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6

TheQuietGamerOct 7, 2018

A group of elite cops are sent to a remote Mars mining facility in order to secure the transfer of the planet's most dangerous criminal. Upon arrival they discover that all of the miners have been transformed into a bunch of deranged lunaticsA group of elite cops are sent to a remote Mars mining facility in order to secure the transfer of the planet's most dangerous criminal. Upon arrival they discover that all of the miners have been transformed into a bunch of deranged lunatics out to kill anything that moves. With a premise like that this could have been Assault on Precinct 13 in space, but John Carpenter spends too much time having the characters converse with bad dialog and worse acting.

There's no atmosphere and everything looks really cheap. Yet I still kind of like it visually. Almost every inch of the desolate locale is drenched in red in a way that is oh so very Mars. I just wish it wasn't so brightly lit. Some shadows would have gone a long way to add some tension, but at least the environments feel distinctly sci-fi.

The plot does show some promise. It actually tries to explain what's going on and it's lead character played by Natasha Henstridge has some interesting traits that could have made her a complex protagonist had they actually been explored. Ultimately though it's kind of dull on this front. The movie is at it's best when it ignores the narrative and dives headfirst into campy action.

I think DOOM did the whole gung-ho, shoot 'em up in space thing so much better, but Ghosts of Mars is still good for some cheap thrills. There's a little bit of gore and Carpenter throws a lot of people onscreen at once making for a chaotic action-horror. All of it is pretty campy, but if you want to see a bunch of macho dudes and ladies shooting and blowing up a bunch of possessed psychopaths on Mars then you can take comfort in knowing the movie at least delivers on that front.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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6

StealthgearJun 16, 2013

How Ghost of Mars is different gives it an enjoyable quality. Its not another bug hunt or a 2001 ripoff, like all the other Mars movies. Perhaps its like a 1980s Chronicles of Riddick combined with the worst Star Trek movie. Its not veryHow Ghost of Mars is different gives it an enjoyable quality. Its not another bug hunt or a 2001 ripoff, like all the other Mars movies. Perhaps its like a 1980s Chronicles of Riddick combined with the worst Star Trek movie. Its not very serious or deep, but better than most direct to video B-horror and much better than the average SyFy saturday night. It does look a little out of date and has that hand made feel. There are some good actors and some bad ones. The plot meanders but the dialogue can be pretty funny with a few memorable quotes. If you like John Carpenter or Natasha Henstridge this is a rental. I'm giving it a 6 because its not awful, and the deducted points are because they could have made this funnier and made the plot more suspenseful.… Expand

4 of 7 users found this helpful43

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7

atjanus006Sep 15, 2020

Carpenter was right - most critics of this movie failed to realize that the campiness was entirely purposeful. A brief description of the movie should've made it apparent. A group of Mars cops, on a planet ruled by lesbians, needs toCarpenter was right - most critics of this movie failed to realize that the campiness was entirely purposeful. A brief description of the movie should've made it apparent. A group of Mars cops, on a planet ruled by lesbians, needs to transport a dangerous criminal while simultaneously fighting a horde of dormant Mars spirits that are fighting to reclaim their planet.

It's complete lunacy from start to end - that's the whole point. It's a campy, fairly mindless shoot-em-up. With Mars ghosts. If you expect an intelligent horror movie, you will be disappointed. If you expect a campy action-horror film, you'll have a blast.… Expand

4 of 11 users found this helpful47

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2

raciocinioOct 21, 2015

WHAT A Boring action,horror movie...............................................................................................................................

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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10

TheEPICOneJan 8, 2013

epic

2 of 13 users found this helpful211

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3

juliankennedy23Aug 3, 2014

Ghosts of Mars: 3 out of 10: All right how is this for a premise. In the future, on a Mars ruled by lesbians (so far so good), head cop Pam Grier (a little old but always a pleasure), her ecstasy addicted assistant Natasha Henstridge (yeahGhosts of Mars: 3 out of 10: All right how is this for a premise. In the future, on a Mars ruled by lesbians (so far so good), head cop Pam Grier (a little old but always a pleasure), her ecstasy addicted assistant Natasha Henstridge (yeah baby), and a kick ass Jason Statham (always watchable) take on an army of zombies in a western mining town. How could you possibly screw this up?

