... H Riedel
Producer : William Alland
Universals ' This Island Earth ' is a very good example of Sci Fi in the 50's. Directed by '
Joseph Newman ' it is a very energetic , colourfull film which begins in familiar enough
territory but journeys much farther out into interstellar ... Read review
Prepare to blast off from planet Earth in one of the most popular classic sci-fi films of ... more
all time! When atomic scientist Dr. Meacham (Rex Reason) is chosen to take part in a top-secret research experiment in a remote lab, he quickly discovers that he ...
Weird events in the life of atomic scientist Cal Meacham culminate in an invitation from ... more
the strange-looking Exeter to work at a secret lab in Georgia supposedly in the cause of world peace. Other scientists are already there including the gorgeous Ruth Adams. They quickly discover there's more to Exeter than meets the eye. Is he benevolent? It may take an interstellar journey to find out.
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Science Fiction - Director: Hiroyuki Yamaga - Original Language: Japanese - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Ayako Kawasumi, Fujiko Takimoto
Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith
Advantages: Smooth and Lavish!!! Disadvantages: Lacklustre characters.
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Universals ' This Island Earth ' is a very good example of Sci Fi in the 50's. Directed by '
Joseph Newman ' it is a very energetic , colourfull film which begins in familiar enough
territory but journeys much farther out into interstellar travel and interplanetary war. The
star of the film ' Rex Reason ' is unfortunately stolidly innapropriate in the part of the
young physicist.Faith Domergue fares little ... ...by ' Fobidden Planet ' this
is still a very enjoyable film.......dated yes ..but nicely so. This is much more than just
a variation of the monster movie.....yes there is a bug eyed one.....Cleverly presented and
produced by ' William Alland' he knew what the accent should be on and that was special
effects.Alland who also worked on films with the great ' Jack Arnold ' definitely brought a
lot of his unique ... more
Credits : Director : Joseph Newman Screenplay : Franklin Coen Edward O'Callaghan Novel by : Raymond F. Jones Photography : Clifford Stine Designers Alexander Golitzen R. H Riedel Producer : William Alland
Universals ' This Island Earth ' is a very good example of Sci Fi in the 50's. Directed by ' Joseph Newman ' it is a very energetic , colourfull film which begins in familiar enough territory but journeys much farther out into interstellar travel and interplanetary war. The star of the film ' Rex Reason ' is unfortunately stolidly innapropriate in the part of the young physicist.Faith Domergue fares little better either......being rather flat. But what makes this film so stand out is the special effects , colourfull photography and the ethereal looking settings , which are splendidly realised.
Plot. Cal Meachams (Rex Reason ) jet is mysteriously encapsulated in green light, after his plane malfunctions and is mysteriously landed for him . Arriving in his laboratory next day an electronics catalogue offers him instructions on how to build an ' Interocitor ' Provided with the necessary parts he finally finishes the project. The result looking dissapointingly like a colour TV set with an inverted triangular screen. The face that appears congratulates him on having passed the test and later asks him to join some strange company called Unit 16. After the machineis destroyed ' Meacham ' is taken aboard a plane ( with no pilot !! ) from where he is taken to his secret destination.Working alongside fellow scientists ( some romantic moments here with colleague Faith Domergue ) they soon discover they are under control by aliens who have specially chosen earths best minds to save them and there planet ' Metaluna ' from being dstroyed in an interplanetary war.Eventually being taken to there homeworld in a flying saucer they arrive to witness the planets final destruction.Escaping just in time the saucer returns to earth and burns up but, not before our heroes are safely lowered in there plane.
Overview, Although a year later the film was completely overshadowed by ' Fobidden Planet ' this is still a very enjoyable film.......dated yes ..but nicely so. This is much more than just a variation of the monster movie.....yes there is a bug eyed one.....Cleverly presented and produced by ' William Alland' he knew what the accent should be on and that was special effects.Alland who also worked on films with the great ' Jack Arnold ' definitely brought a lot of his unique imagination to bear.Seen from space the Shattered surface of ' Metaluma ' is splendid , as is the planet itself, wrapped in a shroud of gases as meteors collide and explode.The interior of the saucer too is nicely designed. This Island Earth also has it's fair share of gadgetry. All of this rather compensates for the laclustre characters. Even with it's shortcomings though' This Island Earth ' is most definitely worth a watch.......personally i would much rather see this than a lot of todays Sci Fi films.
Advantages: Classic sci-fi and bug eyed monsters Disadvantages: A little dated
...of Hollywood's classic sci-fi films, This Island Earth is a thought provoking little film with a timeless atmosphere.
The story involves Dr Cal Meacham becoming intrigued by a mysterious company that is sending him equipment way in advance of anything available. Meacham is finally recruited by Exeter, a strange industrialist who has gathered the world's foremost experts in nuclear energy in an attempt to create limitless free energy. As the story ... ...Ok it sound's corny but this does have an atmosphere and look that typifies the Hollywood approach to sci-fi in the 1950's. The effects are excellent, the cast great, and it all comes together nicely. The story starts off well but does occasionally stray into bug-eyed monster territory. The end result is a well staged film which should appeal to fans of older films, although a more contemporary audience may find it a little laughable. ...
TheNeil 13.10.2000
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Advantages: Brilliant Special effects and intelligent story Disadvantages: Pedestrian acting by leads
?ThisIslandEarth? released in 1955 was another classic sci-fi film of that era. With very high production values and a clever storyline it stood out from the run of the mill sensationalist Sci-fi movies it was competing against. It was one of the first science fiction movies to be made in Technicolor giving it a spectacular appearance which have ensured it has stood the test of time and can still be appreciated by modern audiences.
THE PLOT
Dr. Cal Meacham, well known scientist is sent an electronic component for a machine he is building from a mysterious scientific research organisation. The component appears to be more advanced than anything Dr Meacham has come across before. With the component there is also a catalogue listing parts to be used to build a futuristic communications device. Meacham is intrigued and goes on to ...
Advantages: Great story, and special effects Disadvantages: none
and a growing fear of nuclear conflict with the communist block, a film with an underlying message warning against unchecked scientific development, highlighting man's fallibility would certainly have struck a powerful cord with cinema goers.
Other sci-fi films had addressed these issues. ' Them!' (1954) involved insects being mutated in to giants following the radiation exposure after nuclear tests in the desert. Others such as 'ThisIslandEarth' (1954) and 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' (1956) presented an anti-war and anti communist message respectively. These films however were mostly low budget, sometimes second features and did not approach the quality of Forbidden Planet. 'Forbidden Planet' looks as if money has been spent on it.
Considering it was made in 1956 the standard of the special effects, the quality of the costumes ...
Advantages: Keeps to the book Disadvantages: VERY STRANGE
remember. If you do watch this film look at the pigs head. Answer this question. Does the pig?s head look real? It is quite foul but quite appropriate for this shocking novel.
THE PLOT. A group of boys are wrecked on an island with no adults. They have to create their own civilisation and elect a chief. Ralph is elected much to the disgust of Jack. Jack and his army decide to be the hunters. In time they become more savage. What starts as killing pigs ends up in killing people. I will not tell you what happens and who dies but it is an excellent film.
Although the acting is not Hollywood standard it still is a very good film. It keeps to the story very closely. It plays on your mind this film. When watching this film just remember that Golding wanted to create this film as a 'smaller version of earth'. It shows the evil we have done ...
Production Year: 1996 - Science Fiction - Director: Albert Pyun - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Christopher Lambert, Natasha Henstridge, Norbert Weisser
