ALIEN INVASION!!

(Movies...)

No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man's and yet as mortal as his own...

H.G. Wells's The War of The Worlds

 

The War of the Worlds (1953 and 1938 broadcast)
It could be argued that Orson Wells 1938 radio broadcast of “The War of The Worlds” created the doorstep for the wave of alien invasion movies. The broadcast created panic and chaos as listeners believed the broadcast to be a news broadcast rather than a play as it was "presented".
The 50’s movie version was modernized from H. G. Wells manuscript using UFO-like vehicles rather than the menacing Martian Tripods. George Pal the director of the 1953 version, chose the flying saucers as an anti-technology response to WWII, Both Paramount Pictures and Pendragon Pictures are working on modern productions of this story. Thankfully, the Pendragon version will be set in the original 1898 setting, which will make for an interesting film. But Hey, the Paramount version is being produced by and hopefully starring Tom Cruise! [/sarcasm]

The Complete War of the Worlds site

1938 Broadcast Homepage

Pendragon Pictures

 
This Island Earth(1955)
Considered a classic because of its incredible (for the time) special effects, centering around the mutated monster from Metaluna. Aliens from a superior civilization seem to need our help in saving their world, in exchange for their advanced knowledge and technology. This Island Earth was the movie chosen by the MST3K crew in homage for its theatrical release.
Click here to see the Real Mutant!

 

The Day the Earth Stood Still(1951)
A “benevolent” visitation gone awry; this film is the origin of the classic b-movie line: “Klaatu barata niktu” immortalized by Ash in the Evil Dead Series. Klaatu is the android in the film, and this is the command to keep him from destroying the Planet Earth.

 
The Thing (from Another World!) (1951)
Another classic considered to be one of the most frightening movies from the 50’s sci-fi/horror era. Researchers in Antarctica thaw out an alien life form which begins rampaging in its thirst for blood. John Carpenter re-made this film in 1982 with a version considered to be more true to the novel it is based on.

 

Plan 9 From Outer Space(1959)
This movie is heralded by its much deserved title as “Worst Movie Ever Made” (with Mac and Me a close second…) This Ed Wood movie has survived because of its notoriety and the Ed Wood Fan base.

 

 
Close encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Steven Spielberg seems to think aliens are benevolent. Then why are they hiding!

 
Alien(1979)
Though not exactly an invasion, no website on Sci-fi aliens would be complete with out mentioning this series. The first two movies will forever be classic modern sci-fi, with the remaining movies in the series being enjoyable but not to the standard of their predecessors. The plot?: Humans answer a distress call to find an alien ship packed with trashcan-like eggs. Of course one guy gets too close and a face-hugging larvae jumps out of the egg and impregnates him with an alien. Later it bursts out of his chest and goes on a rampage. In “Aliens” its time for the humans to kick butt and take names, but again its delegated to Sigourney Weaver’s “Ripley” in order to save the day.

 
They Live(1988)
A good 80’s Alien conspiracy in which Roddy Piper finds "Magic" Sunglasses that allow him to see the Alien threat, including subliminal messages on billboards and the message “This is your God” on the dollar bill.

 
E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (1982)
Again, a Benevolent and cute alien “invader.” Scared the crap out of me as a kid.

 

V(1983)
Probably the most successful prime-time sci-fi mini-series, V deals with supposedly benevolent and humanoid Aliens needing help in repairing their environment. Of course this is just a feint; they are really reptilians that just want to enslave us and take our natural resources.

 

 
Fire in the Sky (1993)
A true-story approach to Alien Abduction based on the encounter of an Arizona logger and his friends. Down-right freaky. The moral of this story is not to accept government contracts to clear brush at night.

 
Mars Attacks! (1996)
Tim Burton’s cult classic spoofs The War of the Worlds martian invasion, based on a collectable card series. Silly and campy but funny and entertaining. Something tells me that if we were invaded, this is how it would happen.

 
The Arrival (1996)
An example of badly made “invasion suspense.” However it does blame Global Warming on Alien Invasion. Charlie Sheen plays an amateur S.E.T.I. listener that intercepts Alien broadcasts through an instrument jury-rigged from his neighborhood satillite dishes.

 
Independence Day (1996)
The contemporary standard, though campy, ID4 set the stage for the high-budget alien invasion effects extravaganza. The scenes of the destruction of Earth’s monuments will forever be classic. No incredible plot twists, just good old fashion Hollywood. Alien invasion at its most visually impressive.

 
Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
The Borg Invade Earth's past. The plot?: “Let me get this straight, cybernetic aliens from the future have come back in time to enslave the human race, and you’re here to stop them? Hot damn you’re heroic.” One of the best films from the Star Trek series.

 

 
Men In Black (1997)
The humor side of Alien “invasion”, this time through alien "immigration". Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith battle the galactic forces of evil (a giant cockroach) with wit and large guns.

 
Signs (2002)
M. Night Shyamalan’s foray into the alien invasion theme. An ultimate disappointment, this movie boasts the most realistic pre-invasion psychological scare. A classic scene is the amateur footage of a Mexico City birthday party in which we see a brief glimpse of an Alien walking down the alley. I was hoping for more chills, but it ends too soon and too quickly. Apparently the aliens aren't that intelligent, because they are stopped by boarded up or locked doors, and although they have an acidic reaction to H2O, they invaded a planet covered 70% in water, and plan to harvest humans, also about 70% water, as an apparent food source.

 

Dreamcatcher (2003)
Stephen King’s take on the Alien Invasion theme. Again, an ultimate disappointment, but not so much as Signs. This movie boasts a good black-ops military reaction to the threat and has a great plot but again ends disappointingly. Apparently the defenders of the universe are mentally handicapped, but super-powered alien Scooby-Doo fans.

 

LINKS

Humor/Conspiracy