Ghosts of Mars

Directed and co-scored by John Carpenter and written by Carpenter and Larry Sulkin, Ghosts of Mars is the story of an intergalactic police officer and her team traveling to Mars for a prison transport where things go wrong in the planet. Set in the 22nd century, the film is a sci-fi horror thriller where space cops and a criminal team up to battle monsters on Mars. Starring Natasha Henstridge, Ice Cube, Jason Statham, Clea Duvall, Pam Grier, and Joanna Cassidy. Ghosts of Mars is a stylish but messy film from John Carpenter.

It’s the 22nd Century where Mars has been colonized and the planet is now breathable to humanity yet towns are ravaged where the intergalactic police make an unsettling discovery just as they were to transport a prisoner. That is pretty much what the film is about where cops is forced to work with a convicted murderer to fight these monsters as they were once human who are now possessed by ghosts from Mars. Yet, it is told in a reflective manner by Lt. Melanie Ballard (Natasha Henstridge) who reports what happened during a simple prison transfer job to her superiors as it reveals a much larger story. The film’s screenplay is quite simple yet it has a lot of expositions and perspective from other characters in what they saw including Dr. Arlene Whitlock (Joanna Cassidy) who revealed how these ghosts emerge. The multiple perspectives and expositions do create a script that is very messy as well as be over-explained and not allow the audience to create their interpretations into what happened.

John Carpenter’s direction is definitely stylish as it plays into a futuristic setting as much of the film is set at night. Shot on location at a gypsum mine in New Mexico, the film plays into this world that is emerging in its colonization state but is becoming undone by these monsters. While Carpenter would use some wide shots to establish some of the locations, he maintains an intimacy with the medium shots and close-ups as it plays to the severity of what Lt. Ballard and her fellow officers are facing. There are some moments that are exciting in the action but the suspense is kind of lacking as well as uninspired due to the fact that it feels derivative from other kind of films that Carpenter has made. Even as some of the moments involving the visual effects seem to be lacking as it’s probably due to the limitations in the budget. Despite these shortcomings, the film is still entertaining while not taking itself seriously as it does have some humor. Overall, Carpenter creates a thrilling though flawed film about space cops and criminals fighting evil ghosts on Mars.

Cinematographer Gary B. Kibbe does excellent work with the cinematography from the usage of lights and distorted images for some of the scenes involving the ghosts to the interiors as it‘s mostly straightforward. Editor Paul C. Warschilka does some fine work in the editing though it‘s over stylized with its transition wipes and dissolves as it goes a little overboard. Production designer William A. Elliot, with set decorator Ronald R. Reiss and art directors William Hiney and Mark W. Mansbridge, does fantastic work with the look of places on Mars as well as the interior for the prisons and such. Costume designer Robin Michel Bush does nice work with the costumes as it‘s mostly low-key while it‘s more creative for the look of the creatures the cops and criminals have to deal with.

The special effects makeup work of Howard Berger, Robert Kurtzman, and Greg Nicotero is brilliant for the look of the possessed humans who have become enraged Martians as they all have something unique in their look. Visual effects supervisor Lance Wilhoite does some OK work with the visual effects for some of the scenes involving the trains though the effects in the battle scenes look unfinished and awkward. Sound editor Joe Dorn and sound designer David Bartlett do terrific work with the sound as it play into the way the Martians sound as well as some of the gunfire and such. The film’s music by John Carpenter is superb for its electronic-based score filled with synthesizers as the music also feature contributions from the thrash metal band Anthrax as well as some contributions from Elliot Easton of the Cars, Robin Finck of Nine Inch Nails/Guns N’ Roses, Steve Vai, and Buckethead.

The casting by Reuben Cannon is wonderful as it feature some notable small roles from Robert Carradine as a train engineer, Wanda de Jesus as a criminal who fights the Martians, the trio of Duane Davis, Lobo Sebastian, and Rodney A. Grant as a trio of thugs trying to break out Desolation Williams, Liam Waite as the space cop Descanso, and Richard Cetrone as the Martians leader. Joanna Cassidy is terrific as Dr. Arlene Whitlock as a scientist who saw the chaos that unleashed the ghost Martians while Pam Grier is alright in her small role as the police leader Commander Braddock. Clea Duvall is superb as the rookie cop Bashira Kincaid as a young woman new to the field as she is in shock in what she’s seeing as she would eventually grow to kick some ass.

