User reviews

The electronic engineer Dr. Cal Meacham (Rex Reason) is a prominent scientist that is studying industrial application of nuclear energy and also a great pilot. One day, he receives a different condenser and soon his assistant Joe Wilson (Robert Nichols) receives a manual instruction and several components of a sophisticated machine. Carl and Joe build a communication apparatus and a man called Exeter (Jeff Morrow) contacts Carl. He tells that Carl has passed the test assembling the Interocitor and invites him to join his research. The intrigued Carl decides to travel to meet Exeter that sends an unmanned airplane to bring him to an isolated facility in Georgia. He is welcomed by Dr. Ruth Adams (Faith Domergue) but she mysteriously does not recall their love affair in the past. They team-up with Dr. Steve Carlson (Russell Johnson) and they note that the other scientists in the facility have been transformed, having a weird behavior. They decide to flee in a car, but they are attacked by rays and Steve dies. Carl and Ruth also witness the facility blowing-up and they escape in an airplane. However they are pulled up into a flying saucer and realize that Exeter is an alien. Whal is the objective of the aliens?

"This Island Earth" is an entertaining sci-fi from the 50's, with a story of aliens that need help from the Earthling scientists in their war against another planet. For a film made sixty years ago, the special effects, the monster, sets and scenarios are great. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Guerra Entre Planetas" ("War Between Planets")

Note: On 17 November 2017 I saw this film again.

Guess I'll have to watch MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000: THE MOVIE to find out what is so bad about THIS ISLAND EARTH. The film is intriguingly plotted, beautifully photographed, and has excellent (even by contemporary standards) art direction, costume design and special effects. So what if Rex Reason sounds as if he was dubbed (he always sounds that way), and some of the other performances seem a bit stilted. The Metaluna Mutant was the most memorable outer space monster until ALIEN.

I can only recall one technical error in the film. After the interociter (communicator) has been reduced to molten metal, Rex Reason picks up a Geiger counter and says, "It's no longer radioactive." There IS no set up for this (i.e., when it proved to be radioactive).

I'd certainly rate this film in the top ten of the best science fiction films of the fifties (probably in the top five). It's philosophical, exciting and well made.

When it came out, I thought this was the most fantastic movie I'd ever seen. It was easy to identify with the lead character and to share his fascination with the technology that the aliens used to capture his attention and recruit his talents. I particularly remember being entranced by the special effects; the use of vivid color was outstanding among sci-fi offerings of the time. 45 years later, it's still my favorite of the era. I enjoy watching the movie on video and recalling the thrill of seeing it on the big screen for the first time.

I am old enough to have seen "This Island Earth" when it was first released. After "Forbidden Planet", it was the only other film for a decade to take place outside of Earth's solar system. Galactic fiction had been written for decades by Edmond Hamilton and a handful of others, very successfully; but it is still rare and hard to handle in film, because it requires some level of ideas and logical development of a political-philosophical system other than conventional and unimaginative acceptances--the stock in trade of those who rip off headlines, use titles such as "Across the Ses of Stars"--and then write nothing at all to go with the promising title. Here we have a mysterious robot-controlled aircraft's flight, mail from aliens, the building of an Inter-Rossiter communication device, tall-domed aliens (exhibiting a variety of ethical characters), interstellar flight, a war on a planet called Metalluna, flaming comet-missiles, a competent alien mutant creature, an intelligent cat named Neutron, romance, news conferences, good and bad advice and more. The original story line, for those who have not read Raymond Z. Jones' original mystery-sci-fi, is much better than what was done with its ideas in the film's script. In that novel,Earth was to be destroyed, because it was in the way and being used as a base by one of two sides in a huge interstellar war; at the end, the hero, whose ingenuity has saved the one side, has to make a speech to save the Earth--a climax that did not make it into the film version. Handsome Rex Reason, who lacks classical accent ability, plays scientist Cal Meacham, opposite Faith Domergue, a fair actress who does well as Ruth, his long-lost love, or is she. The film is stolen by Jeff Morrow as Exeter, also star of "Kronos"; Douglas Spencer is a bit disappointing as The Monitor, as is Lance Fuller as an evil Metallunan; the special effects such as rays that explode cars and the aforementioned comets are interesting for their time. What is right about the film I suggest is its color, its adventure narrative and swift-paced unfolding, since it is rather well-directed; what is lacking is the first-rate ideas of the novel from which it was adapted. "This Island Earth" ( a phrase later used in "Star trek's "All Our Yesterdays" also) is arguably a welcome change from all those sci-fi films where rockets seem tied to earth, unable to expand the human horizon. I like it, and recommend it to anyone who wants to escape from the present mean-streets ugliness cult's movies; it is physically beautiful and frankly more entertaining than most have credited it with being these past 50 years.

