The Human Monster

Starring:Bela Lugosi, Hugh Williams, Greta Gynt, Edmon Ryan, Wilfred Walter, Alexander Field, Julie Suedo, O.B. Clarence, Gerald Pring, Charles Penrose, Bryan Herbert, Arthur E. Owen, May Hallatt
Director: Walter Summers
Studio: St Clair Vision
Product Type: DVD

Frankenstein Conquers the World / Frankenstein Vs. Baragon

Average customer rating:

NICE TO SEE THIS ON DVD! KEEP THEM COMING!
Media Blasters does it again
You're kidding me right...?
frankenstein movie
Going to be Tokyo Shock's best release.

Frankenstein Conquers the World / Frankenstein Vs. Baragon
Starring: Tadao Takashima , Nick Adams , Kumi Mizuno , Yoshio Tsuchiya , and Koji Furuhata
Director: Ishirô Honda
Manufacturer: Tokyo Shock
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000JU8H7E
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Description

During WWII, a human heart taken from a certain lab in Europe (Dr. Frankenstein's) is kept in a Japanese lab. When it gets exposed to the radiation of the bombing of Hiroshima, the heart grows in size, mutates and sprouts appendages, and eventually grows into a complete body and escapes. Later, a feral boy with a certain physical deformity (a large head with a flat top) is captured by scientists who refer to the boy as Frankenstein. The creature grows to the height of 20 feet, escapes again, fights police and army, and is practically indestructible. Later, a reptilian monster goes on a rampage. Eventually the Frankenstein creature and the reptile face off in a terrible battle.

Customer Reviews:

NICE TO SEE THIS ON DVD! KEEP THEM COMING!.......2007-06-28

I must admit that I liked these ToHo films as a kid,but they are mostly for laughs now.I guess a little for nostalgia too. These Japanese Monster movies are just hysterical! I had not seen this one for many years and I was doubled over with laughter watching it! It is great that they released this film and I would have given it 5 stars,but I remember some different scenes as a kid that ended up in the deleted scenes section of this release. Still all and all a great buy with 3 versions of the film and lots of extra goodies. I would love to see "War Of The Gargantuas", "The Green Slime" and " Yog Monster from Space" released!

Media Blasters does it again.......2007-06-28

Another terrific release from this company. I'm so glad that original Japanese features are finally getting what they deserve. Subtitles too.
Great menus and extras as well.

You're kidding me right...?.......2007-06-22

Yeah I saw this movie when I was about five or seven years old. I'm sure I liked it at the time, but I do not now. "Frankenstein" looks like a John Ratzenber look alike in bad make-up, The monster design for Baragon was better (why did it have to be wasted in this movie). I have never seen the alternate ending with the giant octopus, but it sounds stupid (even for a Toho Monster Movie). In the end, Tokyo Shock may as well be called Tokyo S&^&%.

frankenstein movie.......2007-06-16

i just want to mention that this movie is one of the best that toho productions has ever made as far as science fiction and i would reccomend it to anyone

Going to be Tokyo Shock's best release........2007-06-06

I've been waiting for this movie to come out for quite some time. This movie and War of the Gargantuas. You gotta love the beautiful Ms. Kumi Mizuno. Beside her, the movie is good, one of Toho's best. Add that with the features this DVD is packing. Both Japanese and American releases along with deleted scenes and commentary. A must have for all Toho and movie monster fans. This year has been a blessing for Toho fans with the rereleases of their movies on DVD in widescreen modes and with special features. Grab your friends and a six pack of beer and watch all these rereleased DVDs.

Average customer rating:

a spy movie with four monsters
GOOD GODZILLA CLASSIC
Godzilla meets James Bond
Classic Media does it again
Enjoyable DVD of one of the more rare of the Classic Godzilla films. Though it's not without flaws

Ghidorah: The Three-Headed Monster
Starring: Akihiko Hirata , Yuriko Hoshi , Emi Ito , Hisaya Ito , and Yumi Ito
Director: Ishiro Honda
Manufacturer: Classic Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Invasion of Astro-Monster (aka Monster Zero)
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Gojira / Godzilla Deluxe Collector's Edition (Gojira/Godzilla [1954] / Godzilla, King of the Monsters [1956])

ASIN: B000OCY7IU
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Description

(Sci-Fi) Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster -- A prophetess from Venus foretells cataclysmic disasters! Godzilla, Mothra and Rodan reappear in Japan, wreaking havoc! A giant meteor crashes into the mountains and the three-headed, fire-spitting space dragon King Ghidorah emerges! As the Venusian's prophecies come true, assassins from a tiny Asian kingdom hunt her down, while the Earth monsters must decide whether to settle their petty differences and join forces against the extraterrestrial enemy!

Customer Reviews:

a spy movie with four monsters.......2007-07-06

This movie is really two movies cunningly intertwined. One is a slightly above average monster movie, and the other is the story of a police officer trying to protect an asian princess from a band of assasins. The key connecting the two stories is that the princess is being posessed by the spirits of ancestors from Venus or Mars. (The Japanese version says Venus. The dubbed English version says Mars.) These ancestors have the ability to foretell the future, thus she is capable of foretelling the return of Godzilla and the re-awakening of Rodan, as well as the arrival of a new monster called King Ghidorah. (Nobody says what kingdom he rules.) Ghidorah was responsible for the distruction of all life on Venus/mars over 3,000 years ago. The survivors landed in the Himalyas, intermarried with humans, and lost their powers until restored by the approach of Ghidorah.
Meanwhile the assasins have located the princess and make attempts to kill her. These attempts continue throughout the movie until the assasins are killed by a landslide during the battle of the monsters.
Meanwhile, Godzilla has come ashore on Japan and found Rodan already in occupation. It's hate at first sight between these two and they commence a fight. As the fight goes on, a huge meteorite breaks open and Ghidorah appears out of a ball of fire.
At this point, everyone turns to the twin fairies from Mothra's island to call for Mothra to come to their aid. The old Mothra has died, but her caterpiller comes to do what he can. First he tries to persuade Rodan and Godzilla to join him in the fight against Ghidorah, but they refuse. Mothra then sets out to fight Ghidorah alone. Since Mothra is still quite young, Ghidorah is beating him when Godzilla and Rodan have a change of heart and join in to drive off Ghidorah, who flies off to seek easier prey.
due to a blow to her head in the final battle against the assasins, the princess returns to her homeland.
This film marks the turning point in the Godzilla series. In the end, Godzilla is no longer a destructive monster and has become a defender of the Earth if not of humanity. Also, the movies become directed more to the juvenile audience.
On the whole, this is not, in my opinion, the best of the Godzilla series, but I would place it in second place behind the first one. Because of the complex plot and excellent special effects, it is well worth having in my collection.

GOOD GODZILLA CLASSIC.......2007-07-05

Another winner from CLASSIC MEDIA! If you are a GODZILLA fan, add this to your DVD collection. Good, quality DVD.

