Tim Burton movies have made great 4Ks because he loves those dark, gothic images. Mars Attacks! was a different kind of movie for him. It’s bright and colorful, which is what makes the killer Martians so funny.
Though notably more vibrant than other Burton movies, Mars Attacks! still reflects Burton’s distrust of polite society. It’s really just about the Martians relishing their takeover with demented glee. The humans are all idiots, like the Deetzes in Beetlejuice or mob in Edward Scissorhands. They only triumph by finding their absurd weakness.
So the 4K UHD shows the colorful goof with a variety of looks. The White House, gaudy Las Vegas, cool New York and dusty trailer park all combine like the classic ensemble disaster movies. The goofy CGI flying saucers and martians, with people dissolving in red and green smoke, were always meant to look like fake ‘50s effects and they hold up in 4K.
Surround sound creates the mayhem of the laser blasts and rumbling destruction. It also features subtle sound effects like voices in different speakers in the TV news control room.
Bonus features have the filmmakers reflecting on their work, with VHS footage from behind the scenes. It includes the stop motion figures Burton wanted to use,