Cubussoli Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Solemplex To me, this movie is perfection.

Redwarmin This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place

Pluskylang Great Film overall

calvinnme ... although any limitations on what could have been shown or done were much more lax in this film 44 years later. Yet I just like the original better.This is another take on the H. G. Wells novel about the "mad" scientist experimenting with animals on a South Seas island, performing surgery on them in "the House of Pain" to try to transform them into human beings. Of course, things never go as planned in these films. Moreau is, after all, "tampering in God's domain" (though that hoary old expression is mercifully not used in this film).Difficult to not compare this version to the first adaption, 1933's Island of Lost Souls, which I find far more satisfactory. In the original Charles Laughton brought a creepy, perverse quality to his Moreau. He was unsettling but effective, and when he cracked that whip in the "What is the law?" scene with the man beasts there was more than a hint of the sadist about him.The surprising casting of Burt Lancaster as Moreau in the 1977 version fails to bring any of these same odious qualities to the film. It's difficult to work up much of a dislike for Lancaster's scientist in spite of his activities. He's still Burt, and he has to battle against his good guy screen persona.Island of Dr. Moreau also surprisingly jettisons one of the kinkiest aspects of the 1933 film, the Panther Girl, as originally played by Kathleen Burke, his most near perfection human like creation from a beast, with whom Laughton's Moreau is eager to see if an unsuspecting male shipwrecked on his island (Richard Arlen) will be willing to mate.The '77 version does have beautiful Barbara Carrera slinking around, and she certainly intrigues (well, more than intrigues) Michael York, now in the Arlen role. Lancaster is aware that they are sexually attracted to each other and ready to mate - but to what purpose, since it turns out Carrera is a normal human, and no kind of Panther Girl. There is a hint in her final scene, however, that she may not be quite so normal, after all, but it went by so quickly I wasn't quite certain if it was my imagination.The man beasts in the original are more effective than here. For starters, you didn't get a really good look at the makeup in the original (outside of a closeup of Bela Lugosi), so much of it is left to the audience's imagination. In the '77 version you see the makeup and, to be honest, it's not so much frightening as it is artificial in appearance (on about a par with that to be found in the original Planet of the Apes).The '77 version, however, interestingly, does show what happens to the man beasts after everything blows up on the island, something the '33 original left to our imagination. This version also has Moreau strapping down and experimenting with York, something not done in the '33 version. That is one of the more interesting aspects of this production, as well.In the final analysis, this is a fairly mediocre adaption of the Wells story, but one should still see it to make his own assessment. There would be another version with Brando almost 20 years later, of course. It's been too long since I've seen that version to talk about it, though I do recall disliking it at the time.

Wuchak This 1977 version of HG Wells' "The Island of Dr. Moreau" is an adventure/drama/sci-fi film about a shipwreck survivor, Andrew Braddock (Michael York), who finds himself on a remote Pacific island where mysterious things are happening. Dr. Moreau (Burt Lancaster) governs the island with his the cynical associate Montgomery (Nigel Davenport). Barbara Carrera is on hand as the doctor's ravishing woman, Maria, but there's something decidedly strange about her. The best thing about this movie is the mounting mystery of the first half. Once the mystery is fully unveiled it becomes uninteresting, mainly due to the storytelling, but the somewhat lame mid-70's creature make-up doesn't help. The latter's reminiscent of the ape F/X of the original "Planet of the Apes" (1968) applied to other beasts. However, this is to be expected since it came out in the mid-70s. The St. Croix locations (US Virgin Islands) are another huge positive. The film doesn't skimp out on showing the natural beauty of the area, which the '96 version did with Cairns, Queensland. Needless to say, the movie's a must for those who like island adventure/dramas. Lancaster is outstanding as the visionary doctor obsessed with genetics. Whereas Brando played the part as an utter eccentric – and Marlon is always entertaining – Burt plays the character low-key but with great underlying passion and is therefore more interesting. A good example is when Moreau asks Braddock with scientific zeal, "How does a cell become enslaved to a form, to a destiny it can never change? Can we change that destiny?" Braddock understandably replies, "Should we?" Disappointed, Moreau immediately dismisses himself. Later, the doctor reveals the extents that he is willing to go for the sake of scientific progress when he exclaims, "If one is to study nature, one must become as remorseless as nature." This is his weakness and downfall, the fact that the attainment of his goals transcends universal morality. Yet, the first half paints him in an almost admirable light. We see a visionary palpably excited about the altruistic prospects of his work, like removing deformities. So Moreau's goals are definitely benevolent. Not to mention, anyone with an inkling of vision can relate to his statement (paraphrasing): "People of vision often become outcasts." Then there's the mysterious and exotically beautiful Maria. Read the spoiler section below for a revelation about her that's more obvious in other versions of the story. Davenport is also effective as the alcoholic mercenary, Montgomery. His response to Braddock's initial inquiry about what kind of animals are on the island is notable. Amused at the question, Montgomery cackles: "All kinds, Lad; all kinds" (ending with a disturbing laugh with loads of hidden meaning). The score by Laurence Rosenthal is worth citing as it's haunting and befits the time period of the story, the late 1800s. Interestingly, the score was clearly ripped off (sort of) by James Horner for the even better music of 1981's "Wolfen."There are also some interesting subtexts: The humanimals who get to live in Dr. Moreau's compound are more human-like in appearance than the animals living in the smelly humanimal cave in the forest. Consider, for instance, the almost palace-like lifestyle of the most human-looking one compared to the others. Wouldn't this lead to tensions between the factions? While Moreau is a benevolent dictator he's still a dictator and dictators are rarely good. Another potent theme is the importance of genuineness in governing authorities. Once Moreau is disobeys his own law, the humanimals revolt. Unfortunately, I can't give it a higher rating for two important reasons. One, the storytelling isn't compelling and therefore the overall effect of the movie is mild amusement. However, the climax is pretty spectacular, particularly a couple of memorable images that I don't want to give away. The second reason is noted below. The film runs 99 minutes. GRADE: B-***SPOILER ALERT*** Don't read further unless you've seen the movie.When Braddock and Maria are discovered by a ship at the end and it's clear that Braddock has reverted back to full-human after days at sea, the original version of the movie reveals that Maria was actually another one of Moreau's experiments and was reverting back to being a panther! This is clear if you look at one of the film's pics shown on IMDb, but there is no image like this in the DVD version of the film (which I assume means the original theatrical version as well, but some dispute this). So it's clear that the producers nixed the original ending for a stereotypical happy one. IDIOTS!