This Island Earth was a film I feel might have run out of budget. There was so much time spent on introducing the characters and having those two earth scientists trapped for a trip to the planet Metaluna that when they got there, they seemed in a big hurry to get them in and out.

The Metalunans have a mission they are seeking to obtain all the uranium on earth to power their defenses against a ruthless interplanetary enemy. It's why they send Jeff Morrow and Lance Fuller to Earth. Also to prepare the planet for a possible invasion.

If that was their intention, they're a day late and a dollar short. Metaluna is being decimated by meteors controlled by the enemy of the Metalunans whom we never see. They've got defenses that repel the meteors, but are powered by uranium and the planet has run out. Looks like some really bad planning here for a culture that is so advanced from where Earth is.

The bait is an Interositer which is an all purpose machine as advertised by the Metalunans who've come to Earth in secret in one of those flying saucers every now and then spotted. Building one intrigues scientist Rex Reason and it turns out to be a communication device where Morrow contacts them.

Eventually the laboratory that the Metalunans set up on Earth is destroyed when the Earth people discover they're being used and all but Reason and Faith Domergue are killed. They are captured and brought aboard the flying saucer and learn what's happening on the trip to Metaluna.

Some really nice sets, very imaginative were done for this film by Universal. This definitely has the look of being a more ambitious project than what turned out.

The planet Metaluna is desperate need of Uranium to power its defense . As Aliens led by Exeter , Jeff Morrow , come to Earth seeking scientists to help them against enemy invaders . Two scientific , Rex Reason Faith Domergue , are deceived , menaced , abducted and transported from earth to a weird and ruined planet where occurs explosion and destruction.As our heroes are theatened by unknown forces .

Acceptable Scifi movie has thrills , intricate gadgetry , emotion , FX ahead of their time and super mutant monsters .This classic and rare Sci-Fi is considered to be the first serious film about interplanetary escapades .It contains primitive special effects and abundant matte painting . Including passable effects of a flying saucer based on a famous picture of an unidenfitied flying object UFO . Mediocre interpretation by an average cast. Starred by little known actors as Rex Reason as a nuclear scientist , Jeff Morrow as the rare alien , and the beautiful Faith Domergue as a nuclear fission expert who screams lustily . Other secondaries are given little to do such as Lance Fuller , Russell Johnson , Douglas Spencer and Richard Deacon . Here stands out the decent makeup by Bud Westmore creating pulsating cranium FX makeup on a gigantic and ugly Alien monster. Although some reviewers felt that the mutant utterly ruined an otherwise acceptable film . It was shown in US drive-in on a double bill with another classic Scfi titled Forfidden planet .

Strange but appropriate musical score from Herman Stein , Hans J Salter and Henry Mancini . Colorful cinematography in brilliant technicolor , by Clifford Stine , as technical details are presented in convincing enough fashion , being the only technicolor scifi movie Universal-International ever made .This genuine and decent science fiction was well produced by Willian Alland and professionally directed by Joseph M Newman . He was a prolific craftsman who made all kinds of genres as drama , gangster movie , Film Noir , adventure , such as : Tarzan ,Jungle patrol , The king of the roaring 20s the story of Arnold Rothstein , Love nest , Great Dan Patch and , of course , Science Fiction with this vintage film of the fifties titled This island earth. Rating : 6/10 , decent movie . Essential and indispensable watching for SciFi buffs . Well worth seeing.

