Flying saucers annihilate humanity with gleeful malice while politicians debate the proper way to shake alien hands. Tim Burton skewers sci-fi tropes with a spectacularly cynical invasion tale. He trades noble heroes for bewildered victims. A ridiculous musical weapon eventually saves the day.
Detailed Summary
First Contact
Global panic ensues after telescopes spot thousands of flying saucers approaching Earth. President James Dale addresses the nation to urge calm. He wants to look presidential.
Meanwhile, scientists predict a peaceful encounter. Professor Donald Kessler assumes advanced intelligence guarantees benevolence. This proves disastrously wrong.
The Nevada Meeting
Military leaders orchestrate a grand welcoming ceremony in the Nevada desert. A massive crowd gathers. Interestingly, the Martian Ambassador arrives holding a translation device.
A hippie releases a dove as a symbol of peace. The Martian shoots the bird dead instantly. Soon after, the aliens vaporize most of the crowd.
Congress Under Fire
Martian leaders offer an apology to the American government. Consequently, officials invite them to speak before Congress. Our leaders expect a formal treaty discussion.
The aliens simply pull out blasters and incinerate every politician in the room. They laugh maliciously. Subsequently, widespread global invasion begins without mercy.
Global Destruction
Saucers destroy landmarks around the world. Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower fall quickly. Furthermore, a rogue group infiltrates the White House to assassinate the President.
He tries giving a moving speech about galactic harmony. Surprisingly, the Martian leader sheds a tear. The alien then impales him with a deadly gadget.
Movie Ending
Richie Norris desperately plays a Slim Whitman song named Indian Love Call for his grandmother. Sudden high-frequency yodeling hits the alien invaders. This frequency explodes Martian brains inside their helmets.
Humanity quickly weaponizes this ridiculous country song. Radio stations broadcast the tune globally to eradicate the threat. As a result, saucers crash everywhere.
Richie and Florence Norris receive medals from a surviving government official. Most world leaders perished. Thus, an overwhelmed civilian suddenly leads the rebuilding effort.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
Fans often wait through the credits expecting one last joke. However, this movie provides no extra footage. The screen simply fades to black.
You can leave your seat immediately after the music ends. No secret teasers exist here.
Type of Movie
This film falls squarely into the sci-fi comedy genre. Besides, it acts as a sharp parody of 1950s B-movies. Tim Burton blends dark humor with gruesome visual gags.
The tone remains consistently cynical. Humanity shows deep incompetence. Therefore, the invaders look like bullying teenagers tearing apart an ant farm.
Cast
This massive ensemble features heavy hitters playing unlikable characters.
- Jack Nicholson – President James Dale / Art Land
- Glenn Close – First Lady Marsha Dale
- Annette Bening – Barbara Land
- Pierce Brosnan – Professor Donald Kessler
- Danny DeVito – Rude Gambler
- Martin Short – Press Secretary Jerry Ross
- Sarah Jessica Parker – Nathalie Lake
- Michael J. Fox – Jason Stone
- Natalie Portman – Taffy Dale
- Lukas Haas – Richie Norris
Film Music and Composer
Iconic composer Danny Elfman crafted the eccentric score. Specifically, he utilized a theremin to emulate classic 1950s flying saucer melodies. The main title theme feels bombastic yet deeply silly.
His music creates a vital retro atmosphere. These triumphant orchestral sweeps clearly mock typical blockbuster seriousness. Elfman captures the campy essence perfectly.
Filming Locations
Production took place across multiple American states. Nevada provided the dusty backdrop for the initial contact scene. Portions of Las Vegas hosted the casino destruction sequences.
In addition, crews filmed key political scenes in Washington D.C. The monumental architecture contrasts sharply with neon alien saucers. This visual divide highlights the clash of cultures.
Awards and Nominations
Critics gave the picture mixed reviews upon release. Admittedly, it failed to secure major Oscar nominations. It did earn several Saturn Award nominations for its spectacular visual effects.
Behind the Scenes Insights
The complicated production presented several unique challenges.
- The studio initially wanted stop-motion animation for the aliens.
- Producers hired animators to test a few sequences early on.
- Computer animation eventually proved much cheaper.
- Hence, digital models replaced the physical puppets.
- Jack Nicholson loved the script immediately.
- In fact, he asked to play multiple roles.
- Audio engineers tried various noises for the alien voices.
- Ultimately, they recorded a duck quack and reversed it.
Inspirations and References
A set of trading cards directly inspired the plot. Topps released a wildly gory card collection in 1962. Accordingly, parents complained about gruesome artwork.
Dinosaur trading cards spurred a similar creative idea prior. Still, the extraterrestrial panic matched the director’s grim sensibilities better. He modeled the saucers upon Earth vs. the Flying Saucers.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
The original script contained darker fates for certain survivors. For example, writers drafted a scene where mutated creatures hunt stragglers. Studio executives removed this for pacing reasons.
A few extended casino sequences got trimmed. The theatrical cut represents the unified vision of the studio. Tim Burton rarely releases director’s cuts.
Book Adaptations and Differences
This movie does not adapt a traditional novel. Rather, it adapts the controversial 1962 trading card set. A novelization of the film did hit bookstores near release.
Author Jonathan Gems wrote that tie-in book. Largely, it follows the screenplay exactly. The book gives slightly more backstory to the alien home world.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The initial landing turns into a chaotic bloodbath.
- That simple peace dove triggers a massive laser shootout.
- A severed head talks inside an alien ship.
- Sarah Jessica Parker plays this bizarre victim.
- The invaders destroy international monuments.
- Simultaneously, they pose for tourist photos.
Iconic Quotes
- “We come in peace!”
- “I want the people to know that they still have 2 out of 3 branches of the government working for them.”
- “Don’t run! We are your friends!”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
Sharp viewers can spot clever references throughout the runtime.
- The alien translation device features an older cassette tape mechanism.
- A war room scene intentionally references the dark satire of Dr. Strangelove.
- Obviously, the skeletal x-ray gun effect nods to classic cartoon violence.
Trivia
A few weird details make the movie even better.
- The vaporized skeletal remains glow vivid green or red to represent old-school 3D glasses.
- The costume department built entirely practical spacesuits for character actors.
- Real demolitions of a Las Vegas hotel supplied background footage for casino explosions.
Why Watch?
Anyone tired of overly serious intergalactic blockbusters should experience this wildly chaotic satire immediately. Mars Attacks! delivers unforgettable visual gags alongside a ridiculously stacked ensemble cast. Undeniably, watching manic aliens maliciously obliterate famous Hollywood actors remains an incredibly entertaining spectacle today.
