Artivels Undescribable Perfection

CommentsXp Best movie ever!

ShangLuda Admirable film.

Sameer Callahan It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

mark.waltz So says the female scientist aboard a risky flight to Mars of all places, 58 years later still pretty unknown in spite of all the things that have been discovered. I wish other scientists had that sentiment and left the fantasy of what is there to the movies, of which this is one of the better ones. It's not just the ethical sentiment that I share with the pretty redhead; it's just a darn good movie that instantly grabs you, setting the mood with all the right elements!The story starts with the launching, and switches to the return of the rocket. As fast as it is back, the audience is back on the ship, and thanks to pretty Nora Hayden (the reddest of redheads), we learn what transpired. There's mystery, romance, humor, science, adventure and obviously danger, tightly mixed together in a very fast moving 85 minutes. It's a living nightmare for Hayden who must relive what she witnessed, and there's no fun loving, fast killing little green men going around to destroy the earth. Even with the humor, this is not a comedy, and not even unintentionally funny, although a few times I managed to suppress a few giggles, especially English speaking message from whatever inhabits the unseen elements of the angry red planet. With Gerald Mohr as the dashing captain, Jack Kruschen as the comic book loving crew member and Les Tremayne as the brilliant professor on board, Hayden is surrounded by a too notch cast. The planet does indeed turn red when the earthlings explore it, a great effect they perfectly adds to the mood. Yes, the set often looks like a painted background, and there's an abundance of scary looking monsters and a futuristic city that looks like architecture of today. But I really got spooked by a flesh eating giant plant, a giant six legged creature that appears to be part arachnid/part rodent, and a giant sea creature the size of a steam-liner. They come out of nowhere, and it's better not to see stills of the film to build up suspense. The dreamlike memories of what Hayden experienced gives this psychological brilliance in telling the story. Along with only a handful of others, this has to be one of the best written science fiction films, reminding me that on occasion, they could really be profound. Of course, some of the moments may seem silly to some, but they really got me surprised by the constant suspense. I've seen many of these films that left me either angry or red, but this is practically brilliant in every way.

gavin6942 One of only two survivors from a Martian expedition is so traumatized she (Naura Hayden) does not remember the circumstances of the trip.The film stars Gerald Mohr and is directed by American International Pictures regular Ib Melchior. Melchior was only given 10 days and a budget of $200,000 to make the film. All things considered, he did alright.The New York Times wrote, "The Angry Red Planet solemnly warns its audiences not to go to Mars. Stubborn patrons who ignore the advice will discover that the planet looks like a cardboard illustration from Flash Gordon and is inhabited by carnivorous plants, a giant amoeba and a species resembling a three-eyed green ant." Well said.Great film? No. Fun film? Yes.

Hitchcoc This is the highest rating I can give this film, not because I didn't have fun with it; it just isn't very good. The story is told in flashback after a rocket, floating in space, is retrieved by remote control When it lands, there are two on board: a macho guy whose arm has been enveloped in what looks like lime Jell-o and a pretty red-headed woman. They were two of the original crew of four that piloted a first Earth ship to Mars. Mars, of course, has long been known as "the red planet." In this film, it is red during the day and apparently blue at night. When the explorers go out, they turn red. Of course, this is cheaper than figuring out a way to contrast the with their environment. The crew are typical fifties types. The macho guy is full of testosterone and lusts after Iris (whom he calls Irish). She powders her nose and puts on perfume before attending to her duties. She also carries a purse. There are frequent wolfy comments about her womanhood. On board are a scientist and a guy whose job it is to protect them. He uses a sonic gun he calls Cleo which, for some reason, freezes what it is fired at. This is also cheaper than showing actual gunfire and its affect on the target. Anyway, they explore and encounter Martians and their livestock. They bumble around stupidly without natural precautions. At one point, a giant mouse thing with forty-foot legs attacks them. Later, it's an enormous amoeba. Much of the story is talky and tiresome. Once we return to present time, the issues must be dealt with. The woman's memory has been tapped (there is some pretty convenient science involved here). Mr. Jell-o arm is the primary concern. The other issue is a tape recording, the last surviving one after all others have been erased. You must make it to the end to find out what was said. Pretty typical 1950's stuff.

Edgar Soberon Torchia The names of Sidney Pink and Ib Melchior are associated with two of the less satisfactory science-fiction films that I saw in the 1960s: this unbelievably boring and moronic film and, three years later, "Journey to the Seventh Planet", made in Denmark, with a story that resembles Stanislav Lew's novel "Solaris". (I have not seen "The Time Travelers", but apparently things improved). It takes almost 30 minutes of its running time to get to Mars and a few more to get out of the ship, only to discover settings in a horrid "process" called Cinemagic, that makes everything look like a cartoon in red. The cast is terrible. Watch the astronauts' shoes and socks.