Just saw it for the first time (in 2008). One of the other commentators called it the 'Star Wars' of its time. I think that is a fair comment, because each for its time had good effects, wooden acting, and a bare bones plot. 'This Island Earth' has a plot which has become one of the B movie standard plots, Aliens who, for some reason and despite the obvious advanced technology that enables them to arrange transportation to and from Earth, need technology from earth. Why such an advanced civilization requires it is barely logical, although TIE gives it a try. The acting is not first rate, the romantic relationship is juvenile, which is appropriate for the sci-fi of the 50's, but good movie writers did much better work even then. Science Fiction is a great field, created in the 19th century, nascent in the 30's, and blossoming with the advent of the nuclear age. Movie producers gave it short shrift until the 60's, but there are two outstanding American SciFis of the 50's: 'Forbidden Planet', and 'Day The Earth Stood Still'. These movies have good levels of acting, very good effects, a sense of humor, and some real ideas if not messages, without intruding on the plane fun of many of the scenes. These movies give us a standard to compare with other movies of the time. By the use of this standard, TIE weighs in as acceptable fare for the era, but not even close as imaginative story telling to FP or DTESS. Watch it for comparison, watch it if wasted, if you want the brain engaged, go for one of the traditional greats.

"This Island Earth" is not the greatest science fiction movie of all time, but it deserves more respect than it is often granted. The boys at MST3K (whom I think are great) may have done this film a great disservice. In its day, it was thoughtful, imaginative, and the special effects were excellent. I disagree with those who say there is no plot. The cold war fears and xenophobia were once again at the center of this fifties effort. The alien as our "friend" was later used in many settings, including one of the best of the "Twilight Zone" episodes, "To Serve Man."

I was young when I first saw this in a movie theater, but even then I found the home planet, Metaluma, very striking and its fate frightening. I fear that often our smugness in criticizing older films, judging them by standards that they could not have hoped to approach because of the limitations of the technology, keeps us from acceptance of their good points and their contributions. I have an acquaintance who can't watch the Maltese Falcon because it is in black and white. What a loss. The sets are striking in this film. The aliens are a bit of a stretch, but I still like what they are. I saw this movie a couple times in a theatre (not the MST version). As people left they were captivated and involved. When we left, we had had fun (not from ridiculing but enjoying). Granted there are no computer morphs and no giant metal bugs sucking brains out, but it is still good stuff.

Still watchable after 62 years, despite the fact that it is a modest production, did not benefit from the huge sums of money invested in today's super productions. But, so modestly, the sets, costumes, very important for any sci-fi, are still valid. The aliens from Metaluna look convincing and original with their long forehead and white hair with the crest. Filmed, played and directed efficiently, without boring moments. Only those monsters, they look more funny than scary. And, except Dr. Ruth Adams(Faith Domergue's character), another terrestrial lady who has only one line and one extra-terrestrial lady, you will see only men, including terrestrials and extra-terrestrials. All three main actors, Jeff Morrow, Faith Domergue and Rex Reason, also appeared in other SF films. The music, by 3 uncredited guys, one of them, the great future Henry Mancini. So, if you want to visit Metaluna, the dying planet, go for it! But, I'm warning you, it's not a very pleasant luxury trip.

I had seen this in my much younger years, and nothing in it really stood out. Over the years, I've heard much about how great a movie TIE was. Then I watched it as the MST3K movie, and then on AMC. And you really got to wonder...so what's so great about it, and what were those critics thinking?

It does indeed have lovely matte paintings of Metaluna (sic). But after that... You've got dopey looking aliens, even by 50's standards. You've got a really, really goofy looking ant. And you've got a plot that goes nowhere. "We've come to Earth to secretly draw on your intellectual resources...so we'll let one of our guys blow you all up. Then we'll take you two back to our home planet just so you can watch it blow up. Then we'll take you back in our last ship, right before it blows up." There's a whole lot a blowin' up goin' on, allrighty. The movie starts somewhat intriguingly, but slows to a plod, as the technobabble is tossed out at levels that we wouldn't see until decades later in the Star Trek franchise. I just think the critics don't want to admit how their initial assessment of TIE was so off.

