Voyage to the End of the Universe (1963) User Reviews

Best Space Suit Designs This Side Of The Apollo Program

[Steve_Nyland · 8/10 · 19 August 2007]

IKARIE XB-1 is one of the most compelling science fiction films ever made. Filmed in very Cold War era Czecheslovokia and rarely seen in North America in it's complete widescreen form, this is a movie that was so ahead of it's time that only 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY managed to raise the bar above what was set here with it's meticulous depiction of outer space vehicles in action.

If there is any shortcoming to IKARIE it's simply that: The space ship model effects are somewhat awkward & unconvincing, a setback that the movie might not recover from in the mind's eye of viewers raised on 30+ years of George Lucas & Steven Spielberg special effects films. But viewers who are interested in a story will be more than rewarded with a complex drama about a group of humans off in search of a brave new world to populate, with an ending sequence that is perhaps the most provocative element of the entire film -- and would later find form again in Mario Bava's PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES, albeit in a different manner. There is no doubt that the Italian master was influenced by this film.

For me the most striking sequence is a daring, risky, and potentially scandalous commentary by these Soviet Bloc filmmakers when they have their explorers encounter a derelict craft floating aimlessly & without power in the empty nothing between the stars. A boarding party is dispatched to discover that it was an early Earth craft which had been dispatched during a nuclear conflict who's crew was made up of decadent aristocrats who had been attempting to escape the carnage back on Earth. They are long dead, mummified to the point where their bodies disintegrate when brushed against, and had apparently been killed off by the military flight crew when it became clear the oxygen supply was about to run dry. The quiet, calm horror of the scene is unprecedented even by today's standards, with the accidental triggering of one of the ship's obsolete but still functional nuclear warheads providing a nerve-shattering moment as the two hapless crewmen attempt to escape the airless, gravity deprived hell in space.

One of the aspects that makes the scene so convincing was the space suit designs created by the artistic visionaries behind the film. They look even more functional, practical and "real" than the Mercury era space flight technology of the day: Bulky, armored, pressurized tin cans with knee joints, claw-like cloves, and magnetized boot plates. The scene of the two astronauts trying to run across the derelict flight deck for the airlock to escape the explosion is a marvel of not only applied science but choreography. In my opinion the film is worth tracking down for this one sequence alone.

And now you can: The film was issued in 2005 on a marvelous Czech made PAL format DVD that shows the film in the correct 2:35:1 Techniscope widescreen format with the original, unaltered & un-messed with ending sequence intact. Any serious fan of Cold War era science fiction simply must acquire one. I will admit that some of the more talky middle "soap opera in space" segments sort of lag the pacing a bit, but the 81 minutes is over quickly and the impression one is left with is that the thinking behind the movie was miles ahead of anything that came out of the West at the same time. Along with the Russian PLANETA BUR and the East German/Polish SILENT STAR aka FIRST SPACESHIP ON VENUS, this is one of the most important & overlooked masterpieces of science fiction from the time when manned space flight was becoming a reality.

All three films are grounded in actual science with impressive visual power that still has potency. What makes IKARIE XB-1 even more impressive is that it lacks some of the glory-boy propagandizing of the Soviet Bloc's entertainment machine, which was designed to enthrall the masses with depictions of glorious Soviet cosmonauts conquering the cosmos -- something that never really quite happened. Those movies were meant to placate the Proletariat and give them a reason to make do cheer for the genuine oppression under which they lived. By contrast, IKARIE is almost a work of pure artistic expression, which is in itself remarkable considering the conditions under which it was made.

8/10

Underrated science fiction gem from Eastern Europe

[mpopham · 7/10 · 19 March 2003]

This is an intriguing Czech science fiction film from the early 60's. It's pretty much unknown in the U.S (American - International Pictures dubbed it into English and released it as "Voyage to the End of the Universe" in 1964; it's been seen here only rarely since then).

The movie depicts a group of space travelers on a seemingly endless journey to a new planet. They encounter many traps and dangers along the way (including a derelict spacecraft and a mysterious nebula) but the greatest conflict seems to be psychological: namely, the titanic ambition of a 15-year, trans-galactic voyage pitted against the fragility of the human mind and the relative insignificance of human lives.

