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MRBEAKS Possessed By GHOSTS OF MARS!!
Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.
I've had a chance to see GHOSTS OF MARS now, but because it was at an official press screening, I'm under embargo until the day of release. That means I can't tell you that I enjoyed a good deal of the movie, or that I had some structural problems with it, or that I would say it's a safe bet for fans of the man. Nope. Can't say any of that. What I can do is offer you a review written by Our Man In Manhattan, MrBeaks. He was also able to participate in a Q&A with Carpenter after, so this should be fun. I hope he's able to get press credentials lined up for the upcoming New York Film Festival. Can't think of a better guy to cover it for us. Anyway... here he is. Beaks?
JOHN CARPENTER’S GHOSTS OF MARS (d. who do ya think? w. Carpenter and Larry Sulkis)
In the Q&A that followed Thursday evening’s screening of JOHN CARPENTER’S GHOSTS OF MARS, the legendary director of HALLOWEEN and BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA addressed the difficulty inherent in making an unapologetic genre film by stating rather simply that the trick is in making sure the picture “creaks” as little as possible. While there’s no doubt that GHOSTS OF MARS is a rickety, noisy vessel, it is one that – to use Carpenter’s verbiage – creaks in a satisfyingly familiar manner, and ends up working by virtue of embracing those shopworn elements, rather than, as has become so popular in the post-SCREAM era, throwing them a knowing, but somehow disrespecting, smirk.
The genre in question here, despite the interplanetary setting, is the Western. In fact, GHOSTS OF MARS marks Carpenter’s second go-round with Howard Hawks’s grandly entertaining RIO BRAVO, the landmark, star-studded epic that also, in tandem with the more-recent NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, gave Carpenter’s ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 its sturdy bone-structure. This time out, however, Carpenter is more single-minded in his aim to recapture the gripping, but humorous, tenor of Hawks’s classic, and his zeal to make a genuine Western – reflected in his imaginary use of New Mexico locations as a stand-in for his Mars exteriors – certainly outstrips his interest in the essentially secondary sci-fi trappings.
The story, told in a rather loopy flashback format, begins with the mysterious return on auto pilot of a seemingly abandoned prison transport; however, upon boarding, a sole survivor, Officer Melanie Ballard (Natasha Henstridge), is found, and she is immediately put before a tribunal, where she relates her version of what happened during the supposedly routine pick-up of notorious criminal, James “Desolation” Williams (Ice Cube).
At this point, we are flung backwards in time to the beginning of this ill-fated mission, and introduced to Ballard’s crew, including her tough, unabashedly lesbian superior, Helena (played by the ever-smoldering Pam Grier), the irrepressibly horny Jericho (Jason Statham), and the obligatory rookie, Kincaid (Clea DuVall). Once some largely routine tension within the crew is established, the transport arrives at Chryse, a mining outpost that has been eerily silenced. A little exploration uncovers the reason for the quiet: all the inhabitants have been brutally, almost ritualistically, massacred; that is, everyone save for the prisoners. Though Helena immediately suspects Desolation, it isn’t long before the officers discover that the murders have been committed by a large group of the town’s residents who have been possessed by the planet’s reawakened former inhabitants: the titular, malevolent “Ghosts” who are bent on wiping out the human scourge, and reclaiming Mars for themselves.
While credit must be given to Carpenter for tackling the prickly theme of dominion – the need for the colonizing humans to wipe out Mars’s indigenous population uncomfortably mirrors our own ruthless realization of manifest destiny – GHOSTS OF MARS is, first and foremost, a cutthroat (literally, at times) action-adventure, and Carpenter has wisely altered his style to emphasize mayhem over mood. At ninety-eight minutes, the film is constantly surging forward, even when we’ve been plunged into a flashback within a flashback, and while the editing is never pretty (lots of dissolves and ugly wipes), it fits the ramshackle nature of the picture.
What’s disappointing, however, is that these concessions to modern-day filmmaking have compromised the most enjoyable aspects of Carpenter’s films, most notably in the scoring and framing departments. In teaming up with Anthrax and the guitarist Buckethead to compose the music, Carpenter has arranged a functionally propulsive, but thoroughly unmemorable score. As for his usually impressive widescreen compositions, this is, I’m sad to say, the first Carpenter film that won’t suffer greatly from the normally unforgiving pan-and-scan of home video. And while I usually love Gary Kibbe’s cinematography, the film is often marred by a murkiness that frustratingly obscures the action.
