Simply a sci-fi classic. Sure, it's quite dated. Sure, the special effects are pretty terrible. Sure, the kid has got to be the most annoying character in the history of film. But it's so incredibly influential that any fan of sci-fi must appreciate this film. One of the first alien 'invasion' films, it's not really about an invasion at all; unlike other alien flicks of the '50s, the extra-terrestrial is benign and unworthy of the typical antagonistic human response it generates. The anti-atomic message is a bit heavy-handed, but perfectly placed in history, and the political layers are obvious but still effective. The story it's based on, "Farewell to the Master", is better, if only because of the great twist ending that the filmmakers cowardly left out of the film; also, the rather silly acknowledgment of 'the almighty spirit' is so hopelessly conservative in a rather liberal film that it really sticks out. Still, it's a classic.

It really deserved the 'classic' title, but the ending is a little.....I don't know....hypocritical. If you mess with the pacificists in the rest of the universe, we'll destroy you!!!

Still, even with outdated effects, I really enjoyed it even though my children made fun of it the whole time. My grade: A-.

The film is really weird however it is one of those films that has a great point at the end and those are the films we still remember today.

B+

Great review - - I agree with everything but your grade - - this is an A+ groundbreaking movie all the way...



BTW, I love the following dialogue exchange in the original:


...they easily could have been talking about the remake!

Yeah, this is a real classic - and miles better than the pointless remake. A-

Didn't like it at all. The plot was just so damn bad, and the movie just ok. I actually liked the re-make a lot more.


C

Wow... that's harsh!



(It's arguably one of the best hard sci-fi movies ever.)

5/10 -> C-

I couldn't believe it, but the remake isn't a large letdown from the original (if it's a letdown at all). Both movies are noneventful borefests with completely mishandled way of delivering the message.

This one is completely hypocritical, unlike the remake that's too preachy. I can not appreciate the peace message that's based on passive destructive behaviour.

I'm a fan of the old classic sci-fi movies and this one always managed to fly under the radar. I knew of it, but I never found time to see it. I was pretty dissapointed because it's a rather mediocre movie.