r-c-s Review of Battle in Outer Space

Battle in Outer Space (1959)

pleasant 1950s B budgeted Japanese sci-fi, better than THE MYSTERIANS

[7/10 · 17 April 2007]

In the future (1965!) alien invaders attack earth. They ride flying saucers and are able to control humans through microscopic brain implants. They destroy a giant, manned satellite and then proceed to build a base on the moon. Counterattack is soon launched and the battle is won after a few plot twists. TAKEN FOR WHAT IT IS (=Japanese 1950s low budget ) is is a very pleasant movie: SFX are good, era/genre wise. It is much better than THE MYSTERIANS. Character development is little (if anything). There are no meaningful plot twists, besides the "human controlled by aliens", played twice ( subplot often used in coming sci-fi series, namely the 1960s UFO ). Acting is mediocre and cardboard. There are a few incongruities: the first subdued human is an Indian scientist attending a secret convention to showcase the new weapons to use against the aliens. Interpol agents arrive chasing said Indian scientist...but how could they possibly know of his trance induced by aliens? Later, aliens attacks the 2 spaceships approaching the Moon. Yet, while said spaceships are exposed during the landing phase, aliens mysteriously disappear, to come back later. Again, no trace of the aliens during a few meaningful moments of vulnerability. Also watch out for the chase after prof. Achmed: more goofy&hilarious than Abbott&Costello! All in all a pleasant movie, but i'm not sure i'd watch it twice.