Reviews

Brilliant film. Love it. Definitely NOT dated - except that there's no swearing or sex. If the lack of these dates a film then perhaps you can call it dated but then in that case I'd call that a major advantage, because this one needs none of that. It's a story of a old unsolved murder, and a much maligned detective who is generally treated like rubbish but who comes through in the end. For any of us who struggle for what we think is right but only get stomped on or ignored or ridiculed, this is a wonderful film.

Bernard Cribbins is perfect casting. Anyone else would have made a hash of it. You need vulnerability for this role and he literally oozes vulnerability. Yet he knows that a young girls disappearance is really her murder and if the crime is 15 years old, that doesn't change anything. People are important - even 15 years later. Something that many mothers and fathers of missing children certainly know.

I'd like to think that there are people out there like Dangerous Davies doing their best against the odds. I'm not so sure of it though. But while this film exists it gives you hope.

Shillingbury Tales is a wonderful series - light, breezy, amusing and very addictive. If only they'd made more!!!!! Best of all, it's now on DVD in the U.K. so if you haven't seen it yet then get out there and buy a copy. You wont regret it!

Bernard Cribbins is a guest in a couple of episodes and brilliant. Diane K's dresses are straight out of the 70's (of course) but the only things that date this classic.

On an aside, the opening sequence are very reminiscent of the Vicar of Dibley. Even the local inhabitants are slightly weird like those of Dibley. But the action centres on a composer from London rather than a vicar, and it's not in-your-face comedy but a relaxing feel-good experience. And don't we need that sort of thing nowadays!

I saw the series just once, but I longed for each episode to come round. I have the book (which is good) but OHHHHH I would like to see the series again.

Expect atmosphere. Expect uncanny. Expect thrills. If you get the chance, take it. You'll be haunted by the memory! Don't expect fantastic effects, ray guns, funny aliens or obscenities. You don't need those to ice your spine. In fact, good stories, good acting, and good dialogue are far more important, and although it's been a few years now, I seem to remember that the Omega Factor has all those.

Why it isn't on DVD is a mystery worthy of the program itself. It's like Kolchak:Night Stalker and Australia's own "The Evil Touch". An absolute gem, but as with all gems, hard to find.

Channel 2 (in Australia) showed this series, so perhaps if you live in God's own country you might like to pester the ABC into a reshow.

I like films about dogs that are smarter than people, mainly because the way the world is going, it seems to be true!

Having said that, this is - and always was going to be - a feel good movie. Even the baddies are suitably laughable that you can like them. And of course, the dogs are all great. Especially the mad terrier that attaches itself to peoples backs and wont let go.

Only disappointment was that the FBI agent was obviously very attached to his dog and after emphasizing that so much, the dog's choice was too clean and too child-oriented. The dog should have dithered a lot more.

The night-experience with doggy-doos was wonderful.

The creatures were not very impressive, and hey what did they live on in between eclipses?

And who couldn't guess which one was going to be the hero in the first one minute?

And there was way f*ing too much f*ing bad f*ing language. Really tough, really mean, really scary does not rely on schoolground swearing. Perhaps most moviegoers only understand eleven words with one being f* and the other c*, but I don't believe it. I think that most people are better than that and it's time that movie makers recognised the f*ing fact!

What the film really did have going for it - which impressed me very much - were three things.

Firstly, it relied on the age old rule that what you *dont* see frightens you most.

Secondly, the use of light (before the eclipse!) gave a more alien look to the planet than anything I have ever seen before. It was almost black and white - hard light that we just don't see here. It didn't look like a studio, or Mexico (or even Coober Pedy!).

Thirdly, we were presented with a 'holy man' who was not a standard Christian eccentric or magically endowed Indian Guru. A plain simple Muslim Iman who lived by his beliefs but didn't attempt to murder, terrorize or convert anyone, nor attempt to exorcise the monster devils, nor to worship them. Just an example of one of the worlds population in the wrong place at the wrong time.

So I think it was an interesting film, but not for the usual reasons. Not for the plot which was predictable, not for the writing (which mostly was adequate) and not for the effects (which were relatively unimpressive). No, I 'liked' the film because I could really believe it was another planet, because I could believe in the creatures (till I saw them!) and because it highlighted that the things we *are* afraid of, may not necessarily be the things we *should* be worrying about.

This is a strange film. It can be very amusing, but also very frightening. You don't have to take sides in the conflict in Ireland to appreciate that the people there have been living on the edge for some time.

If you want Cheech or Chong then stay away. But if you want to feel uncomfortable, have a laugh, and perhaps feel just a little bit of empathy for your fellow human beings then this is a great film.

Personally, I could do with less F*ing language, but it is important to consider the characters involved. In real life they just don't go around saying 'golly gosh' and 'darn'.