Godzilla meets James Bond.......2007-07-02

Great Godzilla movie and loads fun, and not only because of the monster battles. It starts out (After the credits) on top of a building with a bunch of people looking for flying saucers. (These people NEED to get a life). One of the stars in the movie, a reporter, is blamed for the saucerpeople not coming, and a proffessor says "I can't help but think that terrible things are about to happen." DUH. After that intillectual thought, a woman screams that she saw a UFO, but turns out only to be a meteorite. And then the scene switches to the star of the movie, a policeman talking to a reporter about Enciphilitis breaking out because of the heat wave that that's going on in January. The reporter looks out into the sky and sees the meteorite that will give Earth a few problems. Stay tuned for more details. The reporter leaves and the dude's boss comes in and tells the guy to guard a european princess, Salina Salno, who is being sent to Japan because of an assination plot to kill her. Then the scenes switches to the Princess being hypnotised by an alien in a flying saucer to get off the plane, and the plane blows, up and a proffessor goes to find the meteorite, that fell, and will later find out that it holds Ghidrah. Later, the policeman finds the princess ands she's a martian from Venus. While this is happening, the assasinators are sent to kill the princess, this goes on for a while so I won't go to deep into it, and while THIS is happening, Rodan and Godzilla appear and start wrecking the place. And Ghidrah hatches from the meteorite and starts doing the same as Godzilla. The fairies from Godzilla x Mothra come in and call Mothra, (one of the babies died) and she finds Godzilla and Rodan fighting each other, shoots them with her silk and tries to convince them to fight against Ghidrah. They don't want to, so Mothra goes and fights Ghidrah herself, and Godzilla appears as well as Rodan and the three start attacking Ghidrah together. Meanwhile The princess's memory has restored itself and the assasinators have been killed. Meanwhile, Ghidrah is being wrapped up in silk and Godzilla tosses him of the hill, and Ghidrah flies away, humiliated. It's a great movie and great collection to any monster series.

Classic Media does it again.......2007-06-08

Excellent packaging, well thought out menu, good commentary and extras.The price point is the major selling point for me. Not my favorite Gojira flick, but the fact that its in my collection makes me happy.

Enjoyable DVD of one of the more rare of the Classic Godzilla films. Though it's not without flaws.......2007-06-06

While just having this Godzilla film finally on region 1 DVD, is cause for celebration, there is much more to this release than just the movie itself. With the addition of a great bundle of extra features adding to the fun, and a nicely designed package this becomes a very worthy purchase. But while the film quality is mostly above average or acceptable, it is unfortunately (though not unexpected) a bit below average at times. Just don't expect crystal clarity all the way through the entire film.

Good points:

1) The movie itself is one of the best of the Godzilla films. This is from the originators of the franchise and this being the fifth in the series, Toho studios and this production crew are at the height of their game here. Ghidorah's introduction as mentioned in other reviews, is very memorable. The human characterizations are fully realized and completely believable. Very interesting and compelling interaction between all the main characters. This is actually one of the better plotlines in a Godzilla film and if you subtract the Godzilla part of the movie, it's still a fairly compelling plot. Princess escapes death by unseen alien assistance, she becomes a spokesperson for the aliens and pleads with the earthlings to be forewarned of the emminent disasters that await. Foreign assasins attempt to find her and kill her. Police are involved in her protection as well in finding out why she now has the personality of an alien. The structure of the story is very well formed and does not have the hokey kind of plots that are reminescent of the low budget 1960's era sci-fi genre.

2) The package has a very unique look and design to it. The Obi band is a nice touch. And it appears much like the "Mothra vs Godzilla" package or the "Godzilla Raids Again" package. Very distinct, utilizing poster art from the era in which it was originally released, encapsulated in what appears like a film canister "look" to it, as a fold open style book. The center spine creaks a bit too much when it opens though. But perhaps it's appropriate as it further reflects the age of the original film.

3) The extras are well done. Poster gallery, commentary by godzilla "expert" and trailers and a fine documentary on Eiji Tsuburaya. The poster gallery includes brief explanations regarding each poster, which is a helpful addition.

4) Sound quality is very good. The introductory score grabs your attention and sustains throughout the movie. Dialogue mix has been improved over previous releases and there is a very noticable difference between the 50's era toho pictures and this time period of mid to late sixties. All the groundbreaking sound effects are here in bright and full mono, with both the Japanese and U.S. dialogue tracks fully represented. Some will be disappointed by a lack of sound options, but the sound is as it was originally released in 1964 with a mono soundtrack.

5) The anamorphic widescreen picture and image for the Japanese edited version while not pristine, and considering it's 40+ year old age, is not bad. Spots and scratches appear from time to time, though not glaringly so. It's hard to believe that this movie could look perfect after all these years, and it certainly does not. But here in all it's full color glory is about as good as it can look, which isn't bad at all and actually quite clear for most of the movie. Contrast is sharp, color is balanced well, images are crisp. And while there is some expected minor fading and it is at times too dark or too light, it does not detract from the overall presentation and most viewers will be satisfied with the film quality. Of course it will not compare favorably to a film released recently, but with the age that this film is and the fact it is of the low budget variety, it is comparable to other DVD releases from movies of this time period.

Bad points:

1) The American edit otherwise known as "Ghidrah, the Three Headed Monster" suffers from a worse looking image quality than the Japanese edit version. Right from the opening titles, the picture is blurry, colors are washed out, scratches and spots exist throughout. Contrast is poor and unbalanced, and though the majority of it looks about average or above, at times it looks like a VHS quality image. Most of the other Godzilla releases are superior in image quality compared to this U.S. edited version. The American Ghidrah definitely shows it's age. In addition several edits and changes from the original Japanese edit, detract needlessly. For example, editing out nearly the entire Mothra song that the peanut twins sing in calling for Mothra's assistance. There was no valid reason for cutting the song out. The images remain but different music has been inserted at that point. Sometimes the U.S. edit works better with dramatic music at certain points. In this particular instance it was ill advised.

2) The commentary, while much appreciated for all the vast amounts of information and anecdotal memories, becomes extremely tedious after a while. David Kalat proves from the outset that his knowledge of the subject matter is robust and authoritative as he covers a lot of ground in small bursts. But with one person talking almost non stop, it becomes tiresome to listen to. Perhaps another commentator teamed with him might have broken the monotony a bit, and could have offered another viewpoint to certain details. Also, while Kalat touches upon the differences in the U.S. and Japanese releases in a very detailed manner, it would have helped to have screen shots accompany his descriptions. Sometimes his knowledge goes beyond that of most viewers and he seems to assume everyone is able to follow right along. On the other hand, the personal stories of his own children's interest in Godzilla and it being the main reason he himself has altered his attitude towards dubbing, was a very interesting and illuminating observation. He definitely hit the nail on the head with those comments, which could apply to practically every person watching, be they longtime fans or casual viewers. Also, his information regarding the toho studios production schedules and how they were producing quite a few films in short periods of time, with some productions overlapping others, whilst using the same production teams, was quite interesting. It illustrates for me, the achievements made in special effects, miniatures, and production values that many of these toho movies are unfairly denigrated for.

So all in all a very good release, and while not perfect is still a very fine, complete movie package. Classic Media have proven with previous releases that they are capable of producing great products, and they continue that trend here with this release of one of the older, more rare Godzilla films and one that has not truly had a legitimate U.S. release...until now. I rate it 4 stars and a recommended purchase, with great extra features and a generously informative, though sometimes monotonous commentary track.

