Great film and I enjoyed your discussion of it. BTW, the actress playing Nancy Bellicec is not Angela but her sister Veronica Cartwright - a great actress, who has started her career as a leading child in Hitchcock "Birds" (13 years old). Jerry Garcia was the man with the dog playing banjo. Thank you and keep up the good work!
The first version of IOTBS is an old favorite, with story changes that improve over the novel. Though it suffers from "B" movie-itis, due to it low budget, it's not a big complaint. The 78 version is great & surprisingly scary. The best version, by far. Body Snatchers is kinda "B"-ish, but cool. I think it was intended for a young audience & doesn't interest me as much as I've aged. And The Invasion is exciting. The update on the alien source is great & the characters are interesting enough.
Kind of interesting that the Ferrara version divides opinion so much. I always felt the first 50 minutes were really good, but as soon as Meg Tilly finishes her central scene (ending with her pod person scream) and the actions kicks off, the entire film just falls apart. The beginning and middle parts are great, with rising tension and suspense, but the film can't sustain it and devolves into a confused mess with lots of running and shouting. It says a lot that it was both Ferrara's first and last big studio film.
I know this was 12 years ago -- but you should have the DVD's right there, or online access so you could verify things from the movie -- the banjo player WAS Jerry Garcia!
Awesome episode. Edwin, your praise of the 78 and 93 versions have inspired me to check them out. I was not offended by Michael's comments. I found him very funny. I hope for more outrageous un-pc remarks from him.
Actually in every scene Nimoy was in he was already "turned" into one of the pods. In the book store scene he deceptively calms down the woman whose husband has already turned by using his New Age psychobabble...because he's already one! His advice is "she needs some sleep." All part of the conspiracy. Jerry Garcia was not on screen in the movie, but they do overlay his banjo playing.
I respectfully disagree. At the book store party Nimoy is just doing his job as a regular, albeit misguided, human psychiatrist (and he doesn't advise sleep, just therapy). But he also plays a funny prank on Jeff Goldblum, then shouts at him out on the street, and laughs at something Donald Sutherland says, and a pod would never do those things. The scene where he's first a pod person is when he suddenly appears at the mud baths (wearing a totally new set of clothes) and starts to trick, lie to and play mind games with the human characters.
+projectcyclops I see your point. Kibner (Nimoy) advises therapy for the scared woman, but he also advises that what Elizabeth needs is a "good night's sleep" to resolve her same exact problem with Geoffrey. It just seems like the pods knew who were the authority figures and Kibner is almost like their "spokesman" in later scenes. Perhaps they allowed and encouraged him a little humanity in his pod persona to help fool the public.
WILLIAM TELL Yeah, you're right. Kibner basically leads the group of pod people who try to find Matthew and Elizabeth. The cop on the radio outside their office actually says, "Awaiting return of Kibner party." So he's like a pod officer or something!
+projectcyclops Oh yes the police were made into pods very quickly, which is why Matthew gets nowhere when he tries to report Kevin McCarthy's "accident" early in the film.
Ive only ever seen the 50's version. I caught it on TV a few years ago when I was 15-ish. I really liked it but I don't remember much about except the part at the end with the 'YOU'RE NEXT!'
I agree "The Invasion" was GARBAGE. The ending was SO bad I felt like throwing a brick at my TV -- instead I think I threw the DVD out the window (but had to retrieve it to return it to Redbox). And of course they went back after the film was finished to add a "bombing scene" - I suppose to wake up people in the theatre or at home. The happy Leave it to Beaver ending was beyond stupid and lame.
@sstlouis It was really hard when there's 3 against one, but I had to. I think Ferrara's version is one of the best, and most underrated horror films ever made. I can't recommend it enough.
You can understand why the extra scene was added to the end of the original film. To be that intense and not have some relief for the audience (in the 1950's) at the end just wasn't going to be allowed by the studio. The ending of the 1970's remake was okay, because the 1970's was dark and downbeat. Haven't seen either of the other two versions. I did read the Jack Finney novel though.
Hey, Sorry to tell you this, but Garcia did the music for the banjo player but did not play him (the director told us this in his commentary on the dvd)
Just discovered the show & like it. I enjoy the discussions & most of the personalities are enjoyable. A few complaints: like you spend so much time talking about the first film or 2, that you don't usually have enough time to give the last movie the time it deserves; not everyone expresses their thoughts well; & a more seasoned geek or 2, could speak from the point of view of someone who saw the older films at the time they were released. But I still like it, will watch more & even subscribe.
