Customer Reviews

Drive-In Double Feature: Creation of the Humanoids/War Between the Planets

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Let me get the technical details out of the way first. The transfer is superb, picture quality excellent, sound excellent and it's letterboxed so you get it in the original "drive-in" aspect ratio. The only technical detail in "Creation..." that's sub-par is they needed better proofreading for the subtitles. There are a few errata, and if, like me, you use the subtitles, that can make the brain itch.

"Creation" itself, however, remains eminently watchable and utterly undated. Yes, it's a low-budget "B" movie. But the sets are acceptable, and the acting and dialogue at least as good as any TV series of the early 60s. There wasn't a note anywhere in this that sounds out of place in the story. NOTHING in this film strained the cables on my suspension of disbelief.

But as science-fiction, this movie shines like a well-lit diamond for thoughtfulness of script, philosophical depths explored, and some very human and HUMANE moments. I've never been able to forget the line about "Irony, the funniest form of humor." since the first time I watched this film back in the sixties. When I found out later in the story just what Pax (a Clicker) meant by that comment and the joyous peal of laughter which accompanied it, I agreed with him, and laughed like hell.

And wait for a line that begins "Only the memory..." For that line alone, I would have bought this picture, because that line, perfectly delivered by Don Doolittle, contains the true humility that marks all real scientific endeavorers. It also raises philosophical questions that haunt me to this day.

I can't speak of "War Between the Planets". I found it unwatchable.

But I don't care. I've wanted a GOOD copy of "Creation of the Humanoids" in my collection even before I knew a collection was possible, and now I have it. Both my budget and my time are at a premium, but this incarnation of that picture is worth every penny I spent getting it, and every wonderful minute watching it. In my opinion, this is one of the five best science-fiction movies of all time.

CREATION OF THE HUMANOIDS is perhaps one of the most creative and low-budgeted films ever made. Despite it's B film title, zero budget, it has alot of good ideas in it that sound alot like Asimov's laws of robotics at one point. The film is light years ahead of it's time in predicting the dilemma of what happens when robots-created by Man-think on their own, have feelings and start to make decisions-contrary to Man. And how even a "fundamentalist" order of humans arises from this threat and what happens when they clash. There is no action to speak of, it all comes of like a play done on minimalist sets, but shot in blazing technicolor. The acting is surprisingly well done if slightly overdone in parts. I only ever saw this on a fuzzy UHF showing in the l970's, and never saw it again-or it's "twist" ending which comes out of the blue. The print is quite good-gets better as it goes along, the opening credits are a bit scratchy however. The second feature WAR BETWEEN THE PLANETS (AKA PLANETS AGAINST US) is the fourth in Antonio Margheriti's Italian space opera quartet(Previous entries were WAR OF THE PLANETS, WILD WILD PLANET and THE SNOW DEVILS) and has lots of Italian eye-candy gals and macho men in the same outfits seen in the last three films and all revolving, kind of around the Gamma One Space Station but this is one of the lackluster in action of that set of films,compared to say the really fun WILD WILD PLANET(Walter Manley, the producer on this, would later take his space station concept to Japan and make THE GREEN SLIME, in essentially the same universe, but now Space Station Gamma Three). The print on this one is from the theaterical release by Fanfare Films in 1971 that played at mostly drive-ins back in the day with what I remember was a huge ad campaign. That said, it's a fairly nice print and, the whole film is *narrated* by Norman Rose-a voice announcer who worked for NBC in the 1970's and did the introduction to DESTROY ALL MONSTERS(the AIP version) as well as Promise Butter ads.

Good fun viewing brings back a time when these things aired on TV with regular play.

I'll second everything that :Bob Eggleton said, and add that the video quality on this DVD - particularly for "Creation of the Humanoids" is very good.

There are muddy DVD and VHS copies of this movie available elsewhere, but I believe that they are dubs of the 1985 Sun Cost VHS that had a bad edit glitch near the beginning.
This version is much cleaner and and sharper. It looks like a transfer from the original film. It still has the glitch, but it's almost imperceptible.

"Creation of the Humanoids" really is a rough gem - almost everything about it is poorly done - yet the movie WORKS. When it's done, the story sticks with you. It's great SF.

Antonio Margheriti's "War of the Planets" is fun to watch. The rest of the Quadrology is available on DVD as well; one or two appear on the "SciFi Classics Collection: 50 Movie Pack"

This DVD is a great addition to any GOOD Science Fiction movie collection.

Creation of the Humanoids is one of the worst directed smart films in history -- Even bad movie director Ed Wood could not be this bad. Yet, for all the incompetence (including much "off camera mic" sound work), the story is a smart and thoughtful one. It has been mentioned that Blade Runner is style over content (with a big budget) and Creation of the Humanoids is content without the competence to pull it off. Worth a look (and, more to the point, listen) to the very intelligent ideas presented, but you will not believe how badly it is executed. As for the second feature, War Between the Planets, you will likely want to give it a miss.

As a devotee of sci-fi, I was rather shocked that I had never seen "Creation of the Humanoid" (COTH) on television proir to about a years ago. I only caught the last 45 minutes of it, but I was so impressed that I immediately bought the dual-movie disc. As with other reviewers, I found the gem to be COTH, with "War of the Planets" watchable only with the sound off. Spaghetti and sci-fi apparently don't mix very well.

