"Dr.Cyclops"isknownasoneofthebetter"earlysci-fi"films,madein'39andreleasedin1940.(Itisalsoincolor.)Butwhilethestoryhaspotentialandtherearesomegoodmoments,thisisaveryconfusedfilm.
Theplotissimple-crazymadscientistonsomeremoteislandcanshrinkanimals,andwantstotryitonhumans.Hemanagesthisonascientificteamthatcametocheckthingsout.Theygetangry,andthecrazyscientisteventuallygetsreallyangrybecausehisnewshrunkensubjectswon'tcooperate.
Thethingis,thefilmdoesn'tseemtoknowifitwantstobeathriller,oragoofymovie.Dr.Cyclops(nevercalledthatbutreferencedtoaCyclopsafteronelensinhisglassesbreaks)lookscoolinhis"30'sstylesci-fihelmet"asheperformsexperimentsandcanbechillingattimes.Butthereissomuch"Disney-stylegoofymusic"goingonthatitishardtotakeanythingseriously.Themusicbelongsinafamilycomedyforthemostpart,andisplayedwhentheshrunkenpeopledothingsliketrytosurvive,andcreeparoundthefloor.Addthatafewofthemhaveprettygruesomedeathsandthatjustaddstotheconfusingatmosphere.
TheFXaren'tsobadbutnothingspecial.Thegiantsetsbuiltareprettyimpressivethough.Thereisascenewherelittlefiresaretossedatarealcrocodile'sheadwhichprobablymadeanimalactivistsangry.
Italsotakesalongtimeforanythingtoreallyhappen.Thismoviecouldhavebeendoneinanicetighthalf-hour.Goodforaviewing,butyouprobablywon'twatchagain.TheperformanceoftheguywhoplaysDr.Cyclopsisdefinitelythemainattraction.