Chase_Witherspoon There's three principal reasons why this HG Wells' inspired horror adventure works, firstly the distinguished cast led by A-graders Michael York (as the shipwrecked engineer) and Burt Lancaster, as the reclusive title character whose gene experiments on the local animal population is resulting in terrible mutations trapped amid instincts that lay somewhere between man and animal, a precariously distorted eco-system.Nigel Davenport plays the boozy mercenary protecting the island establishment from its own macabre experiments, while Richard Basehart is a transformed animal, human enough to be the law sayer and peace-keeper of the mutated island population. Then there's the ravishing Barbara Carrera as a naive orphan brought to the island as a child by Moreau, besotted by the chivalrous York, but equally mysterious like her young lynx companion. Nick Cravat and Dave Cass have minor supporting roles as manimals of various pedigree.The second reason to tune in is the set design and make-up effects in which luminaries John Chambers and Dan Striepeke were involved. Moreau's half-breed experiments are impressively brought to life by Chambers' crew, the full effect more evident on close-up, particularly on the unrecognisable Basehart.Finally, if it needs to be defended, the production of Samuel Z.Arkoff and Sandy Howard should please some, their AIP distribution lending a certain B-movie prestige, a badge that will in itself, attract a legion of fans (but equally, render others suspicious of the quality). Overall, while there were a plethora of plot-holes to be found, and the conclusion a little simplistic, the general tone and quality of the film remained highly entertaining, uncomplicated and straightforward, something the 1996 remake couldn't muster in spite of its (by relative standards) gold plated production.

Coventry There exist several film version of H.G. Wells' famous tale, including a very old one starring Charles Laughton & Bela Lugosi, and the much more known and hyped 90's version starring Marlon Brando. This 70's version is the most obscure of the bunch, but it certainly should appeal to horror fanatics as well as to admirers of Wells' writings. The 70's way of film-making (gritty special effects, cheap atmosphere of sleaze, violence …) fits the story very well because it basically is a very grotesque, far-fetched and strangely unsettling political allegory. Burt Lancaster this time depicts, impressively I may add, the titular "mad" scientist, Nigel Davenport stars as his unaware accomplice Montgomery and the intruding castaway Adrew Braddock is no less than Michael York; a personal favorite of mine. As everyone probably knows, Dr. Moreau lives isolated because his genetic research and experiments aren't exactly easy to justify. Convinced that the basic DNA of whatever living species can be altered into any other species of preference, Moreau's island runs full of guinea pigs. The wild animals he attempts to turn into people are subjected to human laws and whoever breaks the rules will be punished harshly. Braddock disapproves of his work and when he also shows a romantic interest in Moreau's gorgeous wife Maria, he becomes next in line for a whole new different and risky type of experiment. The tropical island setting is magnificent and the production definitely benefices from sublime camera-work and enchanting music. The costumes and make-up effects aren't particularly menacing (the guinea pigs actually look like ancestors of the Ewoks) but the last half hour is exhilaratingly violent and Dr. Moreau's ultimate fate is truly nightmarish, even for a cruel being like him.