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John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars (2001)
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Reviews Counted:99
Fresh:19
Rotten:80
Average Rating:3.6/10
Consensus: John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars is not one of Carpenter's better movies, filled as it is with bad dialogue, bad acting, confusing flashbacks, and scenes that are more campy than scary.
Runtime: 1 hr 38 mins
Genre: Horror/Suspense
Synopsis: In the year 2176, Earth has colonized Mars, and all positions of power are held by women. Police Lieutenant Ballard (Natasha Henstridge) is assigned to take a crew via train from the metropolis of... In the year 2176, Earth has colonized Mars, and all positions of power are held by women. Police Lieutenant Ballard (Natasha Henstridge) is assigned to take a crew via train from the metropolis of Chryste to the deserted mining town of Shining Station to capture an extremely dangerous convict, Desolation Williams (Ice Cube). When Ballard and her crew arrive at Shining Station, an eerily deserted town, they find not only Williams, but also scientist Dr. Whitlock (Joanna Cassidy), who has secluded herself in the colony for safety. She tells Ballard and her crew that a mining project released a mysterious cloud from beneath the planet's surface. It is possessing the colonists, causing them to hunt down and kill off any non-possessed beings. Ballard and her crew decide that they must destroy the possessed beings for the good of the planet, a job which is more difficult than anyone predicts. John Carpenter's 17th theatrical feature combines action, horror, and sci-fi with thematic elements from earlier works (most notably ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 and THE THING). Rough around the edges with lots of energy and a sense of fun, GHOSTS OF MARS is a spirited genre cocktail. [More]
Starring: Natasha Henstridge, Ice Cube, Jason Statham, Pam Grier
Starring: Natasha Henstridge, Ice Cube, Jason Statham, Pam Grier, Clea DuVall, Joanna Cassidy
Director: John Carpenter
Director: John Carpenter
Screenwriter: Larry Sulkis
Producer: Sandy King
Studio: Screen Gems
Reviews for John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars
A less than functional retelling of Mr. Carpenter's B-picture classic Assault on Precinct 13 with a bit of his film The Fog.
In space, no one can hear you groan, since sound does not carry in a vacuum. Theaters showing Ghosts of Mars will not have this advantage, so the film's inanities will be audible and visible.
It's more than a little sad to realize this is what Carpenter's career has come to.
Falls into a classic Carpenter quagmire, unable to follow through on many of its intriguing ideas.
It starts as enjoyable B-movie pulp, degenerates to camp, then turns into laughable lunacy, as a Martian-style Marilyn Manson exhorts zombie troops through endless scenes of slaughter.
Stands on its own by sheer directorial verve and a fascinating flashback structure.
Henstridge ... has neither the heft nor the acting chops to carry the film.
The dialogue is stilted, the acting is mediocre and the special effects are too.
It's distressingly amateurish and hackneyed to the point of absurdity.
Listen up, you hard-core sci-fi addicts. We're going for a ride -- and I do mean ride.
A muddled mix of wayward rock video, sci-fi schlock and blood-splattering horror.
Another strong outing for Carpenter, a B-movie that knows its place, delivers its goods, then gets the hell out of our face.
I cannot fathom why Carpenter would want to brand his name to this movie, akin to leaving fingerprints at the scene of a crime.
Though Ghosts of Mars is watchable and even exciting, it's not one of [Carpenter's] best.
Those going in hopes of the over-the-top fun of Carpenter's last picture, Vampires, will leave sorely disappointed.
Latest News for John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars
January 17, 2007:
Disney Signs On with "John Carter of Mars"
Not too long ago Jon Favreau was this close to directing "John Carter of Mars" for Paramount Pictures, but the studio let their option on the property lapse -- and we... More...
May 13, 2005:
John Carpenter to Return to Directing with "Apostle"
Yahoo! brings some news that should please the horror fans out there. Seems that legendary scare-master John Carpenter ("Halloween") will be returning to the... More...
June 06, 2001:
Clea DuVall, Pam Grier, and Joanna Cassidy have joined the cast. ![]()
More...
June 06, 2001:
And about how the fighting in his film eschews those trendy Matrix moves. 'There wasn't a lot of flying around at the Alamo,' says Carpenter. ![]()
More...
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