Average customer rating:

very good
Like the movie...not the singing
The second best musical of all times
Funny with a great Soundtrack!
Humorously Devious

Little Shop of Horrors
Starring: Rick Moranis , Ellen Greene , Vincent Gardenia , Steve Martin , and Tichina Arnold
Director: Frank Oz
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00004RF8J
Release Date: 2000-05-23

Amazon.com essential video

The off-Broadway comedy-horror-musical hit that ran for years makes a successful transfer to film with a bevy of big-name cameos and two perfectly cast leads. Rick Moranis is the nebbish Seymour, who pines for flower-girl Audrey (Ellen Greene) while living in the basement of florist Mr. Mushnik (Vincent Gardenia). Things start turning around for Seymour, though, after he buys a little plant during a solar eclipse, christens it Audrey II, and discovers that it likes to drink blood. Soon enough, though, Seymour finds out that Audrey II, now grown to epic proportions, is in actuality a "mean green mother from outer space" that is hell-bent on world domination. Based on the 1960 Roger Corman cheapie that featured a young Jack Nicholson, Little Shop boasts a hilarious, amazing score by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, who would go on to revitalize Disney's animation arm with The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. Greene, the lone holdover from the original cast, is a ravishing, goofy Audrey, whose awkward demeanor belies a voice that could knock Ethel Merman off her feet. She's ably matched by Moranis, whose lack of a singing voice is perfectly in sync with Seymour's nerdiness. And Levi Stubbs Jr. of the Four Tops provides the lowdown, nasty-minded voice of Audrey II; his rendition of the Oscar-nominated "Mean Green Mother from Outer Space" is a showstopper. As for those celebrity cameos, Steve Martin's sadistic dentist is a masterful creation, as is Bill Murray's masochistic patient; John Candy, James Belushi, and Christopher Guest also pop up. And there was never a lovelier and funkier Greek chorus than the three Motown-fueled girls (Tichina Arnold, Michelle Weeks, and Tisha Campbell) who appear throughout the film. --Mark Englehart

Customer Reviews:

very good.......2007-06-28

i love this movie it is fun and funny it has comedy and action and murder a evil plant what more could you ask for

Like the movie...not the singing.......2007-05-18

This is a pretty good movie, except for all the singing....I know it's that type of movie, but I don't care for it. But I love the plot!

The second best musical of all times.......2007-05-15

I first saw this when I was about 12. I hated it at first because I wasn't mature enough to watch it with out having nightmares. Luckely after occasionaly watching it over a period of about two years I final was able to to watch the whole movie from beginiing to end without stopping except for bathroom breaks. If you saw the original black and white version of this made in the sixties and the off brodway play which ran four about four years in New York. I also thought I would inform you that the whole alternate first ending is not include on this dvd. The al;ternate nding was only avilable for about the first three days the dvd was avilable for sale on line and in stores when it first came out. Unfortunately Mr. Griffen had not given approval to have the alternate ending included on the dvd so only fragments of it remain on the second release of it. When young rick morransis discovers a mystery planet trouble some comes up. Can rick tame this blood thirst monster will he is forced to murder to feed it;s growing hunger. I also thought I'd inform you that two of the members of this cast are currently decased. John Candy died from a heart prtoblem I belive it was shorly after his role as Barf in spaceballs the famous spoof of the starwars triology that came out after this. In addition shortly before the dvd release vincent Garden also passed away. Can seymor control this monster of nature and what fate lies in store for the human race. Find out in thrilling action packed hillarious finally. This movie should be fine for kids 13 and up due to mild gory images mild rude humor mild violence in a couple of parts, intensity and occasional inapropriate language at the begining, middle and the end of the movie.

Funny with a great Soundtrack!.......2007-04-06

I'm not crazy about musicals, but if the music's right and the story's tight, then I can be sold. I fell in love with this movie when I first saw it and I still love it today. I also admire the original by Roger Corman. Who can resist a giant wise cracking plant that eats people and sings! Gotta love it.

Humorously Devious.......2007-03-23

I have nothing but respect for the puppeteers who controlled dear Audrey II. That plant ran the show, no doubt about it.

As musicals go this is one of the greatest, only second to Rocky Horror.

Rick Moranis is brilliant, and Ellen Greene has such an amazingly deep voice for such a tiny woman.

The three women singing throughout the movie gave me chills with every note. The vocal in this film are surprising and beautiful.

The story itself is brilliantly funny and horrific, it will have you laughing and cowering at the same time.

A true classic and worth watching...again, and again and again.

Average customer rating:

Aliens
Marketing ploy to enjoy
This Time There's More...
A classic science fiction movie with Sigourney Weaver at her best
A brilliant sequel

Aliens (Special Edition)
Starring: Sigourney Weaver , Carrie Henn , Michael Biehn , Lance Henriksen , and Paul Reiser
Director: James Cameron
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00000ILDE
Release Date: 1999-06-01

Amazon.com essential video

Aliens is one of the few cases of a sequel that far surpassed the original. Sigourney Weaver returns as Ripley, who awakens on Earth only to discover that she has been hibernating in space so long that everyone she knows is dead. Then she is talked into traveling (along with a squad of Marines) to a planet under assault by the same aliens that nearly killed her. Once she gets there, she finds a lost little girl who triggers her maternal instincts--and she discovers that the company has once again double-crossed her, in hopes of capturing one of the aliens to study as a military weapon. Directed and written by James Cameron, this is one of the most intensely exciting (not to mention intensely frightening) action films ever, with a large ensemble cast that includes Bill Paxton, Lance Henriksen, Paul Reiser, and Michael Biehn. Weaver defined the action woman in this film and walked away with an Oscar nomination for her trouble. --Marshall Fine

Description

In this action-packed sequel to Alien, Sigourney Weaver returns as Ripley, the only survivor from mankind's first encounter with the monstrous Alien. Her account of the Alien and the fate of her crew are received with skepticism - until the mysterious disappearance of colonists on LV-426 leads her to join a team of high-tech colonial marines sent in to investigate.

Personally supervised by director James Cameron, this special edition includes scenes eliminated prior to the film's 1986 release which broaden the narrative scope and enrich the emotional impact of the film.

Customer Reviews:

Aliens.......2007-07-06

James Cameron's big-budget, special-effects-driven sequel to Ridley Scott's "Alien" might lack the carefully orchestrated tension of its predecessor, but its unrelenting pace and Weaver's smart, tough performance carry the film into its own nightmare orbit. Essentially an action film pitting a squad of scared, trigger-happy grunts against a teeming nest of truly frightening monsters, "Aliens" benefits from its superb small cast--including Lance Henriksen and comic Paul Reiser playing against type as a devious corporate slime-ball--as well as director Cameron's breathless pacing and air-tight direction. Just wait til Mother arrives!

Marketing ploy to enjoy.......2007-06-16

If you're not the type to run out and replace your VCR collection as soon as the new format arrives, you probably appreciate a slightly clever ploy to spring for a new version of a classic. An additional 17 minutes of film may seem little justification for this expensive proposition. But seeing the slimey xenomorphs on DVD is reward enough for a fan. The discs include the theatrical release and the director's cut along with other extras, which include an interview with director James Cameron. Cameron dwells excessively on his strained patience dealing with a British film crew. His comments may reveal insight into Cameron's choice to forgo taking the director's seat for the third film (which received some critical acclaim but disappointed fans).

