Mysterious Island (1961)

Jules Verne's classic adventure is perfectly matched with Ray Harryhausen's timeless movie magic in Mysterious Island. Based on Verne's sequel to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, this rousing Civil War-era fantasy begins when a band of Union war prisoners (and one Confederate straggler) escape in a hot-air balloon, which crash-lands on the titular island of mystery. Verne's novel doesn't include any gigantic creatures, but Harryhausen's version--under the capable direction of genre specialist Cy Endfield--features giant oysters, bees, a prehistoric Phororhacos (a giant chickenlike bird!), an undersea cephalopod, a giant crab, and enough danger to keep its resourceful ensemble on constant alert. Captain Nemo (Herbert Lom, ably filling James Mason's shoes) is a third-act hero, pursuing an ill-fated dream to save humanity from hunger and war. The action may be too intense for younger viewers, but Endfield's pacing and Harryhausen's stop-motion mastery make Mysterious Island a wondrous precursor to Harryhausen's follow-up classic, Jason and the Argonauts. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com

 Fantastic fun
A great family movie. Still enjoyable after all this time. Another Harryhausen movie that helped to bring delight to thousands of cinema goers. April 7, 2008

 Classic from yester-year
I agree with others about beauty in the simplicity of the special effects. When this movie was made it was cutting edge. I watched it with my husband (who has seen it several times before) and rather enjoyed it. The battle scene with the giant chicken is priceless. I look forward to catching up on other movies from Ray Harryhausen. Truly enjoyable for the whole family! March 12, 2008

 Mysterious Island
Any Jules Verne or Ray Harryhausen fan should have a good time watching this movie. It's not " 20,000 leagues Under the Sea " or " 7th Voyage of Sinbad " , however...it's still fun fantasy. August 31, 2007

 The Creativity, Idealism, and Venality of Captain Nemo

I first saw this film as a child, and remember being thrilled by the scenes. It was a delight to see it again after some 40 years. But there is more to this film than meets the eye. Other reviewers have extensively discussed the adventure aspects of this film, and I will instead focus on some deeper issues raised.

Captain Nemo said that he lived alone on the island because he had become disillusioned with humanity. He especially opposed war, and, in previous years, had used his invention of the submarine to sink battleships. One of the Union soldiers stranded on the island pointed out Nemo's inconsistency: Nemo opposed violence, yet used violence to promote his goals! The Union soldier also pointed out that he himself was using violence to promote a worthy cause--the freeing of the slaves in the American Civil War.

Nemo said that he changed his mind about living alone forever as a result of the determined struggles of the castaways in attempting to survive. That is what motivated Nemo to help the castaways surreptitiously by such things as dragging one of the nearly-drowned soldiers to shore and building a fire for him, shooting the giant chicken, sinking the attacking pirate ship at a critical time, etc.

Nemo also came to believe that war was caused by human want. This is what motivated him to make these giant versions of creatures such as the crab, chicken, and bee. These giant creatures would provide an inexhaustible supply of food for all humans, and there would be no more need for war.

Nemo was creative, and said that he was a man of reason, not faith. Yet at a critical time, Nemo became resigned to death because of the unexpectedly-early erupting volcano. Ironically, he had to be prodded by the castaways to not give up and to adopt one of their ideas. They used the balloon to raise the sunken pirate ship for the escape. The castaways make it, but will Nemo? I will not spoil the ending by revealing it.


March 14, 2007

 The Island of Gigantic Creatures
Jules Verne is one of my favorite classic science fiction writers so Verne based movies are on my must-see list. In Japan Mysterious Island is not that well-known Verne stories just as Around The World In Eighty Days, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea or Adrift In The Pacific. So this 1961 movie gives me a great clue because I haven't yet read the original novel.

The story in this movie seems to blend elements of various classic adventure stories such as Defoe's "Robinson Cruisoe", Swift's "Gulliver's Travels", as well as Verne novels such as "Around The World...", "20,000 leauges..." and "Adrift In The Pacific". Special effects in this movie reminds me of "Boy I Shrank The Kids". It seems not like that the creature got bigger but humans shrank before the creatures. Special effects seems outdated viewing from CG-accustommed modernists. Yet the film is vivid because of the splendid acting particularly Captain Nemo. Cartoon like adventures galore.

Verdict: Despite its outdated F/X the movie delivers
Rating: 89 out of 100
Recommended for: Wide range of classic Sci-fi movies fans. March 11, 2007

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