John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars (2001) - Synopsis
From the famed director of "Starman (1984)," "halloween (1978)" and "escape from new York (1981)," "John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars" is a harrowing tale of rescue and escape from a colonized Mars 175 years into the future.
Mars, 2176 AD. Long inhabited by human settlers, the Red Planet has become the dark and dangerous manifest destiny of an over-populated Earth. 640,000 people now live and work at far-flung outposts all over Mars, mining the planet for its abundant natural resources. But one of those mining operations has uncovered a deadly mother lode: a long-dormant Martian civilization whose warriors, now unleashed and apparently unstoppable, are systematically taking over the bodies of human intruders, bent on ridding the planet of the invaders from Earth.
Lt. Melanie Ballard (Natasha Henstridge), a veteran of two years on the Mars Police Force, is on transport assignment to Shining Canyon to bring James "Desolation" Williams (Ice Cube), the planet's most notorious criminal, to justice. Williams has no plans to make Ballard's job easy and what begins as a battle of force and wits between cop and criminal soon turns into something more fundamental: a battle for human survival and escape from the doomed planet.
Joining Lt. Ballard on the mission are Bashira (Clea Duvall), the timid rookie; Jericho (Jason Statham), the fast talking young gun; Commander Helena Braddock (Pam Grier), the tough-as-nails veteran and Descanso (Liam Waite), the reliable soldier. When the team encounters Professor Whitlock (Joanna Cassidy) and learns of her deadly mistake - accidentally unleashing dormant evil Martian forces from an archaeological dig site - all hell breaks loose. It's civilization against civilization and Shining Canyon becomes the O. K. Corral - 176 years into the future - as Ballard and Williams join forces in mortal combat with the "Ghosts of Mars. "
Screen Gems presents a Storm King production, "John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars," directed by John Carpenter from a script by Larry Sulkis & John Carpenter. The producer is Sandy King. The director of photography is Gary B. Kibbe, A. S. C. ; the production designer is Bill Elliott. Acclaimed special effects make-up artist Greg Nicotero, visual effects supervisor Lance Wilhoite and special effects coordinator Darrell Pritchett round out Carpenter's technical team. The film will is edited by Paul Warschilka.
