Rating: 
Summary: I found it hard to take this one seriously!
Review: First of all, I know that This Island Earth is the movie that was parodied in the Mystery Sicence Theater 3000 movie. However, since I never saw that movie, I am not being influenced by it.OK. Well, I just saw This Island Earth for the very first time. And I watched it immediately after seeing Forbidden Planet for the very first time. I thought that Forbidden Planet was excellent in every way possible. And compared to that film, This Island Earth is, well, I thought that it was incredibly cheesy! The story didn't make much sense. The acting was bad. The set pieces were bad. And the special effects were especially bad! This Island Earth is a bad movie. Bad! Bad! Bad! It's as cheesy as a movie could be! Hmm. I know that there are a lot of people who are big fans of This Island Earth. Well, I guess that I have a different opinion from those people. But that's OK! The world would be an awfully boring place if everybody had the same opinions on everything. The reason that I'm giving this movie 2 stars instead of just one is because, well, that one alien guy was kind of interesting. He seemed so... human. In fact he seemed more human than did the humans! OK. Well, here's my challenge to anybody. First, watch Forbidden Planet. And then immediately afterwards, watch This Island Earth. And then maybe you'll understand what I mean when I say that This Island Earth deserves a two star rating.
Rating: 
Summary: An Underrated Science Fiction Delight
Review: "This Island Earth", hereafter referred to as TIE, is finally receiving its due as a stellar piece of film making. Released in 1955, it stars Faith Domerge, Jeff Morrow, and Rhodes Reason. Universal International wanted to make its mark as a player in the science fiction genre, and they spared no expense with this film. While the script is pockmarked with irregularities, the sets are impressive - especially those of the doomed planet Metalluna. Morrow had usually been cast as a heavy in films, however in TIE, his compassionate Exeter is an early example of one of the few benign alien visitors. The special effects and sound editing in particular are great and on a whole, the film is most entertaining. And dig that crazy DC-3!
Rating: 
Summary: They don't make 'em like this anymore... because they can't.
Review: Of all the Sci-Fi landmarks to have come from the 1950's, Joseph Newman's 'This Island Earth' is probably the most original. In terms of plot, this film is more complex than any of its contemporaries and demands more from its viewers than the stereotypical B-movie of the era. It also utilises suspense mechanisms at a higher level than its brethren apparent. Luckily, every part of the movie's fabric is strong enough to act as a support beam to hold the immense weight of its storyline. For 1955, the special effects are state of the art and heavily invested in. These hold up impeccably today because the team had crafted something miles beyond sticking sparklers in the tail pipes of die-cast models or messing about with thirty-nine cent wire devices. Makeup is first rate also, even that of the much-assailed crustaceoid guard. Interestingly (but hardly surprisingly), Jack Arnold (the Godfather of monster makeup) was the one who directed the climactic scenes involving this hostile being. Comprised of the fruits of some very hard work (SFX were two years in the making), 'This Island Earth' looks almost too good to be true. Consequently, it shouldn't take much to appreciate that there is no fair way to make fun of this film or any aspect of its appearance without seriously scrutinising the work in very fine detail. PLOT - Essentially friendly aliens make contact with top notch Earth scientists to aid in the defence of their home planet Metaluna. However, by the time Exeter (the alien Earth expedition leader) manages to transport two of these nuclear boffins back to Metaluna, it's too late: Metaluna is being destroyed by an enemy civilisation. Exeter and his superiors formulate a last ditch plan - to colonise Earth and make Mankind docile to their orders. The two human scientist-prisoners make good their escape from Exeter's damaged spacecraft on the haphazard journey back from the chaos, leaving him to smash into the ocean. This film has suffered much battering over the years. Ironically, it's the most thought provoking of the genre. The messages in 'This Island Earth' are certainly subtle, so unlike those to be found in 'The Day The Earth Stood Still' or 'Forbidden Planet'. It's refreshing to cast an eye back at this release and acknowledge it for its complexity at a time when wafer thin ideas were given substance by special effects and quaint models only. Having said that, there are a few things in here that one can be forgiven for laughing at. The benevolent aliens with their huge foreheads doubtlessly inspired Saturday Night Live's hugely popular Coneheads feature sketches. Also, the actors seem a little leaden at times, surprising given the awkwardness of their predicament. Watching this movie in Twenty Hundred isn't difficult at all, though. As a matter of fact, it's all too easy to enjoy it no matter how high or low your expectations run. 'This Island Earth' has, admittedly like cheese, aged extremely well and that's the big secret. As a video, the transfer is pure and clean and it makes for terrific weekend entertainment thanks to its standing as the best science fiction film for its time.
Rating:
Summary: Needs some MST3K Seasoning
Review: This movie by itself is nothing to talk about, but with a little comedy from joel and the bots of mystery science theater 3K it rocks. I can't imagine watching this movie without some form of comedy dialogue, it's just too horrible.
Rating: 
Summary: There's a better way to see this movie
Review: This is an example of how far sci-fi movies have come over the years. It was so cheesy I couldn't help laughing at it. I've discovered I like it much better when I watch it with a friend and some robot companions, Crow and Tom Servo. Watch Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie, and you'll have much more fun.
Rating:
Summary: Classic of its time
Review: I saw this movie amongst several other more recent sci-fi flicks on the same day. It showed how innovative the special-effects were of it's time, and made me realise that people who saw it when it first came out must have been totally awe-struck. Compared to most of todays movies, it seemed very corny at times, but at the same time very enjoyable. A must see for any classic sci-fi buffs!
Rating:
Summary: A Classic from the Cheese Vault
Review: Cheesey, yes, but still one of the great classics of 1950s sci-fi. Who can forget Faith Domurge struggling against the Metaluna Mutant, the artificial meteors bombarding the planet surface, or the final scene of the great silver animated ship plunging downward? Not to be missed by any fan of the genre.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Classic 50s sci fi Movies! A must see!
Review: I remember 1st seeing the movie late one night in the 70's and loving every bit of it. It is a classic and deserves more credit than given.
Rating:
Summary: Not Ready for DVD
Review: This is one of the most entertaining and colorful '50s sci-fi movies. Therefore, I was disappointed that it wasn't prepped for DVD. The disc has all the little light specks and squiggles that are on the VHS release. Worse, many scenes have a washed-out look not present on VHS.
Rating:
Summary: A 1950s Classic
Review: Although some of the effects and scenes may seem hokey by today's standards, this only serves to accentuate an otherwise interesting film with a touch of nostalgia for the "good old days" of 1950s science-fiction/horror film making. On a superficial level, the film is a great deal of fun; for those who like food for thought, however, the film has much to offer there as well. Superior to the more widely acclaimed "Forbidden Planet."
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