SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

Frances Chung Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Ginger Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Aspen Orson There is definitely an excellent idea hidden in the background of the film. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find it.

poe-48833 THIS ISLAND EARTH is satisfying on every level (at least, it always has been for ME, but what do I know, right?), making it yet another of those gems from The Golden Age of Science Fiction Films. The science is plausible enough for Science FICTION; the performances are without flaw; the Aliens are most definitely ALIEN; the Special Effects are indeed SPECIAL; and the Monster just happens to be one of the Greatest ever conceived (in my own, ever humble, opinion). I've been treating myself to marathons of Old Movies (Science Fiction and Horror, mostly) over the past month or so and I found myself being drawn irresistibly into this movie, something that rarely happens; I even picked up on the names of the stars from CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON ("Adams" and "Carlson") and I want a Metaluna Mutant model more than ever. THIS ISLAND EARTH takes me back to a Time that never was (for ME: the 1950s) and an alien planet long gone. Who could ask for more...?

AaronCapenBanner Joseph M. Newman directed this science fiction yarn that stars Rex Reason as Dr. Cal Meachum, who is enlisted by aliens from the planet Metaluna(after being tested first) to help them save their dying planet. He is flown to their remote mansion/laboratory, where he meets fellow scientist Ruth Adams(played by Faith Domergue) along with another scientist(played by Russell Johnson) They uncover the sinister truth of alien invasion, and are abducted to Metaluna by friendly alien Exeter(played by Jeff Morrow) which is war-torn and doomed, though they do discover a mutant... OK film is quite silly and arch in some ways, but also a lot of fun, with imaginative set design and action.

bkoganbing This Island Earth was a film I feel might have run out of budget. There was so much time spent on introducing the characters and having those two earth scientists trapped for a trip to the planet Metaluna that when they got there, they seemed in a big hurry to get them in and out.The Metalunans have a mission they are seeking to obtain all the uranium on earth to power their defenses against a ruthless interplanetary enemy. It's why they send Jeff Morrow and Lance Fuller to Earth. Also to prepare the planet for a possible invasion.If that was their intention, they're a day late and a dollar short. Metaluna is being decimated by meteors controlled by the enemy of the Metalunans whom we never see. They've got defenses that repel the meteors, but are powered by uranium and the planet has run out. Looks like some really bad planning here for a culture that is so advanced from where Earth is.The bait is an Interositer which is an all purpose machine as advertised by the Metalunans who've come to Earth in secret in one of those flying saucers every now and then spotted. Building one intrigues scientist Rex Reason and it turns out to be a communication device where Morrow contacts them.Eventually the laboratory that the Metalunans set up on Earth is destroyed when the Earth people discover they're being used and all but Reason and Faith Domergue are killed. They are captured and brought aboard the flying saucer and learn what's happening on the trip to Metaluna. Some really nice sets, very imaginative were done for this film by Universal. This definitely has the look of being a more ambitious project than what turned out.

Rabh17 I'll be honest. I got this DVD because I only remember seeing this film when I was a Kid, back when my house only had one small Black & White TV that NEVER got channel 11 clearly enough even on a good night. Plus, the TV room was right next to my Parent's bedroom, so I couldn't turn the sound up, else my mother would have growled "GO To BED!" from the other room.And Now with the DVD, I was shocked to realize that the movie was IN COLOR! That said-- post Star Wars, Post ALIEN and everything else, 'Island Earth' is a stilted pulp Sci-Fi movie that was unknowingly CREATED just for Mystery Science Theatre.Yet still, the main reasons I still put the disc in from time to time: One--The Interocitor. Especially when the scientist plugged it in and it started that eery humming and the triangular viewscreen lit up. That staged FX still captivates. And I can never get over the notion of a Communication device that comes equipped with atomic disintegration rays! A) Metalunans evidently don't get many unwanted phone calls. B) Dating Metalunan women must be VERY dangerous-- I mean imagine your girlfriend being able to zap you to dust just because she THINKS you're lying to her or didn't answer her call fast enough! Two--The Flying Saucer. That scene when it rises up on the green pulsing column of energy against the darkening sky while your TV/Sound system pulses with the sound of atomic engines. Sci-Fi FX heaven.The rest of it is truly 'eh-meh' in the TRUE 21st century, but some of the dialogue lines are smile provoking.But know what? rather than a Main event-- this is a great piece of video history to have playing on the flatscreen when you have friends over for get-together while you're all noshing and talking about other things.