everything you have heard about this movie is true.

As Good As It Gets

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Captain Kirk frequently outsmarted beings that were light years ahead of him in knowledge and technology. They had this thing about needing to brag about their accomplishments and admit to their vulnerabilities. In this one, the flagship of the atomic fleet is near the North Pole to find out what is happening to numerous submarines in a perimeter near there. There is this vapid discussion between the macho commander and the pacifist son of a friend who pioneered the nuclear submarine. They are at odds over the necessity of war. Poppa has a heart attack and junior is sent there. Eventually, the force to be met is a flying saucer (a floating saucer?) that contains a big spider/octopus with a big eye in the middle. The conclusion is passable, but the monster proves to be incredibly stupid, giving away too much information.

"The Atomic Submarine" is a good Sci/Fi film that is often overlooked. It features an excellent cast: Dick Foran, Arthur Franz, Brett Halsey and Tom Conway. The sub interiors are realistic but the exterior shots show an obvious model sub and flying saucer(that's what appeals to fans of this genre). The direction is well done, the acting first rate and the music score has some interesting electronic sounds(this was before the use of today's synthesizers). The plot is about a sub dispatched to check out some ships and a sub sinking/being blown up. The sub finds out it is a flying saucer. The alien resembles the ones on "The Simpsons". Overall, a well done film.

I saw this film for the first time a few hours ago. I had not heard of it previously. Although my impression of it is not as favourable as that of most of those who have posted user comments, that may be explained by the fact that I am not a science fiction fan as such. I am happy to watch such films but I take them as I find them.The point which I wish to make here, though, concerns something which is not in the film. Is it an omission or is it something which no one thought to be of any importance ? Lt. Milburn was killed in the fight against the alien invader - "a casualty of war". It is of course clear that the film endorses the position that men in the services must put their lives at risk in the service of their country (or, indeed, as here, the world). However, the film has established Lt. Milburn as the only member of the crew to be seen to have a wife. Not only that, she is expressly described as "the mother of my three children." Despite this, there is no acknowledgement at all, either at the conclusion of the battle, or at the end of the film, that Mrs. Milburn has been left as a widow with three (undoubtedly young) children to raise.I do not expect a discussion of pension rights and entitlements. What may legitimately be expected, I would say, is some reference to the human cost of what has been depicted in the film, as well as the conclusions as to defence and the need for vigilance which are the film's primary messages.

All the shortcomings one would normally associate with low-budget sci-fi are evident in this film: a talky script (whose solemnity, typical of this era, gives rise to unintentional hilarity) which provides little opportunity for action (and this is mostly stock footage and obvious models) and delivers a ridiculous-looking monster (a sort of octopus/cyclops hybrid).THE ATOMIC SUBMARINE does, however, feature an eclectic cast - comprised of veterans (Dick Foran, Tom Conway and Bob Steele), genre regulars (Arthur Franz) and newcomers (Brett Halsey); the only female character - a blonde bombshell (played by Joi Lansing, Frank Sinatra's then-girlfriend!) who adds some much-needed spice to the film - is regrettably forsaken after the first reel. It's interesting that the spaceship involved is capable of diving underwater - whereas the one in, say, INVADERS FROM MARS (1953; which I rewatched recently), could conceal its presence by hiding in the sand dunes! The vessel's influence on the submarine crew causes them to go berserk: a similar fate befell the astronauts who landed on the PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES (1965); likewise, the Arctic chase plot anticipates THE BEDFORD INCIDENT (1965).I had read that the Commentary is a dull listen, but I enjoyed it quite a bit: as in his brother Richard's case, Alex Gordon proves very articulate and well-prepared; though he veers off-topic a lot throughout the discussion and, even if he's speaking about unpretentious 'B' horror flicks that were basically intended as exploitation, one is never bored to learn about this particular area of film-making. Gordon also spends a considerable amount of time listing and reminiscing about the old Hollywood stars he continuously employed (even for bit parts) in his films - there's an especially amusing anecdote about Anna Sten. The Criterion DVD also includes, among other things, a nice interview/career overview with the gracious Brett Halsey.