Customer Reviews
VOICES OVERDUBED 
2008-08-01
I have the VHS version of this film and is the original Movie but with one exception. All of the voices have been overdubbed by American speaking people. NOT American speaking Japanese people. The voices are so bad, that some are duplicated among different actors in the movie. The Japanese version is excellent, worth watching.
The Mysterians- Better Than Indepence Day or Any Other Recent Invasion Films 
2008-07-08
The Mysterians is a very good sci-fi movie. In fact, if you would put it in the alien invasion catagory, it would be at the top of the list. It has a good story, great actors, and plenty of action.
There is one thing bad with the english dub though. It is aweful! Thank goodness their is the Japanese dialouge with english subtitles. Other than that, the DVD is great!
If you are looking for a great sci-fi invasion, then this is just for you. Buy it and enjoy! It is a great price for a great movie! :)
Mars needs Women!!! 
2007-09-20
Essentially a Japanese remake of the 1956 Ray Harryhausen flick "Earth vs. the Flying Saucers", with just a splash of kaiju thrown in for good measure, "The Mysterians" ("Chikyû Bôeigun " or "Earth Defense Force") is good old nostalgic Sci-Fi that should best be viewed on a lazy Sunday morning, preferable in pajamas and while lying on the couch.
The plot is just what it should be. Aliens come to Earth and attempt to contact us peacefully, and they get a big rocket to the face in response. That ticks them off, so they decide to come in and take over, demanding our women and a little strip of land to call home. Being clever little Earthlings, we figure out a new super-weapon just in the nick of time, to send those guys packing. Because we are just that awesome. Go Earth!
"The Mysterians" has impeccable credentials. Director Ishirô Honda helmed the original "Godzilla" film, and he has brought in the always-great Takashi Shimura ("Seven Samurai", "Ikiru") to play the role of the venerable scientist. Honda definitely shows his kaiju yearnings, as he manages to stick in the giant robot Moguera for a few scenes, not to be seen again until the 1994 "Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla".
All in all, it is a lot of fun. Not a great movie, by any means, and not up to the caliber of the original "Godzilla", but it is good old fashioned cheesy 50's Sci-Fi, in color and Japanese-style to boot. Can't go wrong with that!
This DVD has the full release of the film, instead of the edited version that usually appeared on US television. There was a sequel to "The Mysterians", called "Battle in Outer Space (1959)" but that one doesn't seem to have an American DVD release yet.
A true Toho scifi classic. 2007-05-30
This film established the very first alien invasion toho film, and certainly the best. The Special effects are very good, and most still hold up today. Eiji Tsuburaya is hard to beat when it comes to matte shots and miniature destruction. IMO, he had a bigger effect on modern SFX than any other SFX director, American or otherwise. To those of you who scoff at suitmation, let me tell you this. Suitmation looks a HELL of a lot more convincing than stop motion, especially when slowed down. And filmmakers are quite lazy today. All they rely on is CG, which to tell you the truth, lacks organic illusion. At least you KNOW somethings actually there with suitmation. Sure, the Mogera was laughable in regards to it's movement. Akira Ifukube composes a great score here.
Mysterians 2007-01-31
One of Toho's best non-Godzilla movies. While the special effects aren't the best, it was also 1957 when this was made. Ifukube's score is one of his best, especially his millitary march. Very entertaining movie.
A Very Fun Nostalgic Cinematic Fare! 2007-01-24
After a Japanese town is totally destroyed, the military arrive to investigate. They encounter a giant robot that is decimating everything in its path. A dome appears out of the ground and a group of scientists are invited to meet the alien Mysterians from the planet Mysteroid. The Mysterians have come in peace; all they ask humanity for is three-square kilometers of land and the right to interbreed with Earth women to repopulate their species. Outraged at such a suggestion, humanity declares war on the Mysterians.
Just like I remembered 2007-01-05
I remember a hot summer afternoon in 1960. The newspaper was showing a picture of this huge robot with death rays shooting out of its eyes, so being thirteen years old at the time, I just had to go. What I saw just blew my mind away. Remember, this was early days in the world of special effects. George lucas was still waiting for his acne to clear up and Star trek was several years in the future. Godzilla was still fresh in everyone's memory as well as Rodan and I had been too young to see them. This movie was beyond anything that had been out before. It was a true war of the future. It had jets, strange rocket powered airships, tanks, and a weird weapon called a Markalite that fired off a fuzzy death ray against the sinister alien dome that was equipped with its own death ray. and the dome was protected by a force field that repelled all sorts of explosive shells. There was a huge earthquake that swallowed a town whole and did not even leave a dog alive. (except for a single scientist and three beautiful girls saved by the aliens for truly evil reasons) And, oh yes, that huge robot with the death ray eyes. And then there was that music score. I had never noticed a movie score before (excepting Rogers and Hammerstein), but I remembered this one! Even after forty five years, I can still hum the theme that played when the good guys attacked. It was an afternoon of pure theatre.
After that I was sure to see it every time it came up on tv, and when video tape became available, It was one of the first movies I looked for and I was elated when I finally got a poorly printed, truncated version of it. Then I found this DVD version.
This version is clear and sharp, the sound is good, and much of the original footage that had been cut out for television was restored. Then there was the audio commentary by a pair of japanese film makers. I learned that while some models were used, Those were real Japanese soldiers,tanks,and weapons for the most part. (There was, of course, no such thing as a Japanese Army at the time, but there was a so-called Self Defense Force that served the same purpose.)
This DVD is a must have, not only for the occasional nostalgia buff, but an important piece of Movie History. It was the true forerunner of Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, and Star Trek, and if you look closely, you will see many effects used for the first time that were to become a staple of later sci fi classics.
But most of all It's just a good old fashioned, rip roaring adventure, complete with a brave hero, damsels in distress, evil villains, repentant dupe who dies to bring on the villains defeat, and wise, clever scientists working against the clock to save the world.
The 50's brought the best out of toho 2006-11-10
I've never seen this whole movie before. But I have to say on this high quality dvd. It was quite a pleasure. A great story line. A great feeling. Overall a great movie.
My Favorite Summer Movie 2006-07-21
In the 60's the local TV channels would show this at least once every Summer. Great stuff. Two of the best scenes -
At a meeting of government officials.
"We have determined that enemy ray is more powerful than the great earthquake of Kanto."
"Is this possible?"
Brief pause.
"Yes."
At the police department after the appearance of a 100+ foot tall metal alien robot.
"What was it - I understand even a pistol had no effect on it."
It just doesn't get any better.
All this for 3 kilometers of land! 
2006-05-27
Oh yeah the women... right...
You can probably guess the quality of drama from the synopsis on the back of the box. No surprises here. Not much attempt at plot logic, either. Seriously, these guys could've got a lot further with dinner and a movie, but no -- they hafta' invade the earth.
*sigh* I guess the more things change...
BUT, the Tokyo-Shock Media-Blasters DVD version does include a commentary, some nice extras, new sound mixes, and a first rate transfer! Some minor scratching during the battle-sequences, but aside from that, excellent technical quality.
If you're buying this for nostalgic reasons you won't be disappointed!