Thank Nipsy, then, for the chemistry between Natasha Henstridge and Ice Cube, two previously unremarkable actors who have responded to the material in very interesting ways. Henstridge has worked the tough/sexy landscape before in the SPECIES films, but here she is tones down her already pronounced sensuality and actually cuts a fairly imposing figure as the no-nonsense Ballard. Ice Cube, on the other hand, still relies on his trademark glower, but, with his occasionally soft delivery, this is the first time he’s actually attempted anything approaching character work, and the results are encouraging. Best of all, Henstridge and Cube seem to be having a blast together, and their playfulness goes a long way towards offsetting the film’s many rough patches.
If I can’t quite bring myself to recommend JOHN CARPENTER’S GHOSTS OF MARS to anyone outside of the director’s fan base, this is not to say that the film won’t play well to mainstream audiences. The overt gore and fast pace will most likely please young males, who are much less likely to turn their nose up at the excessive expository dialogue, even though they will no doubt be disappointed with Henstridge remaining clothed for the entirety of the film. And while the film is an unfussy genre work, it still has that cynical, Carpenter-esque sense of humor, which provides, as always, for a few memorable lines.
Judging from the Q&A, Carpenter is thoroughly comfortable with the niche he has carved out for himself, and will happily continue to make moderately budgeted genre films until he is ready to pack it in for good. While this mindset has translated into two modestly entertaining films over the last few years, I’m hoping that we’re not witnessing a trend towards more workmanlike pictures from one of the few living masters of the American Cinema. Though he has certainly earned this luxury, and owes his admirers nothing, who wouldn’t like to see one last swing for the fences?
Faithfully Submitted,
P.S. One tidbit from the Q&A: Carpenter and Roddy Piper will be recording a commentary for a THEY LIVE DVD sometime in the near-future. Also, while he was peppered with questions regarding a re-teaming with Kurt Russell, he seemed to think that Kurt’s price tag renders this rather unlikely.
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One of the best psychological horror films of all time. I just had to express that.
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Is it me, or does it seem like various members of the AICN staff are trying to talk up this fucking turkey of film, that by nearly universal response is a turd of world class proportions?
Hmmmm, when stuff like that happens it makes you think doesn't it? A movie that nearly everyone hates, is being givem a massage by harry and chums! A cynic might say that this would help mister carpenter recoup some money a the box office. BUT NOT ME! I'm sure this film is a little gem, that every one else has failed to spot, and Harry et al. are simply reminding us of that fact. -
your review finally made me realize that this movie is basically just "Aliens" filtered through the "The Martian Chronicles." That doesn't mean it's not a decent time.
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Aug 10, 2001 11:31:50 AM CDT
"I've had a chance to see GHOSTS OF MARS now, but because it was
by poxyvonsinister
Hmm, maybe just like the folks who went on the Scooby junket?
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Not that I disagree with you otherwise regarding your summations of Raimi and Craven.
Also, Carpenter said at the screening that "Ghosts of Mars" was not audience-tested. Hooray! -
Uh... Sam Raimi is far from a "enuch" or "unit". Just because he isn't directing Bruce Campbell and including blood/gore/3 Stooges references into all of his movies doesn't mean he sucks. Have you seen "The Gift"?? That's a straight up great great great HORROR movie. Rent it on DVD, turn off the lights and crank up the surround sound. He may of made some "okay" movies, but never a dull moment IMHO (well, except for Love Of The Game). I hope he kicks everyone's arse with Spider-Man.
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Aug 10, 2001 12:51:44 PM CDT
Jeez, if it weren't for Carpenter getting him out of the Disney
by sfreviews.net
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we should expect something better from the director who gave us The Thing, Madness, and The Fog.
To defend his latest films as some kind of labor of love and to rationalize their suck value is bullshit.
John...do it right or don't do it at all.....man I sound like Yoda. -
Though I'm not a fan of Carpenter's anymore and won't go see the film, I did enjoy your well written review. How was Johanna Casssidy's ass on screen though? Now, that, I might go see.
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No, nothing like the folks who went on the Scooby junket. You hold a junket months in advance for the express purpose of getting ADVANCE publicity. So barring them from talking about it until its thetrical release would be stupidity on a Schumacherian level. And those that went on it haven't been completely silent on the film, you'll notice; they've just carefully avoided saying anything negative.
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You are the best writer on Aint It Cool News. I hope you keep it coming. Your DePalma series was first rate and your articles are always wonderful! Thanks!
