Battle of the Worlds (1961) 1/2 (out of 4)Italian nonsense from director Antonio Margheriti has a planet coming into the same solar system as Earth and it appears it is going to collide with us. At the last second the planet misses us but starts to hover around, which causes a brilliant scientist (Claude Rains) to think that the planet is being controlled by aliens who are going to use it to attack us.There are awful science fiction movies like PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE that are so bad that you can actually have fun with them. Then there are cheap movies like THE COSMIC MAN, which rip-off better movies and deliver a quality project even if it's certainly nothing too special. Then you've got movies like BATTLE OF THE WORLDS, which is just downright awful on every level even though it appears they're working with a decent budget and they have a terrific actor in the cast.At one time I called BATTLE OF THE WORLDS the worst movie I had ever seen but revisiting it nearly twenty five years later I've come to see it's not really that bad but there's no question that it's quite awful and pointless. The biggest issue I have with the film is that it's downright childish on every level. The story itself is pretty darn stupid and it seems like something a group of five-year-olds would come up with in their monster club meetings. Even worse are the special effects, which, again, are better than something you'd see in an Ed Wood movie but at the same time they are so badly made and the lasers are so silly that you can't help but shake your head.The performances are also pretty bad but you've got a legend like Rains on hand who I'm sure took this project for the paycheck. I've never blamed an actor for taking a paycheck and especially later in their career. While the performance by Rains isn't "good" at least he does go over-the-top and gives some energy instead of sleepwalking through the part. BATTLE OF THE WORLDS is awful on pretty much every level and sadly it never reaches the "so bad it's good" level.

The appearance of Claude Rains is not the only surprise in Anthony Dawson's Il pianeta degli uomini spenti (A.K.A. Battle of the Worlds). Rains plays an eccentric, reclusive, contemptuous elderly scientist who leads a powerful research team. Professor Benson is the best, and he has little patience for lesser minds. His only link to humanity seems to be Eve (Maya Brent), his assistant. Her coming of age, the insubordination of one of the younger members of his research team, and the impending arrival of an enormous and mysterious space object - The Outsider - combine to challenge "the old man's" carefully-constructed self concept, his arrogance, and, ultimately, the continuation of life on earth.Ultimately, this is one of Italy's best and most serious sci-fi films, and one of the better early '60s sci-fi films to come out of Europe. The relatively primitive (but creative) effects coupled with the very serious and dramatic tone of the dialog may be difficult for most American viewers. Giorgio Giovannini's soundtrack is jarring and intense. And the excellent, but sometimes surreal, Marcello Masciocchi cinematography won't help the average viewer enjoy this film. The international cast (mostly Americans) does very well.Given the film's dubious pedigree and silly cliché title, I can certainly understand why some reviewers felt compelled to use the words "cheesy" and "spaghetti" in their reviews. I am tempted to point out that macaroni and cheese is a very tasty dish, but I will refrain. Approach this film with an open mind and you might just be able to get something more than guilty pleasure from it.

Wow. Really, wow. This movie has tons of potential, and goes absolutely nowhere! The special effects are top notch considering the time in which it was made. The technology smacks of the odd "computer" style of the sixties where lighted buttons with no labels dominated the sci-fi realm. Very "Star Trek"-esquire.That aside, the only saving grace of this film is Claude. His charatcer actually has life to it. It is a bit much, but considering his co-stars, it is no wonder why.The whole film is perfect to be ripped on. Get your sci-fi buddies, grab a bag of chips and some cheese dip, and wail away at this one. Tom Servo and Crow would be your best co-pilots on this journey into the horribly lame.

I'm very tired of Italian Science Fiction getting a bad rap for being dull films. Just sit back and let your self be hypnotized by the world that a film like BATTLE OF THE WORLDS creates and I guarantee you will find your self on a trip to the end of the universe. The sound effects and use of color alone will have you wishing this film will never end...and it almost seems it doesn't