Invaders From Mars (1953)

[akiratubo]

A little boy sees a flying saucer land near his house.  His Dad goes to investigate and gets turned into a remote-control zombie.  Several other people follow suit.  The kid is desperate to find anyone who believes him.  Surprisingly, he does, and the Proper Authorities mobilize against the alien invaders ...

I was thinking, "what a great movie" all the way through this.  Then it turns out it was all a dream.

f**k you for that, movie.  f**k you right in the ass.   

[Saucerman]

There was a British release of "Invaders from Mars" that cut out the "it was a dream" ending.  Unfortunately, this version has been effectively lost. 

The recent Wade Williams DVD release of "Invaders from Mars" features American and British versions of the film -- the British version on this disc keeps the "it was a dream" ending, but has some additional footage that was cut into the British version. 

Out of curiosity, what do you think of the bit at the end where, after waking up from the dream, the boy sees a flying saucer land again? Was he dreaming again, or was it really happening, and his dream had been prophetic?

[akiratubo]

Out of curiosity, what do you think of the bit at the end where, after waking up from the dream, the boy sees a flying saucer land again?

It made me even angrier.

Was he dreaming again, or was it really happening, and his dream had been prophetic?

Either way ... 

[peter johnson]

Well, if it's prophetic, then the whole "dream" thing takes on new meaning.  I like this film and the remake of it -- now I can't remember if the remake had it be a dream as well, or just left it as real . . . anyone?
You can't beat that goofy "leader" in the glass ball!!
peter johnson/denny crane

[Captain Tars Tarkas]

My review of the remake from four years ago says:

And it's all a dream again, until it isn't!

I don't remember any more than that.

[Dennis]

I enjoyed the original more than the Tobe Hooper remake, but both are fun films to watch. The ending of the 1953 version scared me the first time I saw it, I was about 7 years old at the time, I've always wondered what young David was going to do about the Martians and the spaceship that were now behind his house. What's he going to tell his parents ? What if he's still dreaming ? On the other hand what if they're really there ? The only other part that scared me was that girl, Kathy Wilson, she was just frightening as an emotionless Martian slave. When my daughter was in junior high school I rented both versions of these movies and we watched them in order, she found the remake to be quite funny, especially the scene in the high school basement where the original Martian leader can be seen perched on a storage shelf. The weird music that could be heard in the original just before the Martians sucked people under gave her a couple of nightmares. I always thought that was kind of stupid, why warn the people you're going to grab, just suck them down into the tunnel. I have to say these are two of my favorite movies.

[Allhallowsday]

Both versions of INVADERS FROM MARS are worth checking out, the remake being faithful to the original in tone at least.  The original is a classic, even if Akiratubo wants his movies to be real!!!