Village of the Giants (1965)

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

This movie is one of the most preposterous films I've ever seen in my life. It's not really until the kids turn into giants that it really gets ludicrous. This tells the story of a kid who makes a growing formula that a bunch of stupid teenagers take. What's amazing is that these kids don't care at all about taking this formula. They dare each other to do it! What were they expecting when they took it? They don't even think about a single negative thing that could happen! I mean, these kids seemed nice enough, but then they suddenly all become jerks and even kidnap a little girl! Why are they so unlikeable all of the sudden? At least some of them seemed nice. It's just amazing how dumb everyone is in this. When the dancers first see the giant ducks, they don't scream or anything! Neither does anyone when they first see the giant people! Yeah, they're confused, but it's beyond ridiculous to think they wouldn't have a greater reaction to this. If there are in fact intentional jokes, they don't even make sense! How could those small people at the end get back to normal size? They established itonly brought things back to their original form. Even without MST3K, this is a laugh riot! *1/2 for all the good laughs.

A boy scientist (a young Ron Howard) accidentally happens upon an enlarging formula that first affects animals and, then, an unruly set of teenagers (led by Beau Bridges). Despite its promising satirical take on both the generational gap (a remnant of the previous decade) and anti-establishment attitudes (then coming into force), this emerges as just about the most inconsequential adaptation ever made of a fantasy classic – the source being H.G. Wells' "The Food of the Gods"…which the director returned to, relatively more soberly, 11 years later for his film of that name. The sighting here of huge go-go dancing ducks, barely acknowledged by assorted 'hipsters' (including leading man Tommy Kirk) similarly letting rip at a nightclub – to the strains of The Beau Brummels and Jack Nitzsche – is not easily forgotten and unfortunately synonymous of the film's innate silliness. Incidentally, Gordon seems to have had something of a fixation on giant-sized menaces throughout his career, since he frequently dealt with this subject matter…and, for obvious reasons, was himself affectionately referred to as "Mr. B.I.G."!

A groovy California partying crowd led by Beau Bridges (as Fred) crashes their car in a rainstorm. They turn up the radio, drink beer, and dance in the downpour. Then, they walk to nearby "Hainesville" for kicks. In the small town (containing no parents), Tommy Kirk (as Mike) is smooching with his girlfriend while her little brother Ronny Howard (as Genius) works in the basement accidentally mixing a "Goo" which makes you grow BIG. The family cat gets into the "Goo" and grows.Then, they give it to a couple of ducks, who become giant ducks, and quack up the local dance club...Meanwhile, Mr. Bridges' gang from the opening scene has arrived in time for a feast of giant duck meat. Then, they eat "Goo" and pop out of their clothes. Setting up shop in the local theater, Bridges and the gang decide to take over the town and make Mr. Kirk, his gum-chewing ex-"Mouseketeer" pal Johnny Crawford (as Horsey) and their friends servants. Kirk must save the town from the giant youth. Up for the task, Kirk turns out to be a resourceful and determined leader.The songs are pleasantly representative of the recording artists. Freddy Cannon ("Little Bitty Corrine") and Mike Clifford ("Marianne") were at the end of their record careers. The Beau Brummels ("Woman" / "When it Comes to Your Love") were very popular in 1965, but none of the soundtrack songs hit. There were singers in the cast who do not perform; the biggest hits of two - Johnny Crawford with "Cindy's Birthday" (1962) and Toni Basil with "Mickey" (1982) - span 20 years."Village of the Giants" easily qualifies as "so bad it's good," and you may want to see it again immediately.Obviously a youth exploitation film for the time, it's like a Disney film with a dose of sex appeal. Everyone looks good, with bosomy Joy Harmon (as Merrie) most prominently going to the head of the pack; representative of cheap sexploitation is the scene with Mr. Crawford hanging onto her giant breasts. Most in the cast have family members who are also known; most recognizable (in my viewing) were Mickey's son Tim Rooney (as Pete) and Ryan's brother Kevin O'Neil (as Harry).***** Village of the Giants (10/20/65) Bert I. Gordon ~ Tommy Kirk, Beau Bridges, Johnny Crawford, Ron Howard

Turn off the brain for this campy craziness. Ron Howard, in his Opie days, invents "goo," which, when ingested, causes super growth. Beau Bridges leads a bunch of bad teens, Tommy Kirk (of Disney comedy fame) is the leader of some good teens, and you are the befuddled audience trying to believe what is transpiring on the screen.Natch: the idiotic bad teens get a hold of the goo, and turn into colossal idiotic bad teens who take over a small town somewhere. Apparently, the presence of 30 foot hostile giants does not interest anyone outside of the town, so the townsfolk are left to fend for themselves. Of course, nobody in the town except the good teens bother to do anything about it.Once the giants appear, the action is limited, probably due to a lack of budget for special effects. The growth sequence is about all they really focused on, where they --oh, never mind. It's the highlight of the film, though, trust me. Progressively cheaper and cheaper effects parade their way through the story after that. My favorite is the scene where they try to "tie up" a giant Beau Bridges. You see two plastic poles (supposed to be his legs) being roped by the good teens. They then try to fasten the ropes with hot rods orbiting the "surprised" victim. Every once in a while, they show Beau making spasmodic and confused expressions in slow motion. By the way, whenever they show a character in slow-mo, you know it's one of the giants.The movie knows it's idiotic, and makes no effort to conceal it. Good for a laugh at how absurd it is.