
In 1997, The
Misfits, a punk/horror genre band, released a song on the American Psycho album
called "Mars Attacks!", inspired by both the original TOPPS brand trading
cards of the 1960s and the Warner Brothers Movie.
The giant donut was built
in Hollywood by H. Bruce Norrbom and shipped to Burns, Kansas to be filmed.
Casino
scenes were filmed at the Luxor Hotel, Las Vegas.
The scene showing the junked
casino signs was filmed in the "Neon Boneyard", once owned by the Young
Electric Sign Company. It is now owned by the Neon Museum [1], a non-profit organization
that is renovating the signs for future display.
The rifles the U.S. Army
soldiers used in Mars Attacks! are M14 rifles.
Cast
Jack
Nicholson - President James Dale - US President, husband of Marsha Dale, father
of Taffy Dale. Seeks to gain relations with the Martians. He is persuaded to be
peaceful by his more liberal advisors.
Jack Nicholson - Art Land - Las Vegas
property developer, husband of Barbara Land. Not concerned by the invasion, more
concerned by the well being of his investors.
Glenn Close - First Lady Marsha
Dale - US First Lady, wife of James Dale, mother of Taffy Dale. Agrees with General
Decker over the evil intentions of the Martians.
Annette Bening - Barbara
Land - former alcoholic, wife of Art Land. She likes the Martians.
Pierce
Brosnan - Professor Donald Kessler - Chairman of the National Academy of Astronautics,
advisor to President, in love with Nathalie Lake, thinks the Martians are friendly.
Danny DeVito - Rude Gambler - Gambler is a lawyer and attempts to negotiate
with the Martians.
Martin Short - Press Secretary Jerry Ross - White House
Press Secretary. Only cares about the President's media image.
Sarah Jessica
Parker - Nathalie Lake - Reporter for Today in Fashion, girlfriend of Jason Stone,
in love with Donald Kessler. She also has her head switched with her dog.
Michael
J. Fox - Jason Stone - Reporter for GNN, boyfriend of Nathalie Lake
Rod Steiger
- Gen. Decker - US Army General. Doesn't trust the Martians and wants to destroy
them. He turns out to be right.
Tom Jones - himself - Famous real life singer,
assists Byron and Barbara during their escape from Las Vegas.
Jim Brown -
Byron Williams - Former heavyweight champion, fights the Martians in the end,
saying,"No weapons! No clown outfit! Just me! Byron Williams! Heavyweight
champion! Of the world!" He showed the uppercut(He challenged a Martian to
a fist fight.)
Lukas Haas - Richie Norris - Lives in Perkinsville, Kansas.
Family outcast, eventually saves the world.
Natalie Portman - Taffy Dale -
US First Daughter, daughter of James and Marsha Dale.
Pam Grier - Louise Williams
- Wife of Byron, mother of Cedric and Neville. Washington D.C. bus driver.
Lisa
Marie - Martian Girl - Disguised as a beautiful woman, tricks Jerry Ross into
letting her into the White House.
Brian Haley - Secret Service Agent Mitch
- Bodyguard of President Dale, remains with him throughout the film.
Sylvia
Sidney - Florence Norris - Lives in Perkinsville. Family outcast, helps her grandson
Richie save the world with her music which kills the Martians.
Jack Black
- Billy Glen Norris - US Army Soldier, volunteers for Martian detail in the Nevada
desert. Brother of Richie Norris.
Paul Winfield - Lt. Gen. Casey - US Army
Lieutenant General, thinks the Martians are peaceful. Sent to greet their Ambassador
in Nevada.
Ray J - Cedric Williams - Brother of Neville, son of Byron and
Louise, helps protect the President.
Brandon Hammond - Neville Williams -
Brother of Cedric, son of Byron and Louise, saves the President's life.
Jerzy
Skolimowski - Dr. Zeigler - Inventor of the translator device. Present in Nevada
during first contact.
Janice Rivera - Cindy - actress at a Las Vegas casino.
Escapes with Tom Jones and Barbara.
Christina Applegate - Sharona - Lives
in a trailer diagonally across from the Norris's.
O-Lan Jones - Sue Ann Norris
- Mother of Billy Glen and Richie. Wife of Mr. Norris.
Joe Don Baker - Mr.
Norris - Father of Billy Glen and Richie. Very proud of Billy Glen.
Barbet
Schroeder - Maurice, the French President - President of France, unsuccessfully
tries to negotiate with the Martians.
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