Are you all insane???
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ccr1633 — 17 years ago(January 02, 2009 08:24 PM)
"4.6????? How can anyone give this anything higher than a 1?"
It's a bad movie by all normal measures, but it has historic value for people of a certain age group (i.e. mine) who grew up during the blossoming of sci-fi films (Alien) and slasher movies (Halloween), and all the trash that followed. I now find it interesting to view again films like Galaxy of Terror, Maniac, The Exterminator, and other recognized pieces of refuse because I find it amusing to see how filmmakers tried to capitalize on genre trends in the most exploitative way possible. I took this sleazoid style for granted back when I saw these films as a kid, as if it were par for the course for filmmakers of the day. Little did I realize how shocking some of this junk really was. Some of this stuff makes "Hostel" seem tame by comparison, and for that reason alone the sheer magnitude of the audacity of this trash I find these films entertaining. Like it or not, they are in their own way an essential part of film history. Back in the late 70s and early 80s there was much more of an anything goes mentality that I appreciate. Are there any trashy movies even half as good as Re-Animator being made these days, which exhibit the same degree of novelty? Where are they? Say what you will about Galaxy of Terror, but the fact that they even conceived a worm rape scene is insane and ridiculous, and should in my opinion be cherished as a historical artifact! -
phantasmda — 17 years ago(January 03, 2009 12:21 PM)
Touche' Someone with a disagreement but in a constructive way instead of bursting in and namecalling.
I do see your point i suppose, i just thought there were tons of far superior movies that were similar in budget and material to this from around the same time.
The (uncut) rape scene in the evil dead was far more shocking than a lump of rubber and a jar of KY jelly massaging some duff acress while the camera shakes uncontrollably. I agree on Re animator as well, cheap, campy, total lunacy but extremely enjoyable as was From Beyond.
I just got the feeling with G.O.T that i had been robbed of my money and my time after the credits rolled, even though i knew it was going to be cheap and trashy.
"Hasta la vista, baby." -
ccr1633 — 17 years ago(January 03, 2009 08:57 PM)
phantasmda: When it comes down to it, I agree that this film is pretty lame. Like most lame ripoffs around this time, "Up From The Depths" and "Tentacles" come to mind, the coolest thing by far was the associated (and misleading) movie posters!
By the way, if your handle is a nod to "Phantasm," long one of my favorites, then I salute you! In fact, I'd say that "Phantasm" is everything that a cheapo Roger Corman horror movie wanted to be but never came close to being. Namely, something original and of lasting value beyond the nostalgic schlock factor. -
phantasmda — 17 years ago(January 04, 2009 05:55 PM)
Waheyy! Congrats, you're the first person to get my username, I have been asked quite a few times what phantasm is so it's nice to see someone actually give it the nod it deserves. Angus Scrimm as the tall man is brill.
"Hasta la vista, baby." -
kitchenaut-1 — 16 years ago(August 16, 2009 12:07 PM)
Come on, it was more than just a lump of plastic on a stick. There were two guys in there manipulating the tentacles two very lucky guys.
And a gorgeous blue-eyed blonde with a stunning figure covered in KY Jelly is never JUST anything.
Please check your pulse. -
Tridentmovies — 16 years ago(August 23, 2009 01:03 PM)
This film is truly horrible. Horribly entertaining and funny.
It's one of those "so bad it's good" movies, like "The Swarm".
It deserves at least a 5 because while it is made like a piece of crap, in terms of entertainment it beats most movies that are made much better.
Come on. Tell me you didn't laugh out loud at Grace Zabriskie's reaction shots or Edward Albert's idea of "acting". -
NostalgiaDrag — 15 years ago(June 29, 2010 03:11 AM)
Not a great movie or anything but it's pretty damned enjoyable in a weird sort of way. I happen to own a huge poster of Galaxy of Terror not because I'm a terribly big fan of the film but because the poster is so RAD! It's on my wall right in from of my pc.
C'mon, at least admit that the poster rules. -
lianzantoro — 15 years ago(August 22, 2010 11:47 AM)
Got to disagree. I think this is a pretty fun flick. Particularly taking into account it's low budget. It has an impressive cast, some cool set designs, and the maggot rape alone would elevate it above a 1.
