5 comments about Island of Terror.

1. Whats special about this movie is, THAT IT IS SCARY... which is a bit unusaul for now-days because what we have now is computerized effects. 1966 didn't have all this technology. Plus, it stars the legendary "Peter Cushing!" Buy this movie... its pretty much worth it.



2. This is a pretty funny horror movie about cancer cells that grow and then go crazy on an island in the U.K. somewhere. The monsters look like big pieces of rubber hud. They also quiver with rage when they are attacked, anyway Peter Cushing does a good job and the scene where his hand gets whacked off looks pretty realistic considering how old this is.



3. Good characters in this "monsters on the loose" classic. You will notice that the Irishmen drink what appears to be pints of Guinness in this movie.
   Unlike a lot of monster movies, they gave the characters in this movie lives other than simply monster bait. Too often the characters are just standing around waiting for a monster to eat them.



4. In the late 60's, my mom packed the four of us kids into the station wagon and took us to the drive in theater to see a showing of four horror movies. Island of Terror was the third...and the best! I still remember being afraid to get up to go to the bathroom at night because I was SURE that the silicates were on the hallway ceiling waiting for me!

   Of course, this is a low-budget horror flick made by a Hammer rival, but for what it is, it's still pretty darned good. The special effects aren't bad for the period, with unique and interesting creature design, sound effects and blatant rubber bodies... But a decent script, capable actors and the cold damp atmosphere of an Irish island directed by Hammer veteran Terence Fisher result in a memorable fun-filled and sometings even genuinely creepy good time. Cushing and Judd move things along nicely, and the supporting cast of does a nice job of adding local color.




5. Neat little monster flick even if it did miss the Fifties by a few years. Good locations and color photography (filmed in 1:85 ratio) adds to the effect and the monsters are adequate for a film of this type.
   
   Beware that the UK DVD release has the 'hand amputation/blood squirting scene' completely edited out, but I do hear that the German DVD release has the scene still fully intact.
   
   All in all, a fun fifties style 'monster on the loose/trapped on an island' story with a tinge of British flavor which always adds some intelligence to these type of sci-fi flicks.

5 comments about Angels in the Outfield.

1. i ordered 2 dvd's just days before the Christmas rush, and they both arrived with time to spare in wonderful condition. A+!



2. Even though this is an older movie, I never get tired of watching it. It's a heartwarming story that brings smiles to your face and tears to your eyes. A great movie for the young and the young at heart.



3. This is a great movie and the matter in which I got the dvd was great! The price was right also, including the shipping charges.



4. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   The DVD of "Angels In The Outfield" was a gift for our grandson.He was very excited and pleased. We had looked for the movie, Amazon is a very well stocked site.
   
   
   
   



5. A real classic and enjoyed by everyone in the family. It is a movie that we can gather together to watch.

5 comments about Cube.

1. I believe that CUBE has a deeper meaning than just inacting how humans react in extreme situations.
   
   To state the conclusion first :
   Cube is a film about language and structure that humans are forever bound to.
   
   In CUBE, there are 26 x 26 x 26 cubes in the entire structure. This represents the 26 alphabet letters and their combinations. The characters wake up in the vast structure of CUBE, just as humans wake up to a world of language, symbols, and meanings attached to the symbols. When humans wake up to the reality (when you begin to have a sense of self and existence) this happens within the scope of language. When we are born we start our lives by recognizing the image of "mother." Then we recognize "self."
   
   CUBE represents the dimension of language. French psycoanalyst Jacques Lacan suggested that the subject is permeated by language. In the movie, Decart's coordinates are mentioned as a key to figure out the position of the cubes. We all know Decart's famous saying: "I think, therefore I exist." The mentioning of Decart may suggest the message that our existance is defined by language by which we think. Conversely, Lacan suggested that thinking and existing are not compatible, because to think means to follow the structure of language into which we were born. Because our own identities are only definable when we are free of the identity of symbols that restrict us, we can never exist as a self with language.
   
