Rating: 
Summary: Mislabeled and Misleading
Review: On late night black and white tv, this movie scared me to blackout my bedroom windows (which didn't please my parents). William Cameron Menzies was a visionary. His stark style of design and tight storytelling still affects me as a designer and a writer. This past year I saw IFM on TCM and my imagination must have been at work because it wasn't the same movie. But then TCM's savvy host wised me up. The copyright was up for sale and some bozo bought it. He thought it needed more military action and inserted stock footage of tanks loading (to the tune of "Caissons" no less), and other footage of tanks coming to the rescue. In other words he reedited a classic. So if you buy the DVD and it says Original U.S. release. It's a lie. Send that warning to the FBI.
Rating: 
Summary: I Remember When!
Review: I Think I was five years old when this came out. When I saw it , it scared me to death. I'am really glad to have this is my collection. However, I am disapointed that the film wasn't cleaned up better before the transfere. All and all it is all there and not really bad but there is alot of scratches that are noticeable and some jumping around that is present when you run old film. It even has the old reel transfere dots in the upper right corner. It is still worth having and really one of the better done old Sc- Fi Flicks. Thanks For Reading This Review. I hope it helps. This is for the DVD.
Rating: 
Summary: 50's Sci Fi at it's Best!
Review: This is a classic 1950's film. A spaceship lands at night and only a young boy knows what is really going on. The special effects may not be up to par with modern films but it is a fun and exciting film that the whole family can enjoy. Put on the popcorn, pop a cola, turn down the lights and pretend you are at the drive-in!
Rating: 
Summary: Great movie, poor DVD
Review: This is one of those classic SciFi movies that scared the 'bgeezus out of every kid who saw it in the 50's/60's. After viewing the spectacular anniversary edition DVD of "The Day the Earth Stood Still," I expected a comparable treatment of "Invaders from Mars" (especially for the price). But no ... the image quality of this Image Entertainment DVD is ....: scratches, blips, and poor color rendition abound. An undergrad film major could have done a better post-production job. Maybe that's who Image Entertainment employs? I see the company's Director recently resigned -- hopefully in shame after seeing their effort (or lack thereof) on this project. Great movie, but buy it on tape and pocket ten bucks...
Rating: 
Summary: B-movie
Review: Invaders from mars has one great feature: it's spooky. From the minute you see X shaped scars on the backs of peole's necks, you're hooked. Unofrtunaltey, it has a major drawback: Repeat stock footage.You see the following scenes at least three times:
The same tanks shooting
The same building blowing up
The same apes in green suits clowning around in "caves"
The same goggle eyed stunt men holding a glowing stick
The same flying saucer
The same sand growing holes, and filling itself back up
the same explosion, used for all kinds of explosives It's creepy effects are almost a good excuse for this, with the wild singing to go with the sand, the creepy scars, and the freakish head in a bubble. If you think to buy this, be sure to get the british version, it cuts out some of the repeated scenes, and fills the time with a discussion on the state of UFO research in the fifities. Fun facts for every consipracy junkie.
Rating:
Summary: William Cameron Menzies the real star
Review: Production design by William Cameron Menzies, who worked on "Gone with the Wind" and "The Thief of Baghdad" (with Sabu) and other great films makes "Invaders" a special item, not
just another shlocko sci-fi thriller from the paranoid '50s.
The image of the back yard, the fence and the strange sand pit
where the flying saucer land will be etched into your imagination after just one viewing. Fabulous adventure,
and in its own way, very scary.
Rating:
Summary: Mars Needs--Earth ! !
Review: My three stars are based on the following--four stars for this memorable film--two stars for the picture and sound quality of the DVD. Some of the other reviewers will consider my technical "two stars" to be generous, and I will not argue with
them. I first saw this landmark sci/fi classic when I was younger than Jimmy Hunt, the lead actor in "Invaders". Like many other "baby boomers", I remember the experience very well. It wasn't the Martians who bothered me--it was the idea that your own loving parents could suddenly become so "different", not to mention friends and neighbours. This is a very frightening premise that reached its peak a couple of years later in the original "Invasion of the Body Snatchers". Inevitably, the film is now dated in a number of ways--the "zippers" on the backs of the Martians are often mentioned--but it still has power too. First of all, Jimmy Hunt's performance--here is a child actor who is totally believable, and his efforts to convince people of the unthinkable are compelling. Children who are not taken seriously--an old theme that is still relevant. Arthur Franz and Helena Carter are standard 50s leads, sympathetic but bland, but look out for Leif Erickson as our hero's "Dad"--the scene where he comes back home a "changed man" still packs a wallop ( literally as well as figurativley ). As others have noted, Menzies gave this film a terrific" look--that hill with the broken fence, the swirling sand, the strange music--this is an image that has stayed with me most of my life.