Well John Carpenter does. First of all there is no nudity, none, zippo, zilch. Since this is an R rated space opera, with lesbians, with Pam Grier, and for the love of god with Natasha Henstridge (I almost didn't recognize her with her clothes on. I mean did she even have a shirt in Species?)

This is a shock. Now I hardly demand nudity from films but I haven't been this surprised since I rented that Shannon Tweed action film Face the Evil (Where a uniquely clothed Shannon Tweed pretends to be Bruce Willis and we all learn a lesson about the acting ability of former Playboy Centerfolds.)

Well at least it has zombies right? Well sort of. Apparently the miners were possessed by those ghosts from that Final Fantasy movie and the have all gone off and pierced themselves, raided the post apocalyptic fashion closet and become cannibals. They look ridiculous and are about as threatening as a suburban junior high school dance. Their leader looks like a third rate heavy metal drummer joined his school's body piercing club.

Speaking of strange fetishes the movie seems to have one for flashbacks. None of the film is told in real time. Instead we have a flashback within a flashback within a flashback. This destroys any semblance of tension. In fact it such a bizarre choice one feels Carpenter choose it to hide the serious plot holes. It didn't work.

With zero tension, no nudity, lame villains, horrible dialog and special effects that bring only one word to mind (Lionel), Ghosts of Mars is simply a mess. I'm still waiting for my futuristic lesbian zombie film. Maybe Wes Craven will give it a try.… Expand

1 of 12 users found this helpful111

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9

LoiseSep 13, 2011

Ghost of Mars could have been a great film - the ingridienses are there - but fails. It most of all unfortunately focuses on the two leading actors and all other wanishes. However Rodney A Grant (Tres) is as always GREAT

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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1

YoursTrulyNov 15, 2012

So dreadfully low quality that I don't even know what to say. I will grant it one star because its incompetence gives me a laugh. But sincerely, this is barely even a movie.

0 of 10 users found this helpful010

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3

LoRevisorJan 5, 2015

Um filme sem nexo e sem qualquer sentido é ótimo para quem curte um heavy metal,porém péssimo para quem gosta de um bom entretenimento e muito mas um entretenimento inteligente. Desperdiça o talento de Statham. Mas mesmo assim as cenas deUm filme sem nexo e sem qualquer sentido é ótimo para quem curte um heavy metal,porém péssimo para quem gosta de um bom entretenimento e muito mas um entretenimento inteligente. Desperdiça o talento de Statham. Mas mesmo assim as cenas de ação são boas,na verdade é só isso o filme… Expand

0 of 11 users found this helpful011

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3

SAiKoUOct 14, 2020

A very bad movie, I remember seeing it in the cinema.
Even if it is meant to be campy, it is soo bad!

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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2

HellHoleHorrorMay 1, 2022

This isn't a horror movie and it isn't an action movie. It is really stupid and boring actually. There were no good bits; it was just an onslaught of bad acting, unimaginative fight scenes, dull action and a really bad story that is only aThis isn't a horror movie and it isn't an action movie. It is really stupid and boring actually. There were no good bits; it was just an onslaught of bad acting, unimaginative fight scenes, dull action and a really bad story that is only a little bit better than the abysmal style. The worst thing was the decision to use cross fades so damn much - it looked terrible! Don't bother!… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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0

KyleMDec 30, 2008

The worst film John Carpenter ever made. So bad it nearly ruins movies that it has nothing to do with. It's hard to enjoy other John Carpenter movies while burdened with the knowledge that the same guy also made this one.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