Pulp science fiction created an aura of awe and excitement that is rarely equaled in these current days of sci-fi movie "actioners". Gone are the opportunities to see alien species and their homelands depicted in "wonderous Technicolor". Instead, we are routinely preached to by screenwriters determined to warn us, ad nauseum, of man's follies and the impending disasters always depicted as a forgone result. Yes, now we get chiseled heroes, and heroines, too, who are usually engaged in single-handedly shooting up the screen with loud twentieth century-derived weapons. Where is the fun in these stereotypical, shoot-em-up extravaganzas?

"This Island Earth"("TIE") with (for its time, remember)jaw-dropping visuals, big, truly alien world realizations and theme of inter-solar system war, hasn't been matched since its debut almost fifty years ago! For a plot that catapults you half way around the universe with one beautifully realized set after another and an epic-sized stage on which to play out its themes, perhaps only "Forbidden Planet" ever matched up.

The sounds, the visuals and the story line of "TIE" weren't intended to chastise you as a stupid earthling, but instead, have long served to take the willing on an adventure ride that all too few space movies have chosen to create. Until Hollywood chooses to really explore the universe you ought to have your own copy of "This Island Earth", in order to frequently remind yourself of what we should all be seeing much more often: space movies that enthrall!

A scientist named Cal is invited to join a secret society of scientists put together by an alien from Metaluna. Is he working to get more technology for Earth or is the motive a bit more sinister? Audiences today (2010) probably know this film best as the feature in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie" (which was a great show but a lackluster movie). Which is too bad, because being on there would imply this was a really awful film. This is absolutely false.

The movie sets up a very interesting plot with likable characters. Early on, two scientists are delivered mysterious parts to be assembled from a source unknown. Once completed, they have built an interociter, allowing them to see somewhere far away and the far away to see them. Like today's video phones or video conferences, only this was in 1955 when such things were unthinkable.

The aliens are believable, if you think aliens are humanoid, and the makeup is decent. Criticisms could be made, but even much later "Star Trek" was using the same ideas, so don't blame these people.

The biggest complaint I can offer is that some of the science was nonsense. Somehow a magnet can trap the hands of a prisoner (are they metal hands?) and a cat is named "Neutron" because he's always positive. This last one might have been a joke, but if so it was poorly delivered. This nitpicks in no way distract from the film, in my opinion.

If you want old science fiction in Technicolor with aliens and new technology, this is your film. Nothing too complicated, but likable and believable characters and situations. Sure, the glowing green airplane is a bit silly, but deal with it. If there is a science fiction hall of fame, I hope this film made it in.

Dr Cal Meecham is a top scientist in the fields of nuclear energy and electronics. One day he is contacted by a man named Exeter and asked to join a high-level project he is working on. Meecham travels to Exeter's isolated site in Georgia but it is soon obvious that things aren't as they appear to be.

This film was probably quite topical and interesting in 1955 but today it is laughable. So derisible that, in 1996, Mystery Science Theatre 3000 make an entire film that mocked this movie.

Even if the plot was relevant in 1955 it is still quite cheesily and predictably done. Acting is hammy, script is ridiculous at times and you can pretty much see through any attempts at subterfuge.

Not worth your time. Watch the Mystery Science Theatre 3000 send-up (which includes This Island Earth in its entirety) instead.

This is a great treat from a wonderful era of Sci-Fi. Those who complain of the hardware aspects have no romance - an Earth scientist receives an unsolicited manual and roomful of parts to build a futuristic two-way TV, but the parts are a marvel and the pages of the manual aren't paper, but some manner of flexible metal. After constructing the "Interociter", our hero receives a broadcast from Exeter, a fellow scientist with a suspiciously prominent forehead, inviting him to join his research team of the world's greatest experts in their fields. What follows is a comic book come-to-life, and in vivid, 3-part Technicolor! This film is beautiful to look at, and apparently many of today's best Sci-Fi filmmakers did. Rex Reason is fine as our hero, Jeff Morrow is one of the most memorable aliens of the era, and Faith Domergue is a fine actress and is mysteriously one of the most unsung beauties ever. And as to the hardware, the special effects, etc - there is actually nothing to complain about at all...the spaceship, the planet Metaluna, aliens, etc, are not merely passable for the 50's, they are compelling by today's standards. If you have just a bit of imagination, this is one of the best Sci-Fi classics of it's time, and still makes many contemporary efforts pale in comparison.