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Why are they remaking Pitch Black already? Dangerous criminal who turns into hero...strong female...humans being killed off on another planet - you know Carpenter has run out of ideas when he's ripping off low-budget B-movies for his own films. And instead of cool-looking aliens he has Marilyn Manson wannabes as being supposedly scary?
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"Pitch Black" rips-off "Assault on Precinct 13." Surprisingly enough, there are actually a few movies that came out before the late 1990s. "D'oh," is right DohmerSimpson.
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DAMN THIS IS MAKING ME THIRSTY!
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Aug 10, 2001 7:32:56 PM CDT
KNEEL, PUNY HUMANS, BEFORE THE WONDER THAT IS JOHN CARPETNER!!!!
by bigdaddymars77
(Just don't bring up Escape from L.A. or Village of the Damned)Other than those two films, every film J.C. has made has been AWESOME. Especially Halloween. That is the greatest horror movie ever made. Better than the Exorcist. Better than Night of the Living Dead.Halloween brought horror home, and the unstoppable terror that was the William Shatner mask wearing Killer Micheal Myers still fills this fanboys heart with dread....When I make my first million i'm going to buy every J.C. movie on DVD just for the commentary...especially his often overlooked "PRINCE OF DARKNESS"..really cool film. Donald Pleasance rocked.
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Which I think will be a decent flick for the kids (Harry not all films are aimed at 40 year old film geeks) but my reason for posting is, How the hell is Kurt Russell to expensive for a John Carpenter movie?? Did he have a hit movie I did not know about. Hell, when was his last hit movie? That was just a cheap cop out answer that was not followed up on. What we need is more roddy piper and less Kurt and Scooby Bashing. As for the film, I'll wait till its on Starz (because it plays more hit movies then anyone else) or HBO (my favorite channel) anyway, war Blue Jays in 2002. rack me. I'm out.
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Kurt Russell got paid $20 million for 'Soldier'. I think that qualifies him for the "fairly expensive" bracket, n'est pas?
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Excuse me, Moriarty, but since you're not a professional film journalist, how can you be under embargo? And then you sneakily break that embargo in your introduction... very low. Hope the movie's good, though, but I wouldn't bet on it.
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I seem to of missed the articles but DAMN THATS A SHIT TITLE! I'm sure at the time Empire and Jedi seemed shit but "return" of the "jedi" sounds cool! Attack of the Clones! Thats sounds like Ed Wood, and loving it! But instead of all moaning about it, what else shoudl it be called? Clone Wars has Wars in the title so doesn't gel. I can't be arsed right now but when it clicks, I'll let you know. I'm sure you all can't wait.
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Precint 13 is cool: I wanted Rasberry Ripple. But I do love some shit going down on another planet and I can't see much wrong with Pitch Black, well filmed, hammy acting with touches of good acting. and Vin. Ghosts does sound VERY similar but I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW that Pitch black to was inspired by many other films, including, I'm sure 13. BUT lets not forget eveything, including Carpenters films are based on other stuff. So lets enjoy em all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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If anyone hasn't seen this, rent it ASAP. It burns down all the modern "high concept" garbage like the Duke with his '92.
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Aug 11, 2001 5:48:38 PM CDT
Latest issue of MEAN magazine has a great interview with Carpent
by monkey_king
that I enjoyed immensely. Yet, Old Monkey still hates the fact that once John gets his hands on a script he totally disassembles it then puts it back together "his way", and the fact that he promised to never "remake" ESCAPE FROM N.Y. for years, yet he did anyway with EFL.A. and is sucked to high heaven where I reside. Old Sun Wu'Kong don't take to kindly to shitty remakes parading as new ones. In case your wondering, the MEAN magazine features Iggy Pop toting a Tommy Gun on the cover.
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He is responsible for the id...ok?
Along with Assault on Precinct 13,Halloween,Escape from New York,They Live, In the Mouth of Madness,Big Trouble in Little China... Please do not leave out The Thing!!! The Thing was panned by most of the press at the time of it's release...up against E.T., the movie has gone on to legendary status...I will reserve my JUDGEMENT, until I have viewed the film..."The names Pliskin" -
...the stuff that JC has turned out over the last six or seven years has been dissapointing to say the least and I'm sure there's a whole bunch of reasons you guys here can posit to justify his retirement but it's still important that people like Carpenter stick around, if only to needle the conformist pricks at the major studios. Yeah, I hope Ghosts is his return to form...but I don't care if it doesn't do the biz at the box office, as long as the guy keeps working. There's more chutzpah in one of his movies (aside from maybe Village of The Damned and Escape From LA-though the final epithet from Plissken at the end of that flick was almost worth the price of admission alone)than ten of the cruddy feel-good summer crap movies that're pumped out and shoved down our throats during the summer blockbuster season by these big-ass studios run by accountants who have no sense of the cultural zietgeist.
