The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms

Rating:
Summary: Bradbury's BEAST rocks-out...
Review: KING KONG remains 8th Wonder of the World. GODZILLA is King of the Monsters;and Momma GORGO's lesson in concerned dinosaur parenting comprises classic Deconstructionist(as of New York, Tokyo and London)monster mash trio. Batting(stomping)clean-up, however,is Eugene Lourie's excellent screen rendition of several
of fantasy master RAY BRADBURY's BEAST stories. "The Foghorn" and PC double,"Up from the Deep"...where references to God[the dinosaur "thinks" a New England coast Light House is its dinosaur deity]were censored...were initial basis of this vintage Atomic Age(1953)Creature Feature.

The screenplay by Lou Moreim and Fred Freiberger is exceptionally literate. Acting is creditably good and "under the top". Ray Harryhausen's "Stop-Motion" dynamation FX(assisted by superb chiaroscuro-shadowing photography techniques)is often wonderous.
Many sequences(arctic,atomic bomb genesis/birth of the beast;the attack on a fog-enshrouded Massachusett's light house;the search for the Beast in a surrealistically nightmarish undersea canyon; and final rampage though New York ending in blazing BF20KF barbecue on Coney Island...with "Angel Eyes",Lee Van Cleef, as atomic rifle trigger man...)are spectacular. Plot twist
of making the beast vector for potential biological plague(its blood is germ ridden poison)adds unique menace to this BEAST FROM 20,OOO FATHOMS. To young viewers this Monster from the Id of Ray Bradbury and Harry Rayhausen may not be JURASSIC PARK, but its CGI-less/BxW magic still has WOW factor that even IL&M magicians often miss.(4 & 1/2 stars)

Rating:
Summary: ONE GOOD MOVIE!
Review: Monster movies don't get much better. Paul Christian is a nuclear scientist sure his partner was killed by a monster only he has seen. Of corse nobody believes him, until a paleontologist helps him link several sea disasters and accounts of a sea serpent together, to prove to the military this is a true concern. This comes all-to late when the giant animal (a rhedosaurus) surfaces in wall street, leveling several bloks, cars, and people in his wake. Finally the six story menace is burnt to a cinder when it's trapt within the Coney Island rollercoaster. This was the best 50's "dinosaur (or monster) on the loose" movie. Paula Raymond is Christian's girlfriend, and Cecil Kellaway is the paleontologist. Special effects by the legendary Ray Harryhausen, and based on popular fiction author Ray Bradburry.

Rating:
Summary: One Of Benjamin's Favorites
Review: Perhaps it's the generic nature of the "Beast", but this film caused no specific ecentric behavior to emerge from Benjamin (4 years old) other than the occasional baring of claws and the occasional roar. He just watches it and watches it and even shared it at school. Always good at memorizing dinosaur names, Rotosaurus is now staple stock in his dinosaur panthion. The movie is a beautiful piece of work, the continuity is excellent. The only down side being that they had to blow up a perfectly good rollercoaster at the end to kill the thing.

Rating:
Summary: It Came from the Frozen North
Review: Quintessential '50s "monster on the loose" film. An early Ray Harryhausen effort that allows our favorite stop-motion animation genius to show his stuff. The script is an expanded version of a short story by sci-fi author Ray Bradbury. Much of the plot seems to be just the standard cliches until one realizes this was the first of a long line of pre-historic monster from the deep movies that followed and became part of classic sci-fi film lore. "Gorgo," "The Giant Behemoth," and, of course, the original "Godzilla" were influenced by this film.

The excitement really takes off during the creature's spectacular attack on New York City. The Beast rampaging through the big-city canyons is one of monster filmdom's classic moments. Cars are stomped, building walls are demolished, and people are either eaten or trampled. Harryhausen achieves a marvel of special effects wizardry through smooth animation that seamlessly blends with live actors and real-life backgrounds. Superb lighting is also featured. The shadows created by the craggy New York skyline fall eerily on the Beast as it proceeds through the streets. We know we are back in the '50s because the Beast is a carrier of a vaguely defined contagion that has a suspicious radioactive type effect.

As with other early Ray Harryhausen efforts, the special effects transcend the restraints of the B&W photography and the modest budget. This film is a perennial classic in the sci-fi "monster" movie category that collectors everywhere can appreciate. Recommended for both aficionados and beginners from the younger generation.

Rating:
Summary: It Came from the Frozen North
Review: Quintessential '50s "monster on the loose" film. An early Ray Harryhausen effort that allows our favorite stop-motion animation genius to show his stuff. The script is an expanded version of a short story by sci-fi author Ray Bradbury. Much of the plot seems to be just the standard cliches until one realizes this was the first of a long line of pre-historic monster from the deep movies that followed and became part of classic sci-fi film lore. "Gorgo," "The Giant Behemoth," and, of course, the original "Godzilla" were influenced by this film.

The excitement really takes off during the creature's spectacular attack on New York City. The Beast rampaging through the big-city canyons is one of monster filmdom's classic moments. Cars are stomped, building walls are demolished, and people are either eaten or trampled. Harryhausen achieves a marvel of special effects wizardry through smooth animation that seamlessly blends with live actors and real-life backgrounds. Superb lighting is also featured. The shadows created by the craggy New York skyline fall eerily on the Beast as it proceeds through the streets. We know we are back in the '50s because the Beast is a carrier of a vaguely defined contagion that has a suspicious radioactive type effect.

As with other early Ray Harryhausen efforts, the special effects transcend the restraints of the B&W photography and the modest budget. This film is a perennial classic in the sci-fi "monster" movie category that collectors everywhere can appreciate. Recommended for both aficionados and beginners from the younger generation.

