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Reviews
The Alien Encounters (1979)
Good, promising concept that could have been executed better
An apparent alien being from Barnard's Star arrives on Earth, and plans to build the "Betatron", a machine designed to prolong life, enabling its longer-lived beneficiaries to attain higher wisdom than they otherwise would or could. However, in the course of his work, he runs afoul of the powers-that-be on Earth (Men In Black). Consequently, he is forced to return home, by way of faking his death, leaving his project unfinished. Soon afterwards, his "widow" and son meet an Earth man whom they discern has the potential to finish the Betatron project, and proceed to groom him to do just that.
Sounds like a fascinating and solid premise. The real shortcoming here is the fact that this movie seemed to have next to no budget with which to bring it to fruition.
Notwithstanding this, it does have many good qualities. The cast are all small-time actors, but they do a good job, and provide good interaction between their respective characters. The special effects are impressive, and there is a lot of nice photography of rustic desert countryside. It also has a fine music score (though dated in some places, particularly the car chase scene near the end).
As far as I can tell, this movie was based on the case of aircraft mechanic, and purported UFO contactee, George Van Tassel, who died the year before it was released. He, likewise, built a curious structure in the Mojave Desert called the Integratron, near a landmark called Giant Rock (re-named "Eagle Rock" in the movie).
All in all, I would rate this favorably, and recommend it to anyone interested.
Secrets and Mysteries (1983)
All in all, a pretty good show
I saw this show on TV at the time, and later got some episodes of it on VHS (MPI Home Video) under the Title: "Secrets of the Unknown". This show came out soon after the In Search Of series, though, probably, too soon, as witness its short-lived run and uncanny similarity of the topics covered. A match-up of their episode titles shows heavy overlap. Even their disclaimers are almost identical. Notwithstanding that, the subject matter is naturally fertile ground for documentaries, and this series did an admirable job. The series was set in a surreal, library-like mansion, with various tools (computer databases, view-screens, time portals, and the like) to facilitate exploration of the topic at hand in each episode. It gave the show a nice flair, making it more engaging and enjoyable to watch. Recommended for those interested in this genre, or anyone else, for that matter.
UFO Cover-Up?: Live! (1988)
I saw this live
I watched the original live broadcast of this program on TV. Many prominent figures in the UFO investigative community of the day make appearances, and much fascinating and, at the time, new information was presented. The first I had ever heard of the now-infamous Area 51 was on this telecast. The space-age sets and flashy music score were widely criticized at the time, as it tended a bit toward sensationalism, but, in retrospect, those aspects have mellowed, while the content still carries its full original force. The best part was the segment in which one of two mystery men, code-named: "Falcon", gave intriguing and very detailed information on the aliens -- even down to their favorite foods and music! Probably the biggest drawback to the show was doing it live. The axiom: "have something to say, and say it on cue", dictated by the live TV format, killed much of the natural demeanor of the participants. Not without its flaws, but definitely a unique and very noteworthy media event in UFO-lore.
UFO Syndrome (1980)
One of the better UFO documentaries of its time
The movie contains a good general overview of the subject in terms of sightings, cases, historical timelines, etc. Several personalities in the UFO community of the time make appearances; some, shall we say, more colorful than others. Various theories on UFO propulsion are forwarded. A segment on how planetary motion could be copied and modified to make a space vehicle which would act as a "freely navigating planet" is of particular interest (arguably, the best part of the movie). Also presented are special techniques for photographing UFOs, as well as alternative theories as to their origin and nature, i.e., flying critters in the atmosphere, as opposed to spacecraft. Go figure.
It is worth mentioning here that much of the footage from this movie is re-used from an earlier documentary from the same producers, called "UFO Journals", which, while good, seems less cohesively structured than the latter one, almost like a feature-length screen test. Both are worthwhile, but this one, in my estimation, is the better bet.
UFO: Exclusive (1978)
SPAAACE! and the Creation of the Univerrrse!!!
Oddly, the title is something of a misnomer, as the scope of the movie is not limited exclusively to UFOs, but covers other topics as well, including an animated manned Mars mission scenario, and that (then) up-and-coming conveyance called the space shuttle. Many, many classic UFO still and motion pictures are presented, as well as an interesting and quite thought-provoking segment speculating on life elsewhere in space, and the possible forms that it could take. Much of the movie, however, is filler material, consisting of NASA footage, spacey sound effects, and obtrusive 70s stock music, edited together in a crudely proto-music video-ish style.
In addition to this movie, there are two other Delineator Films documentaries from 1978: "UFO: Top Secret" and "Attack from Outer Space", all narrated by Sid Paul. Why this company would make three movies on the same subject in the same year is a bit beyond me, but, in my estimation, this one is clearly the best of them.
Are We Alone in the Universe? (1978)
Quaint, memorable little gem
This movie was made during the zenith of public interest in the ancient astronaut theory, and made the rounds on TV during the mid-80s. It covers many aspects of the phenomenon worldwide, though concentrated mostly in South America, with segments on the Nazca Lines, the ancient city of Tiahuanaco, and, especially, the curious people of the Paracas Peninsula, in southern Peru. It is also where I first heard of the mysterious and controversial Ica Stones, with their astonishing depictions of dinosaurs and humans together, men riding giant birds (stylized aircraft?), global maps, and complex medical procedures. Lest anyone think that the coverage is coming from only one angle, it also includes a segment demonstrating how fake stones could also have been fashioned. A small-time production, to be sure, and, by now, very much obscure, but dealing with the topics at hand quite ably, and I will always remember it fondly.
FYI: The other user review posted here, referring to "Are We Alone in the Universe", based on the works of Zechariah Sitchin, is actually another documentary with the same name, made in 1992. I have seen this one as well, find it just as fascinating as the 1978 movie, and commend both to the reader's attention.