   This goes along with the meaning of CUBE. The struggles of the characters are struggles to find their way out of the claws of the world of symbols that define them. And because they cannot exist out of the structures of language, no one manages to exit CUBE through the 27 th room (the unexisting 27 th letter in the English alphabet) except Kazan, the only person free from language. (Perhaps because he does not have the ability to grasp language as the others do)
   
   The first person to be killed (the person who never meets any others, wanders into another room and is meshed into cubes) possibly represents a priest. The absence of the representation of any spiritual leaders among the six people who manage to gather and the overall appearance of the meshed man suggests that he is a priest, possibly Christian or Catholic. The fact that he is the first to be killed suggests that he is the first victim of language and that he is forever bound by it, never doubting its existance or authenticity. This is only possible because Christianity is bound by language, depending on written and spoken sermons to convey important messages.
   
   In CUBE, different cubes move about each other. This represents different symbols leading to other symbols and other meanings. Some people wander from one symbol to the next. Some are killed during their effort while some manage to return to their original position. From when we were born we had not needed to follow symbols and learn language because our existance lies eleswhere. In CUBE, when Leaven, Worth, and Kazan finally return to the cube they started on, Worth loses the will to escape. This symbolizes his fright of leaving the structure of language that defines his identity and existance. Or may be he just realized that the world out there is just as same, regulated by certain structures that he cannot escape from even at death.
   
   The final scenes in which Quentin stakes Leaven and Worth symbolizes the symbol "S" perforated by a "/" which represents Lacan's theory that the subject is permeated by language. The 27 th room, like the 27 th letter in the alphabet that does not exist, is even harder to escape, save Kazan who I doubt knew how many letters the alphabet has.
   
   I really like this movie and the deep meaning that lies behind it. I think that the meaning may differ from my guess, but still, this is the way I interpreted the film. This is only a subjective analysis, and I wanted to share this with other people. I haven't looked, so I don't know if other people think the same way or not.



2. "Cube" isn't one of the highest budget movies. The whole thing pretty much takes place in a cube-shaped room... attached to other, identical cube-shaped rooms. No major names. Pretty simple plot.
   
   But I really never get tired of watching it. It's one of those movies you can put on when you're not really sure what you want to watch and always know you'll have a good time. (Fortress is another of those movies I enjoy - kinda cheesy, but lots of fun.)
   
   The idea is, basically, that a seemingly random group of people wake up in this booby-trapped cube. The story is them working out how to escape and figuring out why they're in there to begin with.
   
   Simple, kind of strange, but very cool. It gets better when you see Cube 2 - Hypercube and Cube Zero because those start fleshing out the Cube "universe" - why people might show up in the cube, etc. All three are great, but you have to see the original first.



3. This movie is definately one to check out. It shows how certain situations with certain types of characteristics of the human can change an outcome. Not knowing the outcome, this movie keeps you intrigued to the very end.



4. While the characters at first seem stereotyped and boring, the audience quickly sees the pattern of dynamicism. It keeps you interested, and is acted quite well. Though obviously not a high-budget movie, it's far better than many that are. Would recommend to anyone who likes thrillers.



5. "What a nightmare" my friend said after we watched "Cube" the first time a few years back. Got that right. If you haven't seen this movie yet and enjoy being horrified and held in extended periods of suspense you are in for a wonderful time.
   
   I just typed out a paragraph describing the plot and setting of the movie, but nevermind. If you haven't seen it yet, it's best if you go in knowing nothing.

5 comments about Shrek (Special Edition).

1. Shrek is a cute movie but gets annoying after watching it more than once. Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz provide the voices for Shrek, Donkey, and Princess Fiona. There are some sarcastic and lovable moments in this box-office smash! Great to watch with friends and family, too bad the sequel was less than impressive, stick with the original.



2. Shrek is a very clever movie, shrek two is even more clever. Too bad the film makers are running out of ideas by part three.
   Oh well, at least we have part one which will always be a classic.
   Awesome animation, awesome story, awesome voice acting. The movie makes fun of all the old fairy tales and I loved it.
   These are right up there with the Pixar movies. And the only singing is when their making fun of the old Disney songs. Too funny.
   Recommended for kids of all ages.



