Rating:

Review

It is 2020 and the Moon has been colonised. Spaceships Vega, Sirius and Capella are launched to space in order to explore Venus. The mission is being run from moon base Lunar 7 by the man who has planned it from its opening stages, professor Hartman. Spaceship Capella get strucked by an asteroid and professor Hartman wants to postpone the landing but the crew on the spaceship Vega has other plans. Two astronauts, accompanied by their robot, set out to explore the surface of the planet. Things seem to be going well until violent changes begin to rework the surface. Will they be able to escape the planet with their lives?

Reason to Watch

Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet was slapped together from footage from a Russian science fiction movie and additional footage with American actors. Although none of the additional footage is interesting or helps the plodding story along very much, original parts from the Russian movie and effects are good.

Context

This film was made in 60′s when American International Pictures really started living up to their name. In addition to shooting an increasing percentage of their own films overseas, American International Pictures began importing huge quantities of foreign product.

Most Memorable Quote(s)

“I can’t imagine anyone in their right mind exploring Venus.”

What You Need to Get Through This Movie

In order to see this movie you must have the power of will to shut down all of yours rational thoughts for an hour and a little bit more.

Trivia

The film is actually a US adapted and edited version of the Russian sci-fi movie Planeta Bur directed by Pavel Klushantsev with some American actors for the US/English speaking market.

Educational Content

If you see a big plant don’t get too close… It can eat you!

Justification for Rating

Special effects in the film are suprizingly good. Not that they can match present special effects but ,for the 60′s, they are very well done.

Clip

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULtgVvnY6OQ

Related posts:

1. Review of The Phantom Planet

Rating:

Review

This is not your typical B flick. Written by the great Larry Buchanan, it was cornier the most yet I have to admit I loved it. This was totally worth my time. We start with a rocket scientist, who makes a home made “high power” radio set. With this radio he starts to get messages from Zontar. Zontar is from Venus and thinks Earth people need to see/learn what it’s like to be without “modern” forms of communication. He wants to “be in command of everyone”. People can’t even take a bath without the okay from this Venus weirdo! The rest of the movie I was a little lost. It was hard to follow as nothing really made any sense, however that did not detract from the entertainment factor. I mean the film had these bat looking animals biting people and putting a micro chip in them that made them virtual slaves to Zontar. I guess it could have been worse (you should see Terminal USA) True dramatic genus.

Reason to Watch

Larry Buchanan is often considered in the running for “Worst Director Ever”, along with Ed Woods and Uwe Boll. Like Wood and Boll, you need to see the entire cannon of Buchanan’s work. If you’re not a bad-director aficionado, but you do have a fetish for outer-space control-freaks, you will not be disappointed!

Context

This movie was released in 1966 in Dallas Texas. The culture at the time was seeping with Roswell-style Aliens in desert states (Texas, Arizonia, etc), so filming in Texas made sense – plus it’s the weirdest place in the US.

Most Memorable Quote(s)

“It must come from learning; it must come from the very heart of Man himself.”

What You Need to Get Through This Movie

You need these things:
1) A beer bong and a 12 pack
2) A water bong and a lot of medicinal marijuana
3) A lifelong membership to Star Trek fan-club
4) To lower your IQ as soon as possible.

or

5)A total love of all things cheesy with a crunchy sci-fi filler!

Trivia

Shot in 16mm and color. It was also made for television, not released in theaters.

Educational Content

If you ever come across a creature from Venus and you are a young, but somewhat unattractive lady, you don’t have a chance of surviving, heck you might shoot yourself! If you are somewhat attractive, all you have to do is stick your chest out, add a little padding if needed and smile!

In extreme situations you may have to disrobe.

Justification for Rating

I gave this movie a 5. It is not the best SciFi of all time, but it looked as though the cast really put their heart into the – great acting for a 60s’-straight-to-TV flick. Plus, you just have to see Zontar.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsCX4wprXHw

No related posts.