An alien invasion film that actually pays off in the invasion department, Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers is another astounding achievement from Ray Harryhausen. This time, instead of giant lizards or octopi, alien spaceships soar over Washington DC. As the hero discovers the alien's weakness, he is able to disrupt their destructive attack on the nation's capital. The scenes of famous landmarks being destroyed are technical marvels.

My Personal Views - "The last 15 minutes of this movie are worth the price of admission. I just watched this film about 3 weeks ago and I could watch it again."

Inspired by Shakespeare's The Tempest, this film is considered one of science fiction's greatest films of all time, not just the fifties. Leslie Neilsen stars as the commander of an interplanetary rescue ship that land on Altair IV to find survivors of a doomed expedition. There they encounter Dr. Morbius (Walter Pidgeon), his daughter, Altera (Anne Francis) and Robby, a robot built by Morbius. Refusing their aid, Morbius tries to warn off the would-be rescuers because of the attack by an invisible creature that killed the original expedition years earlier. As it turns out, the culprit was Morbius himself, his mind (using alien technology) created the creature, the "Monster From the Id", to carry out his subconscious desires. Rather than see his daughter at risk. Morbius sacrifices himself and the crew, with Altera and Robby, leave the planet as Morbius blows it up.

My Personal Views - "This is another class act all the way. The acting, the effects, and of course, Robby, the most charismatic robot of all. The only odd note about this film is the electronic score seems very out of place at times. But by all means, don't let that stop you from enjoying this film. How could you not want to see Leslie "Don't call me Shirley" Neilsen in true Captain Kirk mode?"

As much about Cold War paranoia as it is about alien invasion, this movie is truly a classic example of great storytelling and mood. Kevin McCarthy stars as a man who finds out that his friends and loved ones might not be who they appear to be. As the townfolk are replaced by "Pod People", the terror grows from not knowing who is human and who is inhuman. In 1982, John Carpenter would remake The Thing and would use a similar theme of questionable identity. A downbeat ending was also against the norm of films that usually wrapped up all the loose ends neatly. Invasion Of The Body Snatchers remains one of the fifties best films.

My Personal Views - "No wonder this film has been remade twice. It's a classic. One of the creepiest films I have ever seen. It doesn't need gore to work, it's so suspenseful that it works on you."

It Conquered The World is director Roger Corman's most infamous science fiction film. A squat alien from Venus is brought to this world by a scientist who wants to help it take over. After realizing the error of his ways, the scientist and the hero, played by Peter Graves must work to stop the alien's plan.

My Personal Views - "It's basically your average Space-Pickle-with-mind-control-bat-things-attempts-to-take-over-the-world story. With Peter Graves, Lee Van Cleef and Beverly Garland. And did I mention the pickle?"

John Agar, a staple of many fifties sci-fi films, stars in this movie about a lost civilization found underground and ruled by a race of albinos. They mistake the group of surfacemen as gods until an untrusting high priest exposes them as mortal men. The Mole People of the title refer to a race of animal-like drone slaves who the surfacemen help to overthrow the ruling albino race.

My Personal Views - "There's something about this film I really like but I'm not sure what it is. I think the Mole People are creepy looking, the albinos are weird and the acting is particularly cheesy and I mean that in a good way. It's just a goofy film."

Rodan was the first color monster movie from Toho Studios and bacause it's not a moody somber film like Godzilla, King Of The Monsters, the color serves it well. 2 prehistoric pterosaurs fly through the skies around Japan, their supersonic velocities smashing planes and buildings alike. When one of the birds lays an egg inside a volcano, the eruption kills them both.

My Personal Views - "This film was one of the earlier Toho monster films and it's done in a more serious fashion than later ones. I like it because it's so well done and not an embarassment like some of the later films ended up being. Not that I mind, I like them all."