I originally screened Aliens in the theater in July 1986. I remember watching the credits roll with the powerful soundtrack that kept the heart pounding as the last of the text disappeared. Even with the lights coming up, the sound of a slithering alien sent chills down my spine. Sadly, this part of the track is missing from this set.

Successive viewings have not spoiled enjoyment of this finely crafted script and its special effects. Rubber suits, scale models and puppetry have never been used to such great effect. The scenes involving the "drop ship" are stunning. The breathless sequence that takes the drop ship from the mother ship to the planet's surface is but one of many that make this nightmare so real.

Few pauses and a lot of action pace this relentless story. Cameron's decision to write Marines into the confrontation was nothing shy of genius. The Marines think they're heading to a "bug hunt." Bill Paxton's Hudson, who provides comedic relief, describes the array of weaponry they bring. But for all the techno gadetry and fire power, the Marines find themselves stranded amid an army of aliens intent on making them hosts for more bugs. Sigourney Weaver's Ripley, whom we didn't know was a parent from the original release, provides a first-rate performance in the escape ahead of the massing aliens.

Cameron's tip of the hat to Hitchcock is one the best moments in cinematic history. The confrontation in the bowels of the disintegrating atmosphere generating plant is as disturbing as anything science fiction has to offer. Not since Hitchcock's "The Birds" has there been anything like it. And, there's more. The final battle with the queen alien is a masterpiece of action filming. Not until the survivors are snuggly tucked into their cryotubes, do we finally get to gasp a sigh of relief.

This Time There's More..........2007-05-31

After achieving huge critical and box office success with 1979's "Alien", it is surprising that 20th Century Fox didn't rush a sequel into production, although at the time sequels were not so quick to arrive after their predecessors, but still the property was hot and the decision would have made them a lot of money. On the flip side, if a sequel had been rushed, the story may have suffered which would have lent to reduced box office and possibly the death of the franchise, so it's probably a good thing that Fox exercised patience with this franchise and waited 7 years before releasing the James Cameron directed sequel, "Aliens" to excited audiences worldwide.

"Aliens" begins with Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), the only surviving member of the Nostromo crew, being discovered by a salvage ship a half century after the events in "Alien". Upon arriving on Earth, she discovers that a human colony has been set up on the very planet her former crew had found the creatures on. Not surprisingly, contact with that colony has been lost, and a squad of Marines are being prepared to be sent to the planet to determine what happened, if there are any survivors, and exterminate whatever creatures are left. However, the best bet the Marines have for success is if Ripley returns with them to the planet, so after just recovering from her fight with the first alien, and her excessively long sleep, Ripley finds herself face-to-face once more with the creatures of her nightmares.

James Cameron (director of "The Terminator") was given no small task when he wrote and directed this sequel to the incredible 1979 film "Alien". A major decison that Cameron made in creating this movie was changing the tone and type of movie this is from that of its predecessor. Instead of being a methodical game of cat-and-mouse, relying heavily on atmosphere and the audience's imagination to craft the horror like the first movie, "Aliens" was a much more action-packed thrill ride with a little bit of horror thrown into the mix. The decision could have been costly by isolating fans of the work Ridley Scott had done on the first film; however, the decision worked out for the best, delivering audiences what is quite possibly a superior movie to "Alien". The story was much faster paced, yet still not skimpy on the details or the fear factor, with more action involving the aliens. Though shadows were not used as heavily in this film as they were in the original, the suspense surrounding when and where the aliens would strike next was equally thrilling to that of Ridley Scott's creation. The special effects work in this one was better than the original (as it should be considering advancements made during the 7 year gap between films), but the best part about the effects for this movie was the practical effects work that was done to create the massive alien creature known as the Queen. The effects for that alien is some of the best practical effects seen in almost any movie, and the final fight between the Queen and Ripley is incredibly fun to watch.

The cast, led by Sigourney Weaver (the only returning cast member from the original), was full of talented actors such as Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser, and Lance Henriksen who each brought a depth and reality to each of their characters that is often lacking in action/horror films. The success of "Aliens", coupled with that of the first film brought even more acclaim for actress Sigourney Weaver, who solidified her place in the pantheon of great action heroes (or heroines), and even garnered her an Oscar nomination for her work in this film.

"Aliens" is rated R for violence and language.

A classic science fiction movie with Sigourney Weaver at her best.......2007-05-17

It is very rare that we have the chance to see a science fiction movie where part two of the movie was better than part one. This is that kind of movie. If you are a fan of science fiction movies then you must add this one to your collection. Although this one was better than the first (Alien 1979), you'll still want to add the first one to your collection as another science fiction classic.

A brilliant sequel.......2007-04-19

James Cameron directed one of the most exciting and fascinating SF action adventure films ever made in Aliens. Not only does the story flow seamlessly from the first film of the series, Alien, but the characters, special effects and directorial pacing cause the film to pound like a sledge hammer from start to finish. The action is nearly non-stop once it begins and the character of Ripley as all protagonists should be, is driven further and further up that tree of absolute peril until you are just sure she'll be torn limb from limb. The grisly antagonists drive the action with such relentless power that the screen seems to come alive with their swarming malice. No surprise there though, since these monsters were dreamt up by Dan O'Bannon and Ron Shusett and brought to organic, ghastly life by the artist and sculptor H.R. Giger. If you haven't seen it, see it. If you've seen it already, see it again and tune into the finer cinematic touches that make the danger so palpable, especially the sound.

Invasion of Astro-Monster (aka Monster Zero)

Average customer rating:

A CLASSIC GODZILLA FAVORITE
Classic Godzilla well handled
ONE MOUTH, TWO VOICES & THREE HEADS
Aliens from planet X, Ghidorah, Godzilla does the jig, what more could anyone need?
By Any Other Name...

Invasion of Astro-Monster (aka Monster Zero)
Starring: Nick Adams , Akira Kubo , Kumi Mizuno , Haruo Nakajima , and Takamaru Sasaki
Director: Ishiro Honda
Manufacturer: Classic Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Ghidorah: The Three-Headed Monster
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Gojira / Godzilla Deluxe Collector's Edition (Gojira/Godzilla [1954] / Godzilla, King of the Monsters [1956])

ASIN: B000OCY7IK
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Description

(Sci-Fi) Invasion of Astro-Monster/Godzilla vs. Monster Zero -- Aliens from Planet X borrow our monsters for a little extermination project, but they've got something else up their sleeves: world domination! Using mind-control technology, these vinyl-and-sunglasses wearing spacemen turn Godzilla, Rodan and King Ghidorah loose in Japan, demanding Earth's surrender! It's up to American astronaut F. Glenn, his galaxy-trotting buddy Fuji, and nerdy inventor Tetsuo to break the aliens' hold on the monsters and save our planet from certain doom.

Customer Reviews:

A CLASSIC GODZILLA FAVORITE.......2007-07-05

I love that these old monster flicks are being produced on good, quality DVDs. CLASSIC MEDIA has done a wonderful job!

