This Island Earth

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A mysterious, pilotless plane carries scientist Rex Reason to a colony of America's best and brightest minds. They've been kidnapped by a dying alien race, the Metalunians, to repair their defense shield before their enemies destroy their world completely, toiling under their spying eyes and futuristic security cameras (two-way TVs that dominate every room). Jeff Morrow, under a raised forehead, bronze tan, and snow-white hair, philosophizes as Exeter, the thoughtful Metalunian torn between his duty and his morals as he forces the plucky humans to labor in his race's defense. The moody mystery of the first half turns to pure pulp adventure when the humans are transported across the galaxy to the battle-scarred world of Metaluna, under the threatening watch of a monstrous bug-eyed monster with a giant brain for a head and massive claws for hands. There's a genuine sense of wonder to Joseph Newman's intergalactic adventure, one of the most ambitious science fiction films of the 1950s. The story is simple space opera, but the futuristic designs of glass and metal, the marvelous alien makeup, and grandstanding special effects invest the film with a Technicolor splendor. Faith Domergue co-stars as a nuclear physicist and Gilligan's Island's Russell Johnson makes his first professorial appearance as a scientist. Science fiction auteur Jack Arnold was an unbilled codirector. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

this island earth, abandon ship!.......2007-09-10

One of the most famous sf films of all time, is also one of the most annoying and over rated. The writing is full of impending malevolence, the acting wooden and direction ordinary. I bought this dvd because I hadn't seen the movie in over 25 years, but it turns out only that I can now see it in colour for the first time. The lack of any extra features is indicative of the entire package.

This Island Earth - A Wow of a film........2007-08-14

This movie might not be of the calibre of 'The Day the Earth Stood Still', but it is certainly part of the canon of great sci-fi movies of the 20th century. The digital transfer has been wonderful (I lived off a VHS copy for 15 years), and it allowed a detail more reminiscent of its first release. To say that this movie was one i had waited for is an understatement - to say that it gives contemporary films a run for their money, is to state the obvious. A sign of the times is, I would have loved to see more extra features (like who is Rex Reason, and what about the color of the Metallunan's back on their home world?).

Campy , Saturday matinee feature from the fifties.......2007-07-25

Bug eyed monsters, mysterious aliens ,sexy scientists and catchy special effects, What's not to like ? The pace is slow and the acting wooden , to say the least. The professsor from Gilligan's Island is here and he gets zapped by a green death ray. One scientist has a heaving bosom and another a chiseled lantern jaw. The alien guru has a tremendous forehead. There's a visit to another world in the middle of a centuries old war being fought with flaming meteors. There's some sort of moral message here , but I forgot what it was. Never mind. Just get the movie, nuke some popcorn, kick back and relax. It's high camp all the way.

Earth is my kind of Island, I like the atmosphere........2007-07-10

This delightful and very fifties film,is to me the epitome of fifties Sci-fi.
Uncommonly for a Sci-fi film from this era it's in vibrant colour,and really makes the most out of it.
A simple storyline,competent actors,and most refreshingly of all no CGI.
I'm not totally against CGI as long as it's used in moderation,but personally I prefer a good detailed model,well lit.
~~Synopsis~~
One day electronic expert Dr Cal Meacham is sent some unusual components through the post,his curiosity is aroused even more when a book arrives showing him how to build an Alien device using the components.
This is the start of an adventure that leads to another planet,an interplanetary war,and a possible invasion of Earth.
~~~~
I found the remote controlled DC-3 aircraft an intriguing idea for 1955.
This is a film for all fifties science fiction connoisseur's.
Based on the novel by Raymond F Jones.
(Modern Sci-fi movies could learn a lot about pacing, from these 50's classic's.)

meplease.......2007-06-27

I found the quality to be as they said prompt serve and delivery. Exectional Thank you.

Average customer rating:

this island earth, abandon ship!
This Island Earth - A Wow of a film.
Campy , Saturday matinee feature from the fifties
Earth is my kind of Island, I like the atmosphere.
meplease

This Island Earth
Starring: Jeff Morrow , Faith Domergue , Rex Reason , Lance Fuller , and Russell Johnson
Director: Jack Arnold , and Joseph M. Newman
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305077983
Release Date: 1998-04-08

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Description

Jeff Morrow stars in this 1950s science fiction classic about the exploits of a team of scientists who are abducted from Earth to help defend a far off planet from a malevolent alien race. Now, light years from home, they will face strange creatures, meteor storms and other hazards in their attempt to get back to Earth.