Movie Night: Things to Come.

Review #449: Things to Come.

Cast
Raymond Massey (John Cabal/Oswald Cabal), Edward Chapman (Pippa Passworthy/Raymond Passworthy), Ralph Richardson (Rudolf), Margaretta Scott (Roxana Black/Rowena Cabal), Cedric Hardwicke (Theotocopulos), and Maurice Braddell (Edward Harding) Directed by William Cameron Menzies (#448 - Invaders from Mars)

Review
H. G. Wells devised the plot and dialogue for the film which was adapted from his own novel, The Shape of Things to Come, though apparently scenes were shortened for censors, and learning that he wanted the music to be recorded in response and have the film made around the music is both an intriguing idea and odd at the same time, for 1936 at least. But enough about Wells, there's the film itself, and how it is on the whole, and it's...not too bad. Somewhat dated but never too dull, the actors do alright and the highlight of the film is undoubtedly the effects which have been compared to Art Deco, which isn't a bad thing. The directing by Menzies (Who I just talked about in the last review...) is not too shabby for a film like this. For the time this was made it feels like foreboding, and while this isn't as great as it could have been, it's at least watchable and one of those films that shouldn't be remade, which in the world we live, is an achievement, I suppose. There's just one more film to get to in this countdown. Countdown to 450 Reviews: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

And now, the 450th Review (which will be posted tomorrow night) will be...

Movie Night: Invaders from Mars (1953).

Review #448: Invaders from Mars.

Cast
Jimmy Hunt (David Maclean), Helena Carter (Dr. Pat Blake), Arthur Franz (Dr. Stuart Kelston), Morris Ankrum (Fielding), Leif Erickson (George MacLean), Hillary Brooke (Mary MacLean), Max Wagner (Rinaldi), Milburn Stone (Capt. Roth), and Janine Perreau (Kathy Wilson) Directed by William Cameron Menzies.

Review
This is an odd film in sorts, and it may be due to the color changes, the sets or because of the twist ending that sounds extremely familiar. But anyway, Invaders from Mars doesn't run too long but it does have its charm. Jimmy Hunt isn't a terrible child actor in this film and he manages to do a respectable job. The effects in this film aren't too bad for 1953 and the color changes that occur do gives more context to the confusion that this film sometimes does. It's a weird film, and while the ending probably justifies the oddness, it's an okay film at best, not too hokey (unless you count that grey alien, which reminds me of Colin Mochrie for some reason.) It's something you could watch easily, what with the 70 minutes run time and all. The ending actually wasn't kept in foreign versions like in England, which edited their own ending, a bit less thought provoking than the original version. This is a mostly decent film that could be argued to be a mid-classic, and it's best to take it for what it's worth. Countdown to 450 Reviews: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2...

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.

And now, I will reveal the next review in advance...Things to Come.