ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

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You can’t deny that the premises for the movies below sound good.

~ The forst one has Barbara Eden’s unborn baby starting to control her mind!

~ Next we have a strange visitor from another planet with powers and abilities — life being able to “shape shift” his appearance just by putting on horn rimmed glasses!

~ And the third one is about a teenager who is turned into a monster by the radiation from a meterorite . . . and it happens back in the old Wes!
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The Stranger Within (1975 TV movie)

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Barbara Eden ("I Dream of Jeannie") becomes pregnant under strange circumstances (aliens are involved) and then discovers that the baby is influencing her mind. The screenplay is by Richard Matheson, author of "The Incredible Shrinking Man" (both the book and the screenplay) along with many other noteworthy sci fi projects. This particular one by director Lee Philips isn't especially laudable. ____________________________________________________________________

Superman: The Movie (1978)

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Director Richard Donner decided to present his story of America's greatest hero smack in the middle of total sincerity and total camp comedy. The production is slick and high tech, as are the performances by everyone from Christopher Reeve to the extras in the street. That's why the scenes range from heart-breakingly sweet (Lois and Superman's first meeting) to hysterically funny (any scene with Gene Hackman's portrayal of Lex Luther).

The special effects were state-of-the-art for 1978, and they still tell the story effectively today, if you have the imagination to view them correctly.

A generous portion of the credit for this magical film goes to the awesome talent of Christopher Reeve. Mr. Reeve invests more charm in his creation of the Man of Steel than any other actor possibly could. The physical look of Reeve's Superman is flawless. Even though Reeves is no body builder, the costume presents his physic in a flattering and impressive manner.





Also, Reeve's brilliant characterization of a shy and ineffective Clark Kent ranks alongside Tyrone Powers' performance as Don Diago in 1940's "The Mark of Zorro", and Leslie Howard's rendition of Sir Perceval Blakely in 1934's "The Scarlet Pimpernel". Margot Kidder and director Donner together create a Lois Lane that is, in many ways, as super as Superman (even though Terry Hatcher's later version in "Lois and Clark" was sexier and just as gutsy).

Margot Kidder gives her all in a portrayal of Lois Lane as an ambitious women who wants to succeed in a man's world, even though she has a women's needs. Jackie Cooper's rendition of Perry White is a fitting decedent to John Hamilton's portrayal of the crusty Daily Planet editor in the 1950s TV series.

John William's music is timeless, flawless, and mesmerizing. It is, without a doubt, one of the best of William's efforts, and in fact one of the best scores in movie history.

The dramatic conclusion of the story involves a reversal of time, which Superman brings about so that he can prevent tragic events from taking place. But this concept is presented in a somewhat confusing way, and this robs the film of the impact it would otherwise have had.

The subsequent sequels were less well done and less enjoyable, becoming increasingly flippant and campy. ____________________________________________________________________

Teenage Monster (1959)



[Also released as: "The Meteor Monster"]

A science fiction western yarn — a combination which isn't as rare as you might think (see: Valley of Gwangi, Beast from Hollow Mountain, others).

The story involves a meteorite (not a meteor, a difference which sci-fi fans should know) which impacts near a small town. A teenager (Gilbert Perkins) is affected by the radiation it gives off. (For the record, there is no such thing as radioactive meteorites. Don't tell Hollywood. It would break their hearts.)

The teenager is transformed into a hideous, hairy beast who is hidden by his mother (Anne Gwynne) to prevent the law from capturing him after the monster-boy commits several murders. The trailer seems to suggest that a young girl is using the monster to wreak vengeance on people she has a grudge against.

This old Western/horror/science fiction movie was produced and directed by Jacques Marquette.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)