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Be sure to notice all the standard Sci-fi actors and even the Beaver’s mother “Kelston’s Secretary” (Barbara Billingsley).
This movie was well done with just the right amount of spookiness and has a kid’s perspective on what is happening. This is not a kid is smarter than his/her parents movie. There are lots of strange happenings and lots of tension. I will not go into the details as if you have not seen the movie it is more fun to be surprised.
Right from the beginning Little David MacLean sees a flying saucer land in the sandpit behind the house. He tells his parents. They being good parents check it out for him and naturally find nothing out of the ordinary. Maybe he had a nightmare or maybe the nightmare is just beginning as everyone starts acting strange and only David can sound the alarm.
What would you do? Where is Col. Fielding when you need him?
Rating: 5 / 5
Please don’t hammer me for giving this 3 stars, bear with me. This is NOT a review of the movie (which would be a 5 star review), it is a review of the DVD, which just ain’t brilliant.
Firstly, I was hoping for some sort of cleaned-up, remastered picture. What I got instead was something which has had no effort put into it. In some places the picture is pretty terrible. Sound quality is ok, but could have done with a clean-up too.
This film has two different versions (including two completely different endings) for the UK and US. This DVD presents the film with the US version, and the UK extra bits (including the re-shot ending) are shoved on as an Extra. This is good I guess, but would branching really have been that difficult? I think that’s what happened with the Region 1 version??
The poorer picture and sound thankfully do not detract TOO much from the enjoyment of the movie, but I just think this is a film that needs way more attention than it’s getting. A Collector’s edition would be an absolute treat, for this movie which is strangely relevant in a post 9/11 world, if you pick it apart.
In conclusion, the movie is great but the DVD is merely OK.
Rating: 3 / 5
“Invaders From Mars” was the first science fiction film made in color and one that tries to make the most of Cold War paranoia. Young David MacLean (Jimmy Hunt) sees strange lights settling behind a hill near his house and then notices that all the adults in town start acting really strange. However, it turns out not to be Commies in them thar hills, but alien invaders of a different kind and David is going to need some help. This is happening in the backyard of David’s California home is because his father, George (Leif Erickson), is a scientist at the local top secret base where they are working on an atomic powered rocket to go to Mars. George goes off to investigate (he is a scientist, therefore he is curious) and returns a changed man. When David notices the small wound at the base of his father’s skull, his mind starts the leap to the astounding conclusion. Fortunately, David has found a more than friendly face in the person of Dr. Pat Blake (Helena Carter) who can help him save his parents, the locals, and, well, the entire world.
This 1953 film was also the last one directed by William Cameron Menzies, who is best known as the production designer on “Gone With the Wind” but who also directed “Things to Come,” the 1936 science fiction classic based on the H.G. Wells novel. This is not a special effects film, which is rather surprising given the decision to make it in color. Most of the film bears the stamp of Menzies’ direction, which resulted in a rather dream-like quality to what is going on that is rather unique for a Fifties Science Fiction film. This becomes particularly effective because the film is obviously geared at adolescents, not only in terms of its young protagonist but also in terms of materializing the traditional fears of adolescents (your parents and every adult in town is out to make sure you have no fun whatsoever). Menzies also deserves credit for the fantastic set of the hill leading up to the sand pit.
The conclusion of this film is the weakest part, on several levels, ranging from the level of special effects and zippered alien costumes to the “epilogue” (you will understand when you see the film). But that is a traditional criticism of most films, whether you are talking science fiction or not: the payoff is not as good as the set up (the hill set overlooking the sand pit was so great that whatever was down there on the other side was not go to match the high expectations built up over the course of the film). Still, “Invaders From Mars” is a prime example of Fifties Sci Fi Paranoia, along with “It Came From Outer Space” and “The Invasion of the Body Snatchers.” “Invaders From Mars” was remade by director Tobe Hooper in 1986, with Jimmy Hunt now playing the Police Chief, but the new version has nothing of the elegance of the original, which is the one you need to see at least once as part of your alien invasion movie heritage.
Rating: 4 / 5
This Region One disc includes both the U.S. and British versions of the movie and an illustrated collector’s booklet. It claims a brand new digital transfer but lines and flashes are still evident, this being a very old movie (this didn’t bother me at all). There is also a theatrical trailer and a still gallery. A young boy is awakened during a storm and sees a UFO land near his home. His father (Leif Erickson-went onto play Big John Cannon in The High Chaparral) is abducted and is fitted with an alien implant (this in 1953!). His father and others are controlled by the aliens through their implants and the movie develops at a cracking pace from thereon. The British version is longer (everything is on one disc). This is because the movie was considered too short for a British cinema release and the ending also deemed as inappropriate. You will notice that sometime had elapsed before the extra footage was shot and consequently the actor (Jimmy Hunt) playing the boy was older and somewhat taller in the extended planetarium scene. This scene also includes reference to a famous UFO incident, not mentioned in the U.S. version. I prefer the British ending which seemed more reasonable but I won’t spoil anything for you. Well worth buying this 50th Anniversary Special Edition. Sorry, there are no subtitles for either version of the movie.
Rating: 3 / 5
Be sure to notice all the standard Sci-fi actors and even the Beaver’s mother “Kelston’s Secretary” (Barbara Billingsley).
This movie was well done with just the right amount of spookiness and has a kid’s perspective on what is happening. This is not a kid is smarter than his/her parents movie. There are lots of strange happenings and lots of tension. I will not go into the details as if you have not seen the movie it is more fun to be surprised.
Right from the beginning Little David MacLean sees a flying saucer land in the sandpit behind the house. He tells his parents. They being good parents check it out for him and naturally find nothing out of the ordinary. Maybe he had a nightmare or maybe the nightmare is just beginning as everyone starts acting strange and only David can sound the alarm.
What would you do?
Rating: 5 / 5