3. Does this DVD have a lot of reviews or what? I never saw so many before at least not on Amazon. The movie was pretty good I guess but the second one was better. Did you know that there will be a 4th one in 2010? There will also also be a 5th and final one in 2013.



4. A spin on Disney princess tales. This movie is one of the best animated hits in history.



5. It's not a bad movie. There are some funny parts, but fart jokes just don't do it for me. What in the world is so hilarious about passing gas, for crying out loud, besides it being utterly embarrassing? The animation by Pacific Data Images is first rate, although does not hold a candle in comparison to the scope, effort, and complexity that was placed in Square's "Final Fantasy". As for story, I've actually found the story in "Final Fantasy" to be more touching and more involving than the story of "Shrek". Don't get me wrong, "Shrek" has a decent story, but it's not quite as elaborate as "Final Fantasy". (In "Final Fantasy", you may have to watch the movie a second time to get it. It is hard to follow, but it introduces a level of intrigue that makes it more interesting. If you can actually understand the story clearly, then it actually feels far more powerful than what you would originally think.)

5 comments about Short Circuit.

1. Great movie for the family. Would have been nicer not to have a few "colorful" words in it but overall a good family flik. But most folks already knew that.
   What I'm quite impressed about is the BluRay transfer. Not bad at all! For a movie of this age the picture is very sharp. I've seen more recent movies that aren't this sharp.
   To me, the BluRay version is definitely worth buying over the "regular" DVD and at current prices quite a bargain!



2. My personal favorite of the two Short Circuit movies. Steve Guttenberg! Number 5! More input! Classic 80's cheese right here. And don't forget the guy who played the Captain in Police Academy as a bad military officer. I highly suggest this movie, and I believe the Blu-Ray versaion is less than $10 on Amazon. Go get it!



3. First of all, THIS is supposed to be a PG rated film? I wouldn't be surprised if any kids that saw this film picked up a few cuss words they had not been exposed to before. The movie itself is not bad at all. I remember seeing it as a child and loving it, but the picture is just horrible. 1080i not 1080p and there's lots of distortion and artifacts throughout the entirety of the flick. It was like watching a VHS tape on my 1080p flat screen. The film is worth watching. Its a very touching story. But get the DVD. This Blu-ray is very poorly produced.



4. I bought the blu ray format and I must say that eventhough this movie was made more than 20 years ago, the blu ray produced higher resolution video. What a deal, for less than 12 bucks, my family and I got to watch this old movie in high def.



5. In the late 80's we thought Robots were the answer.In the 2000's
   they are replacing grocery checkers, and still as stupid as ever?
   Five never was alive, except in the movies.
   But it makes a good story. Now they are making war robots
   that are getting better at killing.
   There are a Mac based robots traveling around Mars, too.
   I like the movie, now, as I did the first time I saw it,
   but I know that an 386 level just couldn't be intelligent!
   A new 4 ghz Intel with multiprocessors hasn't a chance either,
   but the 7000 networked Cern processors are much closer,
   but no AI, yet....

5 comments about Deadly Mantis (1957).

1. From the golden age of Universal Pictures, "The Deadly Mantis" (1957) is an above-average giant insect film directed by Nathan Juran in glorious black and white. The film stars William Hopper (no pun intended), who may be remembered from the classic Perry Mason television series, as well as Craig Stevens and Alix Talton (the two love interests). A giant prehistoric mantis thaws out in the arctic, aggravating air force personnel and eating civilians along its way as it buzzes through the skies to New York. Considering the believability quotient of the aforementioned subject matter, Juran, who also directed 1957's "20 Million Miles to Earth," somehow manages to lend credibility to this tale with his ability to convey a sense of earnestness and realism throughout, while good acting and special effects help highlight the film as well. The movie bears some resemblance to "Tarantula" (1955), another classic Universal giant insect film, especially when heroine Talton sees the huge creature's eyes staring in at her through the windows. Unlike "Tarantula," however, part of the appeal of "The Deadly Mantis" is that it doesn't confine itself to the stuffiness of a small town, and as a result, may generate more excitement for some viewers. Also, it is noteworthy to mention that the creature animation effects in TDM are technically superior to the (at times) superimposed effects seen in "Tarantula." Although not nearly as superior as 1954's "Them," starring James Whitmore and mutated ants, "The Deadly Mantis" is still a worthy film that is certain to be appreciated by fans of the genre.



