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| Index | 35 reviews in total |
23 out of 24 people found the following review useful:
Better than Star Wars, 5 September 2005
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Author:
J. Mike Perkins from Houston, Texas
This is a wonderful, thoughtful little film with timeless messages
about prejudice and what it is to be human. A lot of people comment on
the low budget, but there were some A list Hollywood people involved in
making this like the most famous make up man ever, creator of the
Universal Frankenstein make up for Boris Karloff, Jack P. Pierce, doing
wonderful work near the end of his career. The great and colorful
cinematography is done by the famous Hal Mohr who has a star on the
Hollwood Walk and a long list of credits. The screenwriter was Jay
Simms who went on to fame and a long career in television, so this film
is not without talent in the people who made it despite its low budget.
The film is also a bit cerebral for some people, and does have a lot of
talking in it, but like the best Science Fiction films and T.V.
programs, like the Twilight Zone, THE STORY will make you think deep
thoughts. You can't say that about most big budget modern Science
Fiction. I have a lot more respect for film like this, doing a lot with
a little through the WRITING and the STORY than I do virtually any
modern film whose story, if there is one, has been dummied down
assuming no one in the audience has a working brain.
Much has been made about the fact that Andy Warhol loved this movie.
It's easy to see why given the wonderful colors, lighting, and almost
pop art looking sets. Despite being cheap, the film is often a wonder
to look at. It also has Dudley Manlove of Plan Nine from Outer Space in
it. Do your self a favor and watch this film if you can find it.
18 out of 19 people found the following review useful:
Proof that imagination and intelligence can conquer any budgetary limitations, 3 June 2007
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Author:
TimothyFarrell from Worcester, MA
"Creation of the Humanoids" is unique among the low-budget science
fiction cinema of the early 60s. Its shoddily made with equally wooden
direction and performances. Ed Wood is a more aesthetically pleasing
director than Wesley Barry. The acting is similar to the performances
in Wood's work (and thats at its finer moments). There's little action
to be seen and most of the film is compromised of talk.
You'd think I'd hate this film judging so far. However, while the films
mostly dialog, its fascinating dialog, crammed pack with ideas and
social commentary. Its full of blows against militarism and racism, and
questions identity and what it actually means to be human (is it flesh
and blood or just a state of mind?). Its constantly engrossing and
always thought-provoking. Screenwriter Jay Simms managed to include
more attacks on social mores than just about any mainstream film of the
period. Hows that for subversion?
"The Creation of the Humanoids" is a perfect example of why I love
these low-budget films. They're cheap and impoverished, but they have
more enthusiasm than just about any mainstream film out there. This
title here is deceptively ahead of its time, resembling "Blade Runner"
in more than one way (it even predates Philip K. Dick's "Do Androids
Dream of Electric Sheep"). This is one of my psychotronic favorites,
and a film that demands a wider cult following than it has obtained.
Its one of the most unique films I've seen. (8/10)
16 out of 16 people found the following review useful:
A low-budget gem with strong ties to 1950s sci-fi films., 2 November 2001
Author:
Bruce Cook (brucemcook@windstream.net) from Fayetteville, GA
This one is enjoyable IF the viewer is prepared for the movie's distinctly
odd nature and low budget. According to the story, World War III has
depleted the Earth's population, but reconstruction efforts are
progressing
rapidly with the help of a newly developed race of `humanoids' (hairless,
green-skinned androids who possess high intelligence and who serve with
total faithfulness).
In fact, the androids are so intelligent and sensitive that many people
want
to have them destroyed, because they fear the androids will overthrow
mankind. A few sympathetic humans have sided with the androids --
including
the sister of the most outspoken anti-android activist. She actual
MARRIES
one of the androids. One rebel scientist conspires with the android
members
of a secret group who strives to perfect the androids and make them even
more human.
Shot on a shoestring budget, the sets are fairly simple (although
reasonably
imaginative), and the acting is sometimes pretty bad. The soundtrack
music
is a kind o low-rent version of the `Forbidden Planet' tonalities. Oddly
enough, all these apparent flaws somehow endear it to the more forgiving
viewers, perhaps because the film works so hard to put across some very
strange and imaginative concepts, including a nifty little surprise
ending.
Watch for several recognizable props and costumes from classic science
fiction movies, such as the glass tubes and the gray, one-piece uniforms
from `This Island Earth'. One of the `early prototype robots' seen during
the film's opening prologue is actually one of the armored alien space
suits
from `Earth versus the Flying Saucers' -- and it was spray painted
silver!
There was, a few years ago, a prerecorded tape of this little gem
available
for rent at video stores. It you can find one, you're lucky. It's a
nutty
little cult classic from a by-gone age.
