Invaders from Mars: 80's Remake

Following the success of Poltergeist in 1982, director Tobe Hooper struck a three-picture deal with Cannon films, releasing Lifeforce in 1985, then Invaders from Mars in 1986. A remake of the classic 1953 sci-fi film of the same name, Invaders from Mars didn't make much of an impact at the box office, but has since gained a following that films of this nature tend to do, and has recently been released on Blu-ray.

David Gardner is an average kid who loves his family and lives in an average rural town. One night he is awakened by a loud noise outside and goes to the window to see a gigantic spaceship descending into the valley behind his house. His parents go to investigate, and they end up having their bodies taken over by an alien force. Soon David discovers that many people that he once trusted are alien pawns. The school nurse is the one adult he can find that hasn't been affected, and they go to the military, who utilize the duo's help in infiltrating the alien ship. A battle is waged between humans and the aliens with the fate of the world hanging in the balance.

Invaders from Mars was neither a hit nor did it fare well with critics. It seemed to fall into the category of many an 80's film that is perceived as not for children, when it is actually geared more for the younger set. Those who revisit the film or see it for the first time may have an appreciation for the practical sets and effects, and the nostalgia for the 80's. Yes, the film is cheesy, but it is fun to watch, even though the threat of the aliens is hard to take seriously.

Most of the performances in Invaders from Mars are so perfectly over the top that they actually help give the film it's goofy tone. The actors know what type of move they're making, and they give it their all. Louise Fletcher as David's teacher and James Karen as the general are standouts. Hunter Carson as the main character is actually the weakest link within the cast, as he doesn't seem to take his role seriously and actually seems bored in some scenes.

Invaders from Mars is more fun than scary, and is a feast for 80's nostalgia fiends. It offers a crash course in practical effects and sets, and although I haven't seen the original, it seems to honor what came before it. Recommended for genre fans, especially Shout! Factory' s great Blu-ray release that boast a few very nice features that give insight into the fun that went in to the making of the film.

Avengers: Age of Ultron: In Theaters Now

With 2012's The Avengers, Marvel Studios pulled off the unprecedented feat of bringing characters together that had already been featured in their own successful films and bringing audiences one of the biggest blockbusters of all time. The formula to build a "cinematic universe" over the course of a few years paid off in spades as anticipation built for the big team-up.

"Phase 2" began in 2013 with Iron Man 3, followed by Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Guardians of the Galaxy. Avengers: Age of Ultron is actually the second to last entry in Phase 2, as Ant-Man will wrap things up in July, paving the way for Phase 3 starting with Captain America: Civil War in May of 2016. How long can the Marvel machine keep running? If Age of Ultron is any indication, for quite some time.

Tony Stark (Iron Man) has been busy developing an Artificial Intelligence program in order to create an armored robot weapon that would be a peacekeeping force worldwide. Code-named Ultron, the project takes on a life of its own when exposed to alien technology left behind from the first Avengers film. Ultron decides that the only way to truly have peace on earth is to remove mankind and start over. The Avengers are poised to stop him, running into some obstacles and also gaining new allies during their battle.

Age of Ultron starts off with a bang - an opening action sequence that gives fans more than enough of what they want until the next fight breaks out. Each action sequence easily provides fan-service as the characters play off each other and, as in the first film, each hero gets their own moment to shine. When the action is not happening, characterization remains strong, with both light and dramatic moments revealing more depth to both the heavy hitters and those who haven't had their own film. Hawkeye stands out mid-movie with some nice development and great lines. More is revealed about Black Widow' s past as well.

The best description for the film so far is that it's a five-part comic book story arc put on film, and that feels about right. Director Joss Whedon is obviously confident that the story can be faithful to the comics and still translate to film perfectly. New characters are introduced (Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, Vision) without the need for too much exposition or scientific explanation. Anyone desiring more of that needs to remember they are watching a comic book movie. Ultron is a great villain, one of the best so far for Marvel films, and James Spacer does a great job giving the character an unexpected wit along with his sadistic side.

When all is said and done, The Avengers will always be remembered for being the first super hero movie to bring such popular characters together for a blockbuster like no other. Age of Ultron is a strong sequel, perhaps more enjoyable than the first now that the team has been together for a while and has a better repoor. The plot doesn't stray too far from the original film, but the action, character moments, and new heroes make it an excellent entry into the Marvel canon, and one that will be talked about and dissected by fans for years to come.