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Title: 1950s/60s Sci-Fi, UK vs. US vs, Japan, which do you like more? Post by: JaseSF on June 24, 2012, 07:50:12 PM Wasn't sure just where I should put this idea I had for a thread but ultimately decided on Good Movies as I personally feel many classic Sci-Fi film are unfairly thought of as bad due to their similarity to many B-movies of the era and indeed some of the so-called B-movies can at times be as good if not better than the top genre films (OK I'll admit it's a stretch with some of the names below many of which are clearly B-movies). Anyways thinking classic Sci-Fi of the 1950s and 1960s, certain films truly stand out. The U.S. gave us films of top quality as well as cheesy Z-grade sci-fi. Personally I'd argue most U.S. fare was more adventurous and more prone to showing monsters and alien critters on the loose, the U.K. gave us some of the same kind of fare but I'd argue there was more symbolism and stuff to make one think and they often didn't show its monsters so quickly and when they did, they were somehow presented in a more belieavable fashion while Japanese Sci-Fi of the era was focused very much on giant monsters on the loose wrecking damage and destruction. Granted all three countries have examples of the highest quality science fiction storytelling as well as examples of absolute dreck. Granted with some films, there's co-production between the different countries (2001, Mysterious Island, Godzilla-King of the Monsters). Still there's a certain distinctive style at work arguably with each country.
Anyways from the USA, we got: Planet of the Apes Forbidden Planet The Day the Earth Stood Still The Time Machine The Thing From Another World Invasion of the Body Snatchers Fantastic Voyage Creature From the Black Lagoon Them! On the Beach War of the Worlds It Came From Outer Space The Fly Seconds Colossus: The Forbin Project When Worlds Collide The Blob Tarantula The Incredible Shrinking Man Invaders From Mars X: the Man With the X-Ray Eyes Robinson Crusoe on Mars Panic in Year Zero The Beast From 20000 Fathoms Donovan's Brain From the U.K., there was: Fahrenheit 451 When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth The War Game The Day of the Triffids Quatermass and the Pit Village of the Damned Children of the Damned The Quatermass Xperiment The Day the Earth Caught Fire The Man in the White Suit Journey to the Far Side of the Sun The Curse of Frankenstein These Are the Damned Quatermass 2 Gorgo Fiend Without a Face Island of Terror The Giant Behemoth The Abominable Snowman of the Himalayas Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed Frankenstein Created Woman Night of the Big Heat X the Unknown Curse of the Fly First Men in the Moon Stranger From Venus The Strange World of Planet X The Mind of Mr. Soames The Brain (1962) You Only Live Twice From Japan: Gojira (AKA: Godzilla) Mothra Rodan The H-Man King Kong vs. Godzilla The Green Slime Mothra vs. Godzilla Frankenstein Conquers the World Ghidrah, the Three Headed Monster Godzilla Raids Again Godzilla vs. Monster Zero Destroy All Monsters War of the Gargantuas Godzilla's Revenge Ebirah, Horror of the Deep Matango Latitude Zero The Mysterians Gammera the Invincible King Kong Escapes Son of Godzilla Gamera vs. Guiron Atragon The Manster Monster From a Prehistoric Planet (Gappa) Battle in Outer Space Gamera vs. Barugon Space Amoeba Gorath Gamera vs. Viras Warning From Space Varan the Unbelievable Dogora Gamera vs. Jiger Gamera vs. Viras The Ultra Man The X From Outer Space The Last War Terror Beneath the Sea Title: Re: 1950s/60s Sci-Fi, UK vs. US vs, Japan, which do you like more? Post by: Venomx73 on June 24, 2012, 07:54:06 PM Japan and its monsters! :thumbup:
(http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080811234247/godzilla/images/9/92/King_Ceaser.gif) Title: Re: 1950s/60s Sci-Fi, UK vs. US vs, Japan, which do you like more? Post by: Jack on June 25, 2012, 06:31:42 AM I've got a slight preference for UK stuff - the British accents always make them sound so much more serious lol. US had a lot of good stuff too though. I'm not a fan of the Japanese monster movies. Used to like them but then one weekend I watched a Godzilla marathon and...ugh. My lifetime quota of dopiness was exceeded I'm afraid. "It's all the fault of porrution and nucrear energy!"