2. Although I've seen many movies worse than this one, there is no way I can possibly call the Deadly Mantis good in any way.
   
   The movie starts off on the wrong foot with a boring series of random documentary footage that makes you think the factory put the wrong tape in the box.
   
   Once the audience is bored to tears from watching the construction of a radar base in an arctic area, the movie finally begins. A weird object is found near the base and the U.S. government can't figure out what it is. Some old guy says they should take it to a paleontologist. The paleontologist jokes around a lot when we first see him, and even throws a briefcase at some lady (I think it's his secretary). When he finally starts being less of a jerk, he discovers this weird object is a broken foreleg spur from a mantis that must be GIGANTIC!!
   
   So he and his secretary team up with the government to find this threatning beast. The lady gets flirted with by all the guys at the military base (one very disgusting guy in particular) and the movie is ruined.
   
   The mantis wrecks a few buildings and knocks over a bus while the government goes crazy. Plenty of jet stock footage is shown to us, and the movie tells us these jets are going after the mantis. The mantis is hit hard just over the Washington D.C. area and hides out in a tunnel. Special forces manage to finish it off in the tunnel and take a few pictures in the meantime.
   
   The worst thing about the movie is you don't know who the characters are or care about them. The budget is decent but the story is bland. If Eegah's buget was 20 times higher, it would be better than this movie.
   
   In summary, the Deadly Mantis is a great movie to make fun of, but it really is awful.



3. The 50's was a time when no bug was safe from becoming the next giant menace to society. 'The Deadly Mantis' is a fairly good entry in this series but, not the best. The mantis itself is a little stiff in most scenes but, that isn't really the problem. It's just been done better in 'Them' and 'Tarantula'. There is some unintentional laughter to be had when the giant Mantis roars, you will recognize the sound as it was later used on "The Munsters" for their fire breathing pet Dragon who lived under the staircase! ....Here Spot! Here Boy.....LOL! If you are like me and can't resist these old B Sci-Fi flicks than you will be pleased to know this is available on Ultimate Sci-Fi classic collection volume 2. The DVD transfer is very good and there are a total of 5 films in the set.



4. After monster glacier erruptions occurs in both the South Pole and the North Pole, the dreaded horrible truth is revealed.
   
   A giant mantis which has been held captive and frozen in its deep ice prison for a million years as mutated and is set free due to atomic bomb testing!! Immediately after it thaws out, it is hungry for food and goes on a killer rampage!!
   
   Meanwhile, a giant spur has been found at a plane wreckage, and a palenthologist (William Hopper) and his assistant are asked by officials to try to unravel the mysterious disappearances of several people who have vanished without a trace, as well as to try to find out just exactly how the spur got aboard the war plane!!
   
   Further analysis reveals that the spur is from something that's alive - a living creature, something that's incredibly unbelievably huge!!
   
   What they eventually find out is an unspeakable horror that it far beyond comprehention!! A monster of truly epic proportions has decended on mankind. One that can walk, leap and fly! It then flies all up and down the Eastern Seaboard with military planes in hot pursuit, the creature picking and eating its victims at random, tipping over a bus and causing a train wreck as well as getting aboard a ship at sea, stopping by for a few more choice morsals.
   
   And the strange part is that there are no bodies left behind to identify
   wherever this creature is making stops to snack!! All they hear most of the time is a low droaning sound similar to a squadron of planes flying in formation! The mantis attacks an Air Forse base and the soldiers there get their first look at how massive and horrible this monster really is!!
   
   It flies down to Washington, DC, then back up the coast to the Big Apple where it goes into the Holland Tunnel. The battle then boils down to that familiar scene that pits man against beast.
   
   ~Daquan13.