1

JonSDec 30, 2008

Worst movie I've ever seen.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

0

WilliamWFeb 26, 2009

Everything about this movie sucks, bad script, bad acting, bad direction, bad photography, bad makeup, total and utter drivel from start to finish. Worst of all it's boring! If you like action then there are hundreds of better action Everything about this movie sucks, bad script, bad acting, bad direction, bad photography, bad makeup, total and utter drivel from start to finish. Worst of all it's boring! If you like action then there are hundreds of better action films out there, so don't waste your time with this miserable mess. John Carpenter should be ashamed, but at least he takes the blame by adding his once proud name to the title. Anyone that defends this tripe needs to go back to school and probably needs house training too.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

4

ArkonBladeJun 27, 2011

john carpenter has made some great horror films like the 1982 version of The Thing and one of my favorite horror movies of all time In The Mouth of madness . this movie had promise decent set up unfortunitly it doesnt go any where intrestingjohn carpenter has made some great horror films like the 1982 version of The Thing and one of my favorite horror movies of all time In The Mouth of madness . this movie had promise decent set up unfortunitly it doesnt go any where intresting and when it does touch on some thing that is intresting like the waring alien races its so small unfortunitly . its just abunch of guys fighting deranged humans dressed like mad max on mars . you could almost call it mad max on mars . this movie could have been up there with the other 2 i listed but it was a oppertunity failed.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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5

Khunter4382May 31, 2011

Could have been great, but it wasn't. Cheesy and amateur! I think Carpenter is one of the finest filmmakers the horror genre has ever seen, but this one is embarrassing when compared to the Carpenter canon. Sadly, Ice Cube gives the bestCould have been great, but it wasn't. Cheesy and amateur! I think Carpenter is one of the finest filmmakers the horror genre has ever seen, but this one is embarrassing when compared to the Carpenter canon. Sadly, Ice Cube gives the best performance in the film. All the while, I suppose this is another guilty pleasure of mine.....I've got it on blu-ray!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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0

MikefromAngusJan 26, 2014

The movie is bad. Very bad! The whole story idea, behind the movie has been done a thousand times. It a badly made mad max with a setting done one "mars"

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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5

Kai82Jun 17, 2022

Normally I like B movies, cheesiness and the „So bad it is good“ category. This movie however could not win me over even with John Carpenter as director. To be fair it has it moments, good ideas and is enjoyable enough to be no failure. It isNormally I like B movies, cheesiness and the „So bad it is good“ category. This movie however could not win me over even with John Carpenter as director. To be fair it has it moments, good ideas and is enjoyable enough to be no failure. It is set approx 150 years in the future. Earth is overpopulated and the resources are spread thin, The Mars was colonized as solution and is terraformed enough to have a breathable atmosphere (No small feat!). The story starts with Lieutenant Melanie Ballard answering to a trial about her mission to transfer the criminal James Williams from a small mining outpost. This seams like a routine job first but went horrible wrong as the miners did find or awakened something unexpected which will be show in flashbacks. I think this is not even a spoiler what happened as the title should give things away. The story and ideas are really good but not used that well in the movie. I expected more especially with someone as remarkable as John Carpenter who made so many great movies. However the ending is excellent. The actors are good and deliver a performance I wont criticize. Ice Cube as James Williams and Natasha Henstridge as Melanie Ballard work well together and I think improve my rating. With Jason Statham, Pam Grier and Clea DuVall you can do not much wrong. The special effects and consumes are decent but other movies far outclass this. I think with a budget of approx 28 million it can be forgiven. A main criticism I agree with is that it is not that scary. Overall I think this is the worst John Carpenter movie I watched. While no total failure it is forgettable except the ending scene. If you want a good John Carpenter movie I recommend “Big Trouble in little China”, “Starman” or “The Thing” to name a few.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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5

MattBrady99Aug 9, 2018

Too many flashbacks and fade wipes, as simple editing tricks would've done the job. The entire movie is totally ridiculous, yet a guilty pleasure of mine. There's a lot of thrilling sequences that kept me interested and also some memorableToo many flashbacks and fade wipes, as simple editing tricks would've done the job. The entire movie is totally ridiculous, yet a guilty pleasure of mine. There's a lot of thrilling sequences that kept me interested and also some memorable deaths scenes which stuck with me for years.

