MovieChat Forums > Robot Monster (1953) Discussion > Actually not awful

Actually not awful

posted 19 years ago by eyeresist
7 replies | jump to latest

I've heard for ages about how hilariously bad this movie is, but when I finally watched it, I found myself getting into it.

The biggest problem in this movie is near the beginning, when the kid gets knocked out, and we're suddenly treated to footage of lizards ('dinosaurs') fighting for several minutes (this is probably supposed to have been inspired by his conversation with the archaeologists), without explanation. But once you get past that, it starts making sense - sort-of.

For me, Robot Monster is like a weird dream, which makes sense since *SPOILER* it turns out that it is a dream. The limited locations and illogical characterisations make a lot more sense from this viewpoint.

Also: the acting, for its day, is not particularly bad; the Leonard Bernstein music enhances the mood; and Ro-Man just looks so cool!

I think if you take it as a kids' movie that's supposed to seem like a dream, and get into the old-fashioned feel of it, Robot Monster is worth watching.

Now, flame me.

[–] Krustallos 19 years ago

Well, I saw this 25 years ago and I still remember it quite vividly, so it must have something going for it.

"I don’t like the term torture. I prefer to call it nastiness."

Donald Rumsfeld

[–] aaronlsl 19 years ago

> the Leonard Bernstein music enhances the mood;

I think you mean "Elmer Bernstein."

[–] eyeresist 19 years ago

Either that or the Berenstein Bears.

[–] The-Silent-Photoplayer 19 years ago

Also, an aspect that many overlook is the fantastic 3-D photography, partially because people haven't seen it in its proper, polaroid format. For the fact that they had so little time to prepare as well as shoot, the photography is truly amazing.

-J. Theakston
The Silent Photoplayer
http://www.thephotoplayer.com/

[–] craigarawlinson 18 years ago

There was a bit of Shatner style acting in Ro-Man's performance. When he was falling for " The one caled A-lice" he was getting rather melodramatic and it is a hoot to watch. "I want to live like the Hoo-man, to LOVE like the Hoo-man!" "To feel like the Hoo-man..WHY must it be forbidden?!?"

Craig R

[–] MaximusXXX 18 years ago

This movie, in my ranking system is an R, my ranking goes E,A,B,C,D,F,R.

Now I try to find the best in all movies, I rate Bloodrayne a 4/10, trully I do, and most people get on my back for it, but this film, I downloaded it a few months ago, just to see how bad it was, and my lord.....it was horrid....no quesiotn....my worst ranking, 0.5/10

[–] RichN36 18 years ago

I agree with one of the first post for a Really bad movie it has a lasting effect on people. I can remember seeing this almost 40 years ago on the Saturday Morning TV " Sir Ghastly Graves " on our local TV station in Detroit and later on the MST3K Version.

It has always given me the creeps. But to the Point if I have a Nightmare of being chased even now More often then not its a Gorilla in a Diving halmet that is doing the chasing. So something must of been done Right in the making of this movie.

For a bad film it sure has a lot of write ups in Movie History more so then some Great Movies in the 100 years of Movie making. So sit back and enjoy with a bowl of Popcorn and the Lights turned down low.