INVADERS FROM MARS (1986)

*Tonight’s guest interview/review is with Jason and Fable Zimmermann (ages 11 and 8, respectively).

What was the movie we watched tonight? 
Invaders from Mars.

Fable, describe the movie: 
It’s about a kid with a beautiful family — way better than us. They’re kind of crazy because they let their kid drink Dr. Pepper for breakfast. The kid who drinks Dr. Pepper is the hero. He has to fight aliens. 

Jason, did you like the movie? 
Yes, I enjoyed it. It was a child who was the main character and it was basically the adults who could either believe or not believe him. If they didn’t believe him, that would be the fate of their world.

Fable, who was your favorite character? 
My favorite character was the frog the teacher ate. (note: in the movie, seminal black hat Louise Fletcher eats a frog under the influence of the Martians).

Jason, what was your favorite part of the movie? 
My favorite part of the movie was when, at the very end, the twist happened. 

Fable, did you think the movie was scary? 
Nah. The aliens were just goopy and snotty.

Jason, did you like the effects? 
Yes, very much. But there’s this one scene where they were killing the monsters for the first time, they cut to the soldiers and it looked like they threw sausages at them. I didn’t like that part. I very much liked the design of the Martians though. They looked cool.

Fable, what did you not like about the movie? 
The boy was drinking Dr. Pepper at breakfast. (note: I strongly suspect she did not like this part because I stopped Fay from drinking pop at the breakfast table twice).

Jay, would you recommend this movie? 
Yes. Probably to people who like funny, sci-fi horror movies with lots of weird twists and special effects throughout the movie. 

Fable, from 1 to 10, what would you give this movie? 
An 8.

Jason, what grade would you give this movie if it were in school? 
I think I’d give it a B+.