I have no idea if my title above constitutes a spoiler.As a serious movie, I give it a 1. As a comedy-farce, it's so much better. Now, I'll admit part of the reason I found it funny was because my hubby sat here doing his own Mystery Science Theater 3000 commentary.I swear the "for the good of the whole" riff and so forth was inspiration for the ST:NG Borg. Of course, "taking over the human race" plots are not remotely new, but the "for the good of the universe; no war, no pain, you must join with us" deal is so reminiscent of the Borg that it's even funnier to me.

Rated 9 for the Kitsch factor!! I do have a problem, it says that the role of Jake (what's his name) is played by Franco Nero, but I do believe it's played by Terence HIll, who lately can be seen on MHz Networks in Don Matteo. And he was also in the 'Trinity' movies in the 1970's. One thing I do love about these Italian movies is that the music (opening/closing themes) is nicely done. Franco Nero was in Wild Wild Planet. I could be wrong because they're both handsome blue-eyed Italians but I'm pretty sure about that. I think Wild WIld Planet is my favorite. It's SO pre-Stepford Wives. It's the height of corn, but it cracks me up every time I watch it. Very contemporary for the mid 60's....I love all the sleek design costumes, cars, and furniture. And of course, who wouldn't have a crush on Captain Mike!!

Steadfast, but dreary and second-rate low-budget b-grade sci-fi matinée by Italian director Antonio Margheriti (better known for such films as; "Cannibal Apocalypse" and "Naked You Die"). Anyhow "The War of the Planets" (the second addition to the Gamma One series) is typical fodder, that can't escape its over melodramatic sub-plotting with stodgy dialogues and the direction is limply brought across. Its budget shows with the obviously fashionable miniature sets and models… as well as all-out plain and spotty effects (where the aliens are a glowing green mist or light of energy that possesses its victims). Some of the junky space sequences are rather laughable too (like astronauts floating in space, which is clearly by rope). The idea is workable, but the lacklustre execution is less accommodating despite some spaced-out atmospheric visuals and colourful set decors. Textbook performances (with the likes of Tony Russel and Franco Nero) come across shallowly flat, but there seems to be too many characters that at times it got hard to tell which space station / ship the action was focusing on. On the other hand the patchy score remains effectively uncanny. Not entirely awful, but still an utter drag.

One of the four GAMMA series SF films from Italy's Antonio Margheriti. Not as "wild" as WILD WILD PLANET, but still fun in colorful low-budget vein. This time, the space crew has to battle a race of aliens who turn men into mindless slaves via a green gas. Reminiscent of stuff going back to INVADERS FROM MARS and IT CONQUERED THE WORLD, not to mention the loosely concurrent STAR TREK pilot "THE CAGE", it has a visual flair that helps it move past a very slow middle act. But, all cult film fans will at least want to tune into the First act with what is certainly cinema's most bizarre New Year's Eve celebration with space-walking astronauts literally spinning and floating in formation! And wait 'til you see the big finale! All this to Italian 60's lounge rock courtesy of Angelo Francesco Lavagnino. The film shares with other Euro SF films of the period decidedly 'mod' music sequences (the famous STAR WARS 'Cantina' sequence has nothing on this stuff) - I.E. Germany's SPACE PATROL and even something as sober as the Czech classic VOYAGE TO THE END OF THE UNIVERSE. Far from classic, but it was a fun period in Italian SF. Though one has to be careful when attributing dialog to the dubbed USA versions, this one has a doozy -- An astronaut has been "taken over" by the aliens, which sparks the comment: "He's gone Galactic!" Too bad the TCM print you are most likely to see isn't Letterboxed (as so much of their vault is). (the closing credits are letterboxed)