Figueroa - Mars Attacks

Mars Attacks

Tim Burton uses his film Mars Attacks as a way to satirize government, military, media, and even hippies. His comical and childish take on the classic alien invasion films provides a refreshing change in seriousness of most sci-fi movies. Two of my favorite scenes in the film are the deliberating scene with the President and his advisors and the invasion of the White House scene. I enjoyed the deliberating scene because it was interesting to see all the differences in opinion and how the President simply listens to all his options and choses the one he thinks will give him the right image. The various opinions given were all very different in essence. First there was the press advisor that wanted the President to spread the news of the Martians coming to Earth. Then there was the war hungry general that wishes the President would attack the Martians, stating that their flying saucers are warships and should be considered a threat. In contrast to the war hungry general, the peaceful general simply answers the questions the President is asking him with another question. He does this too please everyone and not step on any toes in the process of building up his credibility. Lastly the professor uses his knowledge to answer the President’s questions but does so in a rather naïve and smug way. The President agrees with his press advisor’s opinion and decides to release the information about the Martians to the media. Burton uses this scene to express his opinion of the government. He believes the President does a very minimalistic job when compared to what most Americans believe the President’s job consists of. Burton also uses this scene to state how the President and government as a whole are greatly focused on how they are perceived in the media. In politics image is everything and Burton clearly demonstrates this in the scene. Another one of my favorite scenes also involves the President. This is the scene when the Martians attack the White House and the Secret Service attempt to protect the President and his family. The scene takes an interesting turn when two children steal the Martian’s guns and use them against the Martians. What makes the scene both comical and interesting is the fact that the children are protecting the President better than the Secret Service. Burton uses this scene to make a statement about how the future generations can do a better job of running the government and society as a whole than the current generation. Burton does a great job of providing a comical, interesting and creative ways of expressing his thoughts and opinions throughout all of his works.