Jason Statham is fantastic as Sgt. Jericho Butler as the comic relief of the film who is a smooth talker and says the funniest lines while being this full-on badass as only someone like Statham could play that role to the fullest. Ice Cube is excellent as James “Desolation” Williams as a wanted murderer who is supposed to be transferred to a prison as he is a cunning and skilled fighter that is aware of what is going as well as reveal some truths into the murders he’s been accused of. Finally, there’s Natasha Henstridge in a brilliant performance as Lt. Melanie Ballard as this no-nonsense cop with a weakness for hallucinogenic drugs that is eager to do her job while knowing what is out there as she tries to help her fellow cops and such fight off against the Martians.

Despite some clunky visual effects and an overwritten yet messy script, Ghosts of Mars is still a worthwhile film from John Carpenter. Thanks in part to a nice soundtrack and fun performances from Natasha Henstridge, Ice Cube, and Jason Statham. It’s a film that has some style as well as moments where it doesn’t take itself so seriously. In the end, Ghosts of Mars is a good film from John Carpenter.

John Carpenter Films: Dark Star - Assault on Precinct 13 - Halloween - Someone’s Watching Me! - Elvis - The Fog - Escape from New York - The Thing - Christine - Starman - Big Trouble in Little China - Prince of Darkness - They Live - Memoirs of an Invisible Man - Body Bags - In the Mouth of Madness - Village of the Damned - Escape from L.A. - Vampires - The Ward

The Auteurs #60: John Carpenter Part 1 - Part 2

© thevoid99 2016

LAMB Movie of the Month: Blade Runner (1992 Director's Cut)

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 6/12/05 w/ Additional Edits & Revisions.

Based on a novel by Phillip K. Dick (whom the film was dedicated to), Blade Runner is a stylish, film-noir detective story set in the futuristic 2019 Los Angeles about a retired cop who returns to the scene to eliminate four murderous androids known as replicants. Directed by Ridley Scott and adapted into script by Hampton Fancher, David Peoples, and Darryl Ponicsan, the story is set in traditional film-noir with elements of character studies, conflict, and dark humor that only Ridley Scott can come up with. With a cast that includes Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Daryl Hannah, Edward James Olmos, M. Emmet Walsh, Brion James, and Joanna Cassidy. Blade Runner is a brilliant yet dark film from Ridley Scott.

It's 2019 in Los Angeles where the world is overtaken with many wondering who are the humans and who are the replicants. The latter of which, lives in a colony owned by a corporate head named Tyrell (Joe Turkel) as a new replicant named Leon kills an interrogater named Holden (Morgan Paull) as he escapes with three new replicants. A former blade runner named Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) is contacted by a replicant named Gaff (Edward James Olmos) where Deckard is asked by his former superior Bryant (M. Emmet Walsh) to hunt down the four escaped replicants. Deckard takes the job as he meets Tyrell and his assistant Rachel (Sean Young) where Tyrell reveals information on the new replicants led by Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer). After asking Rachel some questions to see how the interrogation process happens, Rachel divulges something that adds to Deckard's suspicions.

The four replicants arrive to Los Angeles where Leon and Batty search for the inventor J.F. Sebastian (William Sanderson) while Deckard begins his investigation as he finds one of them in a woman named Zhora (Joanna Cassidy). Deckard later receives a visit from Rachel who asks about her interrogation and the images of her head as she wonders about her true self leaving Deckard confused. While being pursued by Bryant and Gaff, Deckard gains information from Chew (James Hong) about the replicants and what they're after. A young woman named Pris (Daryl Hannah) meets Sebastian as they befriend each other while Deckard finds one of the replicants as Rachel becomes a suspect. With Pris introducing Sebastian to Batty, they reveal what they from Sebastian as Deckard also learns about what Rachel is going through. This would lead to an all-out battle where Deckard has to make choices as he deals with the psychotic Batty.

With a wonderful screenplay that is filled with playful one-liners and stylish subtext, the credit goes to director Ridley Scott for bringing his visual approach to storytelling on the forefront. He brings in a mix of Asian cinema, classic film-noir, and post-modern sci-fi all into a stylish, grand spectacle with bleak settings. In his technical brilliance, Scott's use of slow-motion shots, entrancing camera angles, and eerie settings shows his brilliance to convey moods onto a single frame. Clearly, his inspiration was in film noir since the film is partially inspired by classic detective stories and it shows the brilliant range of Scott. He evens adds a bit of humor to balance out the film, even with the script that has that one famous line, "Wake up, time to die" along with some memorable one-liners.

