This Island Earth

                         

                                                                 Overview

Now we’re getting somewhere. This Island Earth (1955) is one of those few films you hear about that gets stuck between two separate film categories. Fans of the old 50’s alien films often put this movie in the classic category. Most mainstream moviegoers and critics, however, usually pan this one. During this decade, independent filmmakers and others were really looking to cash in on the country’s new fascination with extraterrestrials. Stories of people getting abducted really took off during the 50’s, as did other paranoia’s. One of which particularly was the fear of Communist spies snooping the US, which caused a national uproar. This arguably helped to stir interests in movies that featured foreign invaders living in society. I don’t really mean to give this film such a dramatic backdrop, but it helps to put things in perspective. 

                                             Plot Line

The film begins with a scientist Cal Meacham (Rex Reason) taking off in a jet from Washington DC, on his way to the laboratory. When trying to land, however, his jet loses control and starts shining a bright green. Eventually, he regains control and lands. His research assistant, Joe Wilson (Robert Nichols) also saw the odd occurrence, but both decide to keep quiet for the time being. Later, while waiting to receive parts for his laboratory, they instead receive a mysterious shipment of crates. Inside them are thousands of pieces designed to build a machine called an interocitor. Once built, Meacham and Wilson receive a message from a man called Exeter (Jeff Morrow). He offers Meacham the opportunity to be a part of a large research team, which he claims is dedicated to the field of science. With little details or hard facts present, he nonetheless takes Exeter up on his offer. The next day, a plane picks him up, though without any visible pilots on board. Once landed, Meacham is greeted by Dr. Ruth Adams. Both were once in a relationship, although Adams feigns ignorance of their ever knowing one another. Meacham later meets the other scientists, as well as Exeter and his own assistant, Brack. Their appearance causes suspicion, for both men have identically-enlarged foreheads, along with white hair. Also strange is the fact that Exeter expresses no knowledge of Mozart during a dinner gathering. Eventually, the two scientists, along with another named Steve Carlson (Russell Johnson) meet up in private to discuss the mysterious nature of the two men. Realizing that something is wrong, they try to flee the premises. While driving away though, a laser beam shoots at them from the sky. Eventually, Carlson is killed, and the other two are captured on board a flying saucer. The other scientists in the building are also killed. Exeter tries to convince them that his goals are peaceful (the mass killings notwithstanding). At first, Meacham resists, but is forced to go along with the aliens. Exeter explains that their help is required to save his race against the Zagons, another alien group. Once reaching the planet, however, the Monitor (the alien leader) orders their minds to be wiped. After leaving, Exeter helps them escape. Along the way, the trio is attacked by a Mutant guard, which injures Exeter. Beating back the creature, they escape on board the saucer, and leave the planet. As they leave, they watch Exeter’s planet vaporized. The mutant, however, has boarded the ship. It tries to kill Adams, but the pressure from the journey finally kills it. Returning back to Earth, the couple returns home. Exeter however is badly injured, and his ship is low on fuel. The film concludes with him crashing the saucer into the ocean.

                                               Overview

Like I said, this movie is a shade of gray. It holds a 71% with Rotten Tomatoes, and the acting is overall decent. The special effects are also a plus for a film in this genre. However, you finish the film feeling like you wanted a little more. Much time is spent on characters providing tons of exposition for the audience, which often is pretty tedious. There are a few battle scenes towards the end, when the aliens are attacking Metaluna. The Mutant of course a guy in a rubber suit, no stop motion or anything is used. But it doesn’t look too bad. What makes This Island Earth so divisive is that while most regard this movie as a classic, the crew of Mystery Science Theater disagreed. They chose to lampoon this film in their own film version of the TV series. Actually it was through the MST3K movie that I first saw This Island Earth. It’s definitely not the worst movie they took on, but at the same time, there’s a reason why they chose it. The movie is cliché, even by 50’s standards. Some scenes, such as the lab scene, go on with seemingly little purpose. Lots of boring dialogue will likely put audiences to sleep.

 I give this one a 5 out of 10.

