not horrible nor great

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

I saw this movie before reading any reviews, and I thought it was very funny. I was very surprised to see the overwhelmingly negative reviews this film received from critics.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

The problems with 'Mars Attacks!' start with the star-studded yet cluttered cast-list portion of the opening credits, which clue you in to the biggest problem that ails this messy and unfocused piece - that being the fact that each character represents little more than a recurring cameo and has almost no bearing on the plot, if you can even call it that, to the point that pretty much every scene seems entirely pointless and the whole thing becomes a fruitless endeavour; it also doesn't help that there are almost no laughs at all, since the flick purports to lampoon flying-saucer science-fiction tropes in a schlocky tongue-in-cheek way and yet somehow manages to miss the mark by coming across as simply poorly conceived and campy B-movie stuff sans the satire or subversion, in an experience that can only be described as passively skittish, coming across more as a series of loosely connected one-gag sketches than an actual narrative - it's a wonder all of these top-class actors even glanced at the script for more than a couple of seconds, though no doubt a large pay-check was involved. 4/10

There is truth in (or around) comedy. Look at any great comedy work where the world is nuts, for instance The Bob Newhart Show, Seinfeld, The Three Stooges, Arrested Development or Blazing Saddles. They all have a straight man in its world of crazy to counterpoint the wackiness. They offer a voice to react to it and argue on behalf of the audience against it... for the side of sanity. When all the characters are crazy, it is like a lecture of foolishness with no real point. Comedy, like any story genre, needs an argument for all sides of the issue. Mars Attacks! was simply loony for its own pretentious sake. Note that I say loony, and not funny. Don't waste your brain cells on this train wreck. Better off enjoying a knock knock joke.

Tim Burton's sci-fi spoof was a massive flop on first release; this was because audiences were expecting a straight science fiction film, when what they got in fact was a comedy. People either love or hate this film, there is no in between, and thankfully I'm in the former camp in this case. As a comedy, Burton's film is wonderful. A star-studded cast of famous faces send themselves up shamelessly, all of those tacky alien invasion pictures of the 1950s are referenced and paid homage too, and on top of all this, we have loads of excellent CGI effects to contend with. The comic book feel of the film comes from the rich, bright colours, everything looks fake and tacky, and it's meant to.Along the way we get take-offs of WAR OF THE WORLDS, EARTH VERSUS THE FLYING SAUCERS, and INDEPENDENCE DAY. The Martians themselves are a delightfully mischievous little bunch who enjoy mass destruction and sadism. Comedy highlights include a scene where one such Martian runs through the burning streets with a tape playing "Do not run. We are your friends!"! The bulging brain and eyeballs of these creatures make them very distinctive and difficult to forget, and as a bonus they're excellently animated too. The UFOs are also wonderful.As with any comedy, things are hit and miss, but as a whole this film is a success. It's difficult to believe the ensemble cast assembled here. Jack Nicholson overacts in not one but two roles as the president and an entrepreneur. Glenn Close appears briefly as his wife before being crushed by a falling chandelier. Annette Bening is an annoying New Ager who sadly doesn't get incinerated by the aliens. Pierce Brosnan plays a clichéd British scientist who ends up minus his body in one of the film's many odd and unique moments. Sarah Jessica Parker is the braindead chat show host who gets her head attached to the body of her dog. Danny DeVito is an obsessive gambler who fails to impress an alien enemy and gets fried. Michael J. Fox loses his hand. Martin Short mistakes an alien in disguise for his newest girlfriend and has his finger chewed off for his troubles. Rod Steiger goes way, way over the top as an antagonistic general ("Annihilate! Destroy! Kill! Kill!) and gets shrunken and then stepped upon. Lukas Haas (all grown up from WITNESS) is a dumb teenage hero. Natalie Portman is the president's daughter. Tom Jones cameos as himself. Jim Brown and Pam Grier come back from the '70s. The list goes on.Everybody sends themselves up and acts appallingly. They seem to be having a really good time and this feeling rubs off. Burton also doesn't skimp on the violence, revelling in burning cattle, destruction (the stone heads on Easter Island turned skittles is a good one), people being ray-gunned and turning into multicoloured skeletons, amputations, and various other gory highlights, all in the spirit of the original sadistic Topps trading cards of the '60s. Ever wished that dog in INDEPENDENCE DAY had bought it? Here's your chance to see a canine fry. As a satire, MARS ATTACKS! has a winning formula and should be seen by any good-natured science fiction addict.

I had the pleasure of recently watching this movie and let me tell you it did not disappoint. Considering my favorite actor of all time is Jack Nicholson i already had this on my to watch list and boy am I glad I did. Martians have surrounded the planet with multiple alien warships and, after a failed peace treaty with them involving a dove released by a hippie, are soon invading every continent and country on the globe. The Movie focuses on many different characters as they deal with the invasion and the humorously cartoonish aliens. The cast in this movie is wonderful and features a slough of big name actors. Jack Nicholson Glenn Close Martin Short Pierce Brosnan Pam Grier Rod Steiger Micheal J. Fox and that's only naming a few. Tom Jones also joins our protagonists as a hilarious version of himself also on the run from the aliens. Tim Burton is a great director and always will be, he's had several misses but luckily this one takes the cake for me. It's definitely not for everyone, but if your into over the top fun romps like I am, give this a watch.