The interior sets are lavish -- certainly on a par with "Forbidden Planet" and perhaps even "2001". The level of detail in the spaceship interiors is admirable, and the same can be said for the smartly designed spacesuits.

"Ikarie XB 1" stumbles badly, though, when it comes to the exterior effects work. The spacecraft models are too small to provide much detail, and seem to be propelled through space by dark-colored string. As a result the transitions between interior and exterior shots are somewhat jarring.

All the same, this movie is a very interesting example of mid-century science fiction. It deserves a much wider audience, and it is to be hoped that a restored, subtitled print will one day make the rounds in American art houses. Cross your fingers.

The Undiscovered Country....

[CelluloidRehab · 7/10 · 2 April 2007]

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

One of the best Euro SF Films finally restored for U.S. Audiences

[gortx · 22 August 2004]

Most Americans know this film (if they know it at all) as VOYAGE TO THE END OF THE UNIVERSE. According to most sources, the film was chopped & re-dubbed from its original 81 minute length (the original Variety review pegs it at 90 minutes) to approximately 64 minutes for its limited theatrical run by American International Pictures. Curiously, I have an old VHS tape off of TV that runs about 78 minutes.

The odd thing is that the cuts that were made (apparently there were both Theatrical and TV Versions prepared), are actually LESS important to the ADDITIONAL footage that was added. And, that Additional Footage runs about 5 seconds! How could 5 seconds be more important that the 5 to 20 minutes that were cut out?? More on that below (with SPOILER ALERT to come).

IKARIE XB 1 (the Czech cut) is on display as part of a traveling series of Czech films and hopefully will show up on DVD soon in a definitive version. Unquestionably, IKARIE is one of the best SF films to come from outside the USA. Well mounted production values, solid acting and an intelligent storyline. The film has many parallels to such Productions as 2001, SOLARIS, the German TV series SPACE PATROL, PLANET OF THE APES and many others. What's particularly intriguing is that the film doesn't condescend to its audience. Some of the most fascinating aspects of the script are more implied than detailed (this may cause some to be confused or distracted - Why, for instance, does the crew not know of the previous mission they come up close to the target 'White Planet'(NOT the 'Green Planet' as it's US version calls it)?).

A true find. Hopefully, a restoration would allow the film to take its rightful place in the SF Film canon.

+++++++++++++SPOILERS BELOW++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Most of the cuts made in the TV version of IKARIE are fairly minor (most just made to speed things up). But, it's that 5 seconds of new footage that makes for an entirely different viewing experience. For, the US version changes THE ENTIRE MEANING OF THE MOVIE! When the Space Travelers finally reach the "Green Planet" it appears that they have either never left, gone thru a time warp (a la PLANET OF THE APES) or gone around in circles - NONE of these endings was inferred by the original film at all! Shockingly, when I've talked to people who've seen the US Version or read about it in Film Reference books, their view of the whole film is not only tainted by these 5 seconds, but actually results in their dismissal of the film's quality. Most huff that "it's got this lame and OBVIOUS ending" - And, sadly, they are referring to an ending that is neither lame nor was "obvious" -- for it was never meant to be by the filmmakers! Tragic, shocking and sad. People read the film from the ending backwards and dismiss all that came from before due to its "trick ending".

Again, I hope the film, and its purposefully ambiguous ending will out.

Ikarie

[FilmFlaneur · 7/10 · 30 July 2008]

Still relatively unfamiliar to western audiences, Ikarie XB 1 is an example of east European science fiction cinema on a fairly ambitious scale deserving of wider appreciation. Usually it's been only seen in a butchered edition created Stateside - duly shorn of a plot strand, dubbed with a different ending, with a dumb title.

With the benefit of hindsight, a lot of the original seems familiar. With its clean interior ship design, crew neck uniforms all round, glide doors, shiny deck flooring as well as a 15-year mission to seek out new life, Ikarie may have given later pause for thought for a certain Gene Roddenberry. Genre fans will also note that, during the first big set piece, the crew are startled by an unexpected alarm and deviate from their mission to investigate a derelict spacecraft - events which end with a nuclear detonation in space. Add to this the changes wrought by the American bastardisation of Voyage To The End Of The Universe, that included an ending which anticipates Planet of the Apes, as well as its possible inspiration to Kubrick when planning 2001, and Ikarie certainly offers much of interest. Not to mention its own borrowings eg Ikarie's robot Patrick, inspired by Forbidden Planet (1956)