                                     1955 Movie Trailer

 

                        The Golden Voyage of Sinbad

                                      

                                                               Intro

Following The 7^th Voyage of Sinbad, filmmakers set out to expand film success with other sci-fi and fantasy films, including Mysterious Island, as well as the film adaptation of Mysterious Island. By the beginning of the 1970s, Harryhousen and the film crew looked to renewing the Sinbad series.

                                                      The Plot

In 1971, The Golden Voyage of Sinbad was released, bringing audiences back into the classic fairy-tale genre of sorcery and monsters. The basic concept is still the same: Sinbad is pitted against a devious magician who uses his abilities to summon Harryhousen creatures against our hero. The distinction here is that the odds are stacked against the bad guy, who’s named Kora (Tom Baker). Normally, the heroes have to scramble to get something or somewhere, otherwise their lives are in jeopardy. Here, Kora must race to find the three pieces of a medallion, otherwise his body will continue to age at an alarming rate. Meanwhile, Sinbad (John Philip Law) and his crew race to the island of Lemuria, in search of the Fountain of Destiny. Whoever gets to it first, be it Kora or Sinbad, is rewarded with limitless riches, as well as eternal youth. Along his journey against Kora, Sinbad befriends the disfigured leader of Marabia, whose face was burned by the magician. He also takes in Margiana (Caroline Munro), a slave girl he met in his dreams. She carries on her palms markings that resemble eyes, which will be explained later in the story. Along the trip, Sinbad’s crew is harassed by Kora’s Homunculus, a small creature with bat-like wings. Through it he listens in on Sinbad’s conversations, and is able to pick up pivotal information. Kora also brings a curse on the ship’s figurehead, which attacks Sinbad’s crew. After defeating it, they finally reach Lemuria. The heroes find a cavern, which leads them to the “Oracle of All Knowledge”, which is voiced by Robert Shaw. Talking in riddles, it warns Sinbad of a battle between good and evil. Following this, Kora blows up the entrance, trapping them. Using a rope, the men are able to climb through a hole in the ceiling, and to safety. Later, Kora is captured by a group of natives, but gets their respect by bringing the statue of Kali (a six-armed Goddess) to life. As he continues his search in the natives’ chamber for the third piece of the medallion, Kora is confronted by Sinbad, who challenges him “to the death”. However, Kora pivots to Kali, who attacks the good guys with her six swords. After an impressive duel, they finally destroy the statue. By doing so however, they also anger the natives, who try to kill them. Upon seeing Margiana’s hand markings, they interpret the eyes to mean she should be fed to their Centaur creature. They lower her into the monster’s lair, where she is captured by it. Afterwards, the sailors break free and jump down into the cavern levels, in pursuit. Searching, Sinbad finally finds her unharmed. They then descend further into the cave, searching for Kora. Eventually, he is discovered in a room, kneeling before the Fountain of Destiny. Attempting to finish him off, the heroes are disrupted by the arrival of the Centaur. Battling them, the monster is also confronted by a Griffin. The two engage in a fight that represents good vs evil, which was alluded to by the Oracle earlier. However, Kora intervenes, wounding the Griffin and allowing the Centaur to win. Despite this, Sinbad again battles the monster, eventually killing it. Finally, he and Kora fight to the death. Using his new power, Kora is able to become invisible, leaving Sinbad vulnerable. However, his abilities fail him as he stands behind the water fountain, allowing the hero to spot him in time to kill him. With the conflict behind them, Sinbad grants Margiana’s freedom, and gives the Fountain’s gifts to the Vizier, whose wounds fade away.

