‘Ghosts’ lacks
original plot, creative
character dialogue
 By
Jeff Cantwell
Staff Writer
"I bet he kills that giant snake with an ax." That’s
what my brother said about Ice Cube as I sheepishly slipped out to see
Anaconda a few years back. "That’s just how hard he is."
That description is about perfect for every role
that has made Ice Cube a star beyond his music. It certainly holds true
here.
"John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars" is a stereotypical
action/horror flick that's only mildly entertaining.
The story, set on Mars (big surprise), follows
a group of police officers whose job it is to pick up a prisoner, "Desolation"
Williams, played by Ice Cube.
It's obvious that Williams is not to be messed
with, because the government sends a squad of five officers, including
Natasha Henstridge, the junkie; Pam Grier, the leader; Jason Statham
(Snatch), the hornball and two rookies.
The officers' arrival finds the mining colony where
Williams is being held completely deserted, aside from the ghosts of
Mars. Yes, the ghosts of Mars. These "Ghosts" have qualities stolen
and mixed from "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" and "Fallen." When they
take over their hosts, the hosts form what appears to be a primitive
society filled with self-mutilation, war cries and primal weapons.
Faced with this ghoulish threat, the cops and robbers
are forced to team up to survive.
The first quarter of the movie is too slow, and
lacks surprises. Then suddenly, the movie kicks into high gear and the
scared group of police officers and prisoners take on the ghosts in
full bloody combat.
The violence is typical of John Carpenter, the
movie's director. There are many swords, knives and blades flying through
the air. All these weapons hurt people in the film … often.
Special effects are a basic element to any science
fiction story, and the movie did show promise during most of the hyper
action sequences. Also, the gloriously bloody characters’ deaths
were well done.
Unfortunately, the use of miniature models for
some scenes was too obvious and some of the matte painting backgrounds
stuck out just a little too much.
Henstridge and Ice Cube and even Statham filled
their roles well considering their source material provided them with
corny dialog. They conquered their physical roles with power and style.
Ice Cube comes off particularly tough, even though his role is basically
stolen from that of Vin Diesel's in "Pitch Black," the better film and
the better actor.
In the end, "Ghosts of Mars" is nothing more than
summer action horror fluff. But fluff isn't all bad, just don't pay
full price. "Ghosts of Mars" is worth a look on DVD in full surround
sound with the volume turned way up.
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