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Movies / On DVD / John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars
John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars

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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

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Reviews for John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars

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81 - 100 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
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When there's no hacking going on, pretty much nothing happens except waiting for hacking to commence.

Full Review Source: Oregonian | comment Comment
08/23/01
Barry Johnson
Barry Johnson
Oregonian

A less than functional retelling of Mr. Carpenter's B-picture classic Assault on Precinct 13 with a bit of his film The Fog.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
08/23/01
Elvis Mitchell
Elvis Mitchell
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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.

Full Review Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | comment Comment
08/23/01
Duane Dudek
Duane Dudek
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

It's more than a little sad to realize this is what Carpenter's career has come to.

Full Review Source: Miami Herald | comment Comment
08/23/01
Rene Rodriguez
Rene Rodriguez
Miami Herald

Ghosts of Mars, hah. More like Turkey of Mars.

Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
08/23/01
Louis B. Parks
Louis B. Parks
Houston Chronicle

Falls into a classic Carpenter quagmire, unable to follow through on many of its intriguing ideas.

Full Review Source: Detroit Free Press | comment Comment
08/23/01
John Monaghan
John Monaghan
Detroit Free Press

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.

Full Review Source: Charlotte Observer | comment Comment
08/23/01
Lawrence Toppman
Lawrence Toppman
Charlotte Observer

Stands on its own by sheer directorial verve and a fascinating flashback structure.

Full Review Source: Citysearch | comment Comment
08/23/01
Dave Kehr
Dave Kehr
Citysearch

Henstridge ... has neither the heft nor the acting chops to carry the film.

Full Review Source: Philadelphia Inquirer | comment Comment
08/23/01
Steven Rea
Steven Rea
Philadelphia Inquirer

Dulls the viewer with a parade of second-hand thrills.

Full Review Source: Philadelphia Daily News | comment Comment
08/23/01
Gary Thompson
Gary Thompson
Philadelphia Daily News

The dialogue is stilted, the acting is mediocre and the special effects are too.

Full Review Source: Greenwich Village Gazette | comment Comment
08/23/01
Eric Lurio
Eric Lurio
Greenwich Village Gazette

It's distressingly amateurish and hackneyed to the point of absurdity.

Full Review Source: Dallas Morning News | comment Comment
08/23/01
Gary Dowell
Gary Dowell
Dallas Morning News
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper | comment Comment
08/23/01
Ebert & Roeper
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Listen up, you hard-core sci-fi addicts. We're going for a ride -- and I do mean ride.

Full Review Source: San Jose Mercury News | comment Comment
08/23/01
Glenn Lovell
Glenn Lovell
San Jose Mercury News

A muddled mix of wayward rock video, sci-fi schlock and blood-splattering horror.

Full Review Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel | comment Comment
08/23/01
Peter Bernard
Peter Bernard
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Another strong outing for Carpenter, a B-movie that knows its place, delivers its goods, then gets the hell out of our face.

comment Comment
08/23/01
Gregory Weinkauf
Gregory Weinkauf
New Times

A combination of sloppy movie-making and poor storytelling.

Full Review Source: ReelViews | comment Comment
08/23/01
James Berardinelli
James Berardinelli
ReelViews

I cannot fathom why Carpenter would want to brand his name to this movie, akin to leaving fingerprints at the scene of a crime.

Full Review Source: Contra Costa Times | comment Comment
08/23/01
Vera H-C Chan
Vera H-C Chan
Contra Costa Times

Though Ghosts of Mars is watchable and even exciting, it's not one of [Carpenter's] best.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
08/23/01
Michael Wilmington
Michael Wilmington
Chicago Tribune

Those going in hopes of the over-the-top fun of Carpenter's last picture, Vampires, will leave sorely disappointed.

Full Review Source: Internet Reviews | comment Comment
08/23/01
Steve Rhodes
Steve Rhodes
Internet Reviews
 
 
81 - 100 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
all

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. Opens in new window
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. Opens in new window
More...

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