Classic Godzilla well handled.......2007-07-05

This is a sillier Godzilla then in the previous movies of this series. However, it is still entertaining. Classic Media does a wonderful job with the commentary on the American version and by having the Japanese version as well.

ONE MOUTH, TWO VOICES & THREE HEADS.......2007-06-09

Classic Media has to be applauded for the effort not only given to presenting the best versions of INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER possible (and they truly are some of best I've seen in a long, long while), but also the work that went into the case design. The box is striking, the artwork clever, clear, nostaligc and retro-future at all the same time. It's an attractive and eye catching design that demands (and gets) a second look. My copy has been picked up, picked over, and pick-pocketed a few times off my shelf already and throughly enjoyed.

But, having said that, I must admit that INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER is one of my least favorite GODZILLA films, yet one of my all time favorite TOHO movies. Truth be told, Godzilla here is at best a supporting player in a much larger and more complex story that could have done away with Godzilla and company and still have been just as compelling. Much like THE FIFTH ELEMENT fashion and design triumph over story and plot. This is one good looking movie. From the sets (wide open, with some of the most creative future computer and advanced table top technology), to the costumes (the aliens not only sport the expected antenna atop the head, but tight pants, trim sunglasses, and high useless collars), to the spaceships (which look exactly like spaceships should look), it's all here, and it's all a lot of fun.

It is something of a minor disappointment that Godzilla has been pushed to the margins here and used simply for effect than being the engine that drives the story. Godzilla, Rodan and King Ghidorah do loom large on the stunning minature sets on both PLANET X and Earth, and their battles are worth the long delay between the first and the last, but it does leave you wanting more. But, this does not stop INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER being a true gem.

The prints are the best possible and the extras are well done... although the commentary by Stuart Galbraith IV, while informative, fact filled and trivia stuffed is delivered in such a slow and measured way, that it sounds and feels like he's in fear of tripping over his own words if he talks too fast. Be prepared to feel like a five year old at some points when he wants to to Understand. Clearly. What. He. Is. Saying. To. You. So. You. Had. Better. Listen. While strange, it is a trip, and you will learn a thing or two.

Classic Media has done a great service to not only the fans of Godzilla, but to all those fans still to come. These DVD releases, like King Ghidorah, manages to wear three crowns and wear them well... they are entertaining, history and art all rolled into one.

Aliens from planet X, Ghidorah, Godzilla does the jig, what more could anyone need?.......2007-06-07

I am very pleased that Classic Media have released this long desired Godzilla movie on region 1 dvd. Having seen only the Simitar Dvd release, which actually was a fairly clean print, but left a lot to be desired, not the least of which was the original Japanese language track.

Well finally it is now here for all to enjoy.

There is a lot to like here. The packaging, extra features, sound quality and of course the movie itself are all pluses for this release.

Also, the picture quality is outstanding. leaps and bounds above the older Simitar release. A very clean print, with very very few scratches or blurs. Sharp image with an appropriate amount of contrast. Color is excellent.At times it can be a bit too bright or dark, but not so much so that it detracts from the overall presentation. Considering the original elements are nearly 40 years old, it will satisfy and perhaps exceed most viewers of this genre type movie's expectations.

I wholeheartedly recommend this release and am quite sure most fans of cheesy old sci-fi will truly get a kick out of the alien storyline and low budget space effects.

As for the movie itself, Nick Adams is especially good as Glenn, and the story and production while quite "hokey" and "cheesy" is still very enjoyable. The commentary and documentary of Tomoyuki Tanaka are both worthy bonuses. The Tanaka doc is particularly interesting, especially if you are a fairly long time fan of Godzilla films. His journey from ww2 propaganda films until reaching a creative peak with Toho studios is enlightening and quite inspiring.

So, lose yourself in the cold war era threat of the aliens from Planet X, the reapperance of Ghidorah, the hamminess of Nick Adams and company, and of course that unforgettable iconic Godzilla as he dances to his heart's content. The origin of that dance by the way, is mentioned during the on film commentary.

Enjoy "Invasion of Astro Monster", now available in the U.S. for the first time in it's originally intended Japanese language incarnation.

By Any Other Name..........2007-04-08

INVASION OF ASTRO MONSTER, is by any other name MONSTER ZERO, or GODZILLA VS MONSTER ZERO. INVASION OF ASTRO MONSTER is the "International title" that Toho gave to KAIJU DAISENSO, released in 1965. It was then acquired for release via AIP and Henry G. Saperstein(the producer)in 1966, and he parted ways with AIP and set out for his own distribution. That didn't happen until 1970 from Maron Films, a small indie release company and it was re-titled MONSTER ZERO and double-billed in roadshow fashion with WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS and did brisk business from late summer to Fall at drive-ins and theaters at the time. The film stars Nick Adams and was released in the US, two years after his untimely and unfortunate death. Still, MONSTER ZERO/INVASION OF ASTRO MONSTER remains one of the best ever of the Toho Godzilla sequels, the last one where all the major talents at Toho were in play to make a knockout film that flies along at a good clip. It has everything-alien invasion, monsters, and a love story. Interestingly, the monster side of things actually takes a back seat to a fairly engaging human story(there are only really 10 or 12 minutes of new monster footage). The FX work is perhaps Eiji Tsuburaya's best as is the score by Akira Ifukube. This version is exactly the same as MONSTER ZERO-same title sequence, however a new title card for INVASION is seen. All the dubbing was the same, and in fact the film has three minutes of footage not seen in the US version. One is the alien Controller saying something in his native language as the earth ship leaves, another is a pretty nifty FX shot looking up at Godzilla and Rodan being transported through the atmosphere by the Xian saucers, and still another shot has what appears to be an un-processed(sound) shot of Akira Takarada saying something like "I've got a bad feeling about this" in Japanese, to Nick Adams who responds in English "Talk to me about it pal". Terrific film in any language!!

Average customer rating:

Make it 3 and a half
The Thing from Another World
A classic of its time and genre
LOVE IT
Mashall Dillon on a ramage

The Thing from Another World
Starring: Margaret Sheridan , Kenneth Tobey , Robert Cornthwaite , Douglas Spencer , and James R. Young
Director: Howard Hawks , and Christian Nyby
Manufacturer: Turner Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Them!
Forbidden Planet (Ultimate Collector's Edition)
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It Came From Outer Space
When Worlds Collide

ASIN: B00009NHC0
Release Date: 2003-08-05

Amazon.com essential video

With its modest special effects, lean plot, and small cast of lesser stars, this 1951 thriller remains a sturdy blueprint for fusing horror and science fiction. The formula has been employed countless times since, fleshed out with more extensive and elaborate production values, and manned by higher profiled marquee names, but the results have yet to improve on The Thing from Another World, Howard Hawks's lone foray into sci-fi.

The story begins as military airmen are dispatched to a remote Arctic research station where scientists have detected the crash of a spacecraft. An effort to retrieve the saucer-shaped vehicle fails, but the team returns to the station with the frozen body of its sole occupant. When the extraterrestrial pilot is accidentally thawed, the crew, headed by a tough-talking pilot (Kenneth Tobey), grapples with a massive, chlorophyll-based humanoid (James Arness) thirsty for blood and in no mood for galactic diplomacy.

