'Mar's Attacks'
All Over Again

By Tim Burchett
Special to The Bakersfield Californian



When "Mars Attacks" was released in theatres last year it was a bomb. What can you expect when you open a movie with Tom Cruise the same weekend. Of course, I'm referring to "Jerry Maguire." Well, anyway, now that "Mars Attacks" is on video, those of you who missed it should rent it. Hopefully, it will get the attention it deserves.

The plot is similar to last year's sci-fi blockbuster "Independence Day" as well as many of the great B movies of the 1950s, but it's 199 percent better than "ID4." Instead of a huge fireball released from the mothership destroying our beautiful earth, the little green men come out of their ships and wreak havok with their ray guns.

The cast is great, especially Jack Nicholson who is good in his dual roles as Art Land, a real estate developer who sees the visitors as a way to make money, and as the president. Glen Close is good as the first lady. Pierce Brosnan is nowhere near James Bond as a scientist who thinks he knows everything about the martians.

Kudos to Tim Burton, who seems to have had a great time making the movie. This isn't his best movie (that honor would have to go to "Edward Scissorhands") but it's up there.

This would be a great double bill with "War Of The Worlds", or even "Beetlejuice". They are similar in tone and humor.

I highly recommend renting "Mars Attacks".