12 out of 13 people found the following review useful:
SMALL BUDGET, GREAT STORY, 2 September 1999
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Author:
gary renfield (gary_renfield@email.com) from NEW JERSEY, USA
This was a movie I first saw when too young to appreciate fully. I seem
to
remember it "not" being strong enough material for the Saturday Night
Creature Feature, so it was relegated to the secondary, late Sunday
morning
Sci-Fi/Horror slot. I don't think this movie makes anyone's top 10 list,
but it's a goodie, even with scenery that makes Dr.Who look state of the
art. Money just wasn't as lavishly thrown around in those
days.
It's not glitzy and special effects aren't necessary to the story. The
concept,however, is solid. It presents a near future(?) scenario where
radiation is up and births are down. Man's creation, the humanoids, get
more human with each upgrade. This is more than some "flesh and
blood-ers"
can take. They see the humanoids taking over for the superior "living"
men.
Man is dying out (gradually) and some of those left focus their hate and
anger at the "clickers" (a derogatory term for humanoids). Humanity is
eventually doomed or is it?
I guess you'll have to watch the movie to know for sure.....
12 out of 14 people found the following review useful:
Power To The Clickers, 4 August 2002
Author:
rufasff from Los Angeles
Even in the realm of the weird there is nothing else quite like "The
Creation Of The Hummaniods." Sure it's cheap, and it's got Dudley
Manlove(too small a role), but this dense, futuristic drama is miles
from Ed Wood and explored ideas (yes, "Blade Runner") that would be
judged profound coming out of a film with a budget.
The movie has about as many camera set-ups as "Rope"; but
a million times more story. Sure, it has unintentional humor, and
the most interesting thing about it; in the end, is it's an
unintentional exploration of boredom(hence, I think, the tie to Warhol).
It is moralistic, but avoids easy morality. Pax is a victim, but
also a seducer. Those who embrace the wave of robots are are hopeless as
those who attempt to enslave them.
This is a one of a kind film, and should be seen. Ten out
of
ten.
9 out of 10 people found the following review useful:
Penetrating and Thought Provoking Movie, 13 November 2003
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Author:
sol1218 from brooklyn NY
****SPOILERS**** A movie that you can really say is ahead of it's time
about the aftermath of a nuclear war that destroyed over 90% of the
human race. And due to the radiation left over from the nuclear
bombardment lowered the birth-rate to 1.4%. Making it impossible for
the human race to survive without the creation of a massive robot
population to do the work that is needed for human survival. The
trouble with that is that the robots have been so improved over the
years that they took on more and more human qualities. There coming to
the point that they are more human then humans, that is their perfect.
That makes most humans think that they'll take over the world and make
humans second class citizens.
A group is founded called "The Order of Flesh and Blood" that wants to
put the robots back to where they no longer pose a danger to the human
race. That would mean going back to the time when the human race almost
destroyed itself in a nuclear war. It's because that humans have
emotions that override logic which robots don't have.
Cragis, Don Megowan, one of the founders of "The Order of Flesh and
Blood" orders a raid on the home of a scientist Dr. Raven, Don
Doolittle. Dr. Raven is working to create a more perfect robot that
will pass for human without being detected. Ravan wants the robots to
eventually replace humans in government positions so that human
irrational emotions and behavior would not endanger the earth, as well
as the humans themselves. When the Order breaks into Dr. Raven's
laboratory he has one of his human looking robots kill him. To prevent
him from from being subjected to have his brain and thoughts
dismembered, finding out what he knows and did by the Order, and with
that have all his work discovered and destroyed.
Cragis, in a speech to the members of the Order, uses Dr. Raven's death
as an excuse to make that the robots are dangerous and should be
dismantled and used only sparingly. Not to be used in as many functions
for the human race as they are being used now. After Cragis's speech
one of his colleagues tells him that his sister Emse, Frances McCann,
is having an affair, rapport is the word used in the movie, with a
robot. If this ever comes out, Cragis is told, it would hurt his
position in the Order.
Cragis goes to see his sister to get her to break off her rapport with
the robot, Pax, David Cross. In Cragis's conversation with his sister,
as well as with the robot Pax, something very unusual happens! What
transpired after that in the movie makes Cragis see what the truth is
and that changes him forever.
Great movie with some of the most thought-provoking, penetrating and
intelligent dialog about life death God the soul and the continuation
of the existence of the species. Dialog that you'll ever hear in a
serious film about those subjects, It will also make you think like you
never thought before about the future.
The scene between Cragis his sister Esme and the robot Pax as well as
Cragis's girlfriend Maxine, Erica Elliot, alone is enough to make you
change your views about what you think that the future is going to be.
And with an ending that will leave you speechless and at the same time
hopeful for what the future will bring.
