Kronos/Spaceways

Rating:
Summary: Underrated 50's sci-fi
Review: First off, I'm delighted that Image is releasing many of its genre titles from the "Wade Williams Collection" in very affordable 2-packs. I've said it before, but here it comes again...it's just a GREAT time to be a fan of 50's sci-fi flicks.

Now, on to the films. KRONOS is easily the better of the two, and is presented in widescreen "Regalscope." This is a good thing, because there are a number of long shots of the Kronos machine stomping across the countryside. The plot is typical of the drive-in fare of the period: Scientists come together to stop a menace from outer space; in this case, it's a giant energy-sucking robot. Also typical of the era, it's more Fiction than Science, but it's great for what it is.

SPACEWAYS has the distinction of being the first sci-fi film produced by England's Hammer Studios, far better known for their horror output beginning in the latter part of the decade. It's essentially a murder-mystery, with a generous dose of space trappings to make it science fiction. Wooden acting and cheap effects abound, making this a fairly tedious affair. But for science fiction completists, or fans of Hammer director Terence Fisher, it's worth a look.

In short, KRONOS is a minor classic; SPACEWAYS is a curiosity of interest only to hardcore 50's sci-fi buffs.

Rating:
Summary: Underrated 50's sci-fi
Review: First off, I'm delighted that Image is releasing many of its genre titles from the "Wade Williams Collection" in very affordable 2-packs. I've said it before, but here it comes again...it's just a GREAT time to be a fan of 50's sci-fi flicks.

Now, on to the films. KRONOS is easily the better of the two, and is presented in widescreen "Regalscope." This is a good thing, because there are a number of long shots of the Kronos machine stomping across the countryside. The plot is typical of the drive-in fare of the period: Scientists come together to stop a menace from outer space; in this case, it's a giant energy-sucking robot. Also typical of the era, it's more Fiction than Science, but it's great for what it is.

SPACEWAYS has the distinction of being the first sci-fi film produced by England's Hammer Studios, far better known for their horror output beginning in the latter part of the decade. It's essentially a murder-mystery, with a generous dose of space trappings to make it science fiction. Wooden acting and cheap effects abound, making this a fairly tedious affair. But for science fiction completists, or fans of Hammer director Terence Fisher, it's worth a look.

In short, KRONOS is a minor classic; SPACEWAYS is a curiosity of interest only to hardcore 50's sci-fi buffs.