Blu-Ray Reviews: Sci-Fi Catalog Releases Including ‘Matrix Reloaded,’ ‘THX 1138’

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“Mars Attacks!”

Blu-Ray Rating: 3.0/5.0

Call me biased, but I like any movie that opens with a flaming cow stampede. Before he stopped looking to atypical sources for inspiration, Tim Burton was one of the most strikingly original filmmakers alive. The streak of genius that began with “Pee-Wee Herman’s Big Adventure” ran through at least “Mars Attacks!,” his ode to the B-movie sci-fi classics that inspired him to become a filmmaker in the first place. (Most of his next film — “Sleepy Hollow” — works but it’s the “remake” trend of the new millennium with “Planet of the Apes,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Sweeney Todd,” and “Alice in Wonderland” that’s disappointing to this fan of Burton’s ’80s and ’90s work.) “Mars Attacks!” didn’t set the box office on fire when it was released but it’s held up shockingly well and if Warner Brothers treated the film with an ounce of respect, I’d probably pick it as the best of this wave of releases.

Mars Attacks! was released on Blu-ray on September 7th, 2010. Photo credit: Warner Bros.

“Mars Attacks!” looks spectacular in HD and the transfer is perfectly mixed but the Blu-ray includes not one single special feature. With a cast of so many recognizable faces, no one was free to do an interview? No one wanted to do a commentary track? In 2010, it’s unacceptable for a Blu-ray release, especially one from a genre so attractive to collectors and film historians, to not include a single, solitary special feature. “Mars Attacks!” is far from the best of the genre, but it’s a fun, clever, twisted ride through B-movie archetypes and the cast is simply ridiculous. Burton’s most star-powered film features five Oscar nominees (Nicholson, Close, Bening, Portman, Steiger) along with a dozen or more other stars including a fun turn from Sarah Jessica Parker, one of Jack Black’s earliest roles, and much more. It’s not as influential as some films in this wave of catalog releases — in fact, it’s not really influential at all — but it’s damn fun.

Synopsis: “AWAKE, EARTHLINGS! It’s later than you think. Don’t miss the hilarious frenzy as Tim Burton directs — and Mars Attacks! SEE! Stars that shine across the galaxy. Jack Nicholson (in a dual role), Glenn Close, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnan, Danny DeVito and a dozen more! SHRIEK! At mean, green invaders armed with insta-fry ray guns, endowed with slimy, humongous brains - and enlivened with state-of-the-art special effects. GASP! As the U.S. legislature is overwhelmed. (Don’t fear, we still have 2 out of 3 branches of the government working for us.) THRILL! As Earth fights back with an unexpected weapon. Take that, Martians!”

“Mars Attacks!” is presented in 1080p High Definition 16x9 2.40:1 widescreen with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track.

Special Features:
o Nothing…shameful