Title: Re: 1950s/60s Sci-Fi, UK vs. US vs, Japan, which do you like more? Post by: Living_Dead_Girl on June 25, 2012, 07:35:32 AM I put the U.K. I mean Common! Doctor who, Who could not give that place medals just for that :) Despite the crappy special effects in the early days.
Title: Re: 1950s/60s Sci-Fi, UK vs. US vs, Japan, which do you like more? Post by: Venomx73 on June 25, 2012, 11:40:50 AM Don't forget Yongary 1967. He's from South Korea.
(http://www.angryasianman.com/images/angry/yonggary01.jpg) Title: Re: 1950s/60s Sci-Fi, UK vs. US vs, Japan, which do you like more? Post by: tracy on June 25, 2012, 01:01:37 PM I'd have to go with no preference.....each one has some real classics in my book. Although I must admit that Japan does the best monsters. I adore "The Creeping Terror" of course but vs. Godzilla.....? No contest. :teddyr:
Title: Re: 1950s/60s Sci-Fi, UK vs. US vs, Japan, which do you like more? Post by: Rev. Powell on June 25, 2012, 04:34:56 PM As much fun as the Japanese monster flicks are and as much as the UK overachieved in these decades, I have to give my vote to the US. INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, and FORBIDDEN PLANET are 3 seminal classics I don't think the other countries can match.
Title: Re: 1950s/60s Sci-Fi, UK vs. US vs, Japan, which do you like more? Post by: JaseSF on June 25, 2012, 09:22:09 PM Rev. Powell makes a pretty good point and on some levels I agree. However then I look at UK's offerings and I realize The Man in the White Suit, Quatermass and the Pit and The Abominable Snowman should be all up as classics as well although I think all three are a bit underrated. The original Godzilla from Japan is a bonafide classic too in its own right and one can make arguments for films like Matango, The H-Man, Mothra and Rodan too IMO. UltimatelY I had to vote for loving them all equally myself. Of course I admit I have most all, with only a few exceptions, the films listed in my collection. For the person who mentioned Doctor Who, the UK did give us two films starring Peter Cushing - Dr. Who and the Daleks and Daleks Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D..
Title: Re: 1950s/60s Sci-Fi, UK vs. US vs, Japan, which do you like more? Post by: Venomx73 on June 25, 2012, 10:14:45 PM Is The H-Man and Terror Beneath the Sea any good?
I've never seen those two. Title: Re: 1950s/60s Sci-Fi, UK vs. US vs, Japan, which do you like more? Post by: jimpickens on June 26, 2012, 01:17:10 AM No preference all three countries including Italy produced good Sci Fi.
Title: Re: 1950s/60s Sci-Fi, UK vs. US vs, Japan, which do you like more? Post by: El Misfit on June 26, 2012, 01:21:56 AM No preference, each country has their own unique approach to sci-fi flicks.
Is The H-Man and Terror Beneath the Sea any good? I've never seen those two. I feel asleep in the first 10-20 minutes of The H-Man, but I think it involves narcotics, a nightclub, strippers/dancers, and radioactive blobs (not sure about the last one though) Title: Re: 1950s/60s Sci-Fi, UK vs. US vs, Japan, which do you like more? Post by: Venomx73 on June 26, 2012, 06:04:58 AM Cool. Yeah, I watched the trailer for Terror Beneath the Sea last night...
It looked so horrible! The dub was way off, monster was corny, bad acting... I must see it. :twirl: Title: Re: 1950s/60s Sci-Fi, UK vs. US vs, Japan, which do you like more? Post by: The Burgomaster on June 26, 2012, 02:40:35 PM I think the USA wins the 1950s category and Japan wins for the 1960s. But I picked USA because I prefer 50s sci-fi over 60s.