Hawks takes only a production credit for this low-budget exercise, but his filmmaking style transcends Christian Nyby's nominal direction: rapid-fire, overlapping dialogue, an ensemble of comrades whose professionalism is tempered by wisecracks, and unsentimental female characters (embodied by feisty romantic interest Margaret Sheridan) recall Hawks's signature works, while propelling the plot over any potential gaps in credibility. It's hardly surprising, then, that The Thing from Another World remains among the most influential science fiction movies ever shot, or that it remains exciting entertainment a half century later. --Sam Sutherland

Description

Members of an Antarctic research team are killed off by a frozen alien they uncover.

Customer Reviews:

Make it 3 and a half.......2007-04-11

I love this film- it is well paced and atmospheric and is not afraid to ask difficult questions about the morality of actions. It is, however, very much of its time and that means some wooden acting and ropey special effects - although in general both are of a much higher standard than equivalent productions. It also means some credibility- stretching actions by some of the characters and a rushed finish. It remains amongst the finest sci-fi/horror film ever made though - and whilst the re-make was better - it was not by much.

The Thing from Another World.......2007-03-30

This is the original. The remake is 'The Thing.'
Both movies are great. I suggest that you own both of them and compare.

A classic of its time and genre.......2007-03-30

It was the early 1950's. The military (which, having only a few years previous saved the nation from European fascism) was still held in high esteem and was busily saving the nation from international Communism. The novel and frightening spectre of atomic energy was evident only in the ubiquitous looming threat of "The Bomb" and a lot of people were beginning to wonder if science hadn't gotten out of hand. The possibility of high-tech invasion from afar was never far from the public consciousness.

And then, of course, there were those disturbing reports of strange and elusive aerial objects that evaded our defenses at will and left our armed forces standing flat-footed . . . Everyone was uneasy.

But Hollywood was equal to the challenge.

The motion picture industry's response was a long string of low-budget thrillers aimed chiefly, I think, at the Saturday Matinee crowd but equally appealing to anyone with an imagination. The Saturday early shows would find theatres packed with prepubescents (myself among them) shivering in their boots as a succession of monsters, mutants and extraterrestrial murderers visited mayhem on any civilized enclave larger than a few huts. It was a wonderful time to be a kid.

Some of those productions stretched the credulity even of a ten-year-old, but others were actually well put together, competently directed, and scary as hell even without flashy special effects. "The Thing From Another World" (popularly known just as "The Thing") was among the best of them.

OK - the script didn't call for great depth from the actors, but this was a very plot-driven genre. Film was black and white and so was morality; the characters didn't need to agonize endlessly over their own motivations. In fact they didn't have time to - they'd have been eaten alive by the bad guy if they did. The simplicity of it all is gratifying.

The story in a nutshell: A team of crack Air Force personnel is called to the Arctic to answer a distress call from a group of scientists on a long term project there. The nature of the distress becomes all too evident as the plot unfolds . . . and that's all I'm going to say.

A newer version of this movie was released much later, sometime in the 1980's, I think (or maybe the early 90's?) At any rate, a comparison between the two of them is not appropriate; they are two different genres. In fact, they are two different movies.

If you are one of those poor drudges unimaginative enough to require a visual elucidation of every droop of blood, every spot of gore, then you may not find this movie satisfying. If you are so narrow minded as to be put off by the mores and social customs of a bygone era, sorry, you will probably be too offended to enjoy the show.

But if what you're really interested in is a rollicking good story, then I can hardly offer better advice than that provided by the excited newspaperman reporting the events from that far flung outpost in the snowy north . . .

"Watch the skies! Keep watching the skies!"

And watch this movie, too.

LOVE IT.......2007-02-13

Anyone who likes the old sci-fi and horror films has got to see this one. It was great, suspensful, and wildly entertaining. I mean, how can you beat some bumbling scientists who accidentally unleash an extraterrestrial monster on themselves while they're snowed in in the middle of nowhere? And, of course, you've got the attractive female and male scientist who fall in love. That's a must for these old flix. And the crazy scientist who wants to protect the monster for the sake of research. This one has it all.

Mashall Dillon on a ramage.......2007-02-05

This is is first movie and it is a wonderful cross-over movie during the Science Fiction genre to Horror. It is very well done, considering it is totally inaccurate.

John Carpenter's The Thing was taken from this movie. When you watch it objectivly you can see he kept the same feeling, but updated it. Plus he jump started Kurt Russell's career.

Two thumbs up for you John!

Average customer rating:

I had to wait 24 years to see this movie
Paranoia Given Flesh
Where's Adrienne Barbeau
His best movie after Halloween
Paranoid at the Pole

The Thing (Collector's Edition)
Starring: Wilford Brimley , T.K. Carter , David Clennon , Keith David , and Richard A. Dysart
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002CHK1S
Release Date: 2004-10-26

Amazon.com

Director John Carpenter and special makeup effects master Rob Bottin teamed up for this 1982 remake of the 1951 science fiction classic The Thing from Another World, and the result is a mixed blessing. It's got moments of highly effective terror and spine-tingling suspense, but it's mostly a showcase for some of the goriest and most horrifically grotesque makeup effects ever created for a movie. With such highlights as a dog that splits open and blossoms into something indescribably gruesome, this is the kind of movie for die-hard horror fans and anyone who slows down to stare at fatal traffic accidents. On those terms, however, it's hard not to be impressed by the movie's wild and wacky freak show. It all begins when scientists at an arctic research station discover an alien spacecraft under the thick ice, and thaw out the alien body found aboard. What they don't know is that the alien can assume any human form, and before long the scientists can't tell who's real and who's a deadly alien threat. Kurt Russell leads the battle against the terrifying intruder, and the supporting cast includes Richard Masur, Richard Dysart, Donald Moffat, and Wilford Brimley. They're all playing standard characters who are neglected by the mechanistic screenplay (based on the classic sci-fi story "Who Goes There?" by John W. Campbell), but Carpenter's emphasis is clearly on the gross-out effects and escalating tension. If you've got the stomach for it (and let's face it, there's a big audience for eerie gore), this is a thrill ride you won't want to miss. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

I had to wait 24 years to see this movie.......2007-06-25

When I had 5 years old I saw some trailers in 1982 when some guy lose his head and the head run. I can't believe what hapenned and i had about 2 days that I can't sleep well.

I never knew the name of that movie, until talking with an older friend in 2005 he told the name... The Thing. Oh my god !!! I ran to buy this movie. I eliminated all the fears from all this years.

This is a great movie, a great history, Kurt Russel rocks.

Thanks Mr. Carpenter to accept this remake of "The thing from another world" and thanks to give the principal role to Kurt Russel.

U.S. Outpost #31, Antarctica, 1982--Twelve men are commissioned to gather physical and natural science data. It is the dead of winter. With six months of darkness ahead of them, they uncover the find of the century. Of a thousand centuries.

If only they could put it back.

Paranoia Given Flesh.......2007-06-07

It still shocks me that this movie bombed at the box office and very nearly ended John Carpenter's career. The top notch effects, excellent direction and acting, as well as a novel storyline make this a suspense film that eats into your very bones. Kurt Russell and the rest of the cast give soul to the characters who struggle to survive against a foe who threatens to divide and conquer them one by one. The thought behind the thing was mind blowing: an amorphous alien who camouflages itself in order to enter into a group and destroy them from within. If you haven't seen this then you must. You can't be a horror buff without it.

