Product Details

• Actors: Blane Wheatley, Monica Himmelheber, Brent Moss, Kimberly Page, Will MacMillan
• Directors: Richard Lowry
• Writers: Richard Lowry, Chris Patton
• Producers: Barry Levine, Chris Patton, Chris Tongue, Christian Moore, Jeff Hardwick
• Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0)
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Image Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: December 26, 2006
• Run Time: 98 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000IOM0TW
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #142,725 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Monarch of the Moon/Destination Mars" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

MONARCH OF THE MOON/DESTINATION MARS - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Heart's in the Right Place, But..., March 28, 2007

By 

Jason F. Johnson "comicbook devotee" (Duluth, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Monarch of the Moon/Destination Mars (DVD)

First of all, I share the filmmakers' affection for this B-grade serials and they accomplish much of the 40s and 50s feel. You even have the option of watching "Monarch" in either black-and-white or "faux" color (a la the colorization processes of the late 80s). I like little authentic touches like the fact that bad guys never lose their fedoras, even in the middle of a raucous fight scene, or how the film is divided into chapters with each chapter summarizing what went on before.

Unfortunately, the film suffers from two fatal flaws: (1) There's simply no way to do on purpose what 1950's directors did by accident. You can't really laugh at the cheesy effects and stiff acting when you know they're doing it on purpose. It's like being told a joke when you know the punchline. It just doesn't work. This leads us to... (2) The film never resolves this in its own mind: Is this a parody or is it an homage? It's far too silly to be taken seriously as an homage (as, say, "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow"), yet it takes itself too seriously to be a parody (for example, those old serials NEVER killed off the comic relief, and this film kills off more than one). The result is a awkward hodgepodge of styles that distracts from the story, one that never has a consistent, fun feel. I give them points for trying, and I'd probably buy more Dark Horse films like this, but I hope they get a clearer vision in mind.

"Destination Mars" is another B-grade Martian invader flick, with human-looking, English-speaking Martians who turn dead Earth people into robots who set about destroying Earth. I don't want to give away too much about this film, except to say that it's modestly more successful in what it sets out to accomplish. I also recommend that you watch this film before "Monarch."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Return to those days of yesteryear...., September 20, 2010

By 

Hubcap (Oregon) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Monarch of the Moon/Destination Mars (DVD)

A very nicely done sendup of pulp serial adventure that folks used to watch decades ago, but with smart period-looking special effects, just a notch up from those older films. You can watch in B/W or "colorized" formats. The cast definitely knows how to "gee whiz and golly!" dialogue, good clean fun for viewers (note: there are cast members who die indirectly, so it's not a "nobody gets hurt" show) and I'm reminded of the same approach as "Sky Captain: The World of Tomorrow". Definitely would recommend this, and I often have it playing in my room as background, as my home office is decorated in science-fiction fashion, so old serials like Rocky Jones, Flash Gordon and Commando Cody are shown on the "Televiewing Contraption".

The other disk, "Destination Mars" is sort of a remake of a saucer invasion movie from of course Mars. It's well done also, but although this broke ground for "Monarch", I'm inclined to prefer "Monarch" over "Destination." But it's a nice add for the price.

'nuff said. Buy this and see for yourself.

Hubcap

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fun for the troops, March 2, 2009

By 

Alvin Campbell (Fort Smith, AR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Monarch of the Moon/Destination Mars (DVD)

I saw this two films on the internet and found them to be very campy and hilarious. So I sent them to our daughter in Iraq and her friends. Good service from Amazon.