Customer Reviews

The Blob (Widescreen)

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I just watched the 1958 version of The Blob for the guzzilionth time. What an excellent movie, from the music score, to the acting, and yes, even to the special effects. What few people realize is that this movie was made on a shoestring budget by a church group out of Valley Forge Pennsylvania. The fact that they blew away the feature movie they were double billed with (I Married a Monster from Outer Space), which was a major studio production, is a testament to this movie's entertainment qualities. Most of the actors used in this film were locals, and yet the acting was superb. Anyone looking for an excellent Friday night or Saturday morning horror flick DVD wouldn't go wrong with The Blob. I love it!

This is one picture I recall with great fondness because to me it was a film that didn't technically have alot going for it but it had a heck of ALOT of heart.And I'm glad to say on seeing the film again for the first time in many a year that my first impression is STILL right.

This film was indeed shot on a small budget using young,almost unknown actors and the use of special effects while limited were used brilliantly and to their best advantage whenever possible.

The plot simply involves a meteorite that lands near a farmers' house.The farmer investigates and finds himself up close and personal with its' contents.Some local kids coming to see the meteorite discover the farmer and take him to the local doc.The Blob in short order devours the farmer then proceeds on its',relatively at first,quiet and deadly rampage.The kids try unsuccessfully through a good portion of the flick to convince the local authorities of its' reality.By the time they start believing the Blob has become tremendous in size and threatens the whole town.In the end the threat is "contained" and the world is saved from this deadly denizen from outer space.

While the plot is simple and sometimes see through the well used special effects but especially the actors themselves really hold this picture together from beginning to end making it seem believable.

This Criterion disc is not loaded with alot of extras but enough to satisfy ones basic needs.To compensate however they have included a repro poster of the Blob! A VERY nice and classy touch by the Criterion folks.

And techncially speaking this is my favourite part of this film.

This is an A#1,top of the line remastered print.This thing is so clear and crisp you'd almost swear it was shot yesterday not some 50 years ago.It is gorgeous and quickly dispelled my trepidation of spending the money I did on getting this disc.The colour is steady and clean and it is presented in its' widescreen theatrical ratio.Nothing more a collector could ask for.Nothing.

This kind of wonderful work that the folks at Criterion do is obviously keeping some highly skilled and smart folks working for them.But it goes back to a theme that I often touch on in my reviews:Why aren't the domestic big guys(Paramount,Columbia,MGM,et al)releasing all their properties as does Criterion and some other independants do? With the incredible amount of money and technical facilities available to these companies why are they not doing it themsleves?Why aren't they taking(to me) the common sense approach and treating every release as it deserves to be treated:finished in the BEST possible format/condition it can be?? To me it's not only common sense but it's having dignity and PRIDE in ones' products.

Obviously in this case Paramount had no intentions of releasing this movie any time soon in any kind of condition so Criterion does what it does best and took the bull by the horns and did it for them and for that you have this movie collectors' greatest admiration.

Another must own movie,especially to those partial to the 1950s Sci-Fi/Horror genre.You will NOT be disappointed.

This DVD of "The Blob" looks like a transfer from VHS with no DVD goodies.

However if you are only watching The blob once in a while and just want one for your collection this version will work. However for real Blob'rs I suggest the Criterion version.

Steve McQueen as Steve Andrews and Anete Corsaut as Jane Martin (also Helen Crump in The Andy Griffith Show) are negotiation in a quiet place in a convertable. When a shooting star lands quite close. Naturally this is more interesting and they go to investigate. An old man beats them to the sight and poking around gets blobulated. Things really get sticky from that point with none to believe them as kids don't know nothing.

If you like this movie then the next one to see is a variation called "Killer Klowns from Outer Space"

This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film

This film needs no introduction. Terence "Steve" McQueen's first starring role remains one of his best.

A meteorite lands in the woods releasing a viscous substance that absorbs living things and gets bigger each time it does so. Some local teens attempt to convince the police what is happening while rescuing the town.

The acting is really good too.

I like this film even more as it was made entirely within 20 miles from my home. The locations where the movie was filmed attract many tourists. The movie theater featured in the film even holds an annual Blobfest every July attended by the cast and crew.

The director Irvin Yeaworth directed several sci-fi films to learn how to direct better. He has since done hundreds of religious short films. Assistant Producer Russell Doughten went on to direct the apocalyptic "Thief in the night" films which are based on the Biblical book of Revelation. As a Christian, this film remains special to me, being directed by another Christian.

The DVD has several special features including a slideshow of production stills, a theatrical trailer, and a foldout poster.
There are also two audio commentaries which are very impressive.

The first is by producer Jack Harris and film historian Bruce Eder who has done much work with the Criterion Collection. The commentary mentions several events about the production and the untimely death of Steve McQueen They also mention his stay in a Mexican clinic in an attempt to cure his cancer with a controversial drug derived from fruit seeds which is banned in the US as quackery. They also mention Steve asking Billy Graham to visit him in the clinic to pray for him.

The second Commentary is by Director Irvin Yeaworth Jr. and actor Tony Fields.
In this commentary, Yeaworth talks much about his desire to make relgious films and gives further production information.

This DVD is one of the really good ones and it is a film that one should not miss.

I saw this B-movie almost 6 years ago, and I haven't forgotten it since. Steve McQueen does a fabulous job as a young man whose girlfriend and him are caught up in a terrifying frenzy of terror when a gigantic blob of goo starts killing people around a city. THE BLOB is an extremely creative and thoroughly enjoyable experience. It's one of those films that has a plot so simple and yet so fresh, that's the effect that adds the creepiness to it. This movie is a true, B-movie classic and should never be forgotten.