                                              Breaking Down the Movie

In this film, Sinbad is portrayed by John Phillip Law, who is not quite as memorable as Kerwin Matthews, but he’s acceptable for the role. His female costar is Carolyn Munro, who’s known for a variety of roles in the Hammer horror films, as well as playing alongside Doug McClure in “At the Earth’s Core”. Most interestingly I think is her lead role in the Star Wars rip-off “Starcrash”, where she plays a character that is a blend between Han Solo and Princess Leia. While I really think Munro isn’t bad as an actress, I felt this movie shortchanged her a tad. While female leads at this film period were still reduced to being the damsel in distress, they at least portray a key role in the story. The slave girl Munro portrays isn’t even given very many lines, and does little to help the heroes when they’re in danger. She’s pretty much just standing nearby or busy getting captured by monsters. At least in 7^th Voyage, Kathryn Grant’s character rescues the sailors from the Cyclops trap, and manages to maintain a presence in the movie. Don’t get me wrong, Carolyn Munro has had decent movie roles before and after this one. She is definitely Sinbad’s most stunning, and beautiful costar, though they still could have given her a sword to fight with or something. Heck, Carrie Fisher was taking out stormtroopers like nobody’s business in the Lucas films. What really sets this movie apart from all the other Sinbad films, though, is Tom Baker’s role as the evil sorcerer Kora. Unlike past antagonists, Baker really gives his character a personality. Other actors would have delivered standard threats and curses with relative blandness, but Baker adds a slimy element to each scene he’s in. I’ve heard from some sources actually that this role here is what got him hired on as the new Doctor Who, so that testifies to his sturdy performance. Aside from these characters, the stop-motion creatures are cool as always. The Kali statute is pretty amazing, as it takes on all the sailors simultaneously. Actually, the scene made me wonder if George Lucas used this as an inspiration for General Grevious in Revenge of the Sith, given the characters’ similarities. Also, the Griffin and Centaur creatures stand out as well animated, and make for good combatants at the film’s conclusion. Overall, some of the story can get tiresome here, since we’ve already seen a lot of this in previous fantasy movies. However, the animations are cool as always, and the film benefits tremendously from Tom Baker’s presence. I give this one four out of five stars!

1973 Trailer of The Golden Voyage of Sinbad

 

                                         The 7^th Voyage of Sinbad

 

Five years prior to Jason and the Argonauts, Harryhousen and Charles Schneer also collaborated together for the production of The 7^th Voyage of Sinbad. Additionally, Bernard Herrmann (also from Argonauts) was brought in to compose the movie soundtrack. With such a talented trio, it is no wonder that this one has such a positive reputation among critics. 7^th Voyage was the first of three Harryhousen movies that chronicled the adventures of Sinbad the Sailor, as he travels the seas battling evil wizards and monsters.

