Featured Audience Ratings

• jay n

  
  What was once probably cutting edge special effects are now laughably awful but for fans of 50's sci-fi that might be just the ticket. Goofy in its seriousness it still manages to entertain. Jeff Morrow with his extremely deep voice is perfect to spout the scripts various… More
  What was once probably cutting edge special effects are now laughably awful but for fans of 50's sci-fi that might be just the ticket. Goofy in its seriousness it still manages to entertain. Jeff Morrow with his extremely deep voice is perfect to spout the scripts various profundities while Faith Domergue a lovely woman although never much of an actress is suitably distraught. A Satuday afternoon matinee movie if ever there was one.

• Michael G

  
  If you're looking for a 50s example of style over substance, you've found it. This Island Earth (I'm still not sure how the title applies to the story) starts off with an interesting premise--aliens posing (poorly) as a think tank of sorts to recruit Earth's best… More
  If you're looking for a 50s example of style over substance, you've found it. This Island Earth (I'm still not sure how the title applies to the story) starts off with an interesting premise--aliens posing (poorly) as a think tank of sorts to recruit Earth's best and brightest for the scientific good. Turns out they're scientifically more advanced than us and need our help for some reason. Eventually they wind up killing all but 2 of the scientests (including The Professor from Gilligan's Island!) and abduct them, taking them back to their home planet that's got one foot on a banana peel and the other in the grave. The story is nonsensical shit. The first hour really tries your patience then sort of pays off with some kitschy set design, neat lighting and some fun effects that at the time supposedly took 2 1/2 years. Ooh! And a monster! I have a feeling I'd get more out of this from the MST3K perspective but you're better off watching Forbidden Planet as This Island Earth is the low-rent, poor man's version of that movie...

• AJ V

  
  This sci-fi movie is different from most 50s sci-fi movies. The story has to do with aliens bringing Earth scientist to their planet to help them. The settings are very cool and beautiful. I loved this movie, and I recommend it.

• Randy T

  
  Fifties sci-fi that's as cheesy as they come. Visitors from outer space recruit a couple of American scientists to assist in putting down an invasion of marauding intruders. <center><div style="width:179px;"><a… More
  Fifties sci-fi that's as cheesy as they come. Visitors from outer space recruit a couple of American scientists to assist in putting down an invasion of marauding intruders. <center><div style="width:179px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com/photos/this-island-earth-evil-zahgon-12734504"><img src="http://content6.flixster.com/photo/12/73/45/12734504_ori.jpg" border="0"/></a></div></center> A masterpiece of low budget camp notable for it's two distinct types of aliens: the friendly, prominently foreheaded intellectuals and the lumbering, pincher-clawed Zahgons.

• Anthony L

  
  A intriguing and original idea, not brilliantly executed but that?s half the charm of this and all the other 50's B-movie 'flying saucer' films. The dodgy special effects, un-scary monsters, big-headed Aliens etc, it's all here in all its glory. One of my favourite… More
  A intriguing and original idea, not brilliantly executed but that?s half the charm of this and all the other 50's B-movie 'flying saucer' films. The dodgy special effects, un-scary monsters, big-headed Aliens etc, it's all here in all its glory. One of my favourite lines in this film (and now of all time) is: Joe Wilson: Here's something my wife could use in the house. An "iterociter incorporating an electron sorter." Dr. Cal Meacham: Oh, she'd probably gain 20 pounds while it did all the work for her. Brilliant, just brilliant!

• Pierluigi P

  
  Cheesy as hell. one of those 50s comunist paranoia flicks. despite that, entertaining. view it for its "historical" value.

• Matthew Y

  
  Arguably the most controversial film that was ever heckled at by the Mystery Science Theater crew in that some people regard it as a decent Sci-Fi film from the 50's. While I absolutely adore sci-fi films and have much admiration for early B-Movies of the 50's I can't… More
  Arguably the most controversial film that was ever heckled at by the Mystery Science Theater crew in that some people regard it as a decent Sci-Fi film from the 50's. While I absolutely adore sci-fi films and have much admiration for early B-Movies of the 50's I can't say that I'm among those who find This Island Earth to be an entertaining film. The definition of campy is: providing sophisticated amusement by virtue of having artificially (and vulgarly) mannered or banal or sentimental qualities. The definition of cheesy is : cheap, unpleasant, or blatantly inauthentic. Basically they're both the same concept but camp is enjoyable and cheese is not. This Island Earth, despite every "A" for effort attempt, is one that I would classify as cheesy and we're very much laughing at the film instead of with the film. While it has its fans and I understand where they're coming from it certainly doesn't hold even when compared with its companion films from the 50's.

• Nate H

  
  Not actually terrible, but it's kind of imbalanced. As though it were a short story and the writer realized he was approaching the word limit a bit too late. Decent effects, though, and the acting wasn't even distractingly hammy.

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