Review of Mars Attacks! (1996) by James R — 23 May 2011

Overlooked in the canon of Burton's work, but one of my secret guilty pleasures. This film defies classification, it's a sort of dark comedy sci-fi with a hint of camp. The only film I can think that parallels is Little Shop of Horrors - but whilst that had musical numbers and puppetry; this has CGI aliens and an entire supporting cast of Hollywood elite.

This film is actually quite dark, there's a lot of death and a lot of skeletons - and it's pretty violent. Not many of the cast see the film through to the end; but it is also incredibly funny - and very witty.

A parody of those alien invasion movies of the 1950's that has room for Tom Jones, a crazy grandmother and exploding alien heads. This is pure fun campness at its best. :o).