Sinbad (Kerwin Matthews) and his sailors get caught in a storm while en route to Baghdad with his bride-to-be, Perisa (Kathryn Grant). By the next day, the crew realized they have been blown off-course, to the island to Colossa. Looking for food and supplies, they instead find a magician named Sokurah (Torin Thatcher), as he’s pursued by a massive Cyclops. With the help of Sinbad’s crew, Sokurah is able to escape, though without his magic lamp. Distraught, he demands they help him return to the island to retrieve it, but is refused. Later, Sinbad and Parisa land in Baghdad to prepare for their wedding. The event is politically crucial, for it will end animosity between their two countries (Parisa being from Chandra). The happiness is crashed however, as Sokurah continues to make his demands to return to Colossa. In an attempt to please the kings of Baghdad and Chandra, he transforms Parisa’s maiden into a snake creature. While performing a dance for the royalty, her tail accidentally wraps around her neck, chocking her. Sokurah ends the spell, but succeeds in impressing the kings. However it was not enough to return him home. He further frustrates the kings by foretelling a war between Iraq and Chandra that can only be stopped by helping him return to Colossa. Thereafter he is banished from Baghdad.  In anger, he secretly casts a spell on Parisa, shrinking her whole body size from normal to only a few inches. His treachery infuriates her father, who promises war on Baghdad in retaliation. Desperate, Sinbad turns to Sokurah to change her back. However, in order to do so, Sinbad and his sailors must let him return to his island, where his potion is that will help the princess. On their way back, some of the new crew (mostly ex-criminals) commit mutiny, imprisoning Sinbad and his original crew. Their victory is short-lived though, as a horde of screaming demons drive them to insanity in the middle of another night storm. Crashing on Colossa, the heroes set out to look for the lamp. Dividing up, some of the men find a pool of red-looking water. Though not certain of how safe it is, the thirsty men drink it, becoming intoxicated. Elsewhere, the others find a cave full of treasure, and the lamp. It turns out to be a trap however, and the Cyclops attacks and captures them. Sokurah again commits treachery, leaving the sailors to die in their prison. Meanwhile the drunken sailors find the Cyclops as well and try to kill it. Needless to say they don’t get very far. Realizing the lock on their jail is out of reach, Sinbad turns to the hand-sized Parisa to climb up and unlock it. She succeeds, and they continue their fight with the Cyclops. After slaying it, Sinbad confiscates the lamp from the untrusted Sokurah. The wizard tells them he needs a piece of a rock (big two-headed vulture) egg to perform the magic act. Of course this means the men fight another Harryhousen beast, which kills off most of the sailors, leaving Parisa open to capture by the magician. Later, after he recovers, Sinbad is told by the Genie of the Lamp (Richard Eyer) where Sokurah’s lair is, and finds it in a cavern. Once he finds the magician, he forces him to restore Parisa. Sokurah complies, and Parisa is human-sized again. However, the magician then resurrects a sword-wielding skeleton to kill the pair. Does this sound familiar Argonauts fans? After a climatic duel, Sinbad defeats it. In their flight from the lair, Parisa fulfills the pair’s promise to release the Genie from the lamp, by dropping it in a lava flow. Getting close to the cave entrance, they also stumble across a chained dragon, which safeguards the place from the Cyclops. Slipping past, they also encounter another Cyclops, which pursues them back into the cave. Sinbad then releases the dragon from its restraints, allowing it to attack the intruder. In the midst of the fight, the two escape back to the ship, where a massive bow is prepared to kill whichever monster follows them. That turns out to be the dragon which succeeds in killing the Cyclops. Under Sokurah’s leadership, the dragon goes after the heroes. Using the cross-bow, the men are able to kill the dragon, which falls and crushes Sokurah. Leaving Colossa, Sinbad and Parisa reflect on their friends lost on the journey. Their moment is interrupted when Barani the Genie appears, who offers Sinbad his services as his apprentice, as well as the Cyclops’ treasure as a wedding gift. The trio united at last, they set out for home.

                                                              Breaking it Down

The 7^th Voyage of Sinbad currently holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and is universally praised for its classic tone. Similar to Jason and the Argonauts, the film is a romantic story type, with square-jawed young men fighting forces of evil. The difference is that while Argonauts was more of an epic, 7^th Voyage is more a classic fairy-tale. Whereas Jason fought against the Gods’ wrath, which is more of Greek story-telling, Sinbad fights to save his princess from an evil sorcerer. This is more in line with stories like Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, where a young hero also saves his love from evil witches and black magic. Overall, the acting is excellent for this movie type. Kerwin Matthews is perfect for his role as a young but well-balanced hero. He is emotive when the occasion calls for it, and pulls off some good fight scenes. Kathryn Grant also fulfills her role well as the innocent but courageous Parisa. Yes she is the woman of the 50s in the sense that she needs being rescued throughout the movie. However she also rescues Sinbad’s crew from the Cyclops trap, and convinces Sinbad to release the Genie from the lamp as well. Essentially, Grant’s character isn’t simply demoted to a helpless role; she also saves the boys when they’re in trouble too. Torin Thather plays an acceptable villain in Sokurah. His lines are well-delivered, in his slimy persona. The problem with him is his character also competes with Tom Baker’s much more developed and devious “Kora”, who serves as Sinbad’s next movie villain. That can be a tough challenge for Mr. Thatcher, whose character can get overlooked in favor of Baker’s character. Either way, everybody here does a good job. The special effects here are some of the best Harryhousen ever pulled off, rivaling even the effects of Argonauts. In fact, he got the inspiration for the skeleton army in the other movie from this one, where the skeleton took on Sinbad. The Cyclops design is top notch as well, with its bizarre matchup of a human torso combined with horse legs and hooves. My personal favorite is the dragon, with its komodo-like body, and horns protruding from its head. I could go on and on describing this movie, but I would rather you just check this one out for yourself. The best and simplest way to describe it is: Nostalgic. This one is up there with Jason and his Argonauts!     