It's too bad that the movie "Creation of the Humanoids" is not on tape
or DVD and hasn't been broadcast on TV for the last fifteen years or
so. The movie viewing public is missing a real eye-opening film about
future events that will shock and at the same time assure us about what
we are to face ahead.
7 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
A very good, relatively unknown sci-fi classic., 18 August 2006
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Author:
trouts10 from United States
I hadn't seen this movie since the early 1960's when I was about 12. It
made an impression on me then and, after renting this through Netflix
as part of a "Double Feature", it still does!
The plot revolves around earth in the future (or is it the past?), with
the human population ravaged through nuclear war. Only a remnant
population of human beings remain and are dwindling, thanks to the
effect of radiation on reproduction. Most tasks are handled by robots
of varying degrees of sophistication, and who are taking on more and
more responsibility in the running of earth, including becoming
romantically involved partners with humans. At the core of the film is
"The Order of Flesh and Blood", a group who is very wary of the robots
and their activities, and who constantly monitor the robots'
activities.
Without giving away too much of the plot, suffice to say that some of
the robots have been entrusted to save man from himself, and the ending
offers some interesting thoughts about what makes a human a human, and
if robots are actually better at being human beings than human beings
themselves.
You can definitely see the inspiration this movie provided to later
films such as Bladerunner, Terminator, and many others.
The acting and many of the lines are cheesy, and the budget is minimal,
but it's still a thought-provoking and entertaining film that gets the
maximum out of the minimum. Recommended!
8 out of 10 people found the following review useful:
Creation Of The Humanoids.......Finally on DVD, 26 June 2006
Author:
nsp1963 from United States
I just purchased "Creation Of The Humanoids" as part of a double feature released by Dark Sky(The other movie is War Of The Planets).I was hoping for a better print(I'd give it a 7.5 out of ten)but compared to what was available I can live with it.I remember watching this movie on Creature Features(here in N.Y. on Metromedia 5),and I've tried to locate a decent copy(I've bought several VHS tapes on ebay but they have a 6.5 quality at best).I always like this movie--given it's limited budget I think its still a cult classic.The acting is stilted at times(budget again),the script and direction is good(and not to mention the Jack Pierce make-up).With Hollywood remaking classics(The Omen,Starsky and Hutch,et al)how about putting together a decent budget and remaking this ?
5 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
An offbeat and interesting early 60's post-nuke sci-fi oddity, 11 July 2006
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Author:
Woodyanders (Woodyanders@aol.com) from The Last New Jersey Drive-In on the Left
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Following a devastating nuclear holocaust mankind is forced to create a race of highly intelligent and adoptable humanoid robots (derisively referred to as "clickers") in order to rebuild civilization. Problems arise when the robots' remarkable evolution threatens mankind's status as the master race. A fanatical organization called the Order of Flesh and Blood led by the volatile Craigus (a solid performance by Don Megowan) are determined to stop the robots before it's too late. But are the robots a true threat to man's future existence? Or could the robots be mankind's possible salvation instead? Jay ("The Killer Shrews," "The Giant Gila Monster") Simms' bright, witty, if overly talky script provides a wealth of tasty food for thought for the viewer to chew on, smartly addressing such heady provocative themes as faith, bigotry, identity, mortality and what it means to be human. Wesley E. Barry's effectively no-frills direction, Hal Mohr's splashy, colorful cinematography, the amusingly quirky dialogue ("Why don't you beat it while you still have a beat to beat?"), and the legendary Jack ("Frankenstein," "The Wolf Man") Pierce's nifty robot make-up (the robots are hairless beings with blue skin and uncanny shiny silver eyes) are all likewise up to par. Moreover, the movie's conspicuously ragged production values -- variable acting from an uneven cast, cardboard sets, a droning "spacey" score, stock library footage of an A-bomb blast which plays over the opening credits -- add to rather than detract from the film's oddly alluring singularity, giving this picture a peculiar charm that's impossible to dislike. Although a bit dull and static, "The Creation of the Humanoids" overall still qualifies as an enjoyable and intriguing low-budget post-nuke sci-fi oddity.
5 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
A movie that serious buffs of scifi with brains should see, 25 March 2005
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Author:
jerbo2 from United States
I saw this movie years ago and it left quite an impression on me. What a brilliant story and premise. It is basically a story of prejudice - long before its time (1962). The production, acting and directing was awful, but if you can get past that you will be rewarded. This is a story that needs to be considered for a new production which is more professional. There is no need to repeat the story since another reviewer has done an admirable job. In this story the "mad" doctor has a heart and is really a good guy. It is the flesh and blooders vs. the clickers. But you can substitute any other racial conflict such as the race riots in the U.S. and others throughout the world. I have never read the book, but am anxious to find it.
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