Lee Eisenberg When we think of Eastern Bloc cinema, we think of socialist realism themes required by the Soviet occupiers. Lesser known are the science fiction movies that occasionally emerged from the bloc. Probably the most famous is Andrei Tarkovsky's "Solaris". Another one is Jindřich Polák's "Ikarie XB-1" (retitled "Voyage to the End of the Universe" in English), which is also based on a Stanisław Lem novel. It's a pretty cornball movie, but still fun. One can see an influence on movies like "2001: A Space Odyssey".I understand that there are two versions of the movie. There is the original one released in Czechoslovkia, and the one released internationally. I saw the international version: anglicized names and a twist ending. It would be interesting to see the original version to find out what the director's original vision was.It's a pretty fun movie, although probably the most important movie from Czechoslovakia from this era was "The Shop on Main Street", for which Zdeněk Liška also did the music. And of course Jan Švankmajer's movies are always neat.

Andrew Huggett Interesting Czech film with very high production values – a sort of cross between 'Solaris' and '2001: A Space Odyssey' with a big dash of 'Things To Come' all made in black and white. It's interesting and surprisingly fairly accurate compared with what came before and after (it's ahead of it's time) While there are scientific inaccuracies - it's pretty authentic stuff – I liked the explanation of the time dilation effect on this journey to Alpha Centauri and the fact that their families back on Earth would age while they would not. The crew are beset by various problems on the way (mainly the effects of a hidden black star and consequent radiation). The set design in this film really stands out being quite futuristic (it's sort of 'Things To Come' meets 'Metropolis' in outer space). There's some odd unintentional distortion effects on the extreme ends of the widescreen film frame which is a shame (it could be related to the type of lens used or some kind of distortion caused by an anamorphic squeeze). The film is quite gripping but just as it is getting really interesting the film ends at the point they arrive at their destination. You don't even get to see a glimpse of the new world (unlike say in the film 'When Worlds Collide'). This film must have influenced the production design of 2001 a few years later. The exterior special effect sequences in this film are far less effective and are kept mercifully to a minimum. I thought the control panels and video screens shown were well ahead of their time. Pretty good stuff.

CelluloidRehab Somewhere between the Outer Limits and Star Trek lies this little science fiction gem from the former Czechoslovakia. This isn't I. Robot or that type of science fiction, which is Asimov wrapped up in a shiny steel and glass box. This is the actual story and not just the wrapping paper. It proudly carries on the tradition started by Forbidden Planet and This Island Earth, even though its not as exciting. It is actually more like the Magnetic Monster and the Outer Limits. This is science fiction done in crisp black and white. The screen may not be vivid, yet the special effects have an ethereally surreal quality. Mix that in with the futuristic Shostakovitch-like score and we have a compelling and eerie trip into the unknown.The excitement and glory that comes from living and exploring space (Star Trek, Star Wars, etc.) is minimized in the movie. We get the basic day to day activities of the crew of the Ikarie, on its 28 month (15 years pass back on Earth) mission to our closest solar system, Alpha Centauri. We also get the dangers and rewards of hurling ourselves into the vast darkness.It is the 22nd Century and we are out in the galaxy searching for life. The crew is comprised from a co-ed international pool. We never get to see Earth, yet we get a glimpse of what humans are like from the interactions of the crew (work, entertainment, nutritional intervals, exercise, reproduction and crisis). This is a future full of video screens, blasters, personal transmitters, turbo lifts, artificial gravity, Beatnik-like futuristic dancing and even Nike light up magnetic boots. This is the perfect/classical example of the sci-fi antithesis to Idiocracy. Humanity will improve with time. The future is bright, shiny and worth waiting for. Man fixes the malaise of his species. We are never shown anything more lethal than a hand blaster, when it comes to weapons. On their mission, they encounter a perfectly preserved space relic from an Earth expedition of the 20th century. Let's just say our predecessors had very little nice things to say about us. Let's not forget that the 20th century contained two world wars, numerous genocides, the birth and use of the the atomic bomb. One would also assume that a movie made in a Soviet influenced country would contain a certain amount of Communist and Pro-Soviet propaganda (for example, Planeta Bura). Thankfully this is all missing. About the biggest commentary comes from the critique of our 20th century counterparts. I found the only anti-capitalist message in the writing on the Earth relic. Everything inside is written in English, the ship was fully loaded with nuclear warheads and the the crew turned on each other. And even this critique is more of a jab at our collective selves then at full fledged opposition to capitalism. If you are looking for epic space battles for the fate of the universe, look elsewhere because the crew kills absolutely no living thing. If you want 90 minutes of Georges Méliès mixed with Jules Verne, then you have found the perfect movie. I can easily see this movie as an influence on Kubrick's 2001, Rodenberry's Star Trek, Lucas' Star Wars and even Irwin Allen's Lost in Space. We even have a robot. He's definitely not as cool nor as good as Robby the Robot nor the robot that constantly saves the Robinsons. We named him Patrick. Patrick the Robot. RIP. (Pour out some alcohol for the robots that aren't with us anymore).-Celluloid Rehab

slevant3 I'm one of those rare individuals who viewed Ikarie XB 1 ( Voyage to The End of The Universe) during it's original theatrical release in the U.S. I found the interpretation of dance in the future quite interesting. ( I wonder if the use of ribbons was foreshadowing of events to come in the Olympics?) I also recall the continued reference to the colonists reaching "...the Green Planet". In the version of the film I screened way back in the swinging 60's, the green planet was Earth! Early science fiction film efforts from other countries offer a window into the similarities and differences of varied ideologies in the world. They also show that everyone wants a bit of adventure on the "Big Screen". This film is recommended viewing for the nostalgic among us.