It's usually a good sign when a picture has barely begun, with no plot yet in sight, and we as viewers have already fallen in love with it. The opening credits are still flashing on-screen and I'm already swept away by Zdenek Liska's original music, a superb mixture of forward-thinking electronics (recalling similar groundbreaking ideas in 'Forbidden planet') and some tasteful, more conventional instrumentation. While modest by modern standards, the sets of the titular space vessel are still wonderfully imaginative, and beautiful in their relative simplicity and somewhat artistic designs; much the same goes for the costume design, hair, and makeup. Jan Kalis' cinematography immediately comes across as smart, mindful, and dynamic, keeping us invested in its own right, and likewise Jindrich Polák's firm, somewhat understated direction, including some fine shot composition. Even the sound effects are splendid, helping to immerse us in the tale, and while the practical effects and sparing post-production additions show their age they still look fantastic. 'Ikarie XB-1' once again illustrates that even less sophisticated tangible creations, fabricated in a shop or studio, will always be preferable to and age better than the most advanced digital wizardry, and that sense is echoed more broadly in a title of 1963 that holds up tremendously well.
It's worth observing that the picture mostly carries itself with a decidedly soft tone as a sci-fi drama in imparting the story of humans traveling to a distant star, lightly touching upon their daily lives on the ship and personal difficulties in addition to the discrete events and phenomena they face along the way. Yet while this is fairly low-key in comparison to many of its genre brethren, contemporaries included, that bolsters the minor art film sensibilities that fill certain corners of the presentation. And even more importantly, exactly as it is the feature remains engaging, compelling, and satisfying, boasting a terrific narrative flush with detail, strokes of brilliance, and earnest, growing tension and suspense as events escalate in the last quarter. I can claim no familiarity with Stanislaw Lem's novel, but filmmaker Polák and co-writer Pavel Jurácek penned an excellent screenplay that declines utmost outward fancifulness to instead focus more on the human element of the drama - a few key kernels that subsequently allow the saga to resonate all the more, and draw out the emotional center of the astronauts' journey. This is surely Polák's achievement as director, too; the movie could have gone into a more adventure-laden, action-oriented direction, but it would have been straining to do so. Under Polák's guidance the nuance and gravity in the story become veritable tent poles, and the marvelous cast is enabled to capture these same traits in their deft performances.
It's no outright revelation, and modern viewers who have difficulty entreating with older fare won't necessarily find anything to change their minds. But from top to bottom this Czechoslovak classic is perfectly solid. Any discussion to be had concerns personal preferences, and changes over time in film-making technology and techniques and storytelling sensibilities, rather than any flaws (there are none) or questions of abject quality. I anticipated enjoying it, and I am so very pleased with just how good 'Ikarie XB-1' really is. Everything about these eighty-six minutes is strong, flavorful, and very well done, and anyone who appreciates older flicks will find much to love. As far as I'm concerned this is highly entertaining, and more impactful than I might have supposed, and I'm happy to give 'Ikarie XB-1' my very high recommendation!
It's worth observing that the picture mostly carries itself with a decidedly soft tone as a sci-fi drama in imparting the story of humans traveling to a distant star, lightly touching upon their daily lives on the ship and personal difficulties in addition to the discrete events and phenomena they face along the way. Yet while this is fairly low-key in comparison to many of its genre brethren, contemporaries included, that bolsters the minor art film sensibilities that fill certain corners of the presentation. And even more importantly, exactly as it is the feature remains engaging, compelling, and satisfying, boasting a terrific narrative flush with detail, strokes of brilliance, and earnest, growing tension and suspense as events escalate in the last quarter. I can claim no familiarity with Stanislaw Lem's novel, but filmmaker Polák and co-writer Pavel Jurácek penned an excellent screenplay that declines utmost outward fancifulness to instead focus more on the human element of the drama - a few key kernels that subsequently allow the saga to resonate all the more, and draw out the emotional center of the astronauts' journey. This is surely Polák's achievement as director, too; the movie could have gone into a more adventure-laden, action-oriented direction, but it would have been straining to do so. Under Polák's guidance the nuance and gravity in the story become veritable tent poles, and the marvelous cast is enabled to capture these same traits in their deft performances.
It's no outright revelation, and modern viewers who have difficulty entreating with older fare won't necessarily find anything to change their minds. But from top to bottom this Czechoslovak classic is perfectly solid. Any discussion to be had concerns personal preferences, and changes over time in film-making technology and techniques and storytelling sensibilities, rather than any flaws (there are none) or questions of abject quality. I anticipated enjoying it, and I am so very pleased with just how good 'Ikarie XB-1' really is. Everything about these eighty-six minutes is strong, flavorful, and very well done, and anyone who appreciates older flicks will find much to love. As far as I'm concerned this is highly entertaining, and more impactful than I might have supposed, and I'm happy to give 'Ikarie XB-1' my very high recommendation!