Ghosts of Mars

Screen Gems | Release Date: August 24, 2001

7.5	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 178 Ratings

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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