Polák's was also responsible for an intriguing Nazi time travelling movie, with a small cult on its own account, Tomorrow I'll Wake Up And Scald Myself With Tea, made in the late 1970s. Less idiosyncratic than this, one imagines, Ikarie is much more serious in tone, set mostly aboard a roomy spacecraft, crewed by 40, dispatched to discover if there is any life on Alpha Centauri. A feeling of worthwhile isolation permeates this journey, with none of the trivial, trials and stresses one expects from space dramas made closer to home at this time, where mad scientists lurk, robots lumber threateningly or spacewomen defer to their mates. Missing too is the pseudo technical claptrap which lumbers much American SF, then or now. Ikarie's hardware exists mainly in the background, without need of explanation. The film expects us to take its conspicuous 22nd century advances just as seen, being concerned more with sociology than technology.

Ikarie features a harmonious society in miniature, shown in a series of interactions aboard, even down to the calm acceptance of on board pregnancy - an adult theme incidentally completely excised in the American version. In such an hospitable environment, even the mad can be talked round without violence, as in the case of Michael (Otto Lackovic) who, affected by radiation and in a disastrous manoeuvre, wants to turn the ship back to Earth. That the only real threat the crew face is an external one is significant, and also primes the dramatic moment that begins the narrative. A flash-forward to when (infected by the same source, as we learn later), one of the crew is wandering, bewildered and aggressive, through the ship. "Earth is gone," he says. "Earth never existed." But he's not beyond help from his peers. Here the deluded or mad in space are not assumed lost, such as we might see in such recent American films as Event Horizon, but taken back and with promise of cure at that.

Critics have contrasted these shipboard mores to the signs of capitalist degeneracy confronting those who board the 'Tornado', the derelict space station from 1987 unexpectedly encountered en route. Here, amidst the dark clutter of its interior, are found signs of gambling and money, coded elements of capitalist speculation, just as fatal as the death gas and nuclear warheads also there. For those who explore it, the Tornado reflects a place thought left behind, both geographically and politically. "We have discovered the 20th century," says one dismayed crewman. The determined self destruction encountered by those who board the derelict recalls one of TV's original Star Trek shows, and those found died as result of a selfish fight for survival. The signs of a corrupt political system fall exposed with as much horror as does (in a notable moment) the skin off the Tornado captain's face.

This, and then the debilitating effects of rays that emanate from a hitherto unknown black star are the two principal threats facing the crew. How they finally overcome this last hurdle is part of the end of the quest. Without giving too much away, it is sufficient to say that the close of the film, the ship's long anticipated arrival at Alpha Centauri's 'white planet', brings a sequence both uplifting and brief, carrying over the theme of mutually beneficial cooperation. But viewers today may find less interest in the ending than the scenes that have preceded it. It's the Ikarie crew's social or dutiful pairings, even to the point of bringing each other flowers, or taking showers together, which lay at the heart of the film, rather than any encounter of a new civilisation and the socialist message entailed. Whilst in basic narrative terms the 'white planet' brings closure, our attentions have for long been focused elsewhere, in scenes such as the notable dance sequence. Through the hypnotic rhythms of Zdenek Liska's striking score, the astronauts take part in something akin to a weird 22nd century disco, their slow somnambulistic movements reassuring while also slightly disturbing. Reassuring, as we can see the crew reacting together as one social unit, even after the inevitable trials of months in space; disturbing because it is all so emotionless and controlled. Such ambiguous group occasions beg questions we really want answered. Are they really happy? Or does the Earth we thought we recognised in them no longer exist?

The Czech originated disc I have seen offers a splendid widescreen transfer of the movie with English subtitles. Most of the extras are unfortunately not subtitled, but there's a chance to see some sample scenes from the American International version, to give an idea of how the original was changed as well as a stills gallery.

Refreshing, interesting Czech sci-fi

[andrew-huggett · 7/10 · 29 January 2013]

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.

Genre enthusiasts ought to see this one.

[pro_crustes · 6/10 · 15 May 2003]

This is for sf-film completists. It seems to fill a gap between the late-50's style of sf movie and the forever-after effects of Star Trek and Kubrick's "2001." The only version you're likely to see is the American International release. The Encyclopedia of SF says the original film is in color, but AI's print is B&W, probably to save costs on the number of prints they may have made from a film I suspect they got for little money in the first place.