Whew! Had my say...off to watch The Thing again... -
yep all Carpenter's work stand well above other movies even the dissapoiting ones!! and Hey!! Mr. Carpenter you have fans all around the world!!
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JC made the best movies of the 80's. I feel priveleged to have grown up watching his rugged films. He took action and horror and managed to add real comedy to the mix. Very few filmakers ever accomplish this in a single film, let alone 5 or 6. When the 90's P.C. error hit he stumbled like every true american did. But I think now that schlock has made a comeback we should forgive him for Escape From LA., He had people flying through the air fighting way before it was considered anime trendy like mediocre Crouching Tiger. He knew that a good film requires different elements flowing like a great soup. If I had a 150 million John I'd give it to you, you'd make these pussy filmakers like Michael Bay go back to directing car commercials and show these phonies how to really use that CGI.
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I'm tired of all you so-called "film geeks" turning on heroes like John Carpenter. He is ten times better than any of your current movie director "gods" like Curtis Hanson and Steven Soderberg. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy L.A. Confidential or Traffic, because I highly enjoyed both. But come on! What the hell was Wonder Boys?? What the hell was sex, lies, and videotape (other than a terrible movie that everyone now hails as a "classic" just because it was by a director who eventually did a pretty goood movie...aka: the Manhunter syndrome)?
Sure, Carpenter has had a few "turkeys" in his career, but what director hasn't? Why blame Carpenter when most of the faults of his "turkeys" have been due to the studio that was involved (especially in the cases of Village of the Damned and Escape From L.A.)? I'm sure if Hanson, P.T. Anderson, or Soderberg had the same type of studio interference and hurdles to jump, they'd turn out a few "turkeys" every once in a while too. At least Carpenter is staying true to his roots and not trying to be someone he's not. Craven and Raimi have indeed lost their creative nutsacks. While For Love of the Game, The Gift, and Music of the Heart were decent movies, ANY director in Hollywood could've directed them and they would've turned out very similar, if not better.
So, give Carpenter a break or stop calling yourselves film geeks. -
Why is there so much hoopla over John Carpenter? Sure, Halloween was revolutionary. But C'Mon, it is not involved with the most respected of genres. I personally could care less about slasher films.
What else has he done? Besides Big Trouble in Little China (amusing at best), his work is down right embarassing. How can people consider themselves fans of a technically inept director. -
It doesn't sound like you have ever watched a JC movie to me.
Ever heard of The Thing? Prince of Darkness? The Fog?
If you had ever watched a JC movie you would know damn well his movies aren't "slasher flicks."
What kind of moron makes posts like this without facts to back them up?
As for JC, I have enjoyed almost all of his movies - and I have seen them all. Didn't care for Vampires but I appreciated what he was trying to do. Escape from LA was a disappointment... Does anyone else want to see a sequel to The Thing? Just wondering.... -
Aug 13, 2001 8:14:05 AM CDT
Escape from NY-one of the best action Halloween- on of the best
by sundown
Not to mention Mouth of Madness...glad to see it getting props. This guy rocks and I hope this is a return to form or the beginning of one. I really don;t want any sequels unless he is roaring again and gets another hit. Then I would love him to do sequels to them all! (LA DID NOT happen!) but how cool would a Big Trouble 2 be with Jackie Chan and Jack Burton kicking ass with Jet Li as the baddie?
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...I never said Pitch Black was original - it obviously copies stuff from other films including Aliens. And I do have Assault On Precinct 13 on video (it's a great film) so don't be so quick to assume people don't know more about films than you do. Precinct 13 also ripped off another film - Rio Bravo. I don't really care if films borrow from others as long as they're good films in their own right. Ghosts Of Mars just looks like a bad film, that's all. The last Carpenter film I thought was successful was In The Mouth Of Madness (95) and before that Big Trouble In Little China (86). Two good films in the last 15 years is NOT a good record.
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I understand why someone compared it to Pitch Black. It looked like PB w/zombies instead of critters. Before everyone starts raising cain at me, I am putting down neither the movie nor John Carpenter. I am merely giving my opinion.____Bee
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Does anyone get the website for this movie? I am not sure I get the closing doors - is that supposed to be a train or space tunnel or something? If you have any ideas let me know. It is really bothering me.
http://www.spe.sony.com/movies/ghostsofmars/
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