GHOSTS OF MARS / (2001) *1/2 (out of four)
Dear John Carpenter: Now that you've earned the respect of audiences and filmmakers alike, you're beginning to fall prey to pure laziness. Few people will deny that you're a capable filmmaker; who could contradict your ability to invoke fear with a credit like the original "Halloween" up your sleeve. Lately, however, your work has been less than suitable considering your talent. While "Escape from New York" contained entertaining action sequences and "Vampires" had its defenders, "Ghosts of Mars," your latest addition into the world of horror films, results as a complete and utter disaster.
The idea you and Larry Sulkis have here is so similar in concept to Stephen King's gripping 1996 novel "Desperation," that I wonder if royalties were involved. The concept-miners unleashing an inhuman form of evil dormant for many years-does indeed contain potential. There's a variety of different angles to view the material. Unfortunately, you take the easy way out and turn this morally striking story into a special effects action picture.
We have seen this so many times before, Mr. Carpenter, that we can predict the outcome of almost every single scene. Even this might not have completely destroyed your possibilities had you taken the material serious from the green-light. As you know, music contributes a significant effect in horror movies. When the soundtrack plays a threatening, suspenseful music sequence followed by a sudden startling moment, few audience members will sit on dry seats. "Ghosts of Mars" does not produce scary, tense music, but unfitting action oriented and rap music. This aspect of the film should have been masterful. You composed the film for God's sake.
For our readers, "Ghosts of Mars" takes place about a hundred years in the future. Hundreds of thousands of people now inhabit Mars-a setting you, Mr. Carpenter, have wanted to do a movie about since the 80's. Most of the residents mine the red planet in search for resources to ship back to the overpopulated earth. One of those mining operations goes awry when a crew accidentally awakens a long-dormant alien civilization. Presumably enjoying their beauty sleep, the aliens are not happy to be awake. But, what the hell, since they're already up, why not kill everyone in sight, slice their faces off, and ware them as masks.
So far, so good, Mr. Carpenter. This has some horrifying potential. What's with the main story, however, about a Mars Police Force, led by veteran Lt. Melanie Ballard (Natasha Henstridge), who must transport James "Desolation" Williams (Ice Cube), the planet's most notorious criminal, to justice. Clea DuVall, Pam Grier, Jason Statham, and Joanna Cassidy all bring their ill conceived characters to life, but they are not the interesting element in the story. We want to know more about the aliens. Instead, you turn the film into a martial arts spectacular, in which the set designs, make up effects, and costuming works indeed, but the shallowness of the story prevents the movie from becoming anything reasonably appealing.
In the production notes, your cast and crew talk about you with universal praise. Sprinkled throughout the information are phases like "I've never worked with a director quite like him," "he's one of my favorite directors I've worked with," "I'm learning a lot from him," "I've been a fan of his for quite a while," and "he's very supportive." If you're such a great filmmaker, as I know you are, then why do you make trash like "Ghost of Mars." You make clear that you're not trying to tell a theme with this film, stating "I just want the audience to watch Ghosts of Mars' and come away having had a good time." This film bombed at the box office. It's obvious many people did not have a good time.
Covered from head to toe with gruesome make up and an impressively designed costume, the most memorable character in this film is easily the leader of the aliens. But why call this character "Big Daddy"? Are you shooting for laughs here? I know I was laughing during scenes of this production, and I was not the only one in the small theater audience. If you're going to take the time to establish such a technically brilliant character, why not take it seriously? I still have faith in you. Your fans still have faith in you. Keep making movies like this, however, and those fans might start to stray. One thing is for certain, however, we know you can do better than "Ghosts of Mars."
Yours in criticism, Blake French
Dear John Carpenter: Now that you've earned the respect of audiences and filmmakers alike, you're beginning to fall prey to pure laziness. Few people will deny that you're a capable filmmaker; who could contradict your ability to invoke fear with a credit like the original "Halloween" up your sleeve. Lately, however, your work has been less than suitable considering your talent. While "Escape from New York" contained entertaining action sequences and "Vampires" had its defenders, "Ghosts of Mars," your latest addition into the world of horror films, results as a complete and utter disaster.
The idea you and Larry Sulkis have here is so similar in concept to Stephen King's gripping 1996 novel "Desperation," that I wonder if royalties were involved. The concept-miners unleashing an inhuman form of evil dormant for many years-does indeed contain potential. There's a variety of different angles to view the material. Unfortunately, you take the easy way out and turn this morally striking story into a special effects action picture.
We have seen this so many times before, Mr. Carpenter, that we can predict the outcome of almost every single scene. Even this might not have completely destroyed your possibilities had you taken the material serious from the green-light. As you know, music contributes a significant effect in horror movies. When the soundtrack plays a threatening, suspenseful music sequence followed by a sudden startling moment, few audience members will sit on dry seats. "Ghosts of Mars" does not produce scary, tense music, but unfitting action oriented and rap music. This aspect of the film should have been masterful. You composed the film for God's sake.
For our readers, "Ghosts of Mars" takes place about a hundred years in the future. Hundreds of thousands of people now inhabit Mars-a setting you, Mr. Carpenter, have wanted to do a movie about since the 80's. Most of the residents mine the red planet in search for resources to ship back to the overpopulated earth. One of those mining operations goes awry when a crew accidentally awakens a long-dormant alien civilization. Presumably enjoying their beauty sleep, the aliens are not happy to be awake. But, what the hell, since they're already up, why not kill everyone in sight, slice their faces off, and ware them as masks.
So far, so good, Mr. Carpenter. This has some horrifying potential. What's with the main story, however, about a Mars Police Force, led by veteran Lt. Melanie Ballard (Natasha Henstridge), who must transport James "Desolation" Williams (Ice Cube), the planet's most notorious criminal, to justice. Clea DuVall, Pam Grier, Jason Statham, and Joanna Cassidy all bring their ill conceived characters to life, but they are not the interesting element in the story. We want to know more about the aliens. Instead, you turn the film into a martial arts spectacular, in which the set designs, make up effects, and costuming works indeed, but the shallowness of the story prevents the movie from becoming anything reasonably appealing.
In the production notes, your cast and crew talk about you with universal praise. Sprinkled throughout the information are phases like "I've never worked with a director quite like him," "he's one of my favorite directors I've worked with," "I'm learning a lot from him," "I've been a fan of his for quite a while," and "he's very supportive." If you're such a great filmmaker, as I know you are, then why do you make trash like "Ghost of Mars." You make clear that you're not trying to tell a theme with this film, stating "I just want the audience to watch Ghosts of Mars' and come away having had a good time." This film bombed at the box office. It's obvious many people did not have a good time.
Covered from head to toe with gruesome make up and an impressively designed costume, the most memorable character in this film is easily the leader of the aliens. But why call this character "Big Daddy"? Are you shooting for laughs here? I know I was laughing during scenes of this production, and I was not the only one in the small theater audience. If you're going to take the time to establish such a technically brilliant character, why not take it seriously? I still have faith in you. Your fans still have faith in you. Keep making movies like this, however, and those fans might start to stray. One thing is for certain, however, we know you can do better than "Ghosts of Mars."
Yours in criticism, Blake French