"This Island Earth": A Review.

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The 1955 sci-fi film, "This Island Earth" was spoofed in the film, "MST
3000: The Movie"; but in actuality the film got favorable reviews from
Leonard Maltin and The Motion Picture Guide.
The acting in this film is not outstanding, but not dismal either - I
would say adequate. My favorite character is the Metalunan Exeter -
this dude is one smooth talker, oozing a sinister coolness, while displaying a funky appearance: neatly coiffured white hair, bushy eyebrows, a high indented forehead, coppertone tan and dressed in a
conventional Earthian suit and tie (He would have made a great politician
or televangelist!). His assistant, Braack, is a carbon copy, as are the
other Metalunans.
There is an atmosphere of suspense and intrigue and the plot is credible
enough. On the technical side, a Metalunan communication device called an
Interociter remains a centerpiece throughout the film; it is very versatile, able to incorporate an Interplanetary Generator, Volterator,
Astroscope, Electron Sorter and a deadly Neutrino Heat Ray (which Exeter
demonstrated on occasion to Dr. Cal Meacham; Meacham initially pulled the
plug on the machine in his lab, causing it to destruct; leading one to
wonder if that device were so advanced, then why didn't it have a backup
internal power source and safety feature to prevent that sort of sabotage?).
The highlight of the film is the voyage back to Metaluna with Drs. Meacham
and Adams on board; the distant planet is being attacked by enemy Zahgon
guided meteors. The Metalunan spacecraft looks like some cheap, plastic
toy from a crackerjack box, but as it cruises through the "thermal barrier"
the fiery special effects around the craft look way cool. And the special
effects, set design and artwork of the war-ravaged planet and the ongoing
battle there are simply excellent for that time period. In addition, the
Herman Stein musical score is a tasty delight - the organ parts are simply
an ear to behold!
No, "This Island Earth" does not have the Oscar-Winning effects of "The
War Of The Worlds", the snappy dialogue of "The Thing From Another World",
nor the spine chilling suspense of "The Invasion Of The Body Snatchers";
but what it does have is an irresistable charm, the result of - I suspect -
having a peculiar combination of outstanding qualities coexisting alongside
much inferior ones.
"This Island Earth" should definitely be part of every 50's sci-fi film
connoisseurs collection. - AH

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Topic - "This Island Earth": A Review. - AudioHead 09:47:14 02/18/00 (0)

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