Where's Adrienne Barbeau.......2007-06-02

Where is Adrienne Barbeau in this movie starring Kurt Russell? I guess the review for this would be better if you could get the actors & actresses right

His best movie after Halloween.......2007-05-23

I hope to all that is great that they do NOT make a remake of this movie. You can argue that this was remake but if you read the original story, you will find that this is a closer adaptation of the book than the original movie.

Paranoid at the Pole.......2007-05-23

Making a tautly suspenseful film requires the ingredients of a superbly crafted work such as this science fiction classic. The Thing is not merely a sequence of gore-splashed killings that leaves one wondering who will be the last man standing. Suspense builds, and paranoia grows to fever pitch in this action packed thriller.

Atmospheric conditions of Anarctica and the creepy dark corners in this ice camp provide the canvas for a master to go to work on the nerves. But far worse is in store for the camp dwellers who find themselves out of radio contact with the rest of the world and wondering how they will warn of their horrible discovery. As the story unravels, everyone learns survival has become a game of every man for himself. No one can be trusted in this nightmare at the bottom of the world.

The film opens mysteriously enough. The quiet of the camp is shattered by gunfire from an approaching helicopter. Someone is shooting at what appears to be a fleeing dog. In an unforgiving part of the planet where the pressures are extreme, conclusions are quickly drawn that the helicopter occupants surely have lost their minds. But, the shooter is dropped and the pilot killed in a fiery explosion before questions can get under way. An investigation is promptly mounted and the camp dwellers soon learn from a visit to the neighboring camp that the men in the helicopter were overcome not by insanity but a creature found buried in the ice. But is it soon enough?

Kurt Russell plays the stereotype, no-nonse, machismo hero who ends up leading a struggle to stop "the thing." The cast is populated by a garden variety oddball or two, a few eggheads and the every-man faces that have become customary fare for an alien-eats menu. No character development here. No time for it in this well-paced flick.

The technology is impressive enough that the film's effects hold up even today. This film is gorey by anyone's measure. So, keep a good grip on your popcorn and soda - you're going for a ride.

Forbidden Planet (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Cheesy, Gaudy, Silly, Absolutely Fabulous.
this 1956 movie is spectacular!
Monsters from the ID
Why? Oh why?
A Sci-fi Classic

Forbidden Planet (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Walter Pidgeon , Anne Francis , Leslie Nielsen , Warren Stevens , and Jack Kelly
Director: Fred M. Wilcox
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000HEWEDK
Release Date: 2006-11-14

Amazon.com

This 1956 pop adaptation of Shakespeare's The Tempest is one of the best, most influential science fiction movies ever made. Its space explorers are the models for the crew of Star Trek's Enterprise, and the film's robot is clearly the prototype for Robby in Lost in Space. Walter Pidgeon is the Prospero figure, presiding over a paradisiacal world with his lovely young daughter and their servile droid. When the crew of a spaceship lands on the planet, they become aware of a sinister invisible force that threatens to destroy them. Great special effects and a bizarre electronic score help make this movie as fresh, imaginative, and fun as it was when first released. --Amazon.com

On the DVDs
The colorfully designed 2-disc 50th Anniversary Edition of Forbidden Planet (also available in a collector's box) comes in a slip-covered fold-out case accompanied by a pocket of 17 miniature lobby card reproductions (eight for Forbidden Planet, nine for the 1957 companion movie The Invisible Boy). On Disc 1, Forbidden Planet is presented with a new digital transfer from restored picture and audio elements, with soundtrack remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1, offering considerable improvement over the film's previous DVD release. A selection of deleted scenes were taken from a faded and scratchy 16-millimeter "work print" that had originally been viewed by composers Louis and Bebe Barron as they were creating the film's unique electronic score; they consist of full or partial scenes cut from the final film-- mostly for good reason, but collectors (and those who first saw this rare material on the original Criterion Collection laserdisc) will welcome their inclusion here. The "lost footage" is crude special-effects test footage, primarily of interest to sci-fi historians and aficionados. Given the fact that the original "Robby the Robot" cost over $100,000 to build in 1955, it's easy to see why MGM wanted to get their money's worth: An excerpt from the 1950s TV series "MGM Parade" shows Forbidden Planet star Walter Pigeon appearing briefly with Robby, and the popular robot gets even more attention as a guest star in "The Robot Client," an episode of the Thin Man TV series (starring Peter Lawford and Phyllis Kirk) that originally aired on Feb. 28, 1958. Disc 1 also includes a gallery of seven science-fiction movie trailers dating from 1953 (The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms) to 1960's The Time Machine.

Disc 2 begins with 1957's The Invisible Boy, a still-enjoyable B-movie that served as Robby's post-Forbidden Planet showcase. Here, filmdom's favorite automaton plays sidekick to a young boy (Richard Eyer) who turns invisible when he gets caught up in a super-computer's scheme of global domination. Also included are three documentaries, ranging from very good to excellent: In addition to reuniting the surviving cast members of the '56 classic (including Leslie Nielsen, Anne Francis, Richard Anderson, Warren Stevens, and Earl Holliman), "Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet" is an appreciative tribute to Forbidden Planet with some of Hollywood's foremost sci-fi fans including special effects masters Dennis Muren and Phil Tippett, SF movie expert Bill Warren, and others. "Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon" is a featurette about the robot's design, creation and pop-cultural history, featuring original "Robby" designer Robert Kinoshita, Bill Malone (current owner of the original Robby), and Fred "The Robot Man" Barton, a lifelong robot fanatic who now sells fully authorized, full-scale replicas of Robby for sci-fi fans with deep pockets. Closing out disc 2 is "Watch the Skies!: Science Fiction, the 1950s and Us," a 2005 documentary from Turner Classic Movies, written and directed by Time magazine critic Richard Schickel. It's a thoroughly comprehensive survey of '50s sci-fi and its influence on the next generation of film directors, including engaging interviews with George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, John Carpenter, Ridley Scott and James Cameron. --Jeff Shannon

Description

A dutiful robot named Robby speaks 188 languages. An underground lair offers evidence of an advanced civilization. But among Altair-4's many wonders, none is greater or more deadly than the human mind. Forbidden Planet is the granddaddy of tomorrow, a pioneering work whose ideas and style would be reverse-engineered into many cinematic space voyages to come. Leslie Nielsen plays the commander who brings his spacecruiser crew to the green-skied world that's home to Dr. Morbius (Walter Pidgeon), his daughter (Anne Francis)...and to a mysterious terror. Featuring sets of extraordinary scale and the first all-electronic musical soundscape in film history, Forbidden Planet is in a movie orbit all its own.