The story is about a big "community" sized spaceship making a long journey to "the green planet." Another reviewer said the ship was faster than light, but a couple of references to time-dilation effects in the dialog make it more likely that the ship was a near-lightspeed model. This has an influence on the spooky atmosphere that pervades the whole film, making the crew/community highly insular, as they realize they are cut off completely from the lives they have left behind.

The sfx are slightly better than Dr. Who episodes of similar vintage, with a couple of really good spacesuits and an unusual design for the ship itself. There's also a very, very neat shot of the ship in orbit around its destination that is a dead ringer for a similar moment in "Alien," and quite effective (in both films), in a way that most movies about spaceships seem to forego.

Still, the story rambles and seems kind of shallow. The sets and sfx aren't bad, but don't make up for the weak script. I recommend this for true lovers of the form (as I am), because you just wouldn't want to be left wondering what might have been going on in sf films, even east European ones, in the early '60s. Here's your answer.

Beautifully made, inventive science fiction drama

[ebeckstr-1 · 9/10 · 6 October 2018]

Written by the same man who wrote Solaris, rather than a science fantasy, space opera, or race movie like many other scifi films of that era (many of which are just as excellent in their own way - see The Sky Calls, Planeta Bur, or Forbidden Planet, for example), Ikarie XB1 (aka Journey to the End of the Universe) is a serious-minded science fiction drama, with element of mystery and suspense.

My rating of 9 out of 10 Stars might be a little exuberant, but that was my reaction to the film. The sets are sumptuous, almost art deco, the black and white cinematography crisp and beautiful to look at, and the acting always competent or better. The score is largely electronic, with some distorted electric guitar, and no orchestral elements.

Ikarie XB1 is so different from a lot of other science fiction cinema being produced at the time that I found it to be a captivating surprise.

Seen on Pittsburgh's Chiller Theater in 1967

[kevinolzak · 6/10 · 23 October 2013]

It would seem that the sci-fi titles produced behind the Iron Curtain during the early 1960s were all heavy on space travel, light on monsters, so Americans such as Roger Corman often purchased the rights to add new footage to rectify the situation ("Battle Beyond the Sun," "Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet," "Planet of Blood," "Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women). American International often picked up foreign titles to use in their TV packages, so most often viewers would only catch these films on the small screen. This 1963 Czech film is quite interesting, several well drawn characterizations, a virtual prototype for the forthcoming STAR TREK, only with a 15 year mission, destined for the 'Green Planet.' The tacked on US ending, lambasted as it's been over the years, proved to be influential at the time, as shown by 1968's "Planet of the Apes." Pittsburgh's Chiller Theater aired this film on two occasions, Nov 25 1967 (followed by second feature "The Tingler") and Aug 1 1970 (followed by second feature "Voodoo Man"). Other Eastern European titles broadcast include "The Fabulous World of Jules Verne," "First Spaceship on Venus," and "The Amphibian Man."

Unusually good for time period made.

[treddie · 8/10 · 23 January 2000]

Considering that this film was made in 1963, in Czechoslovakia, at a time when so much sci-fi schlok was produced in the spacefaring United States, this film is a rare, welcome sight to the eyes. Intelligently produced and designed, with good character development and good special effects, I miss seeing this film which seems to have been lost in the Great Transition To Video; I know of no distributors for it. It does have its corny moments, but this is excusable in light of the time in which it was made. The ending was unfortunately changed for U.S. viewers, which is a shame; It is the U.S. ending which gets criticized most...I imagine the European ending would have been more in keeping with its originality, and would hope that American International would re-release it in the U.S., with new dubbing (I'm one of those non-purists who can't stand sub-titles...they interfere with the enjoyment of the image. And yes, dubbing CAN be done well, when done RIGHT!). It's been nineteen years since I saw it over the airwaves. I hope it has not vanished; It would be a shame for others not to experience it.

Serious Space Age Sci-Fi from Czechoslovakia!

[Rabh17 · 7/10 · 31 January 2016]

To watch this movie today, you have to be serious aficionado of Science Fiction from the Space Age of the 1960's.

