August 30th, 2008
Posted by
Ian W |
DVD Viewing Journal |
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This is the 2001 of ant movies! Part alien invasion part Animal Planet it has Nigel Davenport and Michael Murphy out in the desert trying to understand recent changes in ant behaviour and, in the end, find some way to communicate with them.
Director Saul Bass is best known for his revolutionary credit sequences, particularly for some of the Bond films, but here he crafts an intelligent SF film, with some amazing footage of the ants. In fact the ants are almost like characters themselves, and this is the only film I can think of where one cast member literally eats another.
Davenport steals the acting honours, going a tad bonkers after one of the ants gives him a bite on the hand while Murphy is too emotionless, perhaps unsure what the hell it’s all about. Just what it is all about is open to interpretation but I’d love to see Bass’ original version with its trippy 2001 style ending. As it is though I’m just glad I’ve had to chance to see this again.
For a bugphobe’s perspectve read Dipa’s review here.
August 30th, 2008
Posted by
Ian W |
DVD Viewing Journal |
no comments
This original Godzilla film will come as a shock to anyone who’s only seen later entries in the long running series. The main difference is that the Big G we see here is very much the villain rather than the reluctant hero he would become. It’s also a much more serious film, with Godzilla an analogy for the American atomic bomb. It also asks how responsible a scientist is for his creation, coming down in favour of culpability.
There’s some good old-fashioned Godzilla mayhem too but it’s not as much fun as later films, we get to see the affect it has on people rather than just wholesale mass destruction. A worthy film but not one I’d consider a true masterpiece.
You’ll find Dipa’s less enthusiastic opinion here.
August 30th, 2008
Posted by
Ian W |
DVD Viewing Journal |
no comments
Richard Matheson’s Tom Thumb for the atomic age is part character study, part action movie. The first half of the film focuses on Scott Carey’s gradual disintegration, both mental and physical and gets the audience to empathise with Carey, thanks to a terrific performance from Grant Williams. Then we’re thrown down the cellar with him, into a primal world where food must be won and life is threatened by a creature as fearsome as any horror movie monster, before ultimately reaching a philosophical climax that leaves the film with a note of optimism.
The set design is amazing, Matheson’s script, from his own novel, is literate and moving and Jack Arnold’s direction fuses them together to create a true science fiction masterpiece. This is probably my favourite ‘50s SF movies and one I never get tired of watching. Given how good he is here I’ve never understood why Grant Williams got stuck in B Movies and TV.
I think this is also the film that’s responsible for my fear of spiders.
You’ll find Dipa’s view here.
August 30th, 2008
Posted by
Ian W |
DVD Viewing Journal |
no comments
The day kicks off with a real classic. Groundbreaking special effects that still look good today, a unique score that’s more electronic bleeps than music but fits the film perfectly, and a cool monster – what more could you ask for? How about Leslie Nielsen as a proto-Kirk, he’s even got James T’s eye for the ladies, or Walter Pidgeon as mad scientist Doctor Edward Morbius, or one of cinemas most memorable robots in Robby? The only bum note is Anne Francis who lacks the innocence to make the Altaira character believable, coming across as a bit of a flirt.
You’ll find Dipa’s thoughts here.
