Plot: What’s it about?
The landscape of Mars has been colonized by mankind, but that doesn’t mean all of its secrets have been discovered. A team of police agents has been dispatched to a remote mining colony there, where a dangerous criminal is be picked up, then transported back to face his charges. One of the team members is Melanie Ballard (Natasha Henstridge) and while she doesn’t know it now, she will be the sole team member to return from the mission. After some time has passed and the team starts their mission, their train arrives back at the station, but not all of them have made the trek back to the main populace. As the search crew examines the ghost train, they discover Ballard is the sole occupant and she has been handcuffed in place. What happened to Ballard and more to the point, what happened to the other members of her crew?
After a dismal run in the theaters and a scathing tour of the critical press, Ghosts of Mars has landed on home video, where it should find an audience. Of course, fans of John Carpenter will check it out, but I think anyone who enjoys action driven sci/fi and doesn’t need a complex, thought provoking premise should look into this picture. Yes, it is plot holes and never asks much of the viewers, but then again, this kind of movie shouldn’t, I don’t think. It is clear this flick was made to dazzle the eyes and provide a nice, fast ride and if you ask me, it succeeds on those fronts and that’s what counts. The pace is brisk, the characters are fun to watch, there’s tons of brutal violence & blood to be seen, plus it has Natasha Henstridge. I know she’s not the best actress out there, but I love to see her in action and as such, her presence enhances the experience for me and I’m sure, many others out there. In the end, this was a very fun movie to watch, but the violence and plot holes could turn some folks off, I think. But if you’re into brutal, action driven sci/fi with some awesome visuals, then give Ghosts of Mars a chance.
Although his career has taken a downturn over time, I still have faith in director John Carpenter, if just because he makes fun movies. I admit some of his recent works have been pretty bad, but he is reliable in some respects and he doesn’t shy away from graphic violence, which a lot of directors seem to do in the current social climate. So even if just because he uses sex and violence in nice doses, I continue to frequent Carpenter’s films as he completes them. I had low hopes for Ghosts of Mars, but as per usual, he delivers the violence and throws in some hot women, as well as a decent enough storyline. This is no thinking man’s movie by any means, but it is rough and pulls no punches, which is cool, I think. I wouldn’t call this a return to form for Carpenter, but it is a step up from some of his other efforts.
Video: How does it look?
This one’s been around long enough that it saw releases on DVD, Blu-ray and now 4K. I’ve personally found the film as more of a middle-of-the-road transfer – about average. But Shout has given this a new 4K facelift and I have to say the results are, well, pretty amazing. Contrast seems vastly improved, detail and clarity are top notch and the film has a more “glossed over” look to it, giving it more of a true Science Fiction feel. The 2.40:1 HEVC 4K image has certainly benefitted from its new transfer and fans are sure to eat this one up. It’s a winner.
Audio: How does it sound?
Also strong is the DTS HD track that not only has the clarity I expect, but a strong and broad soundscape throughout. Vocals are fine, but when the action kicks in, that’s when the track really comes alive and brings us into this world. The track stays reasonably active and like the transfer, serves the film in a positive manner.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The supplements are, by and large, the same as the Blu-ray released a few years ago with the notable exception of a new feature on the second (Blu-ray) disc.
Disc One (4K)
- Audio Commentary – As per usual, director John Carpenter supplies a good audio commentary session and this time around, he is joined by the gorgeous Natasha Henstridge. The two seem relaxed and quite candid in this track, so we’re let in on a lot of behind the scenes tomfoolery and antics, in addition to the more technical comments. I’ve always enjoyed Carpenter’s sessions and with Henstridge also present, this track turns out to be another terrific one, so don’t miss it.
Disc Two (Blu-ray)
- Audio Commentary – As per usual, director John Carpenter supplies a good audio commentary session and this time around, he is joined by the gorgeous Natasha Henstridge. The two seem relaxed and quite candid in this track, so we’re let in on a lot of behind the scenes tomfoolery and antics, in addition to the more technical comments. I’ve always enjoyed Carpenter’s sessions and with Henstridge also present, this track turns out to be another terrific one, so don’t miss it.
- Assault on Outpost 13: Scoring Ghosts of Mars – This new supplements greets us with an interview from noted film historian Daniel Schweiger. We get some information about the score, its relevance to the “Heavy Metal” genre and the like. Admittedly, it’s not the best feature out there, but it’s new – so that’s saying something.
- Scoring Ghosts of Mars – Fans of Anthrax (or hard rock music in general) might get a kick out of this short, yet informative six minute featurette dealing with the music used in the film.
- Special Effects Deconstruction – Ever wonder what it takes to make a place look like Mars? This all-too-brief featurette shows us the set up and break down of the sets used in the film.
- Video Diary – Perhaps the biggest head-scratcher is this, the rough footage that somehow passes as a “video diary.”
The Bottom Line
Carpenter has made enough films that there’s bound to be one that suits your style. For me, this wasn’t it but I do see the appeal (and early 00’s Natasha Henstridge is never a bad thing). The image has gotten better since the Blu-ray release and the addition of a new supplement only sweetens the deal.