The earlier ones, the first two films were quite good, both of them. They focused on the plot line. But the lasted one was crap. Filmmakers need to go back to the basic and start with a good story-HELLLLOOOO!!!!!
This show wouldn't be the show we want if these guys had to be politically correct. I don't think for a second that Ed, Mike, Jeff, or Eric are ignorant at all to these things, comments are made for comic effect, especially from Mike. I'm sorry if the guy above was offended by comments made, but really I'd have every right to get offended at the same comment but I don't. The reason being it's not what you say that matters but what you mean. These guys are never hateful in anything they say.
all three movies are visually beautiful and interesting.and all 3 are scary and emotionaly taut. but the nicole kidman''invasion'' was not scary or visually fine at all.
Great film and I enjoyed your discussion of it.
BTW, the actress playing Nancy Bellicec is not Angela but her sister Veronica Cartwright - a great actress, who has started her career as a leading child in Hitchcock "Birds" (13 years old).
Jerry Garcia was the man with the dog playing banjo.
Thank you and keep up the good work!
The pulsating sound really helped increase the creep factor, which is also found in the Walking Dead.
Well done Edwin for standing your ground and not conforming to their view on the Abel Ferrara version..
Veronica! Veronica! Veronica Cartwright!
Other than that, I agree, Body Snatchers is one to avoid.
For me the 1978 version tops the list.
The first version of IOTBS is an old favorite, with story changes that improve over the novel. Though it suffers from "B" movie-itis, due to it low budget, it's not a big complaint. The 78 version is great & surprisingly scary. The best version, by far. Body Snatchers is kinda "B"-ish, but cool. I think it was intended for a young audience & doesn't interest me as much as I've aged. And The Invasion is exciting. The update on the alien source is great & the characters are interesting enough.
Kind of interesting that the Ferrara version divides opinion so much. I always felt the first 50 minutes were really good, but as soon as Meg Tilly finishes her central scene (ending with her pod person scream) and the actions kicks off, the entire film just falls apart. The beginning and middle parts are great, with rising tension and suspense, but the film can't sustain it and devolves into a confused mess with lots of running and shouting. It says a lot that it was both Ferrara's first and last big studio film.
I'm glad you gave this film some love ! A forgotten classic, ropey in places but great for the most part. Wonderfully directed.
I know this was 12 years ago -- but you should have the DVD's right there, or online access so you could verify things from the movie -- the banjo player WAS Jerry Garcia!
Awesome episode. Edwin, your praise of the 78 and 93 versions have inspired me to check them out. I was not offended by Michael's comments. I found him very funny. I hope for more outrageous un-pc remarks from him.
Actually in every scene Nimoy was in he was already "turned" into one of the pods. In the book store scene he deceptively calms down the woman whose husband has already turned by using his New Age psychobabble...because he's already one! His advice is "she needs some sleep." All part of the conspiracy.
Jerry Garcia was not on screen in the movie, but they do overlay his banjo playing.
I respectfully disagree. At the book store party Nimoy is just doing his job as a regular, albeit misguided, human psychiatrist (and he doesn't advise sleep, just therapy). But he also plays a funny prank on Jeff Goldblum, then shouts at him out on the street, and laughs at something Donald Sutherland says, and a pod would never do those things. The scene where he's first a pod person is when he suddenly appears at the mud baths (wearing a totally new set of clothes) and starts to trick, lie to and play mind games with the human characters.
+projectcyclops I see your point. Kibner (Nimoy) advises therapy for the scared woman, but he also advises that what Elizabeth needs is a "good night's sleep" to resolve her same exact problem with Geoffrey. It just seems like the pods knew who were the authority figures and Kibner is almost like their "spokesman" in later scenes. Perhaps they allowed and encouraged him a little humanity in his pod persona to help fool the public.
WILLIAM TELL Yeah, you're right. Kibner basically leads the group of pod people who try to find Matthew and Elizabeth. The cop on the radio outside their office actually says, "Awaiting return of Kibner party." So he's like a pod officer or something!
+WILLIAM TELL pretty good theory.
