Bogle - Mars Attacks!

   Director Tim Burton is obviously not a fan of today's society and culture. He shows his distaste by his very outlandish movies. Each movie has a much deeper meaning to it. Mars Attacks is one of Burton's most clever movies. Burton not only pokes fun at the science fiction genre, but also the government, the military, patriotism, and consumerism.

     The opening scene of this movie is an obvious satire toward the government, and military behavior. The President, Jack Nicholson, is shown looking through pictures of flying saucers. The first person he turns to in order to ask what should be done is his press secretary. Just in this decision it is showed how appearance is the most important thing. The other officials in the room are two generals, and a scientist. The two generals are two separate stereotypes. There is the general who is screaming to kill the aliens and is ready to start war. The other general does not give an opinion, but instead asks "Do we know the aliens are dangerous?". The scientist is the most stereotypical scientist. The scientist sits there, smoking his pipe and watching the others argue. Once the president asks of the scientist's opinion, he babbles random things. He eventually gets to the point that the aliens must be peaceful due to their technology. This statement is Burton's way of telling the audience that just because we have technology, and we are advanced does not mean we are peaceful beings. This opening scene sets the satirical tone of the movie.
     Patriotism and consumerism were both made fun of with the use of the trailer-park family. While watching television the trailer park family discusses the aliens. At the table, Billy Glenn Norris, is seen blindfolded. He is putting a gun together while saying how he is ready to fight for America, and shoot the aliens. This scene shows how patriotism is rooted incorrectly. Everyday Americans should feel patriotic. Instead, we feel patriotic when going to war to prove we are the best. There is a patriotism in America, that is too forceful. Instead of loving our country, we are ignorant, and believe we are the best. It turns from a prideful viewing of the country into an ignorant one. This trailer family is the epitome of ignorant. After Billy Glenn is killed by an alien, the mom is shown putting together a gun. While doing this, she says she will not allow an alien to steal her television. With this scene Burton is making fun of consumerism. Instead of wanting to protect her family, including the grandmother, the mother wants to protect her television. Her television has become the most important thing in her life. This is what Burton feels consumerism has done to the United States. Americans always want more than what we have. We don't think of how important family is, instead, we swoon over material things.
     Throughout this whole movie, there is a campy feel, but it is even satirical. Every part of the movie is made to make fun of society and its characteristics. This is Burton's way of sending a message to the world.