I thought I'd start this thread for discussing the film in detail... in case anyone wants spoilers and such.

I love all the little psychedelic undertones and subtleties in the film and in the tickets and signage at the premiere. For example, the back side of the tickets were printed like a sheet of acid with marijuana leaf, butterfly, star, and snowflake hits on it. No where on the ticket or signage did it say "Christmas on Mars" but instead proclaimed "East your Own Spaceship", which also seems like a reference to dose-ing, especially given that Wayne's charter in the movie travels in a space-ball which he eats like a sacrament or eucharist. Several times during the film characters loudly and unexpectedly exclaim things like "Are you on drugs Boy!" which if you happen to be on drugs (and maybe I was...) could be quite shocking. Really the list could go on, as the film is a wild trip-fest through and through. Quite possibly the best drug movie ever made!

BTW - the tickets also read "Remember... anything is possible." and "The Flaming Lips encourage you to create your own happiness." I'd be happy to put up my scanned ticket if someone helps answer my post in the FAQ section - thanks!

i can't respond in the FAQ section, so I'll just reply here. Changing your avatar IS a little needlessly complex here, not sure why. First you have to upload your image to an image hosting service (photobucket, imageshack, etc...). Once you've done that you go to the "GO" tab > select "Personal Zone" > "Profile" > "View/edit profile" > there should be a section here where you can select "EDIT" for your avatar > then select "Custom Avatar" > then you just paste in your image's url. Viola!

i don't really want to discuss spoilers on here. if you do, have at it, but i enjoy the air of secrecy around the film.

i will say this: the movie is not a movie. it's an experience. i felt the cold and fear of space. it was overwhelming. but, i knew i was in good hands, so i was up for the ride. strangely, the sensations of the film were similar to some breathing techniques i've learned — overwhelming at the moment, but overall exhilarating and satisfying.


also, the photography was utterly beautiful. i didn't realize until the end how involved michelle martin-coyne was. and thank goodness for that.

quote:

Viola!

Great, thanks!

As I probably should have guessed, the image is too hard to make out at that size. But here is my ticket for anyone interested.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk164/christ_child/CoMTicket1001.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk164/christ_child/CoMTicket2.jpg

those tickets are brilliant.
i want one.

mega dittoes

quote:

Originally posted by Christ Child:


http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk164/christ_child/CoMTicket1001.jpg

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk164/christ_child/CoMTicket2.jpg

VERY cool.

quote:

i don't really want to discuss spoilers on here. if you do, have at it, but i enjoy the air of secrecy around the film.

That is fair enough. If I hadn't seen the film I would also want to avoid spoilers... which is partly why I thought it would be better to contain them in one thread that could be easily avoided.

A few people have mentioned CoM being an experience rather than a typical movie and I totally agree... see it in the tent with friends and fellow Lips fans! And avoid this thread until you do!

I guess discussion of the film and the experience will take off a little more as more screenings occur.

quote:

those tickets are brilliant.
i want one.

I was joking with the Man himself about the hits on the back of the ticket, and he mentioned that not everyone noticed that. And luckily, he added, security at the airport also didn't notice as Michelle was carrying hundreds of those sheets! Just the sort of conversation you want to avoid having with airport security!

I imagine that these tickets will be used at all the screenings this summer... all the more reason to keep them under wraps in the spoilers thread.

quote:

Originally posted by Christ Child:

quote:

those tickets are brilliant.
i want one.

I was joking with the Man himself about the hits on the back of the ticket, and he mentioned that not everyone noticed that. And luckily, he added, security at the airport also didn't notice as Michelle was carrying hundreds of those sheets! Just the sort of conversation you want to avoid having with airport security!

I imagine that these tickets will be used at all the screenings this summer... all the more reason to keep them under wraps in the spoilers thread.

don't eat the tickets, kids

Where are the spoilers?

There are no spoilers in this thread. Hell, there's no discussion about the movie in this thread! There's no discussion about the movie anywhere.

Can anyone discuss the film without sounding like a High Times-subscriber or giving away any supposed spoilers?

sure.

this movie deals with a theme commonly mentioned in a lot of sci fi: are humans capable of surviving in space? in christmas on mars, it's an issue of sanity. in the dark, cold, lonely space, can humans still celebrate the warm traditions like christmas? several of the people on the martian colony are dealing with psychotic episodes and suicidal thoughts.

what do you think about surviving in a harsh environment like space?