It's an example of a film made at a certain era (late 70's- early 80's), when many B-movies just had a certain kind of charm to them that bid budget hollywood crap from now could never emulate, even if they tried. Or maybe it's just nostalgia on my part.
As I write this it has a rating of 4.9, and I gave it an 8. Yes, I'm probably insane. -
austin_finerty — 15 years ago(August 28, 2010 11:50 PM)
I agree on most counts. I was on set for the entire filming of the movie. I was the one opening the "automatic" doors, I helped build all the sets and worked elbow to elbow with James Cameron on this shoot.
It was an awful movie to watch but it was so much FUN to work on! I have Sid Haiges costume and backpack to remind me of the fun I had on the New World Studios set in Venice Beach that year. Lots of props and parts of sets from "Battle beyond the Stars" all around plus we recycled on of the props from "Battle" into the set of "Galaxy"!
Many of the art department crew were used as extras on "battle". Working on "Galaxy" was one of the most rewarding and fun times I have ever had. The creativity of the art department and SFX departments were amazing.
When you watch it again, look at the sets. Fabricated from foam and old bomber parts and paint. -
elgatony — 15 years ago(November 14, 2010 04:47 PM)
I can't believe this was on Turner Classic Movies last night! I want to meet the programmer for TCM Underground and buy him a beer because they've shown some really interesting stuff in their brief history.
OK, it's a B-Movie and the ending made me go "huh? That's IT?" But aside from that, watching the characters get picked off and the way they happen is pretty entertaining, esp for a movie from 1981. Within the first 10 minutes you realize this is a B-Movie and, at least IMO, you can let my guard down a bit, remove your thinking cap and have some fun. I wouldn't be surprised if people started yelling back at the screen when this was in theaters. In fact, I saw this in theaters as a kid and one lady in the audience said in a really tiny but audible voice "Run, Joanie, Run!"
Which brings me to my second point: Galaxy of Terror is damn fascinating because of the people involved. If you're a movie producer try paying Robert Englund, Sid Haig, Zalman King, Ray Walston (well, he's dead but he was a known commodity), Erin Moran, James Cameron & Bill Paxton these days. Erin would probably be the only one to come cheap and yet here they all are working for schlock-meister Roger Corman and Cameron wasn't even the director! There's something intrinsically cool about that.
This whole thread reminds me of the Simpsons episode where John Waters tries to explain the concept of "camp" to Homer as "something so bad it's good" and all he hears are crickets. There's lot of fun "bad" movies especially from the 50s & 60s and I enjoy them all for their uniqueness. This is where "Hollow Man" et al fall short. They took themselves too seriously and were marketed as such therefore they come across as disappointments when really it should've been fun. If that makes me insane for appreciating this movie then get my strait-jacket ready.
Gene(points at his arm pit:Get a waft of that,man stink. See if that doesn't moisten your gusset! -
SoTyred — 15 years ago(December 14, 2010 06:36 PM)
I think you're being kind. I just rented this because usually when something is a 'cult classic', there's something substantial there. And to hear the 'Making of' people talk as if they had made some legendary film..sickening. This is what MST3K has made a lot of movie 'lovers' into.
Horrible actingHORRIBLE.the people in Plan 9 deserve Oscars compared to this crap.
Corman-and don't get me wrong, I love me some classic Corman (Piranha{original},Death Race 2000, Battle Beyond the Stars, Grand Theft Auto, Capone, Little Shop of Horrors{original}along with a few others of his 50s/early 60s stuff where he actually directedMan with the X-Ray Eyes for example) -must have been off his rocker.
Skin that Smokewagon and see what happens! Tombstone -
LightningLad — 15 years ago(December 22, 2010 08:57 AM)
Fans of a b-movie are the last people who need it pointed out that it's bad. But so often the movies are more entertaining than mainstream films, for reasons intentional and otherwise. Most mainstream movies are pasteurized for as broad an audience as possible, and are smart but not too smart; while b-movies are frequently made by inspired nutcases, and are just more interesting to intelligent, imaginative audiences.
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