Nice planet. We’ll take it!|Dec. 12, 1996|United States|106 Min.|PG-13
Genre: Comedy;Fantasy;Science;Fiction
Description: In 1996, the film “Mars Attacks!” tells the story of a spaceship departing Earth and returning to Mars, where it joins hundreds of other Martian ships before heading back to Earth. U.S. President James Dale (Jack Nicholson), along with his team, addresses the nation about this historic event. Days later, the President’s science team organizes a first contact meeting with the Martians in Pahrump, Nevada. President Dale watches the event on television with his wife Marsha (Glenn Close) and daughter Taffy (Natalie Portman).
The Martian Ambassador, using a translation device, announces their peaceful intentions. However, when a dove is released as a symbol of peace, the Ambassador shoots it, and the Martians proceed to massacre most attendees with a ray gun that reduces its victims to skeletons. Among the victims are General Casey (Paul Winfield), reporter Jason Stone (Michael J. Fox), and young private Billy-Glenn Norris (Jack Black). The Martians also capture talk show host Nathalie Lake (Sarah Jessica Parker) and her chihuahua, Poppy.
Believing the Martians misinterpreted the dove as a sign of war, President Dale instructs Professor Donald Kessler (Pierce Brosnan) to renegotiate. The Martians later request to address the U.S. Congress, where they massacre most of the members. Kessler pleads for them to stop but is knocked unconscious and taken aboard their ship. Later, he is found dismembered, with only his head remaining animated.
General Decker (Rod Steiger) urges President Dale to retaliate with nuclear weapons, but Dale refuses. After a failed assassination attempt on Dale, the Martians launch a full-scale invasion of Earth, starting with Washington, D.C., and quickly spreading worldwide. As they attack the White House, the Secret Service evacuates the President. However, Marsha dies from a falling chandelier, and Taffy is separated during the chaos.
Cast director: Tim Burton
Cast actor: Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnan, Danny DeVito, Martin Short, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michael J. Fox, Rod Steiger, Tom Jones
Original name: Mars Attacks!