If you're old enough and you were LUCKY, you might have caught it maybe once in your entire Lifetime on the Late-Late-Late Saturday Night Movie...and it was the bastardized, Americanized 'Voyage to the End Of the Universe' And from what I could discern, it was rebroadcast less than 3 times and then disappeared from American ken. I remembered the ship with the three flying saucers flying Swooooosh! through Interstellar space. It had Robots. It had flying saucers. It had Spacesuits. It had a scary derelict rocketship with dead bodies in it. And it had one explosion. Then My mother told me to go to Bed. Aaaaargh!

Literally close to 40 years later, the memory dogged me to get a DVD of the full IKARIE XB1. And it was worth it.

Remember: if you saw it as a Kid, you saw it chopped to fit on the square TV screen. This is a Full widescreen Movie Production. And it's Long.

Caveats: No Monsters...other than the dead Capitalist kind (chuckle!). No Space Battles. No Alien Invasions. No Mad Scientists. And it's B&W.

As other reviewers note-- there are segments where they go to explore a derelict ship, and an incapacitating flyby a 'Dark Star' and cope with temporary madness from Radiation. Kind of a prelude to the old Star Trek.

The rest of the Movie is Life aboard the first Interstellar ship, everything from matchmaking, to a dance party (Which I thought to be endearingly comical, both the music and the dance steps!!!) to the birth of a baby.

There was even a pet Dog onboard! The Departure from the usual run of American Space Movies also included female crew members who clearly had important roles on the ship, and were treated with unfeigned respect by the men when they were consulted for opinions and input.

All in all, the movie spoke to me like an early version of '2001: A space Odyssey'. And even though it was made in Communist Czechoslovakia, beyond the rather pointed social hints in the derelict 'Tornado', there was no heavy handed proletariat propaganda.

On the FX front, for 1963, the sets and setup were very high quality. The Spacesuits and the extra-vehicular saucers wowed me.

Warning: There are probably several versions of this movie out there. One English dubbed version is actually partial. There are sections of the movie where English Subtitles appear and you hear Czech, then in the next scene, they flip back to English. And lastly, by today's hi-octane Hollywood standards, this movie is languid. But by today's standards, hallowed '2001: a Space Odyssey' would be called Boring.

A Different milieu and a Different Cultural perspective. So have a little patience. This one is best for a Sunday Afternoon. Give it a try if you can find it....and yes, it's girlfriend friendly.

Nice piece for sci-fi fan

[carbon-12 · 9/10 · 3 January 2011]

In 20th century were not filmed too much pure space-based science fiction movies in Eastern political block. I would rate this movie as very nice example of sense for this genre even through there was not filmed much of them. Everyone who is judging this movie by quality of special effects should use for their comparison with same aged pieces. Just imagine having the interior scenes and having the poorly animated exteriors replaced by appropriate expensive CGI in up to date movie quality (really imaginary, in reality it would be perversion to break existing piece of art). The movie technology developed as well as science knowledge (which was widely used in the movie to create realistic picture), but the messages in this story are still relevant. Micro-society during real long-term flight may experience very similar issues. There are some parts with significant influence of the fact that the movie was made in the Soviet block (critical mentioning of some attributes of western culture attributes), but overall i would say this does not spoil the movie or the story at all.

Icarus XB 1 / Voyage to the End of the Universe

[budzbuzz · 7/10 · 30 November 2022]

A worthy Euro sci-fi epic with excellent sets and costumes. It's a 1963 Czech release bought by American International Pictures for TV with voice overs familiar to viewers of 60s European films. Only exteriors and miniatures suffer in the special effects category.

The film is nestled in time between two groundbreaking films, Forbidden Planet and 2001: A Space Odyssey. It tells compelling stories of segments of a large crew in a large interstellar ship in the year 2163. Each mini-story is reasonable for a long term crew in what it covers and the science it displays.

Ahead of its time in details, the crew was allowed 1 personal item; one chose a dog and another chose a large robot brought by a mathematician of all people. Not many sci-fi have a math guy on the crew.

Actors and actresses are older than US audiences prefer, but perform well without entering into stilted, over the top, soap opera-esque efforts of western European fare.

Sci-fi fans will appreciate plot twists and turns as the crew makes its way to the green planet of their objective. Another nice story from the author of Solaris just 3 years before the introduction of Star Trek on NBC.

having a Czech of a time in space

[lee_eisenberg · 5/10 · 25 March 2014]

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.

