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It Came from Outer Space

It Came from Outer Space

List Price: $14.98
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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: it from outer space
Review: just because does't have 3-d does't mean its not a good movie alot sci-fi movies were't made them deadly mantis monster that chaellenage the world angry red planet it the terror from beyond space you check out the remark of it from outer space made year later with peter graves and beverly garland and lee van cleef

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Vintage Sci-Fi
Review: What I like most about this movie, is the beginning setting.
Filmed in the California desert (movie narration depicts Arizona), Barbara Rush looks radiant. DVD has a nice commentary that provides excellent background for the making of the movie.
Wish they would still make them like this.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Well-made, but dated...
Review: Richard Carlson (Creature from the Black Lagoon; GOG) plays role of The Everyman who sees what he's not supposed to, and tries to convince his Everymen Brothers of Un-imagined alien danger confronting them. Hints of(original)INVASION of the BODY SNATCHERS;INVASION FROM MARS and Twilight Zone contribute to an eerie mood of menacing threat that sustains viewer interest in this early sci-fi "almost" classic. Ray Bradbury's pre-ET plot frankly is a bit thin. How effective its mood (because despite original 3-D fx touted, there's not much action and no WAR OF THE WORLDS combat to "3-D" anyhow...)really depends on mood and expectations of viewers. This is an interesting, very low-key piece of what probably functions better on literary paper than on bxw celluloid. I'm a great admirer of Ray Bradbury but insist that little of his work (SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES, perhaps) has translated well to film. It is Bradbury's irony--and minimalist style employed in ICFOS subtending it--that prevents the film from devolving into a corny BOGEYMEN from SPACE trip.

IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE is a good, well-made movie...for its time. Now it's dated. How much a viewer enjoys it, very much depends on "slack" he grants coming "back from the future" with a viewpoint more in common(sophisticated)with The ALIENS than our frightened 50's brothers and sisters (3 & 1/2 stars)...

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: One of the first classic alien invasion Sci Fi films
Review: One night astronomer John Putnam (Richard Carlson from "Creature From the Black Lagoon") is watching the night skies when he sees a flash in the desert night sky. Dragging the pretty Ellen Fields (Barbara Rush from "When Worlds Collide") with him, he goes off to investigate what he thinks is a meteor. But what he discovers at the bottom of the creater is not a giant meteor but a space ship composed of glowing hexagons. Of course, back in town nobody will believe him, not even Sheriff Matt Warren (Charles Drake) who also likes Ellen. But then people start wandering around town in zombie-like trances and our heroic astronomer starts to figure out that there is an alien invasion taking place in his little town, which means the little love triangle here need to be put on hold.

"It Came From Outer Space" was one of the first 3-D films (you can easily guess what parts were directed out at the audience) and provides a nice mix of cheesy horror effects with eerie sci fi music. The original story is by Ray Bradbury and has all the earmarks of a pulp magazine alien invasion story. Of course, this was a period when UFO sightings were starting to be covered in the press as well. The story has a strong resemblance to "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," but remember that this 1953 film came out three years earlier and if you are looking for elements of paranoia about the Commies the subtext is a lot stronger in this film. Also, the recent film "Evolution" clearly uses this Fifties Science Fiction classic for its basic framework. Director Jack Arnold was one of the kings of Fifties "B" films having done not only "It Came From Outer Space," but "Creature From the Black Lagoon," "Tarantula," and "The Incredible Shrinking Man," all of which are films you need to screen at some point as you learn all about the roots of contemporary science fiction.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Interesting effort in the 1950's Sci Fi genre
Review: I always find the 1950's Sci Fi efforts a pleasure to watch and despite being the target of many modern day reviewers commenting on the early special effects and out dated dialogue/situations. I think that their freshness and innocence in a way is their most appealing quality compared to todays extravagant and special effects filled opus's which dont contain half as much interest in my belief.

"It Came From Outer Space" benefits from alot of expert assistance in all those areas that make a production memorable to watch. It has veteran director Jack Arnold, an expert in telling convincing and often intelligent sci fi stories during this period, expert location photography set in the arid desert regions that add tremendously to the eerie qualities of the story, and a haunting musical score that really adds a sense of possible menace to the proceedings. The film benefits greatly from also displaying a slight variation on the usual invading monsters from outer space theme. Here the visitors are not necessarily violent or evil, simply travellors who have had to stop on Earth to carry out much needed repairs and are not wanting to bother anyone before they get on their way.

This variation makes for an interesting premise and is well served in the story where dedicated star watcher John Putnam with his girlfriend Ellen Fields witnesses what seems like a gigantic meteor crashing in the desert near his home but on closer examination discover that a space craft has landed and been covered over by falling rocks. The story builds pace as John can't convince the townspeople that there are aliens among them even after one by one the locals are being replaced by duplicates to help on the repairs to the space ship.