But still, I can't believe John Carpenter made this, until I saw 'The Ward'.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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4

BroyaxJun 26, 2017

Monsieur Charpentier donne souvent dans le navet, ce qui ne veut pas dire que c'est systématiquement immangeable ; parfois, bien assaisonné, ça descend tout seul. Mais là avec son truc martien où les Martiens (?) sont des... quoi (?)... desMonsieur Charpentier donne souvent dans le navet, ce qui ne veut pas dire que c'est systématiquement immangeable ; parfois, bien assaisonné, ça descend tout seul. Mais là avec son truc martien où les Martiens (?) sont des... quoi (?)... des punks, des keupons "death metal" satanistes défoncés au crack (c'est-à-dire au naturel) il s'est un peu perdu et sa charpente est à tout le moins branlante.

Evidemment, c'est fait avec 3 bouts de ficelle, de la peinture et du contreplaqué et quelques effets achetés chez Tati, le magasin des crevards de pauvres. Mais le scénario sent vraiment trop le téléfilm périmé du troisième tiroir en bas à gauche : on ne sait pas si on doit s'en affliger, s'en inquiéter ou tenter d'y trouver une malice involontaire au 13ème degré, une sorte de recul qui tombe du haut de la falaise et s'écrase en bas comme une merde.

Néanmoins, le gore est l'invité d'honneur et se révèle souvent très rigolard sur fond de grosses guitares qui font du bruit, ce qui ne gâche rien ma foi. Le film connaît hélas plusieurs baisses notables de rythme alors que les dialogues souvent imbéciles se succèdent, dits par des comédiens à la masse.

En effet, môssieur Statham est là mais ce n'est pas le pire, car après tout dans son rôle de gros lourd taillé sur mesure, il est comme un poisson dans l'eau. La cougar Pam Grier est complètement à l'ouest mais heureusement, elle ne dure pas longtemps. Quant au rappeur Ice Cube, il remporte la palme toutes catégories confondues et malheureusement, il dure tout le film le gros con.

Cependant, arrêtez les machines, arrêtez tout, car avant d'ouvrir la poubelle, il y a Natasha Henstridge : la blonde qui démontre à chaque regard que les hommes préfèrent toujours les blondes et que ça n'est pas près de changer. Alors, les brunes, on dégage gentiment et on va se cacher, merci.

Charpentier s'en est aperçu lui aussi et la filme avec application pour ne pas dire dévotion : comment faire autrement ?... et puis c'est émouvant de voir un si magnifique spécimen de la divine blonde archétypale essayer de faire l'actrice.

Finalement, on devrait saquer cet indigeste navet mais cela ne se peut... puisqu'il y a Natashaaaaa !… Expand

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0

atomicchickenNov 27, 2018

By Far, John Carpenter's worst movie. It has the look of a TV movie of the week, rather than a John Carpenter masterpiece. He should have hired Dean Cundy to shoot this, so it would at least LOOK great. The writing, the acting and yes, theBy Far, John Carpenter's worst movie. It has the look of a TV movie of the week, rather than a John Carpenter masterpiece. He should have hired Dean Cundy to shoot this, so it would at least LOOK great. The writing, the acting and yes, the direction of this film are amateurish and stilted. The editing is the worst of all, with a constant, confounding use of dissolves on live action for no apparent reason. And then there's Ice Cube..What was Carpenter thinking? Then again this is the guy that ruined his masterpiece, Escape From New York with that turd, Escape from LA a couple years earlier. Seeing Snake Plissken riding a surf board made me physically ill. Its mind boggling that this is the same mind and vision that gave us Assault on Precinct 13, Halloween, Escape fro New York and The Thing.… Expand

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