Rating: 
Summary: A delicious alternative for standard 50s SF
Review: "Down here we have half the atomic secret... we convert matter into energy... up THERE, they have the other half... they convert energy in matter!" So intones John Emery as a half-alien possessed, dying scientist in KRONOS. You can read about the plot and actors in the other reviews (esp. George "Jetson" O'Hanlon), so I thought I'd just throw in some noteworthy points about this movie -
1. The cinematography is great - you have some shots worthy of Conrad Hall's work on Outer Limits.
2. Irving Block and Jack Rabin - two of the creative minds behind Forbidden Planet - did a lot of the production and model work and they did a lot on limited money.
3. The monster - a giant electrical energy-sucking battery that pulverizes everything with its motive power units - has to be seen to be enjoyed.
4. You really, really get the feeling that this thing is alien in purpose and thinking. This is not some guy in a rubber suit standing in for the communist threat.
Rating:
Summary: Jeff Morrow has to stop a gigantic energy draining machine
Review: "Kronos" harkens back to the science fiction of the fifties, when the heroes in these movies were strong, virile scientists, such as Dr. Leslie "Les" Gaskill (Jeff Morrow), who is assisted in his work by a giant computer acronymed S.U.S.I.E. The good doctor has to deal with the title character, a titanic robot sent from another world in a giant asteroid that crashed off of Mexico to steal energy from the earth, which, of course, will destroy the planet. The military does what you would expect, attacking Kronos with H-bombs, but the cyborg just absorbs the energy and gets stronger and stronger as it heads for Los Angeles. "Kronos" is standard fifties science fiction fare, replete with stock footage and miniature models, but it also includes an inventive attempt at exposition when an alien intelligence takes over one of the scientists so he can spout his "delusions" and tell the audience and our hero what he needs to know. Besides, there is that technology running rampant metaphor running throughout the film to give it a bit of weight. Barbara Lawrence plays Vera Hunter, Dr. Gaskill's nominal love interest when he is not trying to safe the Earth from destruction, but pay attention to nerdy scientist Arnie Culver, played by George O'Hanlon. You will never place the face, but if you do not recognize the voice of George Jetson you ought to be ashamed of yourself. Kurt Neumann's 1957 film is presented in letterbox format, which is good because the film was shot in Regalscope, and without the wide screen look we would not be able to read all those headlines that help the story along.
Rating:
Summary: A delicious alternative for standard 50s SF
Review: "Down here we have half the atomic secret... we convert matter into energy... up THERE, they have the other half... they convert energy in matter!" So intones John Emery as a half-alien possessed, dying scientist in KRONOS. You can read about the plot and actors in the other reviews (esp. George "Jetson" O'Hanlon), so I thought I'd just throw in some noteworthy points about this movie -
1. The cinematography is great - you have some shots worthy of Conrad Hall's work on Outer Limits.
2. Irving Block and Jack Rabin - two of the creative minds behind Forbidden Planet - did a lot of the production and model work and they did a lot on limited money.
3. The monster - a giant electrical energy-sucking battery that pulverizes everything with its motive power units - has to be seen to be enjoyed.
4. You really, really get the feeling that this thing is alien in purpose and thinking. This is not some guy in a rubber suit standing in for the communist threat.
Rating: 
Summary: One Of Benjamin's Favorites
Review: "Fell from the sky like an astroid. A huge metal monster draining the world of it's metal!" to quote Benjamin quoting the trailer. Benjamin (4 years old) stomps around the kitchen shooting rays and sucking all the energy out of the appliances. He never gets tired of this one and it's one I don't mind too much myself. The best part is the end where they finally blow the thing up, taking most of LA with it, and then with satified smiles, a job well done -- resolve to go off and take in a movie.
Rating:
Summary: Crush! Kill! Destroy!!!!
Review: A titanic robot from outer space invades earth, attempting to absorb all of our electrical energy. The press names it KRONOS after the mythical titan. Seemingly unstoppable, this juggernaut stomps it's way across Mexico, squashing all in it's path! Airplanes are pulled into it and explode like the models they are! All weapons are useless, as even the dreaded A-bomb only serves to make Kronos stronger! Can it be defeated before depleting us of all electricity? Can super-egghead Jeff Morrow and his team of labcoats find the answer in time? Or, will Kronos flatten us under it's mighty piston legs?? An absolute must-see flick for any true 50s sci-fi addict like myself...
Rating:
Summary: Stylish Art Deco Sci-Fi!