Taken as a straight horror film, 1958's THE BLOB would admittedly fail, as it is not creepy or frightening by any conventional cinematic standards. But this campy classic is not meant to be taken seriously. From the opening bars of the catchy pop-music theme song to the question mark that follows the words THE END, the film is a blatant send-up of 1950s American culture and its white-bread mores and sensibilities. The film is replete with palpable caricatures of nearly every cultural icon of 1950s: Squeaky-clean teenagers, rock-n-roll music, hot-rods and drag racing, friendly neighborhood cops, cold-war anxiety...you name it. Indeed, taken as a whole, the film itself is a spoof of both the invasion-from-space and the giant-monster-on-the-loose sci-fi flicks that were popular earlier in the decade.

THE BLOB was made and released in the wake of teen-angst films like REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE and beatnik publications like Kerouac's ON THE ROAD, and it was also a time when the counterculture icons of the 1960s--rock groups like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones; gurus of alternate lifestyles such as Dr. Timothy Leary and Abbie Hoffman--were formulating their radical ideals and ideologies. In other words, THE BLOB was the product of a period when American youth were becoming restless and were itching for artistic and intellectual stimulation, and teens and young adults were therefore growing increasingly weary of bland 1950s conservatism. Campy films like THE BLOB capitalized on that attitude by offering up exaggerated and surrealistic snapshots of the culture's insipid qualities, thereby giving the younger crowd an opportunity to openly laugh at the worldview of their elders. Alas, the sardonic humor and satirical subtext of THIS classic film seems to be lost on the average contemporary audience.

The special FX in THE BLOB are typical of 1950s cinema, but that only adds to the humor and the fun. The gelatinous titular character is especially a hoot to watch. Even though the illusion of its movement is obviously the result of stop-motion animation, it is still quite compelling to see it ooze under doors, through duct vents, and down Main Street, USA.

Film buffs will definitely enjoy seeing the venerable Steve McQueen in one of his earliest film roles--the twinkle in his eye as he delivers his ah-gee-whiz lines should clue you in to the fact that this film is parody--and couch potatoes and fans of classic TV will recognize Aneta Corsaut, the girl playing Jane Martin, from her recurring role as Helen Crump on THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW.

The visual transfer on Criterion Collection's DVD version of THE BLOB is beautiful--probably the best digital version to date--and the disc also offers extras that include two interesting audio commentaries. The one negative aspect of CC's disc, though, is some very noticeable scratchiness on the soundtrack during a few short portions of the film. For the price that the CC charges for their discs, consumers are right to expect all noticeable flaws in picture and sound to be cleaned up.

Overall, THE BLOB is a great piece of classic camp, and the five-star rating is based on the film itself and does not, therefore, reflect the aspects of any particular DVD version.

Yes! A meteorite crashes to earth, unleashing the blob! An old man is it's first victim, foolishly poking at it with a stick, only to be absorbed into it's mass! Steve McQueen is excellent in his first starring role. He witnesses his local doctor being assimilated into the monster. The cops don't believe him. Only the town's swinging teens will help. Meanwhile, the blob is on a rampage, eating everyone and growing bigger and redder with each new meal! What is it? Where did it come from? Can it possibly be stopped?? This movie will have you checking under your bed, chair, and even in your duct-work for this hellish beasty! Watch it at your own risk...

The Blob is a classic B-movie that has all the elements of a 50's horror movie while also being the movie that helped shoot Steve McQueen to stardom. One night, two teenagers see a meteor crash to Earth. Before they can find out what it is, an old man unleashes what it contains on himself, a gooey substance that quickly begins to take over his arm. Soon enough, the gooey mass begins to grow, but nobody believes the two teenagers who saw the blob eat the town doctor. The small town then must unite to defeat the evil substance that threatens their existence. This is a very low budget movie, it is easy to see, but that is what makes it so fun to watch. The Blob looks like strawberry jelly throughout which adds to the cheesiness factor. Either way, this is a fun movie that is more enjoyable every time I watch it.

The Blob was Steve McQueen's first starring role as Steve Andrews, a misunderstood teen who with the help of his girlfriend, Jane, tries to get the townspeople to realize what they are going up against. Somehow, a 28 year old McQueen passes as a teenager while the other teenage characters are actually the age they play. Anyhow, this may be different from every other movie McQueen ever made, but it is still a good one. The Criterion Collection DVD is well worth the purchase. It includes two commentaries, a collectible poster, theatrical trailer, widescreen presentation, and several other features. The Blob is certainly not the highest quality of movie, but it is still very good and well worth a watch.

One of my favorite sci-fi movies.its got everything from 27 year old teenagers to a monster that looks like some microwaved a bag of gummi bears.its a fun movie to watch.i had the luck to see it in the theater that parts of the movie were filmed in .check out the great cars.a real 50's sci fi gem.

I think this movie brings out special memories in all the baby boomers. This si the real thing and the movies just did not get better than this in the 50s and 60s - it was THE classic from that era!

I have to compare it to the remake. I thought the remake was going to be something that really eclipsed the original. I have never been more disappointed! It did not come close. I suppose that proves that you just cannot improve on the best!

The extras on this DVD make it worth a mint. I think it is so wornderful to have the movie AND information about the movie. For me it was cool to finally learn about a movie that I grew up watching.

This DVD is well worth the money. Get yours today.