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jackhammer · 10-07-2011, 05:45 PM

I like 80% of John Carpenters output and I genuinely loved many of his films upon first (and subsequent) viewing that took their time to be appreciated : The Thing (obviously), Big Trouble In Little China, Prince Of Darkness etc but I read so so many bad reviews of Ghosts Of Mars that I didn't give it a chance.

I bought it about 3 or 4 years ago and watched it once but turned it off after half an hour because nothing happened. I then gave it away to my father in law who never watched it so I reclaimed it about a month ago determined to sit through this 'crapfest' and at least have a much more informed opinion for me to bemoan the work of the man.

I watched it around 3 or 4 weeks ago and guess what? It really isn't all that bad at all. Once again it's a disguised Western film that JC adores and despite some bad acting here and there it is damn decent. The claustrophobic setting of a small 'frontier' town is well realised, the cinematography is well utilised and the film score works perfectly well (it's composed by JC and performed by Anthrax, Steve Vai and Buckethead).

Like many JC films, time is definitely on his side and his films generally age well and get better and more appreciated as time goes on. I can't wait to watch it again to be honest!

10-07-2011, 05:45 PM	#115 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	I like 80% of John Carpenters output and I genuinely loved many of his films upon first (and subsequent) viewing that took their time to be appreciated : The Thing (obviously), Big Trouble In Little China, Prince Of Darkness etc but I read so so many bad reviews of Ghosts Of Mars that I didn't give it a chance. I bought it about 3 or 4 years ago and watched it once but turned it off after half an hour because nothing happened. I then gave it away to my father in law who never watched it so I reclaimed it about a month ago determined to sit through this 'crapfest' and at least have a much more informed opinion for me to bemoan the work of the man. I watched it around 3 or 4 weeks ago and guess what? It really isn't all that bad at all. Once again it's a disguised Western film that JC adores and despite some bad acting here and there it is damn decent. The claustrophobic setting of a small 'frontier' town is well realised, the cinematography is well utilised and the film score works perfectly well (it's composed by JC and performed by Anthrax, Steve Vai and Buckethead). Like many JC films, time is definitely on his side and his films generally age well and get better and more appreciated as time goes on. I can't wait to watch it again to be honest! __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”