5. For my money, The Deadly Mantis is one of the better American monster movies of the 1950s. I really don't know why it is overshadowed even by the clearly inferior likes of Attack of the Giant Leeches, The Killer Shrews, and Giant Gila Monster (B&W). The Deadly Mantis follows the standard script, but it held off from showing the monster for over half an hour, allowing the military brains and scientists ample time to come up with a theory as to just what they were facing. Perhaps more importantly, the giant praying mantis looks pretty impressive - I'm not saying that people left the theatre believing that a giant mantis might pop up at any minute, but he's about one hundred times more realistic than the likes of the giant grasshoppers from Beginning of the End (Special Edition), even when he's climbing a national monument.
   
   I'm not sure how the science of this works, but a volcanic eruption in the South Pacific somehow triggers a warming "reaction" in a section of the Arctic Ocean, which in turns serves to thaw out this monstrous creature that no one ever knew existed. I'm not sure what a praying mantis was ever doing up in the Arctic Circle, which was never all that tropical in any ancient era, but I certainly wasn't surprised to see him head south soon after awakening. Not only is it colder than a witch's - well, you know - there's also pretty slim pickings in the old food department up there. Fortunately for our monster, the American military has supplied a few tasty snacks in easily-destroyed radar installations along his way. Now you would think a humongous praying mantis that makes a military transport plane look like a child's toy would be easy to find, be it on the ground or in the air, but the military has so much trouble tracking the thing that they actually call upon civilians to help them zero in on it.
   
   The acting in this one isn't bad at all. William Hopper sort of has a little Peter Graves thing going, Craig Stevens certainly looks the part of a hero, and Donald Randolph makes things a little more interesting by sounding like Vincent Price every so often. Alix Talton nails her big scream scene, but I must admit I really couldn't get into watching a bunch of soldier boys (some of whom were young enough to be her son) go gaga over her.
   
   One of the few drawbacks of the film is the fact that you only see a limited amount of destruction and fighting. Wiping out an Eskimo village just doesn't compare to Godzilla stomping Tokyo flat for the umpteenth time (and, actually, the scene with all the villagers grabbing boats and paddling for their lives is taken from the film S.O.S. Eisberg), but I have a feeling the giant mantis would not have been very impressive in any serious action scenes. I was also disappointed by the romantic element of the plot - not because it was totally irrelevant (which it was) but because it got slipped in there at the end, just when I thought I had finally found an old American monster movie free of any needless love story.

5 comments about Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie.

1. Love this movie, keeps me in stitches every time again. Typically humour of the "you had to be there" kind.
   Sadly no extra's on the DVD, only the french dub; I guess for our Quebecois-friends, as this is a region 1 release.
   All in all a good buy this new release, especially since up to now old second hand VHS-releases have been going for about $150,-.



2. As the proud owner of the MST3K boxed DVD sets, this movie was a "must see." The best part is that the worse the movie Mike Nelson, Crow and Servo are watching, the better the wisecrack remarks coming from the trio.
   
   Island Earth is a movie made for MST3K projection. The remarks by Nelson and the robots were so fast and furious, a few times we had to stop the DVD and rewind; we were laughing so hard we missed a few lines. One of the robots even recognized that one of the scientists in the movie played the "professor" on Gilligan's Island. And this happened right after we remarked, "Hey, isn't that..." It was hysterical.
   
   This is one of the best MST3K's I've seen.



3. these movies run hot and cold, but this is the Original and it is FUNNY.
   this is the one that started it all, definitely needs to be part of any geeks collection.



4. I worship at the alter of MST3K!
   
   This movie is the best movie of all time. Best anything of all time. If this movie were a medicine, it would cure both AIDS and cancer and erase all wrinkles and belly flab!
   
   I love Mike, Joel, and the Bots.
   
   "Yes, your all high toilet hog."



5. This is the greatest movie of all time. I can't get enough of it! Every time I watch it, I find something new that I missed the first couple of times. And it's hilarious to quote, too... Good movie for late-night movie nights!

5 comments about Office Space (1999).

