This Island Earth, a classic sci-fi film.

But, classics aren't necessarily good movies. They are just remarkable in some aspect.

This Island Earth was a grandiose, spectacle of a movie. "Over 2 and a half years in the making!" boasts the trailer. It was in full color back in the 1950's which was rare for any movie without an A-list star or a cast of thousands.

The draw? Aliens. America had sensationalized flying saucers, paranoia was everyone's favorite parlor game, and a movie about traveling to aliens with giant foreheads was just the ticket for summer.

The movie is unbearably awful, the acting, the writing, the way the plot creeps along without much of a through line. The showdown between horrified girl and rubbery brain/insect/beast at the end is particularly funny, the way the woman runs cavalier in a circle while the alien pursues. The costumes a good bit of ridiculous too.

This film is the paragon of the summer blockbuster. I'm sure teens were gabbing away back in the 50's of the amazing special effects and cool aliens, but time is hard on these sorts of movies.

Yes, time's a bitch. For the summer blockbuster, few have any value beyond a decade. Who watches Twister these days? Or Speed? Or Air Force One? Not only have these movies flickered away into the no-rental zone of blockbuster video, they are even mocked today for the stodgy, unbelievable premises and plots. Yet, at the time I remember loving these films. I even remember critic praising these films. Ah, well. I guess they're no worse than the rhetorical tripe that washes away just as quickly every Christmas. At least the aliens in This Island Earth don't spew on about border patrolling, the timeliness of diplomacy, or the importance of questioning everything.

Health link time!
Abs on a high fat diet is a great fitness post from the folks over at Mark's Daily Apple.
Damage Control 1 is a vitamin site that sells the Master Formula and...
Damage Control 2 is the main website of the same company.