Billy Connolly is a perfect choice for his role, and is an integral part of the film. A mad scotsman? Why? Because only the Irish have the strengh of character and mind to stay sane under the condition in which they have had to live. And even then .....

Don't watch this film for the laughs. Don't watch it for the actors. Don't even watch it for the sake of Billy Connolly. Watch it to see that spark of humanity that we sometimes refer to as the soul.

I felt that the views of the future were unbelievably optimistic. No crime, no starvation, no pollution, everything seems so wonderful. This detracted from the point of the story because it took away the realism. Perhaps I am cynical, but I can't see ALL the worlds problems being solved by the time 'Andrew' was created.

Also, the point of the original (Asimov) story concerns the way we regard other 'species', and focuses us on the ROBOT and it's desire for equality (in all things). But 'Andrew' is no ordinary robot, which robs us of that ultimate question. It's sort of Short Circuit's Number 5 with legs instead of wheels. Gone is the real question of what is really life, what is really mind, and gone is the real question of rights and prejudices. The other robot in the story appears 'aware' because the personality circuits are turned on while 'Andrew' (we are assured) has his turned off. But were they? Or was there a bug in the system which resulted in them being activated - e.g. when he launched himself out of the window.

Oh, and only when he looked really human are we really allowed to think that he has a 'soul' and is worthy of true freedom - the right to die. Boy, we humans are an arrogant lot aren't we. And how many places on this planet have you the right to euthanasia anyway?

Still, I enjoyed the film - I just had to switch off my CPU while watching it.

Err, in my previous post I made a reference to Stephen King's book 'Desolation'. The correct title is, of course, 'Desperation'.

I can only put this blunder down to two things:

1. 'Ghosts of Mars' was an intellectual desolation and

2. I would only ever re-view it in desperation!

(3. I was possessed by an evil spirit from Uranus)

Either way, I still feel that GoM was very much a let down, and owed so much to so many (others) that I am really surprised no-one else has pursued Carpenter for damages. But perhaps I am being too hard, because there really isn't much new under the sun, really. Even the Martian sun.

What marred this film were the ghosts of other films/books. The whole plot (evil thing buried in mine from time immemorial takes over people and makes them kill and cut heads off) has been done to death, most recent book I read was Stephen King's DESOLATION. (Even the main male role in Ghosts of Mars was called Desolation! Note also the hanging up of corpses in that book)

Added to that the fact that when you take away the bang-bang muzak, and the um-oh chanting 'natives' and the ah-so-overdone kung foo (sic) fighting sequences, all that was left was F*** this, F*** that and F*** the other. Typically all talk as no-one took their clothes off :-/

I knew nothing about the film and hoped for something akin to Ray Bradbury's original Martian Chronicles, or at the least a not-so-boring shoot-em-up with some effects, some plot and some sense.

And on the last point, lots of martian spirit-things obviously were released everytime our 'heroes' blasted their hosts into tiny bits. So why did they so rarely try to take over our 'heroes'? With the number of them in the fight sequences, I'd have though they could have been possessed ten times over at least. At first I thought there was natural immunity, but this went out the window when the shock value of infecting a major 'hero' character was considered valuable enough. It seems the martian spirit-monsters wanted to make sure the 'heroes' lasted out to the end of the film.

I shouldn't think I would again.

How I wish to see this show again. On DVD preferably. It has been years and years but I can still remember the theme, and Anthony Quayles haunting "there is a touch of evil in all of us". And didnt he always wish us pleasant dreams?

The only complaint I had was that they were repeated over and over, but now my only complaint is that they are NOT repeated! IT'S TIME GUYS - DUST OFF THE TINS AND SHOW IT AGAIN.

I can't get that music out of my head..........

ps. then there was that parrot screaming "Murderer Murderer Murderer" It was like TwighlightZone+TalesOfTheUnexpected+NightGallery all rolled into one.

*Sigh* If only I'd had a video.....

This is a great Carry On. The unemployed group together (under Sid James aka Mr Handy) to provide 'services' to various people for a fee. Special treat is Stanley Unwin who is desperately trying to warn them of their impending eviction, but due to his gobbldygook language, they don't understand. Until Kenneth Williams (an equally skilled orator) comes to the rescue. Best bit definitely Kenneth Connor in the Gentlemans club. Almost as good - Kenneth Williams walking the Chimp, Kenneth Williams interpreting for the German Woman, Kenneth Connor and Joan Simms (No sweets, no draws), Stanley Unwin all the time, Charles Hawtrey boxing ..... no, there's too many good bits to recount.

The WORST transition from book to film ever, anywhere in the universe. Absolutely appalling. One of the best books becomes the worst 'films'.

What did we do to deserve this? "Technical advances in cartoons" aside, why did they not burn the film before releasing it?

This is true magic. You will be shaking but not through horror. The Raven was made to amuse and it does.

