This Island Earth
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Movie Reviews of This Island Earth
Movie Review: The best "Space Opera" ever committed to celluoid?
Summary: 5 Stars
Save your sci-fi DVD sheckles for the August 22nd, 2006 re-mastered, re-release of one of the finest,'funnest' outer space adventures ever made--"This Island Earth" ("TIE"). You wouldn't try to judge spectacles like Spielberg's phenomenon of "Jaws" up against 2006 CGI-effects standards, nor should you attempt to compare the movie-making standards of 1956 to today's filmaking of sci-fi spectacles. Just trust that "TIE" was the premier effort (along with Forbidden Planet) made by a Hollywood studio at making a state-of-the-art outer space movie in the mid 1950's. "TIE" and "Forbidden Planet"(new DVD Special editions coming on Nov.14th) stood out as the very best films of their small outer space genre, at least until "2001 A Space Odyssey" in 1969 anyway.
"TIE" actually did spend nearly two and one-half years in production(as trumpeted on its outstanding one-sheet poster) and it shows! Phenomenal, never-since-surpasssed matte work on and around the distant planet Metaluna still thrills today. The sense of wonder overall approaches that of "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind" as you are whoooshed off into a mysterious journey from dull 'ol earth to help save a dying civilization. Sure the 'science' from those far-off movie-making days doesn't hold up. But there was a majesty (and a sadness) to the performance of Jeff Morrow as Exeter that sure does. Let's also point out the fine performace and incredible beauty of the late Faith Domergue as the lady nuclear scientist. Another actor unjustly never given her due.
The biggest joke of Mystery Science Theater's series was when they chose the classic "TIE" as a film to parody. The joke was on those fools because this film delivers thrills and imagination that have seldom been equaled by other outer space films during any decade. In fact, just why isn't it possible for Hollywood to find still another great story set in outer space to get us all in our movie theater seats once more? A properly budgeted and promoted "Serenity" sequel anyone? A film version of Arthur C.Clarke's "Against The Fall Of Night"?
If you haven't seen this film, then you should be in for a jaw-dropping treat as, along with all of the film's many fans, we can only hope that Universal will finally be releasing a pristine transfer of this classic.
Once more though, the "U studio" totally misses the boat by not providing a smidgeon of bonus features for one of their most requested titles. What, you Universal shmucks couldn't get a commentary from the sorely underrated Rex Reason? He gave a fine performance of a heroic, thinking person's scientist; one for the ages! Once more--shame on you Universal!
Oh, but thanks for the (fingers crossed) re-mastered, re-release anyway. We expect the amazing technicolor color scheme of "TIE" to be amongst the finest ever seen on our home theater screens, this time out. Do not disappoint us, guys!
Movie Review: Metaluna Memories...
Summary: 5 Stars
As someone who bought the orginal Image DVD release of this film in the late 90's, I've felt bad for any sci-fi fan who missed out (and who doesn't want to pay 100 bucks or whatever the going rate is for a used copy). And the truth is, the print used on the Image disc really wasn't that great. Plus the Image DVD had absolutely no extras. But THIS ISLAND EARTH is discussed in the Universal sci-fi documentary included on IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE.
Now, on to the movie. I have fond memories of staying up with my older brother and catching this one on "All Nite Movies." This was before DVD or VCR's. If you wanted to see a classic sci-fi movie, you simply had to STAY AWAKE long enough to watch it. And this one was worth the wait. Everything you could hope for in a fifties science fiction film is here: Interplanetary travel, space battles, a mutant creature, scientists in love. And what is too-often not mentioned when discussing THIS ISLAND EARTH: The story is intelligent and thought-provoking.
You see, aliens from the planet Metaluna are recruiting Earth scientists to help them produce atomic energy to fight off attacks from the another race, the Zaghons. The Metalunans are an advanced race, but the Zaghon attacks have virtually destroyed their planet. This is documented in the brief but highly effective tour of the dying world, a masterpiece of art direction and special effects that was surely cutting-edge in 1955.
A capable cast of 50's genre regulars is on hand: Rex Reason, Jeff Morrow, Faith Domergue and Russell Johnson. But the real stars of THIS ISLAND EARTH are the colorful effects, which (according to publicity materials) were 2 1/2 years in the making! With the possible exception of FORBIDDEN PLANET, no fifites sci-fi flick delivers "the goods" like this one.
Universal has done a fine job of presenting THIS ISLAND EARTH is "out of this world Technicolor." The colorful visit to Metaluna certainly highlights this, but when comparing this disc side-by-side with my Image version, ALL the colors look brighter. Even Exeter's mansion comes to vivid life, with details that may have been overlooked before now. It's nice to also have the rarely-seen theatrical trailer (a fact that is mentioned nowhere on the DVD case, by the way).
THIS ISLAND EARTH certainly belongs in any sci-fi fan's collection. For great memories and grand entertainment, assemble your interocitor and take a trip to Metaluna.
You don't even have to stay up all night. :-)
Movie Review: Mutants Won't Stop Our Heroes!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a remarkable movie in many ways. It is a veritable Sci-fi Classic of the `50s, a typical B class movie and yet innovative.
I've seen it when I was just a kid and now when I saw it again still remembered some features as the triangular "interocitor", the white-haired aliens and of course the big-headed mutant!
