It's not Halloween, it's Christmas on Mars

Hate to admit it, but I'm terrible about seeing films in theaters. Not sure why, I guess I always hated paying the ticket price. And yet, there's always a bit of regret on some films, so its a bittersweet personal issue. So! Last night I decided to do something I had never done before: go catch an Indie film during a small screening. And what a better flick to see than the long-awaited Flaming Lips flick Christmas on Mars?

So I got the ticket online yesterday, made my way to the small theater on the lower East Side. Line was up to the door! No one was really sure what was going on either, as no one seemed to be present from the theater (though the KGB Bar upstairs was alive and kicking). Finally, the doors were opened, IDs checked, and a curator came out.

This was another first for me. I've read a lot about rock shows being curated - such as the recent ATP curated by My Bloody Valentine - but never experienced it. I didn't catch who the curator was, but he at least did his part in wearing a Santa costume and explaining some quick history on the film and the pre-movie segments we would watch.

And so the flick began with an interesting interview with Wayne talking about the backstory of the movie: why they made it, who its for, why it took so long (after all, it is their own Chinese Democracy). A sweet intro scene followed and then, finally, the movie began.

The movie is a bit different from what I expected. It's definitely out there, mostly black and white, and has a very surreal vibe to it. By nature I would describe it as a very brown story, with some very perverted imagery, almost frustrating at times. Other scenes are completely brilliant, shining in the race of space. The soundtrack, also scored mostly by Flaming Lips, adds a nice touch to it, though I was almost hoping for one good rock track in there to really bring it all home.

All in all, it was a decent movie, and worth the extra hassle of staying out late and the subsequent slow commute home.

Christmas on Mars Trailer (via youtube)