February 14, 2011

Killers from Space (1954) REVIEW

The film involves aliens from Outer Space planing to invade the Earth while hypnotizing a scientist to obtain data in order to breed an army of giant insects and lizards. Supposedly, the aliens, that come from Astron Delta, have secret lair near Earth's crust, that isn't anything else than Bronson Cave, (a place that had been filmed so many times in the 50's that it became a cliché amongst B-movies). This movie has a really bad reputation, it was directed by W. Lee Wilder (the unsuccessful brother of director Billy Wilder), it even stands as the 16th Worst Movie Ever Made! Actually, this film was made in one of the lower budgets in the history of cinema, which explain the aliens' ping-pong eyeballs and the cardboard alien city. Speaking frankly, this is a really bad movie.... but I just seem to love it! As I explained earlier on my reviews, I love 50's B-movies, and this is the perfect example of B-movie, from the aliens' costumes to the giant insects to the bad acting, it's just cheesy and entertaining stuff, in a B-movie kind of way. This film is really entertaining and I first discovered it from a 50 movie pack from "Mill Creek Entertainment". This film is public domain and you can legally download it anywhere or watch online for free. 

This film is very entertaining, but remember that it's an awful movie so:

4/10

P.S. Here is the Youtube link for this film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u8apuDgYO0

December 1, 2010

The Old Dark House (1932) REVIEW

                                                                                              Basic Plot:
Three travelers - a married couple, Philip and Margaret Waverton, and their friend Roger Penderel -- have been caught in a torrential storm and, seeking shelter, find themselves as guests in the mansion of a particularly weird family. The house belongs to a man named Horace Femm, who occupies it with his mute butler Morgan, his ostensibly deaf sister Rebecca, and, we soon learn, two others: their mother, Sir Roderick ( it was originally meant to be their father but Universal changed it to a woman on the last minute 'cause they couldn't find an actor that looked so old, even without altering the name) who lives upstairs on the verge of death, and their brother Saul, who is kept locked away due to his arsonist-homicidal tendencies.  Soon after, two additional stranded travelers arrive: Sir William Porterhouse, a man who lives up to his name in every way, and his mate, Gladys Perkins, a woman who is openly involved with Porterhouse purely for the money.  During the night of their stay in the old, dark Femm house, these five visitors, as well as those who live in the house, will all experience the shock of change, ignited by the most repressed of the household.


"The Old Dark House" is actually very creepy, comparing it to "Dracula (1931)" or "The Wolf Man (1941)", that are great movies by themselves, they're not actually creepy as the "Old Dark House". I'll just say it, the movie has a creepy atmosphere that makes you feel like you're in the house as one of the guests . Aside from its creepiness, it has Boris Karloff starring, his role in this movie is great as the dumb mute butler 'cause he already had experience as a mute troglodyte on "Frankenstein (1931)". It also has Gloria Stewart on the movie, you may remember her as the old lady from "Titanic (1997)", that's what you call a long work on cinema. 


The movie is awesome, and thanks to it's creepiness i'll give it a: 
7.5/10

November 30, 2010

"The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms" (1953) REVIEW


Basic Plot:

A nuclear test in the arctic brings back to life a giant dinosaur, called a Rhedosaurus, which makes its way to the east coast of North America, destroying shipping vessels and a lighthouse. But all reports of a "sea serpent" are widely ridiculed and dismissed. Meanwhile, the nuclear physicist Tom Nesbitt, who saw the beast, tries to convince the paleontologist Thurgood Elson of its existence. Soon after, the paleontologist is killed by the beast, while being on a diving bell searching for the creature. The Rhedosaurus emerges from the sea and lays waste to Manhattan Island until Nesbitt comes up with a plan to try to stop the seemingly indestructible beast...

The Rhedosaurus on "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms" was Stop-Motion animated by special effects master Ray Harryhausen. Harryhausen is famous for his hardwork and beautiful special effects. I admire all of his films, but i'm not gonna talk about Harryhauysen right now, maybe someday in the future....


As for this film I'll give it a: 7/10