                          1958 Trailer of 7th Voyage of Sinbad

 

Jason and the Argonauts

                                 Jason and the Argonauts

 

                                                     

                                                                         
                                                                    Overview

Jason and the Argonauts is widely regarded as one of the greatest of fantasy films, and certainly the best of the Ray Harryhousen movies. To give a little background, Harryhousen was not the director or even producer of most films he participated in, but he certainly left his mark on them through his special effects work. In the days before CGI, movie makers used a technique called stop motion, where a clay model of a creature or a person is moved slightly frame by frame, to create the illusion of movement. It proved to be painstaking, but the work really paid off in Harryhousen’s work, particularly this one.

 The plot follows a group of warriors sailing across the globe to find the Golden Fleece, a ram’s head with magical abilities. The men are led by Jason (Todd Armstrong), a man that is destined to kill the evil King Pelias, who murdered his father, King Aristo, years ago (as well as the rest of his family). His crew consists of some pretty tough men, including Hercules. Unfortunately for those wanting to see Hercules kick some tail, they will be disappointed to see the hero demoted to a relatively small role in this movie. His mission takes the crew through treacherous territory, such as the island of Bronze, where they are attacked by a skyscraper-sized statue called Talos. The first of Harryhousen’s monsters in this film, Talos basically looks like a Greek warrior, with a blank but chilling expression. Again, Hercules fans will be let down to know that it was the thoughtless Hercules who let this monster loose, by stealing gold from a temple. Nonetheless, the Goddess Hera intervenes, helping Jason’s crew defeat it. Later, they come across a blind man who’s cursed by Zeus. His curse consists of being harassed by harpies, which are humanoid demons that can fly. Again, the Argonauts win the day, helping to break the man free of his curse. In return, he gives them directions towards the land where the fleece is hidden. After narrowly escaping the deadly “Clashing Rocks”, they find a young woman whose ship was wrecked by the enclosing cliffs (Nancy Kovack). She identifies herself later as Medea, the priestess of Colchis (where the fleece is kept), and eventually becomes Jason’s love interest. Despite their being close to their destination, Acastus, whose plan is to steal the fleece for Pelias, argues with Jason on how to retrieve it. After a violent struggle, Acastus escapes into the ocean. When they arrive at Colchis, the men are initially welcomed warmly by the king. However, the thought to be dead Acastus had arrived earlier, and told the king of their supposed plan to steal the fleece. Shortly after their capture, the priestess helps them break free of their prison. In doing so, she betrays her people, leaving her with no country. As a result, she decides to leave with Jason. Once reaching the fleece, the heroes find Acastus dead, and a vicious seven-headed Hydra waiting for them in the lair. After a tough struggle, Jason prevails, and flees with the golden ram. On their trail are the vengeful king and his warriors, who confiscate the dragon teeth from the corpse. In the film’s spectacular climax, the king uses the teeth to grow an army of stop-motion skeletons to kill Jason. For several minutes, the Argonauts fight bravely against the undead, but ultimately are killed one by one. In the end, Jason jumps off the cliff into the ocean, and escapes. As Zeus looks on, he begrudgingly accepts Jason’s victory, and goes along with Hera’s push to let the heroes go.

This movie is the best of the classic fantasy films. It has everything one would expect to find: the brave underdog taking on monsters, evil kings, and traitors. It also has an epic film score composed by Bernard Herrmann, who also composed for The 7^th Voyage of Sinbad. The movie also has a little something for everyone to enjoy. It consists of elements of several genres, including science fiction, fantasy, and adventure films. Jason and the Argonauts is a classic retelling of an epic, where young but brave heroes are taking on the many dangers of the world. If you’re interested in classic adventure, or in old fantasy stories, check this out. Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a justly deserved
95% rating!

                                   1963 Trailer of Jason And The Argonauts