+projectcyclops Oh yes the police were made into pods very quickly, which is why Matthew gets nowhere when he tries to report Kevin McCarthy's "accident" early in the film.
Ive only ever seen the 50's version. I caught it on TV a few years ago when I was 15-ish. I really liked it but I don't remember much about except the part at the end with the 'YOU'RE NEXT!'
Kaufman's Invasion of Body Snatchers with Donald Sutherland is the best one, hands down no question!
Awesome show guys! Make these shows longer and available for download, please.
Haha hillarious video description. Really entertaining and solid episode. More!!
I agree "The Invasion" was GARBAGE. The ending was SO bad I felt like throwing a brick at my TV -- instead I think I threw the DVD out the window (but had to retrieve it to return it to Redbox). And of course they went back after the film was finished to add a "bombing scene" - I suppose to wake up people in the theatre or at home. The happy Leave it to Beaver ending was beyond stupid and lame.
@TheChapaqua I think you can see Mike in the audience of "Dice Rules"
@sstlouis It was really hard when there's 3 against one, but I had to. I think Ferrara's version is one of the best, and most underrated horror films ever made. I can't recommend it enough.
:D Great episode! Love the bonus HOOOT at the end!
Thank you for this episode!!!! Excellent!!! *****
You can understand why the extra scene was added to the end of the original film. To be that intense and not have some relief for the audience (in the 1950's) at the end just wasn't going to be allowed by the studio. The ending of the 1970's remake was okay, because the 1970's was dark and downbeat. Haven't seen either of the other two versions. I did read the Jack Finney novel though.
I remember seeing Edwin on The Ultimate Film Fanatic.
Kaufman also worked with George Lucas on the concept for Indiana Jones/Raiders of the Lost Ark. He has a writing credit on the 1981 film.
I've only ever seen the 78 version from beginning to end but I felt that was the best one as I saw 75% of the original.
kevin mcarthy was in the twilight zone episode "Long Live Walter Jameson" or something like that.
Hey,
Sorry to tell you this, but Garcia did the music for the banjo player but did not play him (the director told us this in his commentary on the dvd)
you leave brokeback mountain out of this michael
I agree Terry Gilliam is the best on acid. lol
Haha! Great "Invasion Of The Body Snatchers" and "Body Snatchers" point and scream homage!
Just discovered the show & like it. I enjoy the discussions & most of the personalities are enjoyable. A few complaints: like you spend so much time talking about the first film or 2, that you don't usually have enough time to give the last movie the time it deserves; not everyone expresses their thoughts well; & a more seasoned geek or 2, could speak from the point of view of someone who saw the older films at the time they were released. But I still like it, will watch more & even subscribe.
@TheChapaqua I can not comment for Mike, but I'm sorry if you were offended by those comments.
The earlier ones, the first two films were quite good, both of them. They focused on the plot line. But the lasted one was crap. Filmmakers need to go back to the basic and start with a good story-HELLLLOOOO!!!!!
This show wouldn't be the show we want if these guys had to be politically correct. I don't think for a second that Ed, Mike, Jeff, or Eric are ignorant at all to these things, comments are made for comic effect, especially from Mike. I'm sorry if the guy above was offended by comments made, but really I'd have every right to get offended at the same comment but I don't. The reason being it's not what you say that matters but what you mean. These guys are never hateful in anything they say.
Cinefiles kicks ass!!!!
@TheChapaqua K word? I'm not Jewish - I'm Swedish, but hey, I still won't use it.
all three movies are visually beautiful and interesting.and all 3 are scary and emotionaly taut. but the nicole kidman''invasion'' was not scary or visually fine at all.
Veronica Cartwright !!!
Abel Ferrara is anything but boring his films are very stylistic, original and fascinating.
@JTunns Don't remind me! :)
Oh and that was me commenting. As in Eric. The fake Jew.
Um, just to clarify: I am not Jewish. Although my last name is. Which I guess makes me kind of a fake Jew. So what would you call that?
The first two were good and after that they were crap.
The first one was good, the remake in the seventies was even btter. The last remake SUCKED!
It's Veronica, Guys, not Angela!! Better get your facts straight before you post.
Ángela is her sister from Lost in Space.
@TheChapaqua My point is that they are just words. It's the way they are used that matters. Mike just made a joke, get over it.