Jason Statham should remake Ghosts from Marshis failed update of a John Wayne classic. Although Statham appeared in a few music videos before Padlock, stock and two smoking barrelsthat 1998 gangster comedy served as his acting debut. No one was looking at Statham as the next big action star at that point, but his 2002 casting The transporter completely altered the course of his career. Jason Statham’s action films are now an indelible part of pop culture, but John Carpenter’s films Ghosts from Mars it actually served as his introduction to the genre.
This 2001 sci-fi actioner cast Statham as Sergeant Jericho, part of a squad of Martian police officers who find themselves surrounded by possessed miners who have a taste for decapitation. Carpenter’s film is a mix of his previous work, but it also allowed Statham to show off his fighting and shooting skills. Ghosts from Mars was Statham’s first action film, but it did little for his career, grossing only half of its estimated $28 million budget. (through Mojo Box Office) and receiving largely bad reviews.
Jason Statham was almost the protagonist of Ghosts Of Mars
Ghosts from Mars could have beaten the Transporter
Ghosts from Mars It was only Statham’s fourth filmand there was little to indicate in Guy Ritchie’s book Block, Stock… or Snatch that he was an action icon in the making. Carpenter was the first to see this potential in the young British star and actually wanted to cast Statham as Ghosts from Mars‘ main antihero “Desolation” Williams. In hindsight, this could have been a great first leading role for Statham. The film actually builds on Williams’ first appearance, presenting him as the most dangerous man on the planet.
Sony wanted a bigger name for Ghosts from Mars because even with a relatively modest budget for a big action film, Jason Statham was considered an unknown.
Williams is also given plenty of action sequences and a few jokes to deliver. Sony wanted a bigger name for Ghosts from Mars because even with a relatively modest budget for a big action film, Statham was considered too unknown. Ice Cube later accepted the rolewhile Carpenter rewrote the Jericho character into a larger role for Statham. Outside of leads Cube and Natasha Henstridge, Jericho is easily the film’s most prominent supporting actor.
Why Ice Cube Didn’t Like Ghosts From Mars So Much
The protagonist of Ghosts of Mars refused to promote the final product
It made perfect sense to launch Cube as Ghosts from Mars‘lead Statham. Not only was he a hugely successful musician, but he also had hits like Next Friday and Three Kings. On paper, Cube seems like great casting for the toughest bad guy on Mars – but his performance is incredibly dull and turned off. This can be explained by the rapper’s post-film analysis, where Cube said Contactmusic.com in 2008 he just signed a contract Ghosts from Mars to work as a Carpenter.
I don’t like this movie. I’m a huge John Carpenter fan (and) the only reason I did it was because John Carpenter directed it. But they didn’t really have the money to do the special effects.
Cube’s unhappiness with Ghosts from Mars extended to refuse to promote itand whenever asked about the film, he often rates it as the worst. His dissatisfaction with the project clearly had an impact on his performance, as it doesn’t make sense that an actor as charismatic as Cube would feel so affected. He delivers most of his dialogue in a monotone, and his performance only comes to life in the rare moments when he smiles or shows emotion other than appearing taciturn.
Although Henstridge is the true leader Ghosts from MarsIt’s a big deal that the Cube is checked out so visibly. This sinks many of his scenes and makes it nearly impossible to engage with his character. Strangely, Cube’s finest moment comes with the final scene, where he and Henstridge’s Melanie reunite to fight the next wave of spirits.; If he had carried that energy all the time, his comeback would have been a lot more fun.
Ghosts Of Mars Is A Stealth Remake Of A John Wayne Western
Well, it’s technically a remake of THREE John Wayne Westerns
Carpenter is an avowed fan of Howard Hawks and considers him one of the best filmmakers who ever lived. Carpenter’s favorite Western is Hawks’ Rio Bravowhich cast John Wayne as a beleaguered sheriff holding a dangerous prisoner. Many critics praised this 1959 western, with Quentin Tarantino almost rivaling Carpenter in his adoration of it. Carpenter loved it Rio Bravo so much so that he redid it twice with Assault on Police Station 13 and Ghosts from Mars – even if the remake label is loose.
Ghosts of Mars is arguably even more Western than Carpenter’s Assault on Precinct 13, with its sprawling desert landscapes, use of dynamite, and a final showdown on a train.
Both take the basic formula and transplant it to new environments; Los Angeles in the 1970s and Mars in the year 2176, respectively. Ghosts from Mars is arguably even more Western than Carpenter’s Assault on Police Station 13with its open desert landscapes, use of dynamite and confrontation on a train. The film even borrows elements from Hawks and Wayne’s unofficial story. Rio Bravo trilogy, with the pair remaking their own film twice with El Dorado and Rio Lobo.
|
THE Rio Bravo Trilogy |
Rotten Tomatoes rating |
|---|---|
|
Rio Bravo (1959) |
96% |
|
El Dorado (1966) |
96% |
|
Rio Lobo (1970) |
70% |
The final scene of Cube and Henstridge’s characters walking together is a recognized excerpt from El Dorado, for example. Some of the interaction between Henstridge and Statham mirrors that of Wayne and his banter with the various arrogant gunslingers he teams up with throughout the trilogy; That said, Statham and Henstridge’s conversation is decidedly more flirty. Rio Bravo and its sequels completely lack the horror edge that Carpenter brings to his work, but his DNA is definitely spread throughout. Ghosts from Mars.
A remake of Ghosts Of Mars, led by Jason Statham, would redeem his first action role
Statham is even better for Ghosts of Mars over 20 years later
Although it is difficult to say whether Ghosts from Mars it would have been a far superior film if Statham had played the lead role; at the very least, he would have suited Williams’ role much better. Even so, Statham was early in his career and had not yet refined his on-screen persona. This includes his fighting style, which is somewhat inelegant, as presented in Ghosts from Mars. However, 20 years later, Statham would be perfect for a modern remake of Ghosts from Mars.
Few devotees of the Carpenter would claim Ghosts from Mars it is your best work; the flashback structure is a strange stylistic trick, as is the use of dissolves inside scenes. The “ghosts” themselves seem like background extras in a Mad Max imitation of the 1980s and are completely devoid of threat. Even so, the central hook of the film is greatand a reboot could give more details. The main problem in fighting the possessed is that if the host’s body dies, the spirit simply leaves the body in search of a new puppet to possess.
Ghosts from Mars it barely makes use of this element, with the heroes destroying hordes of miners with machine gun fire. A remake could further develop the horror elements, including improved creature designs and the protagonists being forced no to kill their attackers. Statham has played characters like Williams many times at this point in films like Wrath of Man or even 2024 The beekeeper. Common Ghosts from Mars remake, Statham could get a second chance at the film that launched his action career – and this time, he might get it right.
Source: Mojo Box Office, Contactmusic.com, Rotten tomatoes