Ghosts of Mars

release year: 2001
genre: sci-fi/horror/action
viewing setting: home DVD, 9/29/08 and 5/19/05 and 12/25/01

synopsis: On the Mars of the future, miners have woken something up...something really, really nasty.

impressions: It was a blend of genres (and actually other films/plots) that was surprisingly entertaining, if weird. The basic plot was one of my favorites: take characters who are lawful, lawless, innocent, and other...mix well...top with insurmountable odds against large numbers of spooky foes...see what it becomes. I don't think it's fair to tell you the reasons and some of the plot elements, because they are better left as surprises to be learned during the movie. Suffice it to say that you'll see plenty of gunplay, punches and kicks, explosions, gore, and humor. Of note are the monsters/possessed, which reminded me of a cross between the Cenobites from Hellraiser and the zombies from the living-dead movies. One gripe: I didn't care for the loud thrash music that accompanied all fight scenes. Carpenter should have stuck with his usual spooky music.

things to watch for: Numerous piercings and other self-mutilations that defy all common sense. Also, if you watch the credits, you will see that the main bad guy was called "Big Daddy Mars."

acting: Natasha Henstridge is the main cop who ends up taking over. Ice Cube is Desolation Williams, notorious criminal who brings a slight gangster flavor to the Martian world. Jason Statham was memorable as a tough cop. Clea Duvall is a rookie cop who gets tough when she realizes how bad thingd are. Pam Grier is the commander of the police group, but she doesn't last long enough to do much.

final word: Strange but entertaining.

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