In the acting, Scott relies on the script as his source and with the script, he helps conveys the tortured soul of Deckard along with a complexity of what he might or might not be. Even the villains, notably Batty has a complexity that isn't stereotypical of villains seen before and since. There's not many themes other than the post-apocalyptic world of human replicants trying to wipe out the human race. It's more about trying to figure out what you are, even if the life span is very short. While the love story of Deckard and Rachael might seem to be added on, it has depth since it's something that Deckard can fall back on, even if the timing is brief.

If Ridley Scott achieves himself on the technical side, many credit goes to his film crew, whom Scott has often relied on. Cinematographer Jordan S. Cronenweth brings a vast outlook with noir-like lighting textures in several interior, night scenes, and the neon lighting helps give the film its Asian, post-modern look. Production designer Lawrence G. Paull and art director David Snyder help bring that vision to life with their use of big screens, Asian architecture in the seedy L.A. world, and that grand, posh look of Tyrell's world as the film remains in its futuristic outlook. Helping out in the visuals is Douglas Trumbull who brings in great special effects for many of the film's visual sequences involving flying cars and the world of Tyrell. With editor Terry Rawlings bringing a nicely-paced feel to the film, the movie doesn't lose sight of its outcome or makes anything boring. Then there's the creepy electronic score of Vangelis who just uses hypnotic textures and atmospheres to bring the future closer to the screen with each note bringing more suspense as the film progresses.

Then you have the amazingly, talented cast that is brought to the film. While Joanna Cassidy and the late Brion James had small, villainous roles, they each do have memorable moments, notably James early in the film and in the scene where he says, "Wake up, time to die". William Sanderson is wonderful in his innocent role as Sebastian with his reclusive stature and childlike approach to the performance while Joe Turkel is excellent in his eccentric, calm performance as the dark creator Tyrell. While Edward James Olmos doesn't have much to do in the film, he is very memorable as the replicant Gaff with his weird smile and even stranger lines, including the final one as he brings some of the dark humor to the film. Noted character actor M. Emmet Walsh is excellent as Deckard's former superior who brings in a bit of sleaze and humor to a very memorable performance. Sean Young is wonderful and complex in her subtle role as Deckard's replicant love interest but it's Daryl Hannah who really stands out in her small role as one of the evil replicants with her girlish innocence and crazy personality where she gets into some intense action.

Rutger Hauer gives a great performance as the villainous yet complex Roy Batty. Hauer uses his charm, wit, and face to give a villain that many will remember while making him more depth-driven than other villains. Hauer makes sure his character isn't just a totally evil man but one who knows what he wants. Even in the final moments of the film, Hauer brings in some of his best acting into the forefront as you can see why he's a cult favorite among film buffs. Harrison Ford delivers one of his best performances as Rick Deckard with a mix of weariness and determination. While he's playing the hero, he makes sure it's one that people can relate to since he has no desire to kill but when he's brought back, it's only with reluctance. Ford doesn't make himself the usual tough guy in some of the fight scene he's in. He's not Han Solo or Indiana Jones but a man that has a lot of problems. Ford makes sure that Deckard is one that an audience can sympathize with while we root for him in his quest to stop the bad guys.

Blade Runner is a visually-exotic yet haunting film from Ridley Scott that features a marvelous performance from Harrison Ford. Along with amazing technical work as well as superb ensemble cast that includes Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Daryl Hannah, M. Emmet Walsh, and Edward James Olmos. It is truly one of the great sci-fi films ever created due to its visual effects as well as an entrancing story. In the end, Blade Runner is a magnificent sci-fi noir film from Ridley Scott.

Related: Blade Runner 2049

Ridley Scott Films: (The Duellists) - (Alien) - (Legend) - (Someone to Watch Over Me) - (Black Rain) - (Thelma & Louise) - (1492: Conquest of Paradise) - (White Squall) - (G.I. Jane) - (Gladiator) - (Hannibal) - (Black Hawk Down) - (Matchstick Men) - (Kingdom of Heaven) - (A Good Year) - (American Gangster) - (Body of Lies) - (Robin Hood (2010 film)) - Prometheus - (The Counselor) - (Exodus) - The Martian - (Alien: Covenant) - All the Money in the World

© thevoid99 2012