Richard Carlson and Barbara Rush as the two leads here do a great job as the pair who know the truth and try desperately to warn everyone about the possible danger that has developed. Carlson, normally a fairly bland actor as a rule in my belief, here gives an excellent account of himself and his encounters with the alien duplicates are quite scary and handled with finesse.

The aliens of this story also are displayed in a much more original way than most of your 1950's monsters are. Here alot of the action involving them is seen through their eyes which gives the scenes of their encountering humans a strange surreal quality. The shots of the aliens seemingly floating over moving cars are very well staged and keep the tensions rising all the time.

While not the best of the 1950's alien films it still is an entertaining watch and benefits from above average performances by the leads and a marked lack of tentacled creatures etc, so common in this period of film making. You will enjoy "It Came From Outer Space" where for once humans are revealed as the villians who are quick to jump to conclusions and not prepared to understand others that are different to themselves. It's an interesting slant on an old story and handled here with alot of care.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: IT is IT
Review: "IT" was a wonderful science fiction film. See it !

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Universal continues DVD digital transfers of scifi classics!
Review: Universal Studios the black & white "Horror / Scifi" experts continue to provide us there classic films on DVD!!! These great early Scifi cult classics introduce us to the mind set of Hollywood and the world of the 1950's.

This latest digital transfer DVD series is fantastic with the best quality picture & sound. The Scifi of the 1950's was more philosophical and less graphical in the violence.

In Summary: An amateur astronomer (Richard Carlson) & his fiancee (Barbara Rush) witness a meteorite impact in the the desert near his cottage. They investigate the crash site and he discovers an alien spaceship at the base of the newly made crater. How will man react to this UFO event? It turns out that this spacecraft landed here on earth to make repairs. (ET storyline of the 50's). Man over reacts and the aliens perform cameleon like forms to seek repair parts. This early scifi was a very good concept and the first alien look was a typical Hollywood extravaganza. NOTE: "It Came From Outer Space" was originally released in 3 - Dimensional format & it added immensely to the horror & suspense!! To bad Universal didn't give us the full original effect which made such a lasting impact on the 1950's America.

Many Extras to include: an original documentary On It Came From Outer Space, excellent feature commentary by film historian Tom Weaver, photo & poster gallery, trailer, production notes and cast biographies.

This movie is a delight and it brings those memories back of the Saturday Scifi / Horror matinees. Fun stuff. Enjoy.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good sci-fi drama
Review: "It Came From Outer Space" is an enjoyable sci-fi movie. Unfortunately it's not available in 3-D, which is a shame because the 3-D effects for this movie were done extremely well. That's what I've read and heard, anyway. The main characters are all very believable, and the star, Richard Carlson, does his usual fine job. The plot is more mature than your usual 1950's sci-fi alien movie. About the DVD: the picture quality is slightly better than its VHS cousin, and the bonus features are mildly entertaining. Film historian Tom Weaver provides audio commentary during the movie. Weaver is certainly quite knowledgeable, but he talks so fast and gives out so much information it wore me out mentally trying to process everything he said. I would have preferred a more relaxed pace.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: THE ALIEN SAND BOX
Review: Even with its carefully crafted arrival on DVD for the first time, I still consider IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE a lost work... as to the reason, in a moment, but as to the why you should pick this up... simple, it's fun. IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE is a classy sci-fi picture that, at its worst, can be a little stiff, while at its best can be thought provoking and creepy. Drawn from a treatment by Ray Bradbury, and put together by a solid before the camera and behind the camera cast, IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE is not to be missed. Tom Weaver again provides commentary, and like his others - CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON, THE WOLF MAN, FIEND WITHOUT A FACE - he takes us on a comprehensive trip from the back lots, to the stages, to the seats right in the theater, never missing a beat and always talking with you like he's sitting right next to you - enjoying the high points and never afraid to point out its lows. As per normal with these Universal releases, a documentary is included that spans the ALIEN YEARS with Universal, a well stocked photo gallery and more... more... more. But what's missing for me is the 3D, and that's why IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE is still for me a lost classic. While it's not only the jolts that I miss with the 3D I'm sure IT CAME provided, but its quiet moments as well... the simple turning of a telescope, a roaring fire in a fireplace, how the glitter trails left by the aliens must have floated there before you eyes. Despite being presented in 2D, IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE is a must for any collector of sci-fi. For the casual viewer, IT is a lot of fun.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: DESSERT & DESERT ?
Review: Some good things about this film are the nice shots of the weird rock formations and driving through the desert when it really felt free ( before it was inundated with cameras, billboards and wire antennas). Another thing is "Ellen"'s screams!


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