It Was Never in Color

[robert_deveau · 10 May 2004]

I just saw a gorgeous, widescreen, subtitled print of "Ikarie XB 1", also known as "Voyage To The End of the Universe", at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. The print, restored by the Czech studio that originally released it, is in black and white, and was obviously shot that way. Its complete running time is listed in the program notes as 84 minutes, though it may have been a few minutes longer. (I should have checked my watch). Like several others who've commented on this, I first saw this movie as a kid when AIP released a dubbed version in the 60s. Its definitely not a kiddie movie, and is still quite impressive for its effects and production design, as well as its intelligent story.

SPIFFY, UNCONVENTIONAL PROGRAMMER.

[Bob-45 · 7/10 · 16 July 1999]

VOYAGE TO THE END OF THE UNIVERSE is one of those rare treats, a mostly routine programmer with enough unconventional elements to hold your interest.

The story opens with the ship, having nearly completed its voyage, being threatened for destruction by a demented crewmember. The story then segues into flashback, showing the mission from the beginning up to that time.

One unconventional incident during the voyage occurs when the ship encounters a wrecked spaceship, and dispatches a boarding party. The boarding party discovers that the wreck is a space gambling casino, complete with roulette wheels, card tables and humanoid remains. Unfortunately, the casino is also booby-trapped.

I would love to see this movie in color. Unfortunately, in perhaps the only instance American International Pictures choose to do so, the film was released in the United States in black and white only (Columbia Pictures used to do this fairly routinely; I've seen at least three Columbia films made in color and released in Black and White).

The ending of this film is quite predictable. However, I can certainly think of worse ways to spend 90 minutes.

Ikarie XB 1

[henry8-3 · 6/10 · 11 May 2023]

Czech Sci-fi thriller set In 2163 where a crew of 40 are travelling at light speed to a strange white planet upon which they hope they can settle. On route they must face exploring a large seemingly abandoned spaceship, a deadly dark star and a crew member gone mad, affected by the dark star's radiation.

Absorbing and intelligent sci-fi film that looks at what seem like realistic issues facing a travelling spaceship. In just an hour and a half you get to know the many characters pretty well, who all discuss their fears, concerns and how to address the problems they face as they move through space without huge explosions, laser beams or indeed an existential crisis. It's well made with even the early sixties effects not half bad and it is occasionally unnerving, particularly during the abandoned spaceship section. It seems not unlikely that this later influenced many great sci-fi films further down the line.

The film was edited, dubbed and re titled 'Voyage to the End of the Universe' for American audiences. Sigh.

Pretty good, despite badly aged in some ways

[tomimt · 7/10 · 15 June 2010]

Sci-fi is a difficult genre. The reason is, that most of the sci-fi movies are very effect driven, so that might become problem, if the movie has nothing else to offer besides the effects: bad plot makes clunky effects look even sillier. Very few sci-fi movies have managed to keep the charm and awe of movies like Metropolis, which manages to look good even todays standards.

Ikarie XB1 is a bit of a mixed bag. Most of the sets look very good. The interiors of the space ship look nice and futuristic without looking silly, the space suit design is very clever, the acting is good and the plot is, while not the greatest thing ever written, relatively well executed.

But what is very disappointing in the movie are the exterior shots of the space ships. They look cheap and the ship design is ridiculous with its box shapes and flying saucer shaped shuttles. I wasn't very positively surprised by the music either, which tries too hard to sound like futuristic tech noise.

All in all, Ikarie XB1 was a quite positive surprise. I did laugh at couple of occasions, just because of the special effects, but it really isn't that bad of a movie, after you get past of those silly looking space ships. All in all, well worth a watch to a sci-fi fans

"I thought heroism no longer existed."

[morrison-dylan-fan · 8/10 · 6 April 2016]

Reading an old issue of UK Film Mag Empire,I noticed Kim Newman (who also does an informative intro) review a Czech Sci-Fi film. Whilst trying to find the disc,I discovered that there are a large number of other Czech Sci-Fi titles that I've not heard of before. Deciding to spend April watching one Czech movie a day,I decided to watch the film which started my examination of Czech cinema.