For every classic sci-fi afficionado, this is a must-see. It´s a bit short and awkward at times, but man, it look GREAT! Some of the FX and camera work are just unbelievable for its time and look very good even now. 8/10 for the production values, 5/10 for the script.

This bit of 50's sci-fi was bigger budget than was usual for this type of carry on, with elaborate special effects and a full-on Technicolor treatment. Its about aliens who look like Robert Kilroy-Silk abducting nuclear scientists from Earth and taking them back to their war ravaged planet, looking for help. It's a typical enough sci-fi storyline which gets by mainly via its effects and imagery. The main actor is a guy improbably called, wait for it...Rex Reason and he has all the personality of a plank of wood. But in fairness to Rex Reason, this is hardly an actor's film. Its overall a fairly routine bit of 50's sci-fi nonsense with better production values than normal.

This was in a box-set I got on sale, with seven pictures from this time and in this genre. I haven't watched many of them, but while the FX of this are arguably only decent(with that said, that suit ain't bad), the designs of gizmos are reasonably interesting, and this certainly does deliver all you could hope for in one of these; campy alien beings, a nicely done foreign planet, cool labs and spacecraft, some pseudo-science(portions of which are rather questionable now that we know more...!) and, well, *fun*, with crap blowing up and being/catching on fire. It is also worth noting that for the xenophobia this does have, it doesn't paint *everything* we don't know or immediately recognize or understand as dangerous and something to be avoided. It is genuinely tense at points. The sexism can be annoying; however, it is not as strong as in others of these. Domergue is attractive. The characters are fairly well-written and credible, if not necessarily memorable. Editing and cinematography are average. The acting is good, and the leads are likable. There is a little minorly bloody violence in this. I recommend this to any fan of sci-fi movies from the period. 6/10

This 1955 cult sci-fi 'favourite' first came to my attention whilst I was watching Mystery Science Theatre 3000: The Movie back in my University days. The clips accompanied by the sarcastic comments of the MST robots was hilarious, and I had to see the film. So, five or so years later, I did. And I realised without added hilarity of Mystery Science Theatre, the film isn't so much funny, as jaw-droppingly awful and frustratingly timid.

Square-jawed, opera-voiced, vanity-ridden cheeseball Dr. Cal Meacham (Rex Reason) is one of the best in his field, and when he starts receiving machine parts that he didn't order, he begins to build the 'interociter' along with the arse-sniffing colleague Joe (Robert Nichols). When it's built, a strange being appears on the monitor and invites Cal to join his academy that boasts a collection of top-rated scientists. Upon arrival, Cal suspects that things aren't as they seem, as the reason they are there is kept top secret. Or perhaps it's because the head the academy, Exeter (Jeff Morrow), has the forehead the size of an airport runway, and the skin tone of a used teabag.

Apparently the special effects were ground-breaking in their day, and perhaps they were. But I felt it actually lacked bad special effects, which at least would have given the film a bit of charm. Don't get me wrong, I usually love these kind of awful films, but the film was played so straight-faced that I just found it a bore. My lack of interest also led to me getting confused about the plot. But there are funny moments, mainly involving the obnoxious alpha-male Cal and his assistant, who follows him around like a dog, and a scene where an embarrassingly crap alien insect attacks Cal and his love interest Ruth (Faith Domergue). For some quality cheesy sci-fi, I would recommend Robinson Crusoe On Mars instead, and give this one a miss.