1. I own this and the movie is extremly funny. It is tasteful and approrpriate for most ages however you really need to be an office worker (IT position helps great) to truly appreciate the movie. That being said, anyone can potentially find it funny but as a resident IT guy in a cubicle I love this movie!



2. Movie: 5 stars. Extras: 3 stars.
   
   Last week I was reminiscing with an engineer friend about seeing "Office Space" during its 1999 theatrical run. He remembers me laughing constantly throughout the movie, and that flashback to a simpler time in my IT career caused me to finally get this DVD just so I could see it again and check out the extras. Of course, "Office Space" is still awesome, but unfortunately the included "flair" is little more than the bare minimum.
   
   "Office Space" centers on Peter Gibbons, a twenty-something programmer entombed at Initech working on the Y2K software update project (the only dated aspect of the film, but it could represent any office work scenario). He's fed up with his mindless job, the lousy commute, uptight girlfriend Anne, and especially passive-aggressive boss Bill Lumbergh. Cohorts in programming Michael and Samir have similar workplace issues, and all three commiserate while trapped in their cubes or over mid-morning coffee at T.G.I. Friday's clone Chotchkie's.
   
   One night, at the insistence of said girlfriend Peter sees a hypnotherapist to try and work through his malaise. Things don't go quite as planned, and Peter emerges in a Zen-like state that enables him to step out and act without fear of failure, or really any fear at all. Our hero quickly gets dumped by Anne, but winds up snagging a promotion and dating Joanna, the Chotchkie's waitress he had pined for from afar. However, just as his Peter 2.0 life is going great he resolves to get back at Initech for its indignities, and that's when events begin to spin out of control. To say much more would spoil the fun, but trust me when I apply the "comedy classic" label.
   
   All the actors from main roles to supporting players do a great job, and the jarring gangsta rap soundtrack fits like a pocket protector (after all, don't most of us want to bust out of our bland shells and live the glamorous thug life once in awhile?). Case in point: Over time this flick spread through the corporate underbelly like a computer virus, and it's hard to find any cubicle farm where the drones aren't tossing around lines such as: "Yyyyeahhh...not a half-day...did you get that memo?...someone's got a case of the Mondays...I wouldn't say I've been MISSING work..." "Office Space" captures the white-collar world in all its soul-crushing splendor, from incompetent management and inane company rules to office politics and oddball co-workers. Indeed, we can count both "The Office" television series as its demented twin progeny.
   
   As for the extras? Wwwweeellll, there aren't many buttons in this jar. The ones included aren't bad, but I wanted more than a short retrospective hosted by creator/director Mike Judge, some deleted scenes, the theatrical trailer, and media for your PC. Sorely missed are a commentary track by Mr. Judge and stars, along with, say, an extended cut and a longer documentary. Even so, if you've ever spent time in a cubicle, or think you want to, then check out "Office Space" on DVD. The life you save may be your own.



3. This classic comedy will always entertain audiences, but the viewers who work in corporate America will recognize the truth between the laughs. Great movie.



4. Long before TV shows like "The Office" and other work comedies "Office Space" hit a cord with most office workers. This 1999 movie pointed out printers that suck, bosses that suck, and employees that suck. It makes the keen observation that employees with backbone and creativity are capable of becoming managers or embezzlers that fear picking up soap in prison. We see three key employees hatch a plan to get enough to retire on once two find out the companies downsizing includes them. The irony is the employee worried about where his office moves and stapler will end up is the one that truly gets even with the boss and company in one fell swoop. This is a reasonably funny movie that has good replayability. Good quality DVD with a few extras on the special edition with flair. If you enjoyed this catch "Employee of the Month" and "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy".
   
   CA Luster



5. 1999's "Office Space" has become something of a cult classic, with office workers everywhere able to recite their favorite lines from this spot-on comedy. Ron Livingston stars as Peter, a computer software worker locked into a dreary cubical existance, suffering a condescending and exploitative boss and a meaningless life away from the job.
   