The magician's duel may lack 'modern effects' but for their day they were pretty impressive. And the warmth and humour shines out in all the characters.

And yes, Peter Lorre dressed up as a Raven IS hilarious.

Highly recommended to those with a devilish sense of humour. Vincent Price is wonderfully evil as the desperate undertaker. Peter Lorre is disgusting but lovable as the assistant caught between Price's evil ways and his lovely (opera-punishing) wife (played with gusto and terrible audibility by Joyce Jameson). Boris Karloff (who never seems to get his medicine) is excellent as JJ's elderly father.

Honours go to their demanding landlord, Basil Rathbone, who.... well, watch the film and find out.

Stalker is perfect. Not too long, not too short.

It is meant to be experienced, to be felt. In my opinion, any analysis of the film can only serve to degrade it. There is no plot, so yes if you want to 'follow the action' or 'understand what they're getting at' then you might find it boring.

At least, conceptually there is no plot. Not as expressed in words, or actions, or even thoughts. But in terms of impressions, of emotions, of perceptive experience, the film offers something that few other films can match. A virtual reality beyond today's technology. A film to be experienced.

One of my favourite sci-fi films.

The atmosphere is absolutely perfect. When I watch the film, I believe it is happening and I am there. The effects may not be up to Star Wars quality, but who cares. Glitz is fine, but a story is better. And the story is great. Mind-provoking.

In Melbourne we have no underground like the London Underground, but somehow I identified with it instantly. (The original Quatermass story was set in a vacant block where foundations were being dug but I like the film version better).

If I watch this a thousand times I'll want to see it just once more.

Now, all you anti-fur advocates and animal lib people relax. I agree with you. But this is just an old b&w British comedy about some old folks who steal fur coats, and not likely to start a run on mink, fox, ermine or whatever.

But it is a funny and charming story and might start a run on old-age pensioner crime (.... joking!). It shows, albeit tongue in cheek, that planning, implementation and initiative are not the sole properties of the young.

The scene in the waterfront cafe with the pearls is the best part of the movie. Terry Thomas is in his element.

Also watch out for the inimitable Kenneth Williams later on as a fence.

While the film has indeed moved the story in time, and focuses on the invasion from a US perspective, the actual storyline does not suffer too much (underline too!). Moving from England to the US does not cause any great hardship (since the book events are not followed too closely). A fair update, and good to watch. A pity that the three-legged machines turned into flying machines though.

And they forgot about the red weed.

This must be Jimmy Stewart's best film (and he made some great ones).

His laid-back, pleasant, and friendly portrayal of Elwood P. Dowd relaxes and reassures me every time I watch it. And everyone else is just perfect as well.

Does Harvey really exist? Is Elwood just a drunkard? You really have to make your own mind up, but to me there's no doubt. Watch HARVEY and you'll make an acquaintance that will stay with you for life.

Cary Grant may not have liked Arsenic and Old Lace, but I think it is probably his best film ever. There were some geniuses at work on this film.

I certainly don't have a problem with old ladies murdering people (they are doing it as a labour of love for their "old gentlemen"). And like it or not, age does not preclude one from being a murderer. That's the bitter-sweet about it, hence the ARSENIC and the OLD LACE.

The b&w gives it a nice atmosphere. The story and the characters belong to a time now passed, and that helps give it its charm. I would not like to see the colour-eyes-ed version.

Does anyone else agree with me in thinking that Mortimer Brewster may have had an English (grand-)son called Basil Fawlty? The styles are so similar, and the pace (frenetic!) is very similar.

As Mortimer says (on the phone) - "a thing happened". In actual fact, the film is so hectic, and crammed full of humour, that I laugh continuously, and at the end feel so tired that I can hardly get out of the chair to reach for the sherry.....

1. The book (John Wyndham) was set in England. TRUE there were groups of children throughout the world, but the specific events surrounding the children as depicted in this film were (more or less) in accordance with the original story. THEREFORE it should have remained in England.

2. Boy they like those stupid eye effects don't they! Pity the audiences didn't.

3. The small town, the time of the novel, the atmosphere generated, the details (i.e. main character interaction and so forth) just went out of the window. A great book (called the Midwich Cuckoos) turned into an appallingly insulting and boring film.

I'd rather chew coal.

Day of the Triffids is a bit like a cartoon without humour. Enjoy it for the visuals. If you enjoy sci-fi or just a good story, though, read the book. It is serious, sensible, and triffid. (sorry, terrific!).

After you've read the book, try seeing the mini-series (UK). It was close to the book and quite good. If you read the book and THEN watch the movie, be prepared to feel indignant and critical! (Salt disolves triffids indeed!)

PERHAPS someone will make a NEW movie (But please STICK TO THE BOOK - we DON'T want another "VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED" stuff up, do we Mr Carpenter!).