Earth vs. the Flying Saucers is one of the most representative 1950s science fiction films one will find. It has all the elements -- aliens, invincible flying saucers, laser beams, over-explanatory dialogue, an unnecessary love story, a helpless military, and partial destruction of our world. This respresentativeness does mean that it's not perfect, but there is nothing particularly wrong with it, either. Most everyone will enjoy this movie, especially those who like 1950s sci-fi.

It's your typical alien invasion film. The remnants of a race from a far away galaxy have come to take over Earth. Corresponding with the scientist Dr. Marvin, they make their goals known, saying outright that they will dominate our planet. With a limited amount of time, Dr. Marvin has to lead a team to devise some way to fight off the flying saucers. It is, as the title makes clear, an "us vs. them" movie. Other than this, there is little to say about the plot.

The special effects are the film's strong point. This is thanks to visual effects master Ray Harryhausen. One of his greatest accomplishments in this film is the believability of the flying saucers -- a tricky feat for this time period. They don't wobble excessively (unless they're being attacked and are expected to do so), and they don't zip across the screen too quickly to notice any flaws. Whether hovering or in transit, they always act just as we would imagine. The aliens, though seen only once beneath their suits, are likewise realistic. The only special effect one can complain about is the aliens' weapon, which shoots a thick beam of light at objects and people, making them simply fade away (though later in the film, buildings are actually destroyed by it, not just dissolved from existence). It's dissatisfying, but it might have been too shocking for original audiences to witness any sort of graphic death by alien laser beam. Anyway, most of the time that humans are not involved, we do get to see real destruction, even of national monuments. There's plenty of it, too. The climax is essentially one big string of destruction. It's nice to see a film of this era promise thrills and deliver on them, too.

Just like The War of the Worlds (1953), Earth vs. the Flying Saucers is a film about mankind's place in the universe. We can never become too comfortable because something awful could always happen. When these invaders come, even our military, in which we place so much trust, is helpless. In the end it's good old human ingenuity that saves us. We are vastly overpowered and technologically infantile by comparison, but our minds and our willpower allow us to overcome the threat. The primary aims of the film -- to make us thankful for the very Earth that we so often take for granted, and to dissuade us from placing too much faith in military power -- are every bit as relevant today as they were originally. I do not mean to suggest that the film was prophetic, but it addresses basic concerns that will likely repeat themselves throughout history.

Also, like so many other sci-fi movies of this decade, most notably Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers plays on the public's fear of invasion. Though today it is unlikely to scare anyone, the film may have served cathartic purposes for its original audiences. In the end, it also appeases those fears by providing a happy ending. It was essentially a super-safe venue for fear-purging. It lacks the level of horror found in Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but it makes up for it with the startling nature of its imagery.

The fact that this is pretty much the quintessential example of 1950s science fiction should be enough reason the see this movie. The plot of Earth vs. the Flying Saucers is archetpyal, and its execution is superlative. The only flaw is that the aliens themselves lack the ability to scare. It is the perfect film for those who either love genre films of this period or are trying to find an entry point.