Mjeteconer Just perfect...

Gutsycurene Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

Rio Hayward All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Cristal The movie really just wants to entertain people.

talisencrw I can see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel, as I'm nearing the end of my infamous Mill Creek 50-film 'Nightmare Worlds' pack. This was a really strange viewing experience, and honestly made me wonder if my red wine had been spiked with some hallucinogen by some ne'er-do-well prankster. It had some intriguing ideas, a big one being that the USA and USSR are afraid that China is going to destroy the world, so at the last minute, just before a scheduled space flight to investigate Venus, NASA administrators replace three of the astronauts with female counterparts, and include a mysterious large suitcase.Though it says 1972, you can distinctly feel that it was made years earlier, before the game-changers of '2001: A Space Odyssey' and the manned space flight to the moon completely changed the way sci-fi films were made (unless you're the sad saps behind monstrosities such as 'Star Odyssey', that go on as if any relationship with the way things are in real life is an entirely accidental and unintended coincidence). Most of it was made in 1966, but funding ran out, and it shows. The filmmakers couldn't even afford the intended climax, and that shows--the film simply ends. But for all of that, this bizarre experiment of a forced Adam and Eve scenario in outer space, as a future for Earth, is decent--and it would be two generations later, when in Christopher Nolan's 'Interstellar', that this idea would be fully realized with human decency and artistic integrity.

bensonmum2 The Chinese have created the titular Doomsday Machine Why? I don't know. In response, the Americans change a planned mission to space by switching three male astronauts for three female astronauts. Why? To assure the continuation of the human race just in case the Chinese destroy the world. As expected, shortly after lift-off, the Earth is destroyed. Can these seven astronauts make it to Venus to start a new human civilization?Even my poorly written plot summary makes Doomsday Machine sound far better than it really is. This turkey of a movie has got any number of problems that others have covered in great detail. I don't think I need to write much about the fact that half the movie was filmed in 1967 and the rest in 1972, other than to say that the differences are jarring. Instead, I want to focus on something else that bothered me - the mixed male/female group of scientists are about as unprofessional as you could imagine. As soon as they leave the Earth's atmosphere and climb out of their La-Z-Boys, their hormones immediately take over. I felt like I was watching an episode of Love Boat. The crew can't have been in space for more than 10 seconds when Grant Williams inexplicably takes off his shirt and comments on Ruta Lee's appearance - "You know, without your glasses, you're a very pretty doctor." I HATE lines like that in a movie! Are you so stupid you can't see the woman for the glasses? Like the rest of the movie, it's utterly ridiculous.And then there's the ending. I guess the 1972 crew had absolutely no money. How else do you explain two people in a poorly lit spacecraft doing absolutely nothing? I'm surprised they didn't cut corners more and use a matte painting of the astronauts. What a mess!One of the only things Doomsday Machine has going for it are some really funky, cool 60s moments. The multi-colors aboard the spaceship are a nice touch. The second thing is enough scientific mumbo-jumbo to fill a dozen movies. I don't think any character ever utters anything scientific that makes sense. It's a hoot! Third, I must admit I did enjoy a couple of the cast members regardless of what they were give to work with. Mala Powers, Henry Wilcoxon, and, incredible as it may sound, Ruta Lee give decent performances. Finally, the cat over the wall moment was a stroke of genius. I actually laughed out loud.

wes-connors "An upcoming space mission to Venus becomes even more vital after a startling secret is revealed. Foreign agents have revealed a secret plot by the Chinese where they have manufactured the ultimate weapon, capable of destroying everything on the surface of the planet. The mission to our sister planet now becomes a fight for the survival of the human race, as the crew must try to save the Earth from destruction," according to the DVD sleeve's synopsis.Apparently, the "Red" Chinese are preparing to attack the NATO Allies, with nuclear weaponry. So, a 1975 manned (and womanned) space mission to the planet Venus takes on added meaning; if the Earth is destroyed in a nuclear war, the only human survivors may be those people traveling to Venus. These men and women learn they will be playing "Adam" and "Eve" -- except for Henry Wilcoxon (as Dr. Perry), who is portrayed as too old for sex, at age 61 (when this was filmed).There are very few redeeming qualities in "The Doomsday Machine". You will get to see Ruta Lee (as Marion) slap Bobby Van (as Danny) once. You could watch to see how performers like Grant Williams (as Kurt Mason) and Mala Powers (as Georgianna Bronski) handle their unenviable assignment. You might want to admire James Craig (as Haines)'s admirable physique, during his shirtless scene. Or, you could observe how space flight affects ladies' hairstyles. Casey Kasem and Mike Farrell have cameos.

madpigmadpig I't's unfortunate that the destruction of earth is the only thing that can get rid of Casey Kasem. Aside from that, why did all the actors in the first few minutes of the film look like low budget 70's porn stars? If only they had killed off the two garbage characters early in the story, or just not had them in the first place, I can see a potentially good movie there. Instead they spent most of the movie on emotional dross, produced largely by the whiny nut case and her would- be rapist. The instant those two died the movie improved immensely; the characters started acting normal, an engrossing plot began to form, and just as it was about to get really interesting one of the ships disappeared and the movie ended!! What kind of filmmaker would do such a thing? It's so cruel; to torture the audience so long, give them the hope of being entertained, and then snatch it viciously from them! How depraved.