ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

Highly enjoyable and intelligent sci-fi thriller about a research facility in Arizona which is attacked by super-intelligent, normal-sized ants. Pollution and a damaged ecology are blamed for creating the altered ants (not radiation -- a sign of the changing times).

Not only can the ants gobble up animals and humans, they can hypnotize with telepathy. They swarm over their victims and coat them with a yellowish mucus. The ants attack computers and other machinery by chewing the wires. (Yes, there are "bugs in the system"! )

The ending is unexpectedly strange and surrealistic, and Paramount did some last-minute editing which (as usual) didn't help a bit.

Production design by John Barry ("Star Wars"). Directed by Saul Bass, famous as a title-work designer. Screenplay by Mayo Simon.

Starring Nigel Davenport and Lynne Frederick (both of who appeared in "No Blade of Grass" in 1970), Michael Murphy, Alan Gifford, Helen Horton, Robert Henderson.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Pow]

Lynne also guest starred on Space:1999.

A lovely & talented actress who left us all too soon.

[alltare]

Phase IV will be released on Blue-Ray on October 27, 2015. Rumor has it that it will NOT include the original psychedelic ending, same as the DVD which I already have. Personally, I don't care. I've seen the ending on YouTube and didn't think much of it, but it would be nice to have the option of watching both versions. I intend to wait and see what's really released. If anyone buys the Blue-Ray, please let us know the details. I'm on hold until I know what's actually included.

This movie is worth watching, if for no other reason than the excellent macrocinematography.

[Bud Brewster]

[alltare]

TCM-Turner Classic Movies will be airing PHASE IV on Saturday, January 9, 2016, at 02:15 AM (ET)

[Bud Brewster]

Wow, I didn't know TCM posted their schedule that far in advance!

Link, please?
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[scotpens]

[alltare]

[Bud Brewster]

Wow, thanks for the info!
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[alltare]

Hey Bud and all — don't forget that TCM-Turner Classic Movies will be airing PHASE IV on Saturday, January 9, at 02:15 AM (ET).

[Bud Brewster]

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Coming Soon to a DVD player near you!
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__________________ Phase IV Trailer (1974)


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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Bogmeister]

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___________________Phase IV Trailer (1974)


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Definitely an intriguing, sometimes hypnotic sci-fi suspenser: Phase IV - not to be confused with a 2003 film.

In a sparsely populated region of Arizona, ants are suddenly a lot smarter, and the rapidly dispose of all their usual predators.

The next step? Humanity!

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The reason given for this sudden increase to the intelligence of the ants is some effect in space. Also, because the story revolves around several humans battling these ants in an isolated location, all we know is that this affected ants in Arizona — what about the rest of the world?

Who knows.

But this isn't just another killer bug movie or like all those eco-terror films of that decade. The influence of such high class sci-fi as 2001:A Space Odyssey and The Andromeda Strain is clearly evident. Before this, director Saul Bass was probably best known for the credits sequence of Spartacus, Seconds and a few others.

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Micro-photography is employed for the scenes of the ants — no fake giant ants — it's all real (this also recalls The Hellstrom Chronicle of a couple of years earlier).

There are also some startling scenes, such as one involving a mantis and a couple of ants. There's also sped up scenes: in some shots, scores of ants are shown traveling super-quickly, so I get the impression that more than their brainpower was increased. The ants get rid of all their usual predators quickly (this now recalls The Naked Jungle).

It's all quite ominous and eerie — a mood that prevails over most of the story.

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As for the human characters, there is a study in contrasts.

Davenport's scientist character is cold, like a calculating machine, all logic & analysis. He sees the ants as an experiment to be succeeded at. The rest of the human characters tend to behave over-emotionally & irrationally. Davenport seems the only chance to challenge these super-smart ants, but he seriously underestimate his 'hive-mind' adversary.

Many viewers complain that this film is boring. I found it fascinating for the first hour. But, the last half-hour does wind down too slowly, in my opinion.

BoG's Score: 7 out of 10

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_____________________Phase IV lost ending


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BoG
Galaxy Overlord Galactus

[Bud Brewster]

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Wikipedia describes the final scene this way.
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Lesko chooses to follow Hubbs's plan. He sets out to the hive with a canister of poison. Descending into the hive, Lesko hunts for the queen, but instead finds Kendra reaching out from under the sand. The two embrace, and Lesko realizes that far from destroying the human race, the ants' plan is to adapt the human race and make them a part of the ants' world.

In voice-over, Lesko states that he does not know what plans the ants have, but he is awaiting instructions.
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An IMDB trivia item mentions the "lost ending" shown in the YouTube video above.
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The original ending of Phase IV was a montage of surreal, haunting images that imply the possibility of the ants conquering mankind and ruling the earth. It hints that "Phase IV" may be a kind of evolution wherein mankind is enslaved and the ants become the supreme rulers.
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That long (and puzzling) "lost ending" is described this way on Wikipedia.
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"Bass originally filmed a spectacular, surreal montage lasting four minutes, showing what life would be like on the 'new' Earth, but this was cut by the distributor." The montage was intended to suggest that the two surviving characters were altered by the ants' creation of the next step in evolution for humanity and insects.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Krel]

Coming "Phase V: The Nuking". After the loss of the scientific station, Uncle Sam deals with the ant problem with nuclear fire.

David.

[Bud Brewster]

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Scheduled to be released in 2024, Phase VI — will be about how the ants invade Donald Trump's pants and taking control of his mind, compelling him to launch nukes at the capitals of North Korea, China, and Russia!

Then the ants compel Trump to address reporters on the White House lawn and force him to acknowledge the existence of global warming, along with the Russian's election interference and the fact that the NRA would rather have their nuts removed with rusty spoons than force Americans to give up their assault weapons! :roll;

(I'm just kidding guys, of course. Please don't be offended if you still think Don Juan Trump is a great guy.)
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)