Vingt-quatre heures chez les Martiens

Such a pleasant, not too outstanding B-movie, where young Lloyd Bridges is still present. I really enjoy how the low budget is utilized in similar B-movies. It is evident that it is cheap, but filmmakers still try to make it look good and have things happening. Granted, there is mainly a lot of talking, but it didn't bother me so much here. (17/06/2015)

Poster tagline: YOU’VE HEARD ABOUT IT! YOU’VE READ ABOUT IT! YOU’VE TALKED ABOUT IT! THE SCREEN’S FIRST STORY OF MAN’S CONQUEST OF SPACE! I was very pleased with this smart sci-fi movie, it lived up to its praiseworthy reputation overseas. Of course, it must be seen in the context of a time when awareness of the technical aspects of space exploration was still in its infancy. So there is no need to be surprised that 1) astronauts walk on Mars in leather jackets, with a cap, with their face covered only with a muzzle from an oxygen bomb 2) the concept of weightlessness does not exist 3) to physically overcome the overload at space velocity, you just need to lie down in bed and fasten a belt around your waist, etc. Those who don't like conversations (in this case, intelligent conversations) won't enjoy the film much, because 80% takes place inside the ship, in an oval room about 5m in diameter. But thanks to the likeable cast, led by Jeff Bridges's then-young dad, Lloyd Bridges, the experience was enjoyable. The scenes from Mars have an interesting orange filter, and there is also an action scene in the form of a fight with a primitive Martian gang that look like prehistoric hunters (a leftover state after the atomic catastrophe that destroyed the advanced Martian civilisation). Intelligent dialogues, good performances and an unexpected tragic ending, which eventually leads to the scientists' determination to build a new ship, leaving a certain element of hope, all of this suited me perfectly and I have no problem giving it a strong 4*. (28/02/2013)