Review: Art Deco.Big, heavy architecture. Five-pound cigarette ash trays. Gleaming, over-stylized microphones. Eight-ton elevator doors. Huge, reel-to-reel tape recorders everywhere. Even a "computer", requiring an entire building to be housed in. The year was 1957, and yes, even the monsters of our movies were Art Deco. Kronos, an original, albeit blocky, (apologies to Irving Block!) faceless mechanical menace with a voracity for electricity and atomic power, is hell-bent on trampling all of Los Angeles before Dr. Leslie Gaskell (Jeff Morrow) figures out how to save the day. And herein is where Kronos deserves praise for being an entertaining piece of cinema which truly was art imitating life. Replete with interesting sound effects, Kronos offers up copious quantities of all of the above, and could even be a "first" in many aspects with regard to a sci-fi flick: items such as a computer with a name (S.U.S.I.E.), fiber optics, ID cards used to control access, even a doctor with the name Hubbell, leaves one to wonder where some of the science fiction greats had gotten some of their ideas. While far from perfect (the monster has a problem maintaining the same physical proportion throughout the film), Kronos shall remain as one of my favorite bits of original Americana.
Rating:
Summary: Stylish Art Deco Sci-Fi!
Review: Art Deco. Big, heavy architecture. Five-pound cigarette ash trays. Gleaming, over-stylized microphones. Eight-ton elevator doors. Huge, reel-to-reel tape recorders everywhere. Even a "computer", requiring an entire building to be housed in. The year was 1957, and yes, even the monsters of our movies were Art Deco. Kronos, an original, albeit blocky, (apologies to Irving Block!) faceless mechanical menace with a voracity for electricity and atomic power, is hell-bent on trampling all of Los Angeles before Dr. Leslie Gaskell (Jeff Morrow) figures out how to save the day. And herein is where Kronos deserves praise for being an entertaining piece of cinema which truly was art imitating life. Replete with interesting sound effects, Kronos offers up copious quantities of all of the above, and could even be a "first" in many aspects with regard to a sci-fi flick: items such as a computer with a name (S.U.S.I.E.), fiber optics, ID cards used to control access, even a doctor with the name Hubbell, leaves one to wonder where some of the science fiction greats had gotten some of their ideas. While far from perfect (the monster has a problem maintaining the same physical proportion throughout the film), Kronos shall remain as one of my favorite bits of original Americana.
Rating: 
Summary: Giant Alien Invades Earth!
Review: As the above title suggests, screaming newspaper lines help move our story forward in typical B movie fashion. This '50s flick is a second string re-hash of those that went before. Combine "War of the Worlds" with any number of other vintage sci-fi flicks, and you get the idea. Invisible aliens practice mind control, but the real monster is a giant robot. Picture a refrigerator with antennae that stomps around on pile-driver legs. The trouble with refrigerators is, they don't have much personality. Jeff Morrow grimaces and runs around trying to figure out how to fight an invader that sponges up the energy from whatever force is unleashed against it. Things get intense when nukes are used. To Kronos, nuclear weapons are an elixir. The robot stops chasing Mexican field workers out of the cabbage patch, and bears down on Los Angeles. The budget constraints led to cartoon type animation FX in long shots. Initially the invaders land off the Mexican coast. As unintended humor, the Mexican Air Force shows up in vintage WWII aircraft and battles the giant robot with predictable results. Filmed in glorious B&W, the DVD edition is presented in letterbox format. Aside form the trailer, there are no bonus extras. This movie is of interest mainly to collectors and die-hard fans of low budget sci-fi flicks of days gone by. We of this peculiar fraternity can have fun with it. Other viewers should beware. ;-)
Rating:
Summary: KRONOS: A Should-be 50's Sci-Fi Classic!
Review: Being a fairly new collector of 50's Sci-Fi, I just finished watching "KRONOS: Ravager of Planets" and it was excellent! Starring Jeff Morrow of "This Island Earth" fame and written by Irvin Block (Forbidden Planet), KRONOS has above-average effects for it's genre and the story is very good. The giant alien machine/robot from outer space, known only as "KRONOS", is a fresh idea thrown into the mix of 50's classic invaders-from-space type films. If you enjoy collecting classic b&w 50's Sci-Fi, then KRONOS is an excellent addition to your DVD library. I only wish the DVD special features contained more. The Theatrical Trailer, Scene Selection and Feature Movie are the only options on the DVD. Anyway, it's still an enjoyable and fun classic Sci-Fi flick. Get one for yourself today!
Rating:
Summary: KRONOS: A Should-be 50's Sci-Fi Classic!
Review: Being a fairly new collector of 50's Sci-Fi, I just finished watching "KRONOS: Ravager of Planets" and it was excellent! Starring Jeff Morrow of "This Island Earth" fame and written by Irvin Block (Forbidden Planet), KRONOS has above-average effects for it's genre and the story is very good. The giant alien machine/robot from outer space, known only as "KRONOS", is a fresh idea thrown into the mix of 50's classic invaders-from-space type films. If you enjoy collecting classic b&w 50's Sci-Fi, then KRONOS is an excellent addition to your DVD library. I only wish the DVD special features contained more. The Theatrical Trailer, Scene Selection and Feature Movie are the only options on the DVD. Anyway, it's still an enjoyable and fun classic Sci-Fi flick. Get one for yourself today!
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