View on the film:

Before getting to the film,I have to praise Second Run's excellent transfer,which along with offering clear audio and clean subtitles also has a razor sharp image.

Flying into space just before the Soviet Union loss their optimism in the "Space Race",co-writer/(along with Pavel Jurácek) director Jindrich Polák looks to the stars with a tantalizing sense of grandeur.

Backed by a shimmering score from Zdenek Liska, Polák makes what are clearly model effects be easy to forgive,thanks to Polák giving them a real hefty weight. Casing the movie in a "serious" shell, Polák opens the ship up to delightfully quirky,Art- Deco contents,that leaps from a futuristic disco from the genre staple groovy robot.

For their un-credited adaptation of Stanislaw "Solaris" Lem, (who was known for being "difficult",which is likely why he was not credited) the screenplay by Polák and Jurácek aims a (restrained) punch against "The West" by making all of the deadly weapons in space be covered in English language words.

Spreading peace,love and communism across the galaxy,the writers impressively take a rather realistic approach to the future machines,that include vitamin-style food pills and CCTV being used by the crew to follow office gossip. Finding conflict in peace,the writers soak the spaceship in a fantastic lived in mood,thanks to peeling away the polite manners of the space crew to unveil their abrasive natures,as Ikarie flies close to the sun.

Excellent example of Eastern bloc 'hard' science fiction

[jamesrupert2014 · 8/10 · 9 April 2019]

In the year 2163, the starship Ikarie XB 1 is travelling to alpha centauri, to explore the 'white planet', a round trip that will take 5 years (18 months ship's time due to relativistic speeds). On route the ship encounters a derelict Earth ship dating from the late 20th century that contains poison gas and nuclear weapons. The exploring team accidently triggers one of the bombs, destroying the space-wreck and the one of the Ikarie's exploration shuttles. While the starship is being repaired, the ship drifts into a radiation field being emitted by a 'dark star' that renders the crew unconscious and seriously burns two people who were doing an EVA, one of whom cracks under pressure and threatens to destroy the ship if he isn't returned to Earth. Depiction of everyday life on the Ikarie is imaginative and plausible and the special effects and miniature work is outstanding, especially the scenes where the Ikarie's exploration pod docks on the derelict. For a cold-war film, Ikarie XB 1 is largely unpolitical. The origins of the heavily armed wreck, although hinted to be cold-war era 'western', are not explicit (at least in the subtitled version I watched), unlike the source novel (The Magellanic Cloud by Stanislaw Lem), in which the ship is American. The film is typical of Soviet-era science fiction: a bit slow moving but intelligent, detailed, well-made, sober at times but ultimately optimistic. Well-worth watching for any fan of the genre. Rights to the film were purchased by American International Pictures, who dubbed, shortened, and released it with an alternate 'twist ending' as "Voyage to the End of the Universe" (1963).

A upbeat future new world premise from Iron Curtain !!!

[elo-equipamentos · 8/10 · 16 June 2019]

Ikarie XB 1 is an upper class science fiction from the old Czechoslovakia, the plot resume in a travel to Alpha Centauri from Earth's space station, a sort of Iron Curtain's countries enterprise, it takes place at 2163, based on a novel by Stanislaw Lem, when the race to the moon just began and the Russia put the first astronaut on space, a slight ahead from USA's efforts, so start this point the Spacecraft travelling through space meeting in the middle an older US's spacecraft with atomic weapons inside, a bit criticism to America's space project, an optimistic outlook over space travel, many generation interacting together, female's crew, unexplained large space for entertainment or exercise gym, whatever many inconsistences, Kubrick certainly uses many elements and concepts from this picture to conceive 2001, the American's version was totally mutilated and introduced an alternative ending, a true achievement from Czech's filmmaker Jindrich Polák, remarkable piece of the science fiction!!

Resume:

First watch: 2013 / How many: 2 / Source: DVD-R-DVD / Rating: 8.25

Immensely Disappointing

[draberadrian · 2/10 · 27 November 2023]

Based on the reviews and legacy of this cult classic film, I expected a hidden gem from cold war Czechoslovakia. I mean, Stanislaw Lem is one of my favourite authors, and the prospect of a "2001 before 2001" really hyped me up.

So what went wrong?