This is the plot: Dr. Cal Meacham (Jim Morrow) returns from Washington DC to his lab, flying his own jet (a prodigy for those times); when he is nearing the airport a sort of green ray surrounds his plane and take control of it.
After the plane is landed, Dr. Meacham goes to his lab with his adjutant Joe (Robert Nichols) and finds a curious spare part from a mysterious provider; he asks for more and he receives a dissembled "interocitor" with blue-print and manual to pull it together. When this is done and the "interocitor" connected, a strange Mr. Exeter (Jeff Morrow) get in touch with them thru the triangular screen of the gadget and invites Meacham to join a brain trust he is leading.
Meacham against the advice of his pal Joe accepts and take a flight in an automated plane with only one seat in the middle of a huge cabin; he is landed in Georgia and welcomed by Dr. Ruth Adams (Faith Domergue) and introduced to Exeter and a group of scientists.
Cal, Ruth and Steve Carlson (Russell Johnson), another scientific colleague, suspect a conspiracy and try to escape. Steve is killed and Cal & Ruth abducted into a flying saucer and delivered to Metaluna the original planet of the white-haired aliens.
From this point on action speeds-up and you must watch the film to know what happens.
There is a very interesting use of color in a time when this kind of films was mostly B&W (with some exceptions as "The War of the Worlds" or "Forbidden Planet").
Another high point of the film are the gadgets shown, the already mentioned "interocitor", the automated transport at Metaluna, the interior of the starship amongst others. The Mutant is really creepy (for the times) and the landscape of Metaluna and the alien city are great.
There are no stars in the cast; nevertheless playacting is correct and convincing.
This is a film that will be enjoyed by classic sci-fi fans, juvenile spectators and general public too.
Reviewed by Max Yofre.
Movie Review: WIDE OR "FLAT"?
Summary: 5 Stars
Whether or not THIS ISLAND EARTH was originally released in the "widescreen" or "square" ratio of most analog tv's is predicated on more than an "either or" dictum. While it's true THE ROBE was the first true Cinemascope feature (1953), the first film released in a wider aspect ratio than those prints commonly shown on TV was IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE, which also happened to be in 3-D, though not the first film in that format. Most American films released after IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE (1953) were released in this wider aspect ratio which then became the norm, though it did not require an anamorphic projection and was not as wide as Cinemascope or the many other very wide formats that followed the Cinemascope craze of the 50's.
But most films did follow a more rectangular aspect ratio after IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE. THIS ISLAND EARTH was released in 1955--two years after the wide format began--so it does follow that the film was probably released in some form of rectangular ratio, just not necessarily the widest.
For instance: the first three James Bond films were not shot nor released in a true "wide-vision" format. That didn't happen until the fourth Bond outing, THUNDERBALL. These first four Bonds were released to tv and to the video tape market in a "flat" or square aspect ratio, as there were no widescreen HD sets available at that time and "pan and scan" was the norm. Not until laser disc did UA take advantage of the few more inches at either side of the frame that make those first four films "widescreen" but NOT Cinemascope. They do, however, perfectly match the 16X9 ratio of the new HD standard as--again--do most films made after 1953.
In other words: THIS ISLAND EARTH may not be true "widescreen" but it might very will fit perfectly into the current 16X9 HD TV screens with little or no cropping, which is reason enough to go to the trouble of making the correct telecine transfer of this film over the old "flat" release of a few years back.
I suspect this will be the case of virtually every film released in the upcoming HD DVD's versions of Hollywood films, simply to take further advantage of the HD DVD format. Too bad it (apparently) does not seem to be the case with this latest release of THIS ISLAND EARTH.
Hope this helps clear things up a bit.
Movie Review: There is scope and matted widescreen
Summary: 5 Stars
Having both film production and exhibition experience, and knowing something about aspect ratios, I can clear this up easily. After Cinemascope came along, the studios wanted to in effect "widen" the standard aspect ratio without the need of special optics. This was done by simply cropping the top and bottom of the standard 4:3 aspect frame. The cropped (or "matted") aspect ratio varied from 1.66:1 to 2:1 until they arrived at a standard (in the US anyway) of 1.85:1 - which is what it is at present. When the films were shot, they allowed extra head and foot room to accomodate cropping. Theatres had the option to project cropped or full frame. Television of course always ran these films full frame.
"This Island Earth" is one of my favorite sci-fi films and I know for a fact that it was shot in this manner. I recently saw it in a theatre in "cropped" 35mm widescreen. If you have the previous DVD or any other video release of "This Island Earth", look at the opening credits and notice how much space there is above and below the text. Also notice the amount of headroom throughout the film.
A number of mid-to-late 50's non-scope sci-fi films have been released on DVD in 16:9 (1.78:1 in film terms) by cropping. But that is actually the way the films were expected to be shown in theatres. If it is an anamorphic DVD and you have a widescreen TV, you are getting a somewhat higher resolution than you would if it were "letterboxed". So this is by no means a "hatchet job" as I have seen it referred to. It is how it was meant to be presented in theatres that were configured for widescreen. But yes, any films made before the mid-fifties that were reconfigured for widescreen, such as the 70mm "Gone With the Wind", truly were butchery.
Go to the Widescreen Museum website (for some reason Amazon won't allow the weblink of this informational website to be posted) for a full explanantion of the zillions of widescreen processes out there.
Where this "ultra-wide" scope notion for "This Island Earth" came from is beyond me. But a 16:9 anamorphic DVD would be perfectly appropriate.