This Island Earth (1955)

This movie is good but its kinda back and forth. Plot starts off great and all, scientist is recruited by forces in need of his intelligence. Though I will make one good point...the background art and the story line are absolutely wonderful, a great example of classic science fiction. It's one of those movies that has your imagination going on for hours after the film ends. Only thing I found irritating though was, of course you would think the main purpose of the film is to focus on the Metaluna Mutant monster. As the film goes on, you realize they do not mean a mutation when they call it a mutant, but rather a giant species of insect similar to earth's ants. They breed them as slaves, sort of like the classic film "the Mole people". I liked it, but I wish we had more Mutant danger!

I think they should have thrown out the first 30 minutes of this film. What a waste of color film. After that, the film was very good. Exeter was good. Faith D., the leading lady was great. The monster was well done. I like the photography. It was imaginative for the 1950's. What did the rest of you think of the first 30 minutes?

Maybe because I grew up in the fifty's and was always wondering when we might get " A-BOMBED" by the Russians that THIS ISLAND EARTH holds a special place in my heart and though I have watched it a hundred times I never grow tired of it. PURE ESCAPISM to be magically transported into the movie and travel thru space to Metaluna. The acting grows on you as does the special effects- great for their time- yes if one can just sit back and enjoy a film from a simpler time ,try NOT to nit pick it one just might really enjoy it!though the actors in the film. Have all passed away, this film for me lives forever in my heart and DVD player......StarGazer

This is somehow an unforgettable movie perhaps because its visual was so unusual. The premise of the story was also original, and had more intelligence than the average science fiction of the time.Metaluna, a dying planet sends an envoy called Exeter to earth, hoping to get permission to mine earth's uranium to provide energy for their planet's defense system. But they do this in an unconventional way compared to other alien themed movie. The alien Exeter arrives covertly and established a posh residence among humans, mingling only with scientist of their choosing. Exeter's way of establishing contact is rather unorthodox. He sends parts that is beyond earth's industrial manufacturing capability to a scientist. Next he sends a complete instruction on how to make a communications device to talk to him. Dr. Meacham who's one of the recipient accepts his invitation and visits his mansion.Fast forward a bit in story, Meacham, and Dr. Ruth Adams are on their way to Metaluna. The planet is under attack, and their only hope is to immigrate to earth, but their planned method is not peaceful.The story is totally apocalyptic, and perhaps the creators of this movie had a warning message against nuclear holocaust that was one of the new topic of the post war America. Story is not complex but the delivery is brutal in its depiction, and has a unique kind of terror to it that's different from any other kind of science fiction movie. That is the value of this movie and why I think it continues to have fans after half a century has passed since its making.The producers may have been a closet UFO buffs, as the saucer in this movie is designed after the UFO that was sighted over California in the '50s. That kind of personal interest on their part is probably what made the movie so intriguing watch. Not a masterpiece from a production point of view but but stands out because the ideas, and presentation was so original and shocking.