Customer Reviews:

Cheesy, Gaudy, Silly, Absolutely Fabulous........2007-06-27

This is a true gem. It makes so little sense that it is beautiful. The plot and reasoning would give Spock a migraine. This movie starts with hansom Lesley Nielson or whatever, going to visit some old creepy guy "living" with his only daughter on some way out planet. Everything from why it was so long to send a ship to investigate the velerapon party's disappearance, to morpheous blowing up the planet didnt make sense... BUT WHO CARES! it has lesley nielson man, really. Laser blasters, cheap rubber robots, beautiful women and drunk cooks. Even contains a brilliant sub plot of the farmers daughter scheme. Lets just say his daughter is like a child in a candy shop when a ship of hunky men land on her porch. If you love top notch B movies that were bumped up a grade or two then this is the goodness here. This movie truly encompasses the rich, chewy, caramel flavor of being a great movie.

this 1956 movie is spectacular!.......2007-06-04

Enjoy the story, special effects and art work. remember this movie was made in 1956 way before most of us were even born. Anne Francis was one gorgeous woman! Buy this movie in HD it looks fantastic. Its a little spooky for kids under 12.

Monsters from the ID.......2007-06-02

Forbidden Planet was the blueprint for Star Trek, Lost in Space, Star Wars, It was so influential that you may watch it, and see a whole new genre that popped up because of it. The movie is the first time the world saw the Robbie Robot character, the same robot give or take a few spare parts from Lost in Space. The crew of the space ship was a complete crew even down to a cook. Laser shooters were used in this movie as well, a Hollywood first. That being said it did have some flaws; the characters were all one dimensional. The story went no where at times. Such as the time where the cook got the robot to synthesize bourbon. Yes some of the plot just seemed like filler. I really got the feeling that Dr. Morbius was based on Captain Nemo from 20000 leagues Jules Verne story. The way how he gave the tour of his world and machinery just seemed so familiar to the 20000 leagues story. Overall this is a fine transfer to DVD, and has quite extras on this DVD package. If you love old science fiction campy films this is a must have.

Why? Oh why?.......2007-05-24

Warner should be ashamed of itself for calling this an Ultimate edition.
They release this on one of the highest capacity media and yet guess what!
The original aspect ratio of the movie is lost!!! That means the movie is clipped on the sides. The original movie is 2.55:1, this so called Ultimate version is 2.4:1.
%5 of the original width is missing. And you call this an ultimate version, HAHA!

A Sci-fi Classic.......2007-05-22

The movie itself is a classic on so many levels...this particular package contains promotional items that the movie buff, at least, will find intriguing. The film itself is surprisingly non-dated considering that it was made in the very early 50's. And Leslie Nielson sometimes actuall acts.

Average customer rating:

ROMP HOUSE
FEISTY FIFTIES FEMME FLAILS THRU FIFTY FOOT FREAKOUT!
One Star schlock = cult classic: It's so bad, it's good!!!!!
Loads of fun..
Don' t take it too seriously!

Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman
Starring: Allison Hayes , William Hudson , Yvette Vickers , Roy Gordon , and George Douglas
Director: Nathan Juran
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000OHZJFK
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Description

Nancy Archer has had an alien encounter and it's left her 50 ft. tall! Now she sees the men in her life from a new angle--looking down on them--and it's time to fight back! Director: Nathan Juran Starring: Allison Hayes, Yvette Vickers, William Hudson

Customer Reviews:

ROMP HOUSE.......2007-07-04

You can see through her. She doesn't quite get to 50ft in some scenes, while in others she's taller than the title promises (a bonus there). On the cover she has auburn hair, on the back, she's a blond and in the film, its dark. She drinks too much, loves too hard, has too much money for her own good and always falls for the wrong man - she is the 50ft WOMAN and she is on the ATTACK, but only in the last few moments of the film... as for the rest... it's a tale of a woman hooked on sour mash and her man, who's looking for fresh grapes.

Love hurts. ATTACK OF THE 50FT WOMAN is a cautionary tale of what happens when aliens meddle in romance and what path of destruction a 50ft woman will leave in her wake trying to right the wrongs done to her. It's a campy, well shot, well performed, sketchy effects cocktail that is sure to leave you calling for another round, but at a mere 66 mins, closing time comes too early for this classy little film. ATTACK is a lot of fun, and more serious than you first realize, and honestly seems like two different films grafted together, yet neither completes (or compliments) the other very well. But, you don't really notice it too much as the film hurtles along from one idea to the next until the end.

Commentary is included with Tom Weaver and Yvette Vickers (HONEY PARKER), and Yvette brings much of her experience both on ATTACK and on her acting career to the table, while Weaver brings a copy of her original script (with her handwritten notes), and some solid background information on the production - but, unlike other commentaries where Weaver is alone, he does not relate the full story, instead he interviews Vickers for information and insight. It's good, it's funny, and you do learn a lot, but I did miss the rapid fire delivery and depth of backstory that Weaver has brought to other commentaries.

ATTACK is a smart film. The title and suggestive, yet inaccurate, poster art may turn some people away, but for the brave, and for the fans, ATTACK is a must have, and no collection would be complete without it.

FEISTY FIFTIES FEMME FLAILS THRU FIFTY FOOT FREAKOUT!.......2007-06-13

Jeez, can't a guy spend an enjoyable evening quietly two-timing his wife in a seedy dive without her giant rubber hand smashing through the ceiling to stub out his worthless life like a stale cigarette? Well ... apparently not. At least, that is the disquieting possibility explored in Attack Of The 50 Foot Woman, a grade-Z sci-fi classic from the 50's. Brimming with bargain basement effects, cardboard characters, and cheese whiz dialog, it is completely wonderful in its awfulness - or awful in its wonderfulness, if you prefer. It's certainly a giant rubber hand slap across the kisser to anyone who thought that the Donna Reed decade was all about female conformance and passivity. Hah! This dreckathon gamely puts paid to those stereotypes, what with an oversized Allison Hayes, nursing an outsized anti-hubby grudge, ripping the roofs off Hicksville to exact a super-family-sized spousal payback. Yes, it's the battle of the sexes waged on a giant scale - or a fifty-foot scale, anyway. Make sure you see it with someone you love ... it's the perfect couples movie!

One Star schlock = cult classic: It's so bad, it's good!!!!!.......2007-05-02

Like a previous writer, I grew up in suburban New York (Darien, CT.) watching Chiller Theatre every Saturday night with my older brother: The Cyclops, Frankenstein's Daughter, The Hideous Sun Demon, Plan 9 from Outer Space and this classic, Attack of the 50 Foot Woman.

I love this film, because it represents a time when kids and teens were easier to please with regard to movies. I remember being facsinated by the giant alien - who looks like a bald gladiator, picking up the sheriff's car with his hand and throwing it down on the ground. For a five year old in 1961, that was scary. All those movies on Chiller Theatre (on WPIX Ch. 11, New York)were scary, and my brother and I always looked forward to watching these movies every Saturday night at 8:30-10:00.(Yes, I was allowed to stay awake until 10pm on Saturdays, just to watch Chiller Theatre.) You have to appreciate the 50's sci-fi mentality to enjoy this film. Special effects are cheesy, but then, who cares? This stuff s all about nostalgia and growing up in a simpler, more innocent time.

Loads of fun.........2007-04-26

Why is it that some movies that aren't that good fun to watch??Some hold up and some don't.I must admit,I love this movie,even though I expected to see what was on the poster,but maybe they didn't have the budget.First off,you have to ask one simple question:How does she fit in that house when she's big?? Are