Garcia-Ruiz, Mars Attacks!

In Mars Attacks! Burton makes fun of the way America uses government, military, and patriotism. Martians invade the United States and basically everyone freaks out. In the beginning of the film the president is speaking to the press, military, and professor; seeking advice on what’s next to do. Instead of speaking to the professor first because it would make sense that he would know the most, he speaks to the press guy and makes side comments on what he’s going to wear. This basically ties to how government is put out there now; all done by media and looks and whatnot. The viewers can’t take the president as serious anymore even though he tries to seem like he has everything under control and he’s doing what is right. Throughout the film you come to see that he’s not reliable nor the military or professor.

As for the military, when the Martians first arrive, the president orders to have rows of tanks and military are lined up. They’re basically present to make sure that nothing goes wrong and if something happens they are in charge of taking care of the people around. It’s the stereotypical thing that is supposed to be protecting the people and government. Well as the Martians step off from the spaceship to speak with the humans, it seems like they come in peace, and they say so themselves. After the general greets them and whatnot the Martian in charge of his crew pulls out a laser gun and shoots the people around. When you look at their faces they have this creepy smile on their face as if to say, “ha these humans are ridiculously stupid.” Which is basically what the scene was showing. In the end of the film the audience realizes that it was not the military that end up killing the Martians, but the song that the grandma listens to. Something so simple and less complicated than weapons and thousands of trained people.