Morrell - Burton's Out of This World Attack on America

When Congress can hardly decide on anything, and, as a recent result of this, essentially shut down our government, it's difficult to imagine how our government would react to Martians landing on our planet. Luckily, we don't have to seeing as how Tim Burton has satirically portrayed this hypothetical scenario quite effectively in Mars Attacks. The film's conflict is centered around dealing with these creatures that have invaded planet earth and are wreaking havoc through destruction of buildings, cities, and even human life. Ironically enough, this is how we, as a society, have managed to destroy the planet we call our home. It is for this reason that Tim Burton chooses to so cleverly satirize aspects of our nation that supposedly hold our values and morals at its core. One scene that demonstrates this idea in particular shows Congress gathered to hear a Martian speak. Even after the Martians' initial landing and murderous encounter with masses of people in Nevada, the government still holds out hope that the Martians do truly wish to "come in peace." Here, I think Burton is trying to touch upon a theme used throughout his other works. He is demonstrating how people who conform take advantage of those who are different so that they can manipulate them with ease to get what they want. The only reasonable explanation for Congress holding a meeting with the Martians is for this purpose exactly, so they can determine what the Martians have to offer Earth, and more specifically, the United States government. So when the Martians pull out their ray guns and blast the congressmen with red and green flames until nothing but bones remain in the seats, it is quite comical and just goes to show how morally unjust this greedy mindset is that permeates throughout American politics. Prior to the aliens' arrival, the president holds a meeting in his office with the army generals, the scholarly professor, and his secretary. All of these characters fulfill stereotypes of their roles. Tim Burton seriously satirizes the president as he casts Jack Nicholson as both Mr. President and Art Land, two total external opposites that strangely share some personality quirks. As the president, he lives up to all negative expectations. During the meeting he asks his colleagues what they would do in this situation and evaluates each possible plan, not even bothering to come up with one of his own showing how he is merely a puppet master, manipulating others into doing things for him. Another thing that stood out during this scene was the president's concern about the media and press over anything else showing how vain he is as a politician; absorbed in his own reputation.