4D Man

Rating:
Summary: Passable for its time, but showing its age
Review: I saw this in the theater as a kid, and remembered it as being pretty good ... even a bit scary in places. Upon seeing it again, however, I was a bit disappointed. The storyline is pretty trite and the special effects are rudimentary. Still, it's a cut above the average for a late-1950s sci-fi movie, and Lansing does a pretty decent job in the lead role ... even if he appears to have an immense head in one scene. (Weird camera angle?)

Rating:
Summary: Classic cheese.
Review: I've liked this movie since I was a kid. Most of the acting is good. Decent script. Average directing. I think I always really liked this because it was a bit smarter sci-fi than the other stuff of the time. As for the DVD itself....very good transfer, very crisp. No complaints there. The downside is that there are no extras whatsoever, and also that it's presented in full screen instead of widescreen (a BIG minus in my department). Anyway, for the price, it's not bad.

Rating:
Summary: Classic cheese.
Review: I've liked this movie since I was a kid. Most of the acting is good. Decent script. Average directing. I think I always really liked this because it was a bit smarter sci-fi than the other stuff of the time. As for the DVD itself....very good transfer, very crisp. No complaints there. The downside is that there are no extras whatsoever, and also that it's presented in full screen instead of widescreen (a BIG minus in my department). Anyway, for the price, it's not bad.

Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly good!
Review: What surprised me most about THE 4D MAN was the script. The characters are very well-defined, strong, logical, consistent and nicely developed, and the performers play the parts admirably. Above-average characterization is not usually something you'll find in a minor sci-fi thriller! Director Irvin S Yeaworth Jr is better known for THE BLOB, a movie that also boasts an above-average character in Steve Andrews (Steve McQueen). Perhaps not surprisingly, both films were co-written by Theodore Simonson (his only film credits). It's almost a shame Simonson didn't do more film work.

THE PLOT: Tony Nelson (James Congdon), the younger brother of research scientist Scott Nelson (Robert Lansing), is attempting to duplicate a lab accident in which he passed a pencil through a thick plate of steel. The brothers eventually team up but it transpires that the original accident was caused mainly by the influence of abnormally high brainwave activity. Scott's coincidental suffering of headaches induced by powerful brainwave impulses triggers another accident in which his hand passes through a solid plate of a newly-invented impenetrable metal. Soon Scott can pass through anything just by exercising his willpower, but the ability comes with a price. He grows older with each effort, and can only rejuvenate himself by stealing the life from others. Soon people are found dead of extreme old age...even if they were young. It's up to Tony and their mutual girlfriend Linda Davis (Lee Meriwether) to stop Scott who is slowly going mad.

The effects are decent for their time. I remember FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND magazine had a contest (or maybe the studio sponsored it) challenging people to duplicate the abilities of the 4D MAN! The acting is good, as I mentioned, but Robert Lansing in the lead role is terrific, his performance is wonderful to watch. It's worth viewing the film just to see Lansing, he really is incredible.

For some reason (maybe seeing stills in FAMOUS MONSTERS) I always envisioned this movie was in black and white, but it is in color. The DVD's image quality is very good, perhaps a little grainy but probably normal for its age (the film was released in 1959). There are no extras on the disc; the main menu is the scene selection. The sound is fine, but that brings me to the most unfortunate aspect of the movie - the music. Completely inappropriate, the loud, brash jazzy music is remarkably distracting and thoroughly annoying. I couldn't help thinking how much better the movie would be with a score by someone like Bernard Herrmann or Dimitri Tiomkin instead of Ralph Carmichael!

Add this up: a believable story, outstanding acting from the lead, above-average characterization, okay special effects, better makeup effects and terribly inappropriate music. The sum is a high recommendation for THE 4D MAN.

Rating:
Summary: hate to love
Review: why i love this movie is still a mystery to me. the acting is okay, the effects are good,the soundtrack is terrible,there are mistakes in logic for example when he puts his arm through the window to pick up the apple he does. when he is in the 4d state he goes through all objects..but even after all these negative issues i still love this movie. i guess because when your young you don't see the mistakes. if the movie has heart and it grabs you,it just stays with you all your life.