You know a studio is doing their job right when you can recognize one of their films right away. When you see a busty woman running through the woods in a corset, you know it is a Hammer film. When the woman have curly-cue sideburns and swing swords, it is a Shaw Brothers film. Such is the case with...
This is a film by the classic Japanese production company Toho, but stars a couple famous American actors. Much like yesterday's Rankin-Bass/Toho co-production, this mix of talent and stars is interesting. Let's get to it already!
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A submarine is out doing rounds when it is struck by a seismic activity. The survivors are rescued by a mysterious ship and taken to the mysterious sanctuary for scientists called Latitude Zero, named so because of it's location on the map. En route, however, they are attacked by an equally-mysterious black submarine. They escape and begin to enjoy the luxuries of super-scientist life.*
The survivors learn that not everything makes sense down there. All of the people are nigh immortal due to unimpeded advances in science and happy. There is an evil lurking nearby in the form of a mad scientist (Cesar Romero). Standing in his way is a rival scientist (Joseph Cotten), who vows to keep science pure and respect the laws of nature. The guy who makes giant mutants and cross-breeds animals disagrees. It is time to do battle...with science!*
The good guys assemble a collection of tools and weapons. Amongst them are a fancy jet pack and a gold jumpsuit that is fire-proof. I'm still not sure whether or not it is worth it, to be honest. Armed and silly-looking, they go off to do battle with the villain. They had not counted on his small army of bat-people though. They narrowly defeat them, but must next do battle with a chimera-like creature. Our villain makes the fatal mistake of putting his unsuccessful commander's brain in the creature, driving it to kill him. The heroes all decide to stay, save for one. He arrives on the surface and his story is questioned. Was it all a dream? Well...no.*
This movie is quite fun. You get good actors (Romero, Cotten), cheesy sets and crazy monsters. The bat people steal the show with their flying attacks and goofy faces. The idea of the guy who played The Joker as a mad scientist is just great, as is the Academy Award-nominated actor as the good and mighty scientist. The model effects are just as cheesy as you would expect. The same goes for the use of wires, something that was very prevalent back in these days. A good film for people that love cheesy and eccentric cinema for all ages.
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Let's take a trip to the 80s again. You like breasts? How about on a demon? Stay tuned...
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