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The 1955 sci-fi film, "This Island Earth" was spoofed in the film,"MST 3000: The Movie"; but in actuality the film got good reviews from Leonard Maltin, The Motion Picture Guide, not to mention Bill Warren's monumental opus, "Keep Watching The Skies!". The acting in this film is not exceptional, but not dismal, I would say adequate. My favorite character is the Metalunan, Exeter - this dude is one smooth talker, oozing a sinister coolness, while displaying a funky appearance: neatly coiffured white hair, bushy eyebrows, a high indented forehead, coppertone tan and dressed in a conventional Earthian suit and tie (he would have made a great politician or televangelist!). His assistant, Braack, is a carbon copy, as are the other Metalunans. There is an atmosphere of suspense and intrigue and the plot is credible enough. One the technical side, a Metalunan communication device called an Interociter remains a centerpiece throughout the film; it is very versatile, able to incorporate an Interplanetary Generator, Volterator, Astroscope, Electron Sorter, and a deadly Neutrino Ray (all of these are not in the script, rather I got them from the Raymond F. Jones story the film is based upon; however, the Neutrino Ray was demonstrated by Exeter to Dr. Cal Meacham on occasion); Meacham pulled the plug on one of them in his lab, causing it to self-destruct; leading one to wonder if that device were so advanced, then why didn't it have a backup internal power source and safety feature to prevent that sort of sabotage? Moreover, why did it have to rely on an external power supply at all?' The highlight of the film is the voyage back to Metaluna with Drs Meacham and Adams on board; the distant planet is being attacked by enemy Zahgon guided meteors. The Drs were recruited to help the Metalunans rebuild their war depleted uranium supply which sustained their protective atomic force shield- the Earth is rich in uranium supply. The Metalunan spacecraft looks like a cheap, plastic toy pulled from a crackerjack box, but as it cruises through the "thermal barrier", the fiery special effects around the craft look way cool. And the special effects, set design and artwork of the war-ravaged planet and the ongoing battle there are simply excellent for that time period. In addition, the Herman Stein musical score is a tasty delight- the organ parts are simply an ear to behold! No, "This Island Earth" does not have the Oscar-Winning effects of "The War Of The Worlds", the snappy, overlapping dialogue of "The Thing From Another World", the abundant richness of ideas of "Forbidden Planet", nor the spine chilling suspense of "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers"; but what it does have is an irresistable charm, the result - I suspect - of having a peculiar combination of outstanding qualities coexisting alongside of much inferior ones. "This Island Earth" should definitely be part of every 50's sci-fi film connoisseur's collection.

"This Island Earth" is a fair sci-fi film about aliens with some space travel. It's somewhat unusual in that it isn't aliens planning to invade the earth, but some who have secretly arrived here to get the best of the earth's scientists to help save their planet, Metaluna.

Unlike many of the sci-fi films of the 1950s, this one is more scientifically oriented. Although many of the science aspects are fictitious, the science tends to give the film a more thoughtful plot. It received good notices from the critics at the time, for that and for its very good special effects. Also, unlike most other sci-fi films of the day, the aliens themselves aren't hideous looking creatures. They very closely resemble human beings, but for one very distinguishable physical feature. Elongated, high heads with depressions in the middle of their foreheads.

All of the cast give good performances, except for Faith Domergue as Dr. Ruth Adams. She seems a little wooden, a natural trait with her, and she acts hysterically with screaming that seems overboard in one scene. Then she has the one funny line - actually, quite dumb, in the film. After she, Dr. Meacham, and Dr. Carlson have been talking and collaborating some, she asks if the others have noticed the similarity between Exeter and Brack - their unusually high heads with the indentations in their foreheads. It's not that all of the audience and the other two characters haven't noticed this since first seeing them. Or, maybe that line was put in by the studio and writers intentionally, to be sure all of we dummies in the audience would know and realize that Exeter and Brack were different - and maybe even aliens? That's why I say it's a funny line.

By modern standards and preferences in films since the late 20th century, this movie will seem quite slow to most viewers. The promos, posters and DVD cover show some hideous creatures that the aliens cloned to be workers and slaves. They have very little time in the movie, which could even do without them. But, Universal probably played up the ugly looking creatures to draw audiences for the film. We sci-fi fans enjoy nothing more than a good-looking ugly alien or monster of some sort. Or is that an oxymoron?

The first time I heard of This Island Earth was from MST3K. It was a funny spoof, despite I had never seen the movie, but then I kinda forgot about it, as I wasn't particularly looking for the movie, so I could see it. Until a local TV-station broadcast it.