Rating:
Summary: Attack of the "RAY"-dosaurus!
Review: Quite simply the archetype. Safe to say: there'd be NO Rodan, NO G-dzilla, NO kaiju at ALL were it not for the prescient genius of Lourie, Harryhausen et.al. Study this VHS in the quiet of your home, on a dark, moonless night with a couple of kids (your choice) under ten and a bucket o'popcorn. Look for Lee Van Cleef! My only carp is that we see the Rhedosaurus in the first reel. The blizzard's scary enough!! But, what the hey? Who's to say? The Beast is prominent on the poster (a three-sheet, backed with linen, did NOT reach its reserve on eBay recently -... and is a veritable pop icon now, up there with Ray's other creatures.
A must own!

Rating:
Summary: 50-Ton Lizard Hits NYC! Details At 11...
Review: Ray Harryhausen's masterpiece is a fun-filled monster fiesta! The beast arises after one of our top secret A-bomb tests wakes it from cryogenic slumber, under tons of ice at the north pole. Once this critter's atomic alarm goes off, the onslaught begins right away. Tom Nesbitt (Paul Christian) is a scientist who must watch his colleague get buried under an avalanche caused by the beast. Nesbitt sees the monster and gets knocked unconscious. He wakes up in the hospital, where everyone thinks his story is crazy, especially an army colonel (Kenneth Tobey), who searched the arctic site, finding nothing unusual. Nesbitt seeks out a leading paleontologist (Cecil Kellaway), who also thinks he's nuts, until Nesbitt brings in a man willing to coroberate his story. This is done with the help of a beautiful assistant paleontologist (Paula Raymond). Now, the real star makes his full-fledged entrance, coming ashore in NYC, crushing cars, smashing buildings, and eating people like so many dino-treats! The military moves in, unable to do more than scratch it's thick hide. Also, when the monster bleeds, it releases a deadly disease that causes coma and death! The behemoth's frenzy continues until it winds up at Coney Island, where only Lee VanCleef can save us! It's up to him to fire a radioactive isotope into one of the creatures open wounds. This is my favorite Harryhausen flick. Check it out...

Rating:
Summary: A True Sci-Fi Classic
Review: Special effects by the legendary Ray Harryhausen and a story by popular science fiction author Ray Bradburry... this was destined to become a sci-fi classic. This was the first, and probably best, in the long line of prehistoric monster movies that followed and became part of sci-fi film history in the process.

The plot begins as a nuclear scientist sees his partner killed by a giant, prehistoric creature while monitoring an atomic blast near the north pole. Naturally, nobody believes him until a paleontologist, played by Paula Raymond, helps him link several sea and beach disasters (I particularly enjoyed the attack made by the creature on a lighthouse) to the beast and prove there is a real monster on the loose. Finally, the animal surfaces at the NYC docks near Wall Street, destroying buildings, cars and people in his wake. After more mayhem and the discovery of a mysterious disease the animal carries which won't permit it to be destroyed by conventional weapons, the creature meets it's fate when it's cornered within the old Coney Island rollercoaster.

This film is exceptional primarily due to the genius of Ray Harryhausen. His special effects in this film are outstanding, especially when you consider this film was made in 1953 on a budget that wouldn't pay the cost of one days electric bill on most movie shoots these days. The scenes where the creature has been awakened by the arctic atomic test and his (or is it a her?) journey back to it's prehistoric breeding grounds off the mouth of the Hudson River are superb. The intensity of the action never stops and has seldom been equalled. It begins with the opening scenes in the snowy arctic, continues with attacks on several fishing boats, the lighthouse and reaches a highlight when the creature comes ashore in New York City. We're even treated to a live action fight between a shark and an octopus, at least until the beast appears looking for lunch! Also, the acting by the stories human characters is excellent as well. Most of the actors (like Kenneth Tobey) will be recoginzed from other classic horror/sci-fi films of the period.

If you're looking for a real blast from the past and a movie considered by many (myself included) to be the best "prehistoric monster on the loose" flick ever made, you can't go wrong with The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms.

Rating:
Summary: Enduring 50's sci-fi creature, romps in NYC.
Review: Sunday, March 06, 2005 / 4 of 5 / Enduring 50's sci-fi creature, romps in NYC.
One of my favorite Harryhousen creations, the Beast from 20,000 Fathoms looks good even today. The interplay with the miniatures and the black and white stock combine for a memorable romp through New York. Yes, the characters are mostly wooden but the disbelieved scientist who tries to convince others he's seen a monster after arctic nuclear tests is one of the better in the genre. Freed from its icy prison the reptile makes its way southward to its historical `elephant graveyard' in New York city! Dispensing with ships and lighthouses along the way it is a fearsome sight to behold when it makes landfall. An enduring image of 50's sci-fi/horror has it crunching along the thoroughfare in downtown NYC as a squad of police attempt to stop it with shotguns. Not going to happen! Another interesting decision was to make the blood of the creature radioactive so as to further tie the hands of the army and authorities when dealing with it. Can't blow it up and spatter contaminates! One almost feels a bit of sadness when the creature meets its end on the boardwalk, sort of like a rabid animal being put down. Hey he didn't ask to be woken up people. A lot of fun.

Rating:
Summary: A Note about the reviews...
Review: The film's great; no two ways; a classic of the genre for sure. But folks, just as an FYI: To "review" a film means to give your opinion about it and to touch on a scene or two, NOT to reiterate the whole plot, sometimes in tedious detail, and ultimately ruin it for those who haven't seen it. Talk about the film, don't do a scene-for-scene description. Thanks