   Desperate for a change, Peter tries hypnotherapy. When the session goes awry, Peter is left locked into a relaxed mode that allows him to cheerfully skip work, chase the girl of his dreams, and subvert the routine of his office. A consulting team brought in to downside the company becomes the trigger for a fraud scheme hatched by Peter and two of his disguntled office mates. They spring the scheme, only to suffer an attack of conscience (and a fear of jail). Their ham-handed attempts to fix things lead to a fateful decision by Peter.
   
   The comedy of "Office Space" is in the knowing details, such as Peter's wearisome commute, in which the other lane always moves faster; the office gnome, laid off five years ago but still shuttling from desk to desk because noone thought to tell him; and a perpetually malfunctioning printer. Jennifer Anniston has a nice role as Peter's spunky new girlfriend, while Gary Cole is superbly hateful as Peter's unctious boss.
   
   "Office Space" is highly recommended as a classic black comedy.

5 comments about 20 Million Miles to Earth.

1. Great example of Science fiction B movies of the 50's. If you love that kind of stuff, you will love this. If not, don't bother.



2. Well, while this is another level of brilliance by Ray Harryhausen, it is not one of my favorite movies but I grabbed it because I enjoy watching it from time to time. Basically this movie got the same treatment that IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA got (see my other review) as far as the colorization and features. This time, our feature critter crash lands in the sea off Rome and a boy finds a capsule contain a gel like substance, which turns out to be protection for.......our critter, once hatched, our critter begins to grow rapidly because of earth's air supply and soon becomes large enough to be a real pain in the butt and starts wreaking havoc all over Rome. While entertaining to watch, there are others in the Harryhausen series that are better but that's just a personal opinion. It is definitely good enough to add to your Sci-Fi Library for sure.



3. Above average sci-fi 50's film and shows how great black and white can look on Blu-ray. Highly recommended to fans of this genre.



4. The extras on disc 2 (already pointed out in other reviews) are excellent. The colorization is superb. I compared the color version to other color sci-fi or horror movies made at around the same time and this colorized version holds up great. I, for one, feel so fortunate that Harryhausen is still alive to supervise this colorization and to offer his commentary to this DVD set. This is a must-have for a Harryhausen fan.



5. 20 Million Miles To Earth is visual effects wizard Ray Harryhausen's 1957 black and white interplanetary King Kong remake, as well as a tribute to his stop motion photography mentor Willis O'Brien. No, it's not a direct analogy, but there are so many scene for scene knockoffs from Kong that one must believe that only Harryhausen could have gotten away with so much theft (read that as `homage') from his mentor without facing a lawsuit. Yes, technically, the film was directed by noted B film maven Nathan Juran (The Seventh Voyage Of Sinbad), but it's a very standard film, wholly carried into the memory by Harryhausen's skills.
   That stated, it's also a very enjoyable film....The film also features a classic 1950s era opening narrative about `SCIENCE!': `Great scientific advances are often times sudden accomplished facts before most of us are dimly aware of them. Breathtakingly unexpected, for example, was the searing flash that announced the atomic age. Equally unexpected was the next gigantic stride, when man moved out of his very orbit to a point more than 20 Million Miles To Earth!' Cue the start of the film! And the end is just as priceless. Didacticism is always good for a guffaw in sci fi films.
   But, 20 Million Miles To Earth offers more than a few condescending chuckles; it offers a glimpse into a not too long ago time when wonder was still enough to propel a film. Nowadays, too many people ruin films by asking questions that the films acknowledge as givens, and need far too many special effects, as they are too lazy to imbue, and actively participate in art. Ray Harryhausen and Nathan Juran's film does more with less than many films that came later, and even if that sentiment is trite, it's also true. And 20 Million Miles To Earth is a highly enjoyable film, no matter how cookie cutter it is. After all, what determines the success of a cookie is not its shape, but its taste, and that comes from its ingredients, not its mold. What Harryhausen had in his best films was a good recipe, and alot of talent, to fit into some very old and familiar molds. Thus why they are still savored to this day, no matter how many times the hand has held such before.

4 comments about Marvin the Martian - Space Tunes.

1. This is a great collection of all the Looney Toons with a space theme, not just Marvin. All are uncut originals. A must-have for any enthusiast.