Now, the good things first. There are some good special effects in the movie. I liked how the alien UFO looked like and their home planet, despite being barren from the war, was pretty neat. The acting is okay, not spectacular, but okay. The main star Rex Reason(?) is a bit too pompous for my liking, but other than that I have no big complaints.

But on to the bad things. There really isn't any specific reason for the human cast to be in the film. I mean, they don't actually do anything and after Dr. Cal and Dr. Adams (Faith Domergue) have been transferred to the alien world, they do even less. The story, while it has some interesting elements, does very little after Dr. Cal Meacham arrives to the mysterious conclave of scientists lead by mysterious Exeter (Jeff Morrow) The movie has a promise of something greater, but it just fails to deliver it. It has some good aspects in it, but as a whole, it's not very good movie.

This was the Star Wars of the 1950's. What movie are these people watching when they say there is no story? This is great escapist fun, filled with flying saucers, aliens, monsters and explosions! Some movies are just meant to be viewed *surprise* as entertainment! Kick back, turn off your brain, relax and watch a fun movie and be entertained by the lumbering bug eyed monsters! Sure, Rex Reason (cool name) is a walking totem pole, and Faith sure does scream a lot, but that's what women did in the 50's when they were being carried away by a scary monster. The effects are pretty good for its time, and the whole picture is a great time capsule about where we were mid-century when space was unexplored, and the flying saucer craze was still going on.

I can't be the only viewer who absolutely loves this movie! Having seen it as a youngster, I was very pleased when it came out recently in DVD format. The color is excellent, thanks to Technicolor technology. The plot, although considered humorous by some, involves the enlistment of earth scientists to help inhabitants of Metaluna build an "interocitor" to aid them in combatting the evil forces attempting to destroy their home planet. Rex Reason has a wonderful voice, and that is a special treat for me, since I grew up on and still enjoy old time radio. It is a shame MST3000 maligned this movie so much. With a supporting cast like Faith Domergue and Jeff Morrow, both veterans of genre, this movie is well worth your time.

As I watched Universal's This Island Earth, I realized that throughout its running time, almost nothing happens. Almost nothing that that develops the characters, advances the plot, or rouses much interest in the viewer, that is.

The acting is wooden, not surprisingly considering that I've never heard of any of the cast members, and the dialogue is stilted and predictable. Most of the characters' actions are dictated not by their personalities or by what a real person would do in that situation, but rather by the needs of the plot, such as it is.

Indeed, most of the characters are only in this film to perform some plot function, without us ever finding out much about them. Dr. Ruth is only here to provide a love interest for the professor, and to scream on cue. The alien leader, seen for less than a minute, has no role other than to provide some sort of villain. The professor and Exeter are the only people who are given any real traits or motivation, and even then they're not very well developed.

A surprising amount of the movie is spent in travel time. Traveling from the professor's lab to the aliens' base in Georgia. From Earth to the alien home world. From the alien planet back to earth. If they'd added a few jokes and a song and dance routine, this could have been a road picture. Of course, all this travel time is a half-cocked attempt to hide just how little plot there really is. There's barely enough material for a one hour made-for-TV movie, much less a ninety plus minute theatrical release.

Watching this cinematic train wreck fills me with questions, such as.

Wouldn't you be in the least bit curious if you received a mailing from a company you had never heard of, with order forms and assembly instructions for a machine that's at least a century ahead of current technology?

Would you climb into a pilotless, windowless aircraft without any idea of the destination?

Why don't the scientists immediately recognize the aliens as such? We in the audience certainly do.

Was it really necessary for the aliens to destroy their own compound, killing all of their "guests", when only three had escaped?

Why does the alien leader declare that the humans are a security risk and that they must be stripped of their free will? Is he not aware that his species is actively recruiting talent from other races?

What are the chances that the aliens' home world would be utterly destroyed within an hour of the humans' arrival? And would it have broken the budget to show even a brief glimpse of the attackers' ships?

And above all, why would a reputable studio like Universal fund and release such a snooze fest?