The "Martian Brain" may look a little crude today, but the idea of superior intelligence is a mainstay in science fiction, and this creature has numerous filmic descendants--the "brainy alien" in "Independence Day", another more recent "invasion" comes to mind. One problem I have always had with this movie--and it is a common experience in 50s sci/fi films--is an excessive reliance on stock footage. I guess it helped with the budget, but all those "military training" films that are woven into the story could have been edited. OK--the troops are coming to kick Martian butt--we get it ! It is safe to say that this is one of the most influential sci/fi movies of all time. True it does not compare in quality to some other 50s classics--"The Day the Earth Stood Still ",
"The War of the Worlds", "Forbidden Planet" for example. Nevertheless, it is a movie that is embedded in the consciousnesses of many people of my generation--the saucer landing, the scared little boy, the strange hill where people disappear--all quite unforgettable. Sadly, I must agree with the negative reviews of this DVD's picture quality--when you mention "50th Anniversary Special Edition" etc. and see that the company responsible is Image--you have high expectations, especially considering the price. I did not anticipate so many lines and general "wear and tear". If this was the best print available, it is unfortunate. If anything, the nice cover and the interesting booklet add to the disappointment of the disc itself. Bottom line--even with the visual shortcomings of the DVD, no serious sci/fi collector can leave this title out of his or her collection.
Rating:
Summary: Where is Col. Fielding when you need him?
Review: Be sure to notice all the standard Sci-fi actors and even the Beaver's mother "Kelston's Secretary" (Barbara Billingsley). This movie was well done with just the right amount of spookiness and has a kid's perspective on what is happening. This is not a kid is smarter than his/her parents movie. There are lots of strange happenings and lots of tension. I will not go into the details as if you have not seen the movie it is more fun to be surprised.
Right from the beginning Little David MacLean sees a flying saucer land in the sandpit behind the house. He tells his parents. They being good parents check it out for him and naturally find nothing out of the ordinary. Maybe he had a nightmare or maybe the nightmare is just beginning as everyone starts acting strange and only David can sound the alarm. What would you do?
Rating:
Summary: Invaders A Let Down
Review: Having watched this classic probably over 30 years ago as a teenage boy with my parents, I was looking forward to sharing the experience with my own teenage son. What a disappointment! We started the evening with the marvellous The Day The Earth Stood Still and settled back for the much anticipated next feature special. We both agreed it was unwatchable. Picture quality was an insult to this classic and certainly a slap in the face to the large number of buyers out there who are dedicated sci-fans and collectors. If you are intending to add to your collection, don't. Perhaps there will be a re-mastered version some day to do justice to this undeniable gem.
Rating:
Summary: 50th Anniversary Special Edition DVD very disappointing!!!
Review: The picture quality is that of an old copy of a washed out color scratchy 35mm film directly transferred to a DVD. The sound has been improved digitally but the picture is poor in this DVD presentation. If you want the 1950's Saturday Matinee Movie Theatre Scifi visual experience this will do. The Standard Format, grainy quality picture and washed out color spoil the effects. Many Special Features: An U.S. and alternate British Versions of the film. (hardly worth the effort -with & without dream sequence) Supposedly a new digitally transfer. (which means direct film to DVD transfer - NO remastering) Theatrical Trailer. Still Gallery (grainy and very poor quality pictures). Illustrated Collector's Booket (quite informative). Note: This movie was quite innovative (for 1953)with a great sound track but today looks pretty primitive. Invaders was a follow on movie to the best Scifi movie of the 1950's 'The Day The World Stood Still(1951)'. This is an outstanding movie. Enjoy.
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