For fans of the oddball alternative/experimental rock/pop band The Flaming Lips, Christmas on Mars has felt like more of a myth than a reality. The band have been talking about it since 2001. I myself, not being a huge fan of the band, chanced upon the documentary The Fearless Freaks a few months ago. I was admittedly impressed by the childlike optimism of lead-singer Wayne Coyne and his sense of wide-eyed wonder that is mapped onto the band’s rousing tunes. Coyne is a strange man, distinctly homely, living in his little suburban house, living his little suburban life between bouts of filling stadiums with his glorious live shows (which involve massive microphones, fake blood, bubbles, and a giant ball that Coyne uses to roll over the heads of the crowd).

Christmas on Mars contines on from the band’s adorable mentality, and Coyne made the film like an 8-year old would, building all the sets himself, getting his neighbours to chip in as extras and crew, and filming everything in his back-yard. The film is an ambitious B-movie-style sci fi about the crew of a dilapidated space station attempting to organise a Christmas pagent in honour of a new type of pregnancy. As well as featuring the band (including Coyne as a Martian), Adam Goldberg, Christina Ricci, and Elijah Wood, turn up.

It remains to be seen if the film will be able to capture the wonder of the band’s music and live shows, while also still managing to be watchable, but the trailer is out now across the net. Christmas on Mars is out in October as a DVD release, including a CD of the soundtrack.