This 1953 film was also the last one directed by William Cameron Menzies, who is best known as the production designer on "Gone With the Wind" but who also directed "Things to Come," the 1936 science fiction classic based on the H.G. Wells novel. This is not a special effects film, which is rather surprising given the decision to make it in color. Most of the film bears the stamp of Menzies' direction, which resulted in a rather dream-like quality to what is going on that is rather unique for a Fifties Science Fiction film. This becomes particularly effective because the film is obviously geared at adolescents, not only in terms of its young protagonist but also in terms of materializing the traditional fears of adolescents (your parents and every adult in town is out to make sure you have no fun whatsoever). Menzies also deserves credit for the fantastic set of the hill leading up to the sand pit.

The conclusion of this film is the weakest part, on several levels, ranging from the level of special effects and zippered alien costumes to the "epilogue" (you will understand when you see the film). But that is a traditional criticism of most films, whether you are talking science fiction or not: the payoff is not as good as the set up (the hill set overlooking the sand pit was so great that whatever was down there on the other side was not go to match the high expectations built up over the course of the film). Still, "Invaders From Mars" is a prime example of Fifties Sci Fi Paranoia, along with "It Came From Outer Space" and "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers." "Invaders From Mars" was remade by director Tobe Hooper in 1986, with Jimmy Hunt now playing the Police Chief, but the new version has nothing of the elegance of the original, which is the one you need to see at least once as part of your alien invasion movie heritage.

REAGAN'S "STAR WARS"
Review date: 2003-11-29 Rating: 6 out of 10

This very low budget somewhat mediocre film hold enormous historical significance. In this film, the exact concept of what has come to be known as the "Star Wars" programme was described by the leading military officer. He told little Jonnie-

If any of our enemies threaten us, in the future all we will have to do is simply push a button to wipe them out.

Not a great film to watch but, like some truly great films, it foretells the future in a way far more scary and real now than when just pushing a button couldn't do that much harm.

The film has an aesthetic value in the extremely artificial set and poor acting that puts it in a class nearly with "Plan Nine from Outer space", or "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" It is a great laugh and a truly historical film!

Classic paranoid 1950's sci-fi
Review date: 2001-07-02 Rating: 8 out of 10

This is the ultimate in cheesy, but without being unwatchable 50's sci-fi. Even though to today's viewer the plot might be a little clichéd it still has a sufficient amount of action and tension and it never gets too fanciful or convoluted. The only drawback is the rather two-dimensional characterisation but since that has never been a particularly strong point in this genre it doesn't really inhibit one's enjoyment. Claustrophobic paranoia that the likes of Independence Day could never manage

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