Post by The Question on Jun 12, 2008 21:14:48 GMT -5
For those of us of a certain generation, chances are you'll have come to This Island Earth after seeing or hearing parts of it in other movies or media; for me the most prominent in memory is in the family sci-fi f picture Explorers [1985], where Joe Dante’s usual fondness for referencing 50s sci-fi/monster movies has Ethan Hawke's character watching it on TV at one point and the "Star Killer" movie showing at the drive-in scene is a definite mini-homage to the film, even if it is a visual lampooning. For others, it will be known as one of the movies given the MSTK3000 treatment, whether fairly or undeserving of the ridicule. So, it's been one of those movies I've always wanted to see but never got a chance to until recently.
The plot goes something like this: Dr. Cal Meacham (Rex Reason), a scientist and engineer with a gift for electronics, is attempting to recombine common elements to create new nuclear fuel sources, work that brings him to the attention of a strange being by the name of Exeter (Jeff Morrow), who uses mystery and a display of advanced technology to try and pique Meacham’s curiosity sufficiently to have him join him in his research programme. Though he is never truly seduced, Meacham eventually succumbs and takes Exeter’s offer, which sees him brought to a retreat in Georgia that houses some of the world’s greatest scientific minds, gathered there by Exeter in what he reveals to supposedly be a peaceful mission to end war. Among the scientists is Dr. Ruth Adams (Faith Domergue), an old friend and love interest of Meacham’s, and from the way she and the others are behaving, Meacham immediately suspects that Exeter is not what he appears and nor may his intentions be so benevolent.
Despite a promising premise, This Island Earth doesn't really hold its own amid the pantheon of 50s sci-fi/monster movies. It’s main problem is that although the plot is interesting, it’s anticlimactic and when the movie finishes you’re left with a feeling that it doesn’t add up to a satisfying whole. The first half of the movie is pure sci-fi and quite talky, building up the curiosity over Exeter and his plans, but then the latter part of the movie is a sojourn into B-Movie territory and there, where there should be a payoff, it ends all too abruptly, prematurely shooting its proverbial wad in a glut of effects and going out with the whimper rather than the bang. You’re given, briefly, the taste of an adventure, only for that to never really materialise and it’s nothing if not disappointing. This means that also some of the more interesting aspects of the movie are never fully developed, tantalising phantoms of what they could have been.
In the “pro” column, though, the film has a great design sense, similar to but predating by a year Forbidden Planet (curiously, an early print of this movie apparently made its way to MGM where Forbidden Planet was being prepared, which might suggest some “inspirational espionage” to some folks on that front). The special effects are a mixture of superimposed explosions and miniatures, and though not quite as exhilarating as they must have been to audiences at the time, they still retain their quaint charm to modern eyes, all complimented perfectly by a vivid colour palette. The effects must have been quite influential too, you can just imagine a young George Lucas watching the picture and seeing the potential, as they’re pretty much the same effects (to my layman’s eyes) that would be given more polish for Star Wars. What I also liked is that many similar movies of the time tended to divide into two camps, particularly following the classic The Day The Earth Stood Still [1951], so you had often had the “good” aliens shaking their heads at humanity’s folly, (like It Came From Outer Space [1953], a common theme in Ray Bradbury’s writing, from which it was taken) or you had the “evil” aliens come to take over the joint (like War of the Worlds [1953]). This Island Earth is a little more ambiguous, you can sympathise with their plight but not of their methods,
Overall, it’s not a great movie and there are better films in the oeuvre, but it’s still worth the watch if you get the opportunity for the flashes of promise and the lovingly made miniatures, effects and that “retro” look. It’s rare for me to think it, but with a decent script using this as a basis, this could actually be one of those movies that would make excellent remake material, rather than the substandard remakes of classic movies that simply won’t be improved or benefit from the process.