While several of the characters seem well on their way to insanity to begin with, it seems that the soon to be born/manufactured baby is crucial to the suicide of Santa and the growing madness of Major Syrtis. So while the humans in general seem to be ill-adjusting to life on Mars, the impending birth of this child seems to have triggered some greater form of shared psychosis. Possibly the thoughts or life energy of the first human born in space initiates the crisis in Santa and Syrtis, and attracts the Martian. Is the baby calling out to have it's life ended before it begins?

And yet, while the baby seems to symbolize the more general problems that the crew is having adjusting to space, the film ends with a more or less optimistic view on the situation. The events of the story do not lead to their worst possible outcomes, but rather, tend to resolve peacefully. The final shot of the "star-child" as the Martian takes off seems to suggest a positive, or at least neutral, view of humanity in the universe.

quote:

Originally posted by Bridget:
what do you think about surviving in a harsh environment like space?

I guess I feel that humans can adapt to just about any situation. However, that's not to say that the human will remain unchanged through the process of adaptation. Something will likely be lost and gained. The way in which the baby in this story is being delivered strikes me as cold and not quite human, but this could easily be how our ancestors felt about the introduction of surgery, eye glasses, automobiles, etc.

Even being wired into headphones and portable music players continuously might strike a visitor from the past as a horrific loss of some human quality, such as community or communication. I'm sure most iPod users would view the same activity as freeing, or connecting them in some way with a virtual community.

quote:

Originally posted by Christ Child:
While several of the characters seem well on their way to insanity to begin with, it seems that the soon to be born/manufactured baby is crucial to the suicide of Santa and the growing madness of Major Syrtis. So while the humans in general seem to be ill-adjusting to life on Mars, the impending birth of this child seems to have triggered some greater form of shared psychosis. Possibly the thoughts or life energy of the first human born in space initiates the crisis in Santa and Syrtis, and attracts the Martian. Is the baby calling out to have it's life ended before it begins?

oh that's interesting because i thought very differently. i saw the fracturing sanity as a result of the constant postponement of the baby's arrival. simple as this is, i saw the baby as a symbol of hope — delayed and disfigured hope.

now i'm having trouble remembering... the baby did actually arrive at the end of the film, right?

quote:

Originally posted by Bridget:

quote:

Originally posted by Christ Child:
While several of the characters seem well on their way to insanity to begin with, it seems that the soon to be born/manufactured baby is crucial to the suicide of Santa and the growing madness of Major Syrtis. So while the humans in general seem to be ill-adjusting to life on Mars, the impending birth of this child seems to have triggered some greater form of shared psychosis. Possibly the thoughts or life energy of the first human born in space initiates the crisis in Santa and Syrtis, and attracts the Martian. Is the baby calling out to have it's life ended before it begins?

oh that's interesting because i thought very differently. i saw the fracturing sanity as a result of the constant postponement of the baby's arrival. simple as this is, i saw the baby as a symbol of hope — delayed and disfigured hope.

now i'm having trouble remembering... the baby did actually arrive at the end of the film, right?

At conclusion of the film, yes, we see Syrtis and the Captain having a friendly chat while looking through the porthole to where the delivery just went down.

I keep thinking back to the first time we see the Child and Mother on Mars. As I remember it, the scene is generally light in nature, without hinting at anything sinister happening. For the Mother at least, this seems to be a fairly normal process.

I can understand Syrtis being especially concerned about the well being of the Child, as he is the Father - but what about Suicidal Santa? Why is he so effected by the situation of the Child, whatever that may be?

BTW - What year is this story set in? I thought I remembered something on the set of the Christmas pageant reading "Bethleham 2055"... is that right? Even that speaks to the significance that Syrtis places on the welfare of the Child... maybe the baby could be their Saviour?