Title: Re: 1950s/60s Sci-Fi, UK vs. US vs, Japan, which do you like more? Post by: JaseSF on June 26, 2012, 10:08:52 PM Yes H-Man requires a certain amount of patience especially for today's younger audience who want immediate pay-offs and stuff to hold their rather short attention spans. I bet most younger folks would dismiss the classic Solaris and 2001: A Space Odyssey as boring but they often never really give them a chance as both films force one to think a bit outside the box.
Title: Re: 1950s/60s Sci-Fi, UK vs. US vs, Japan, which do you like more? Post by: Living_Dead_Girl on June 27, 2012, 04:50:33 AM Japan definatly has the best monsters. But that is why they now have the best Horror films.
Title: Re: 1950s/60s Sci-Fi, UK vs. US vs, Japan, which do you like more? Post by: Venomx73 on June 27, 2012, 06:53:44 AM Matango aka Attack of the Mushroom People is on my top 50 list. It's a creepy film indeed. :twirl:
(http://dada.warped.com/movies/09105matango.jpg) Masafumi: "Hey, that's not good. Even the birds won't come near this island?" Title: Re: 1950s/60s Sci-Fi, UK vs. US vs, Japan, which do you like more? Post by: JaseSF on June 27, 2012, 12:26:45 PM Sorry if I sounded like an old fart before but I find I'm starting to sound more and more like that the older I get and I'm only 38 yet.
Title: Re: 1950s/60s Sci-Fi, UK vs. US vs, Japan, which do you like more? Post by: Hammock Rider on June 28, 2012, 02:28:15 PM I like them all. They all have something to offer. The Uk films seemed more cerebral or "up town", the Japanese films were crazy, over the top fun and the US films weee a combo platter of both. Now I know that's a big, sweeping generalization but I tend to pick the Jpanese films when I want somethig crazy, etc.
Title: Re: 1950s/60s Sci-Fi, UK vs. US vs, Japan, which do you like more? Post by: RCMerchant on June 28, 2012, 04:27:25 PM USA,baby!
AIP was th' s**t in the 50's-and then you had big budget stuff like WAR OF THE WORLDS,INVADERS FROM MARS,FORBIDDEN PLANET-and Ray Harryhausen too! Japan did the excellent giant monster stuff in the 60'sibut the Staes still beat 'em with PLANET OF THE APES,2001,NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (yes-it is technically a sci-fier.) The UK beats 'em in horror with the Hammer films,though. USA!USA!USA! (http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l79/RCMerchant/THIS_ISLAND_EARTH_m_utant.jpg) Title: Re: 1950s/60s Sci-Fi, UK vs. US vs, Japan, which do you like more? Post by: alandhopewell on July 24, 2012, 01:52:51 PM I prefer American Sci-Fi from that period; the English are sometimes dreadfully dry (4-X, INVASION) and, while I enjoy watching stuntmen wrestle in rubber dinosaur suits, the Japanese product is often silly.