The plot goes something like this: Dr. Cal Meacham (Rex Reason), a scientist and engineer with a gift for electronics, is attempting to recombine common elements to create new nuclear fuel sources, work that brings him to the attention of a strange being by the name of Exeter (Jeff Morrow), who uses mystery and a display of advanced technology to try and pique Meacham’s curiosity sufficiently to have him join him in his research programme. Though he is never truly seduced, Meacham eventually succumbs and takes Exeter’s offer, which sees him brought to a retreat in Georgia that houses some of the world’s greatest scientific minds, gathered there by Exeter in what he reveals to supposedly be a peaceful mission to end war. Among the scientists is Dr. Ruth Adams (Faith Domergue), an old friend and love interest of Meacham’s, and from the way she and the others are behaving, Meacham immediately suspects that Exeter is not what he appears and nor may his intentions be so benevolent.
Despite a promising premise, This Island Earth doesn't really hold its own amid the pantheon of 50s sci-fi/monster movies. It’s main problem is that although the plot is interesting, it’s anticlimactic and when the movie finishes you’re left with a feeling that it doesn’t add up to a satisfying whole. The first half of the movie is pure sci-fi and quite talky, building up the curiosity over Exeter and his plans, but then the latter part of the movie is a sojourn into B-Movie territory and there, where there should be a payoff, it ends all too abruptly, prematurely shooting its proverbial wad in a glut of effects and going out with the whimper rather than the bang. You’re given, briefly, the taste of an adventure, only for that to never really materialise and it’s nothing if not disappointing. This means that also some of the more interesting aspects of the movie are never fully developed, tantalising phantoms of what they could have been.
For example, there’s the introduction of a menacing element in the form of a mutant creature, which was quite strikingly designed by the standards of the day, but only gets maybe five minutes of screen time because of how close to the finale it appears. It’s also intriguing that this mutant is essentially a slave to Exeter’s race, the Metalunans, a theme which could have been explored further, but sadly is cut short.
Whether it was for budgetary constraints or a problem inherent in how the script was developed, it’s a disappointment in what might have otherwise been one of the more iconic movies of that era.In the “pro” column, though, the film has a great design sense, similar to but predating by a year Forbidden Planet (curiously, an early print of this movie apparently made its way to MGM where Forbidden Planet was being prepared, which might suggest some “inspirational espionage” to some folks on that front). The special effects are a mixture of superimposed explosions and miniatures, and though not quite as exhilarating as they must have been to audiences at the time, they still retain their quaint charm to modern eyes, all complimented perfectly by a vivid colour palette. The effects must have been quite influential too, you can just imagine a young George Lucas watching the picture and seeing the potential, as they’re pretty much the same effects (to my layman’s eyes) that would be given more polish for Star Wars. What I also liked is that many similar movies of the time tended to divide into two camps, particularly following the classic The Day The Earth Stood Still [1951], so you had often had the “good” aliens shaking their heads at humanity’s folly, (like It Came From Outer Space [1953], a common theme in Ray Bradbury’s writing, from which it was taken) or you had the “evil” aliens come to take over the joint (like War of the Worlds [1953]). This Island Earth is a little more ambiguous, you can sympathise with their plight but not of their methods,
and an upside to one of those elements that remains eternally unexplored is that you never quite know why the Metalunans are at war, but from their high-and-mighty demeanour and their penchant for slaves (as well as the mutant slaves, the Metalunan Monitor immediately assumes that when they take refuge on Earth they will be the master race to whom humanity will be subservient because of our technological inferiority), it’s implied their involvement may not be as innocent as Exeter makes out.
Overall, it’s not a great movie and there are better films in the oeuvre, but it’s still worth the watch if you get the opportunity for the flashes of promise and the lovingly made miniatures, effects and that “retro” look. It’s rare for me to think it, but with a decent script using this as a basis, this could actually be one of those movies that would make excellent remake material, rather than the substandard remakes of classic movies that simply won’t be improved or benefit from the process.