Why I like "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians"
Pretty much reviled or “hailed” as one of the worst movies of all time, I’m not sure that it really deserves that reputation. Sure, the sets and costumes would embarrass a high school drama club, and the acting and dialogue are no better. At least the production crew is competent; every shot is well lit, properly framed, and you can clearly hear the actors.
But with all the holiday movies these days, either filled with **113**-inducing sentimentality for the traditional” family-style Christmas or hypocritically claiming that the “true meaning of Christmas” is not in material things while simultaneously screaming at you to BUY STUFF, it’s time to take another look at this one.
The ruler of Mars, Kimar, and his wife, Momar, notice to their dismay that their ch1ldren have succumbed to the "illness" infecting the ch1ldren of Mars. They are listless, sulky, don’t eat or **82** much, and show no interest in anything other than watching TV shows from Earth. No one can figure out why, so Kimar calls his advisory council together to go visit Chochem, the Old Wise Hermit of Mars.
Chochem isn’t as out of touch as you might think. He knows about the problem, and it’s cause. It’s December on Earth, and all the TV shows are filled with references to a person known as "Santa Claus". Martian ch1ldren, with their completely structured and regimented lives, are in a "funk" because they are forced to be adults before they are done being k1ds, don’t get to have any fun, like Earth ch1ldren clearly do.
Taking his advice, Kimar launches an expedition to go to Earth and **69** this "Santa Claus"....
That’s the reason I like this movie. It stresses, in its own awkward way, that k1ds need to be allowed to be k1ds. That’s something that’s still worth remembering today, as parents shuttle their k1ds from one practice and "play date" to another.
So give it another chance, or another look. It’s not like any other holiday movie you will ever see. And it has the advantage of being in the public domain, so you can
watch it for free online.