I will also add that the Italians did some slick / cool stuff in the 60's (TENTH VICTIM, PLANET ON THE PROWL, etc.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MitWYMA0msw worthy of note. Title: Re: 1950s/60s Sci-Fi, UK vs. US vs, Japan, which do you like more? Post by: alandhopewell on July 24, 2012, 01:59:57 PM Wasn't sure just where I should put this idea I had for a thread but ultimately decided on Good Movies as I personally feel many classic Sci-Fi film are unfairly thought of as bad due to their similarity to many B-movies of the era and indeed some of the so-called B-movies can at times be as good if not better than the top genre films (OK I'll admit it's a stretch with some of the names below many of which are clearly B-movies). Anyways thinking classic Sci-Fi of the 1950s and 1960s, certain films truly stand out. The U.S. gave us films of top quality as well as cheesy Z-grade sci-fi. Personally I'd argue most U.S. fare was more adventurous and more prone to showing monsters and alien critters on the loose, the U.K. gave us some of the same kind of fare but I'd argue there was more symbolism and stuff to make one think and they often didn't show its monsters so quickly and when they did, they were somehow presented in a more belieavable fashion while Japanese Sci-Fi of the era was focused very much on giant monsters on the loose wrecking damage and destruction. Granted all three countries have examples of the highest quality science fiction storytelling as well as examples of absolute dreck. Granted with some films, there's co-production between the different countries (2001, Mysterious Island, Godzilla-King of the Monsters). Still there's a certain distinctive style at work arguably with each country. Anyways from the USA, we got: Planet of the Apes Forbidden Planet The Day the Earth Stood Still The Time Machine The Thing From Another World Invasion of the Body Snatchers Fantastic Voyage Creature From the Black Lagoon Them! On the Beach War of the Worlds It Came From Outer Space The Fly Seconds Colossus: The Forbin Project When Worlds Collide The Blob Tarantula The Incredible Shrinking Man Invaders From Mars X: the Man With the X-Ray Eyes Robinson Crusoe on Mars Panic in Year Zero The Beast From 20000 Fathoms Donovan's Brain From the U.K., there was: Fahrenheit 451 When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth The War Game The Day of the Triffids Quatermass and the Pit Village of the Damned Children of the Damned The Quatermass Xperiment The Day the Earth Caught Fire The Man in the White Suit Journey to the Far Side of the Sun The Curse of Frankenstein These Are the Damned Quatermass 2 Gorgo Fiend Without a Face Island of Terror The Giant Behemoth The Abominable Snowman of the Himalayas Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed Frankenstein Created Woman Night of the Big Heat X the Unknown Curse of the Fly First Men in the Moon Stranger From Venus The Strange World of Planet X The Mind of Mr. Soames The Brain (1962) You Only Live Twice From Japan: Gojira (AKA: Godzilla) Mothra Rodan The H-Man King Kong vs. Godzilla The Green Slime Mothra vs. Godzilla Frankenstein Conquers the World Ghidrah, the Three Headed Monster Godzilla Raids Again Godzilla vs. Monster Zero Destroy All Monsters War of the Gargantuas Godzilla's Revenge Ebirah, Horror of the Deep Matango Latitude Zero The Mysterians Gammera the Invincible King Kong Escapes Son of Godzilla Gamera vs. Guiron Atragon The Manster Monster From a Prehistoric Planet (Gappa) Battle in Outer Space Gamera vs. Barugon Space Amoeba Gorath Gamera vs. Viras Warning From Space Varan the Unbelievable Dogora Gamera vs. Jiger Gamera vs. Viras The Ultra Man The X From Outer Space The Last War Terror Beneath the Sea You forgot THE PROJECTED MAN, which played on a double bill with ISLAND OF TERROR.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkIdKrSgmSg http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2ji1i_projected-man-classic-sci-fi-traile_shortfilms Title: Re: 1950s/60s Sci-Fi, UK vs. US vs, Japan, which do you like more? Post by: Allhallowsday on July 24, 2012, 08:16:53 PM I put the U.K. I mean Common! Doctor who, Who could not give that place medals just for that :) Despite the crappy special effects in the early days. What'd'ya mean "common"? :lookingup: Y'mean "c'mon". As in "come on". Holy crap. I wouldn't care, except all your postings reflect a complete disregard for grammar and spelling. C'MON! Title: Re: 1950s/60s Sci-Fi, UK vs. US vs, Japan, which do you like more? Post by: the ghoul on July 27, 2012, 06:34:19 PM This was a really tough call for me. I chose USA, but Japan is a really close second. There is some good stuff from other countries too, but most of the really cool movies of the genre at that time were coming from the US and Japan for sure.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOM0BfOE4Dw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_rWm_u2oQQ |