I am heartened to see that the previous review was submitted only two weeks ago which indicates "Voyage" still generates interest, discussion and enthusiasm. "Attack!" was the series' last "Aliens Invading Earth" story and turned that convention a bit on its head. As the two VTTBOTS website reviewers have noted, "Attack!" was aired during the height of the Viet Nam conflict and dovetailed nicely with the ongoing conflict between hawks and doves in our own country. An alien attack force lead by Kamal (Kevin Hagen) wants to take over earth but is opposed by Robek (Skip Homeier) who leads a group of malcontents who desire that their civilization make its way through the universe with only peaceful exploration in mind. When his group learns of their government's plan to hijack our world, he warns the Seaview command of it and sets out to help earth defeat his own government. Interesting. Where I disagree with the previous review is over Kevin Hagen's character. Rather than see it as bland, I found it a terrific lead-in to his Inspector Kobick character on the next Irwin Allen series, "Land of the Giants". Like the LOTG security chief, Kamal, too, is cold, emotionless and ruthless - the perfect fascist state functionary. But, of course, that is only a personal view. All said, it is obvious to me that "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" will always remain a source of excitement, good storytelling and debate among its many, many fans. Thanks, Irwin!
3 Reviews
Seaview Vs. The Flying Saucers
ShadeGrenade17 November 2013
Warning: Spoilers
William Welch's 'Attack!' opens with the U.S. fleet being destroyed by a flying saucer. Nelson and Kowalski are in F.S.-1 when they run smack into a wall of fire ( unlike the one seen in 1970's 'Beneath The Planet Of The Apes', this is real! ). Aliens have established a secret undersea base on Earth, and are plotting a full-scale attack using flying saucers. Kowalski is given a mind-altering drug and returns to the Seaview to inflict sabotage. A stowaway is found on the sub - 'Robek' ( Skip Homeier ) - who claims to be a member of the alien race responsible for the base. He does not agree with his people's headlong rush to interplanetary war, and even offers to help Crane stop them...
I agree with Jon Abbott when he wrote that this had the potential to be a lot better. Three aliens in ludicrous costumes do not pose much of a threat to Mankind. Kevin Hagen's 'Komal' is decked out in a red and silver affair that makes him look like a space-age Father Christmas. Costumes aside, there is little here that is exciting or original. The undersea cavern with its fleet of flying saucers is obviously a painting. The base itself consists of mostly dark rooms. I like the scene where Nelson and Kowalski wake up and see a man apparently standing on the ceiling. As it turns out, he is standing the right way up! I am not going to be to hard on this though. Skip Homeier and Kevin Hagen are usually good value, and do not disappoint here.
I agree with Jon Abbott when he wrote that this had the potential to be a lot better. Three aliens in ludicrous costumes do not pose much of a threat to Mankind. Kevin Hagen's 'Komal' is decked out in a red and silver affair that makes him look like a space-age Father Christmas. Costumes aside, there is little here that is exciting or original. The undersea cavern with its fleet of flying saucers is obviously a painting. The base itself consists of mostly dark rooms. I like the scene where Nelson and Kowalski wake up and see a man apparently standing on the ceiling. As it turns out, he is standing the right way up! I am not going to be to hard on this though. Skip Homeier and Kevin Hagen are usually good value, and do not disappoint here.
Attack Of Land Of The Giants
StuOz5 September 2010
After a record number of alien invasions, at last a peace loving alien appears on the good ship Seaview! Meanwhile on an island, Nelson is running away from aliens in very strange cloths!
The thing about all 78 colour episodes of Voyage is that they are all very watchable! The series would sometimes repeat itself in storyline, as it does here, but there is always something new to listen to or watch. What do we watch on Attack!? Alien soldiers in girlie purple costumes! And these soldiers are with an alien played by Keven Hagen who is chasing an earth man (Nelson). Does this remind you of another series? Land Of The Giants perhaps? I love the connection. It even looks like the same studio jungle seen in Giants!
It is nice watching a colour Voyage episode with a peace loving alien, it reminds me a bit of season one's The Sky Is Falling in a way. The music used in Attack! could have been better but not a bad hour that was in fact the second last Voyage in production order. The last hour was No Way Back which shifts it's attention from Land Of The Giants to The Time Tunnel...complete with figures from history dropping into the Seaview control room.
The thing about all 78 colour episodes of Voyage is that they are all very watchable! The series would sometimes repeat itself in storyline, as it does here, but there is always something new to listen to or watch. What do we watch on Attack!? Alien soldiers in girlie purple costumes! And these soldiers are with an alien played by Keven Hagen who is chasing an earth man (Nelson). Does this remind you of another series? Land Of The Giants perhaps? I love the connection. It even looks like the same studio jungle seen in Giants!
It is nice watching a colour Voyage episode with a peace loving alien, it reminds me a bit of season one's The Sky Is Falling in a way. The music used in Attack! could have been better but not a bad hour that was in fact the second last Voyage in production order. The last hour was No Way Back which shifts it's attention from Land Of The Giants to The Time Tunnel...complete with figures from history dropping into the Seaview control room.
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