COTH, however, was an utterly engrossing film. The atmosphere comes off as more like viewing a stage play than that of watching a movie(a comment made by previous reviewer, as well, I believe), yet it is very effective concept -- somehow lending another layer of "realism" to the conversations. The film's sets are an effective composite of light and dark -- dimly-lit, futuristic-looking cityscape backdrops, in contrast to brightly lit rooms or, in the case of the meeting of "The Order of Flesh and Blood" (...blood works through the ages) speakers under bright spotlights (with connotations of fascism) in front of a dark room of supporters seen only in silhouette.

Much of the wardrobe spoke of a highly-advanced, space-faring humanity -- of order and discipline.

By the way, before I forget, the page for this product states COTH was made in 1962. In fact, the copyright line displayed in the movie says "MCMLX," which is 1960. It is impressive, to say the least, that the dialog for this movie was scripted FIFTY years ago (by Jay Simms). How many people, much less screenplay writers, even thought in terms of the issues addressed in COTH?

The film touches on the issue of the obliteration of achievement by mankind through humanity's ever-increasing dependence on ever-increasingly intelligent and helpful machines. Other ideas explored include the melding of man and machine and what actually constitutes the essence of a person. In the words of Don Doolittle (Dr. Raven), "Who created your creator?" Whether you ultimately view the end of the story as pessimistic or unrealistic will likely be rooted in that question.

Thoroughly watchable and re-watchable -- particularly with friends who remember when sci-fi storylines and dialog of that time meant something on the order of "Attack of the 50-Foot Zombie Crab." Lastly, if you want serious sci-fi without a lot of special effects, then check out The Day the Earth Caught Fire and, to a slightly less serious degree, script-wise (but with a lot of good special effects), When Worlds Collide and Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (Color Special Edition).

Do not be put off by the Grade C moviemaking quality of "Creation of the Humanoids." Despite the sometimes wooden and cheesy dialogue, buried in this film is an imaginative and thoughtful science fiction story. The atomic war has occurred, and it killed 91 percent of the human race. The remnants of humanity have created a race of robots to act as a labor force, the "humanoids." These artificial beings can out-think the human beings that they have been programmed to serve, and for that reason humans are coming to fear and dislike them. And therein lies an excellent story of speculative fiction. The ending will startle most viewers. I first saw this one when it came out in the 1960s, and it was a very great pleasure to see it available on DVD. It still packs a considerable punch.

"War Between the Planets" is not worth much of an effort. Buy this disk for "Creation of the Humanoids."

This is a fine entertainment value and science fiction fans will enjoy "Creation of the Humanoids." Recommended. RJB.

This DVD contains two obscure sci-fi titles of the early 60's, "Creation of the Humanoids" (1962) and "War Between the Planets" (1966). Ironically, the distributors have paired a lost gem in the true spirit and meaning of the science fiction genre against a worthless bore fest that can only attempt to look the part.

"Creation of the Humanoids" is an intimate tale of an earth with a dying human population. But humanoids have been developed as servants, and are now rivaling the humans in population as well as abilities, characteristics, and appearance.

This movie is not a thriller, not a staging ground for great battles, not a vehicle for superheroes. Its special effects are minimal (but do the job, in my opinion.) Rather, it is a shining example of what science fiction does best, and is truly meant to do: to explore our human condition by depicting man in extraordinary, other-worldly environments and circumstances.

The film explores the definition of life, the meaning of consciousness, prejudice, the essence of romance -- and all in a simple story with no wasted scenes or dialog. One cleverly constructed conversation between a human and a humanoid forces us to stop and think, just what is the scope of God's creation? And the humanoids manage to have more charm and wit, with their pupil-less eyes and gray-green skin, than their human counterparts -- an early achievement of this now familiar persona in sci-fi films.

No, it's not slick, but you'll watch it at least twice once the full plot has been revealed. A terrific little film, and a must-see.

"War Between the Planets" is an English-language Italian film (with a misleading English title) having no redeeming qualities. It takes itself too seriously, the characters are full of themselves, the dialog is contrived, and it is basically unwatchable.

But if you're a true sci-fi fan, don't miss "Creation of the Humanoids".

The sets are strictly "thrift store" and campy, the sound effects are 50s/60s horror Mars-invades cheesy, and the action is virtually non-existent. But the dialog is very thought-provoking and the concepts presented are decades ahead of their time. Finally, the plot is timeless and the movie has simply the best "breaking the 4th wall" ending I have ever seen. It's a keeper.

If you're interested in Battlestar Galactica (new or old), you will enjoy this movie. The creators of Battlestar Galactica probably viewed this film while doing research on making their own science fiction series.

Well if you love action in movies, I don't think this video is for you. It's nice how they have made it into a double feature, with commercials and intermission ads as if you were in a drive in. The movies themselves are very slow.
War Between the Planets was made overseas. I am not sure if it is an Italian film or not. The movie has dubbed English. Not hard to follow, but the movie is endless campy space talk which sounds good but makes no sense.
A very slow plot with poor special effects. The actors have attitudes, which was part of the film, but doesn't seem to work right. Not much story here at all. Not recommended for a true B-sci-fi lover.
The Humanoids movie was better, but slow. No action at all in this film. There is a pretty good story but if you want action or for the Humanoids to move, you will be disappointed.
The Humanoids do look great and they did a good job of them. I did like the story but it moves along slowly. No music, good video of the atomic explosions, just not much "movement" on the actors parts. Oh sure they punch and get into small fights but that is limited. Most is dialog, which was interesting, but I can see how you would just wish someone would move around now and again.
Recommended only for the Humanoids film, and only if you can get a really good price.