Two films coming out at around the same time, but concerning an alien invasion of Earth.
The USA took the truly idiotic (because it was so straight-faced) gung-ho nonsense of Independence Day to its heart and rejected the subversive Mars Attacks, which was by far the more entertaining movie, because it didn't take itself seriously.
Mars Attacks wins, in my book.
I second it!
NO! WIRE!! HANGERS!!! EVER!!!!
I agree. Mars Attacks is the more intelligent and even more realistic film. The events of Mars Attacks could happen - not sure about the Slim Whitman music though! But Independence Day is just totally implausible from beginning to end.
shareTotally implausible? You mean like aliens coming to a planet where there are radio frequencies which make their heads explode and yet it only happens at the end. I find intercepting a transmission and being able to upload a virus to shut down shields is far more plausible. Both films are entertaining, but Mars Attacks is the cheesiest sci-fi film to have ever come out. That is not necessarily a bad thing though since that seems to of been the point.
shareThe idea of uploading a Microsoft virus into a completely alien system is entirely absurd. Or do you think that Martians use USB ports?
The US presidents speech is so gung ho, chauvenistic and over-the-top - and takes itself seriously. And of course the idea that the US forces are so short of pilots that the president has to fly a plane himself is ridiculous.
Yes, I believe that Mars Attacks is more realistic.
The idea of uploading a Microsoft virus into a completely alien system is entirely absurd.
Absolutely right. A good satire like this is simply intelligent, and that other crap was anything but.
shareHonestly, besides being from the 90' and both being about alien invasions, the two movies have nothing in common and obviously had pretty different goals.
Mars Attacks was meant to poke fun at absurd science fiction from the 50's, the ignorance of the world's leaders and the disaster movie stereotypes is done on purpose to illustrate just how ridiculous those movies were. Some of the cast members seem pretty aware that they're in a comedy, while others play it very straight like in Airplane.
Independence Day on the other hand was meant to function as a modern re-interpretation of 70's mainstream disaster epics and science fiction so its plays it more straight forward. There's satire, but it's more hi and bye. Comedy is in there as well, but it's all reactionary and not the dominant tone of the story.
Interestingly enough, the original Mars Attacks merchandise depicted the aliens and their invasion of Earth to be very dark and graphic, if the movie went for the same kind of tone as Independence Day, kept the 1960's setting, and kept the same graphic imagery of the Topps cards with a director like Paul Veroheven at the helm it could've been a really trippy flick...But I think the movie is fine as is, though I do wish Burton didn't go for a modern setting if he really wanted to push the satire a bit further.
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I like both movies but prefer ID4 due to it's seriousness and not being a comedy. What's better a serious action flick or a dumb comedy? Personally I take the serious action about 80% of the time. I think many people just can't suspend their disbelief when it comes to over the top action movies. I guess that's why they say every movie made is not for everyone.
shareMars Attacks clearly better
shareID4 was a much better film even though some critics tried to big up this film.
It's that man again!!
by cneil-476
Wed Dec 17 2014 15:55:16
Two films coming out at around the same time, but concerning an alien invasion of Earth.
The USA took the truly idiotic (because it was so straight-faced) gung-ho nonsense of Independence Day to its heart and rejected the subversive Mars Attacks, which was by far the more entertaining movie, because it didn't take itself seriously.
Mars Attacks wins, in my book.