The more I think back it becomes clear to me that since very little is out-right stated in the film, the interpretations could be and will be endless. This only adds to the experience, the weirdness, and joy of the film. While on one level the film is a glorious audio/visual freak-out, there are also many subtle ways into reading the piece. Another example that jumps to mind is the Father being separated from the Child and Mother during the pregnancy, while technicians/doctors freely walk in and out... what does that say? Again, we don't really know the specifics and are left to create our own back story.

quote:

Originally posted by Christ Child:

I keep thinking back to the first time we see the Child and Mother on Mars. As I remember it, the scene is generally light in nature, without hinting at anything sinister happening. For the Mother at least, this seems to be a fairly normal process.

I thought the opening was a kickass Barbarella moment for Michelle. It also reminded me of how women are further and further removed from the birthing process, which may be good or bad. I take birth control so I don't conceive and don't feel cramps. Women don't even have to ever have their period thanks to b.c. Then there's the drugs you can take during birthing, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by Christ Child:
I can understand Syrtis being especially concerned about the well being of the Child, as he is the Father - but what about Suicidal Santa? Why is he so effected by the situation of the Child, whatever that may be?

BTW - What year is this story set in? I thought I remembered something on the set of the Christmas pageant reading "Bethleham 2055"... is that right? Even that speaks to the significance that Syrtis places on the welfare of the Child... maybe the baby could be their Saviour?

I think the significance of the kid is twofold: first that it's the first child born on mars and secondly that a child brightens any community's existence and gives hope. If the baby had been born earlier, maybe Ed 13 (was that the number?) wouldn't have offed himself. Poor dead Ed.

I haven't quite put it all together myself... usually takes me many viewings before I see the big picture, but...

The one thing I am sure about is that I am very thankful I got to see the movie in the tent with that incredible sound system. I'll never be able to replicate that type of experience, and I would have had no idea of what I had missed if I didn't get to see it at Wakarusa. PLEASE SEE THIS MOVIE ON TOUR, knowing that a DVD at home would NEVER be the same.

overwhelming despair
space psychosis

So, does the alien have the power to amplify positivity and faith into physical reality?
Is the movie saying it is ok to have blind faith (syrtis) with the assumption that it really will all work out in the end?

Is it more important to have blind faith than it is to be hopelessly concerned?

Is the alien immune to negativity and hopelessness? Similar to how he didn't speak or have emotion? Did the alien seem a bit smug as he was leaving the base?

yeah, the hopes and dreams are all tied up in the baby and it is a physical representation of everything going wrong in the beginning as well as everything going right in the end, but I personally don't feel as though the baby is as an important metaphor as the suit/alien is (but the fetus and genitals sure do make for some great Lynch-esque moments).

loved the movie. It had a great retro sci fi feel to it, sound in the tent was massive and intense(just a bit too intense for 4am!), unique and new artistic impressions that are scarce for the traditional movie industry (an alien that carries his spaceship inside of himself?!?!), and then of course, the best thing about scifi is the physical exploration of space turning into the internal exploration of the human existence. Wayne fucking "gets it".

I can already see hollywood wanting to remake this movie in x amount of years... of course hollywood will fuck it up, but I bet it will still be an important big budget sci fi movie.

i hate how the messages from this movie i had all figured out the night i saw it have slowly dissipated into oblivion. i wish i'd written stuff down b/c i have a horrible memory for movies. it went by so quickly! but, like the lips shows, it left me wanting more.

quote:

Originally posted by von Bobo:
yeah, the hopes and dreams are all tied up in the baby and it is a physical representation of everything going wrong in the beginning as well as everything going right in the end, but I personally don't feel as though the baby is as an important metaphor as the suit/alien is (but the fetus and genitals sure do make for some great Lynch-esque moments).

The Martian arrives wearing the solution to the major problem facing the crew. The blown component from the space station happens to be the front-piece of his suit, suggesting... what, the Martian is some sort of Saviour or something?

While I have been commenting on the metaphor of the baby, in the end that really has little to do with the actual doom that faces the humans on this station. Santa kills himself due to his perceived notions about the baby, and Syrtis is driving himself mad thinking about it, but the true danger is no oxygen, which is avoided solely due to the Martians aid. (I guess it was space psychosis that drove that certain crew member to damage the all-important piece of gear in the first place? And didn't Syrtis make comment about using up all the spare parts for his pageant decorations? haha...)

The Martian does nothing to "save" the baby, and in the end the baby is fine, and likely was fine through the entire episode.