Movie 8 Review: Plan 9 From Outer Space

"Plan 9 From Outer Space" is where we get to talk about what makes a Movie "Good", but first the standard stuff.

"Plan 9 From Outer Space" is narrated by Jeron Criswell King and stars Gregory Walcott as Pilot Jeff Trent as he encounters a Spaceship while flying a commercial flight. Flying Paper Plates, I mean Flying Saucers start to invade Hollywood as the dead start rising from their grave.

The acting is stilted, the effects laughable, the filming careless, the editing awful, and the story is ridicules. But you know that already, and it's even been Biodrama'd in the movie "Ed Wood".

"Plan 9 From Outer Space" has "earned" the award for being the "Worst Movie Ever Made" along with the movie's director, Edward D. Wood Jr., the "honor" of being the "Worst Director Ever".

Let me say this to start, this is not the worst movie ever made, that honor goes to something like "Gigli". If a movie like this is so loved, even in irony, doesn't make it the worst.

But that begs the question, what makes a movie "good"? "Citizen Kane" is considered the greatest movie ever made but when you look up it's listing on a site like Flickchart, it's ranked 116. That means that people think there are 115 movies that are better than "Kane". So what is the general populous' top movies? Currently on Flickchart the top 5 are "The Dark Knight" at 1 (36 for me), "Star Wars" at 2 (134), "The Empire Strikes Back" at 3 (74), "Pulp Fiction" at 4 (436), & "Raiders of the Lost Ark" at 5 (344). Are those movies better than "Kane"? Is "The Dark Knight" the best movie ever made if it's number 1?

Here's where we define the variations of what makes a movie good. People can talk about it's technical merit or it's big budget or it's innovations or it being the highest grossing movie of all time. But what makes a movie good in my opinion, is if you could take people from varying ages, sexes, and backgrounds. Sit them down to watch a movie, and every one of them will enjoy it. "Kane" doesn't hold up well at all in this regard. It's a well made movie, don't get me wrong, but if you take the average teen or 20 year old nowadays and have them watch the movie, they won't be impressed. But sit them down in front of a movie like "Back to the Future" and they'll love it.

Movies like "Kane", "Gone With the Wind", and yes even "The Dark Knight" and "Avatar" won't be remembered as everyone's favorite movie, regarded as success yes, but not remembered with fond memories. It's movies like "Back to the Future", "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", "Star Wars", "Raiders of the Lost Ark" that can and will stand the test of time and be remembered fondly.

That is what makes a movie great.

"Plan 9 From Outer Space" though while not the worst movie ever made, isn't the best either.

Flickchart Rankings
Worldwide: 1,770
Tack Angel: 460