2. I recently purchased Marvin The Martian Space Tunes 2000 Edition. This collection is an combination of two smaller videos released by Warner Brothers, Space Tunes (1998), and 50 Years on Earth, celebrating Marvin the Martian's 50th Birthday. If you have these two videos, this bigger collection is not for you. As for me, I loved it. It contains 12 cartoons, 11 by Chuck Jones and 1 by Friz Freleng. Chuck Jones created an love with Science Fiction in his cartoons. Throughout the golden era of Warner Brothers, Chuck Jones put numerous cartoons into the unthinkable. From an creature to first step on the Moon (Haredevil Hare), to twisting love of cop shows into space (Rocket Squad). 10 of the 12 cartoons reflect Chuck Jones surrealistic mind into the Milky Way. The other cartoons also show some honesty, Lumber Jack Rabbit, (Warner Brothers only ever 3-D Cartoon to be released, by Chuck Jones), and Hyde and Go Tweet by Friz Freleng (among his favorite supernatural feelings of Jekyl and Hyde). It features zany cartoons like Duck Dodgers In The 24th 1/2 Century, to Mad As A Mars Hare, the final cartoon with Marvin The Martian in the Golden Era of Animation (1930's to 1960's). It is an must have collection for the kiddies, and ignitions you into the Toon Stratosphere of Comedy. Isn't That Lovely.



3. This video is FANTASTIC! Not only does it star my favorite Looney Tune, Marvin, it also has some other funny cartoons on it.
   Oh yeah, for all you fellow Marvin (and Daffy Duck) lovers out there, here's some news. In 2003, Cartoon Network is bringing out a "Duck Dodgers" series on tv. Starring Marvin Martian Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and introducing a new Looney Tunes character, the Queen of Mars!



4. This was part 1 of a 2 part collection originally released in 1998. The second part was titled "Marvin the Martian: 50 Years on Earth". A year or so later, both tapes were combined and released together, simply titled "Space Tunes". If you want all 12 cartoons, either purchase the newer "Space Tunes"(if you can find it) or purchase both this earlier version (1998) and "50 Years on Earth".
   For this particular tape, 3 of the 6 cartoons feature Marvin the Martian, "Hasty Hare" (1952), "Duck Dodgers in the 24 1/2 Century" (1953), and "Hare-way to the Stars" (1958). Marvin was always my favorite Warner Bros character, with his ego far exceeding his diminutive size, his Roman gladiator armor, his cultured manner of speaking, and all the ultra-cool spaceage toys he had to accomplish his missions.
   The other three cartoons also have a science-fiction theme, "Jumpin Jupiter" (1955) in which Porky and Sylvester are abducted by giant green birdlike aliens from Jupiter (similar to the "Instant Martians" featured in "Hare-way to the Stars"). "Rocket-Bye Baby" is about a Martian baby accidentally delivered to a family on Earth, and the strange results. "Rocket Squad" is a take-off of the "Dragnet" television show, featuring Porky and Daffy as future cops.
   These cartoons are very funny, vastly superior to most cartoons being made now. I think this is so because, like "The Simpsons" they were originally written to appeal to adults as well as children, so have held up well as audiences have matured. Most other modern cartoons are written primarily for children, so their audiences outgrow them in time.
   There are many clever gags, and the futuristic devices and set design sometimes borders on amazing, even prophetic. There are desktop computers with monitors and keyboards, which look like prototypes for the iMac. There are powered stand-up scooters which could be early model Segways. Two cartoons feature "Evaporators" which function exactly like the transporters on Star Trek, except that these cartoons had them a decade or more before.
   The musical accompaniment for these pictures is absolutely first rate, and lends a lot to the atmosphere of technology and the future.
   My only complaint is that this collection does not seem to be available on DVD. This seems somewhat ironic, in that a set of cartoons about space, technology, and the future are only offered on a playback medium which is, in 2007, essentially obsolete. I understand why, in 1998, these were offered on VHS, but not why they haven't been re-released on DVD. I had to borrow a VHS machine to play this tape.
   So, allow me to submit a request that these be made available on DVD. Wouldn't that be lovely, hmmm?