Granted, I haven't read Oblok Magellana (the book this film is based on). However, all in all, this film comes out as a great disappointment, to the point where I question if someone tampered with my copy when I read other users' raving reviews. Despite clocking in at only 86 minutes, this film's length somehow feels absolutely excruciating, all while I can only recall maybe 2 things that actually happened in it. It's as if the audience is experiencing the same time dilation as the characters in the story.

To start, The story is boring, simplistic and poorly executed; the characters are instantly forgettable and the acting leaves some things to be desired. None of the elements of this film feel cohesive at all; it is as if someone came up with about 3 different ideas for short science fiction stories, stitched them together and thought it could pass for a film. When the end credits rolled, I just sat there baffled by the "plot" more than anything.

Way too much of this film is spent on trying to seem needlessly profound for its rather uninspired plot, and it begins with an extremely long sequence depicting "everyday" life on the ship (which would have been fine, if it was at all relevant to the rest of the story, and didn't contain a painfully long sequence depicting the filmmaker's view on what dancing in the future will look like). The soundtrack of mostly bleep-bloop music was intriguing at first, but ends up becoming old and repetitive very fast. The entire film, to me at least, just ended up feeling like a bad episode of Star Trek (the original series!)

There are only a few saving graces of this film. For one, the well-crafted sets and costumes are adorable in how well they encapsulate the artistic vision of the future typical of the period in the Eastern Bloc. In general, if you want to show someone from 2023 what we once thought the "future" would look like, this film is one of the best resources - everything from the weird robot character to the cosmonaut-inspired spacesuits (and, of course, a spaceship full of dead capitalists which the characters lament as being another extension of the 20th century's horrors). Additionally, as a speaker of Polish, I also found listening to the original Czech audio (which is the version I watched) very entertaining, due to the similarities in the two languages, and it honestly probably accounted for 80% of my enjoyment of the film.

Despite my poor reception of this film's story and plot, I still think it should be preserved at all costs, and a work anyone who wants to claim being familiar with the sci-fi genre needs to have seen. I do, however, think that you would get way more enjoyment out of this film analysing it as a piece of history rather than as a piece of media.

Better then expected....

[CurtHerzstark · 9 May 2012]

This czech scifi made in 1963 is surprisingly fresh compared to most films within the scifi genre.

The story of a multinational crew heading to unknown planet and along its path has to deal with many dangerous situations, has to be one of the most used story lines in scifi.

Even though we've seen so many times this film uses a very lowkey, socialrealistic approach. More reminiscent of latter efforts like Alien (1979), Silent Running (1972), Outland (1981).

This film portrays the crew and its members, struggling with everyday problems. Like childbirth, parties, relationships in space etc.

There is also the fact that this film was made during communist rule in Czechoslovakia which might explain the lack of glamorous, action filled scenes. In fact the films hints that decadent, capitalistic society is doomed to fail.

But there is also hints that the communistic state might contain flaws as well.

Todays audience might be disapproving against the sometimes slow, socialrealistic tone/style of the film but I for one found it quite refreshing.

Well-made scifi films without action, ridiculous high tempo, is hard to come by, and I hope more people will see this film.

Cult movie from Lem's Magellan Cloud novel

[tfo222 · 10/10 · 12 December 2005]

In my opinion this movie is a basic sci-fi cult. The history of IKARIA is based on the novel "Magellan Cloud" of Stanislav Lem. The distance between the novel and the movie is similar to H.G. Wells "War of the Worlds" and Cruise-Spielberg movie or Lem's and Tarkovskij's "Solaris". According to reminiscence of Lem, this novel was not from his favorites. But at that time (1962) and I think nowadays also it is a remarkable novel and movie also. In interpretation of Soderbergh's and Clooney's Solaris they was finding the heaven or paradise to live there (and at the end Rheya and Kelvin have found it). Interpretation of Ikaria was full of agreements with "new" socialist ideas against capitalist ideas (dead casino in space, criticism of red nail polish, etc.) but in one time "between lines" there is the criticism of socialist reality during fifties and sixties (predestined madness and "no future" impasse: deadly illness from radioactive accident at the end of the Magellan Cloud novel). Mainly I agree with other comments. I hope sometime they will make and we will get the color DVD!

Very cool 60s Sci-Fi movie!

[philipr09 · 10/10 · 24 October 2011]

It is unusual to watch a science fiction movie from the early 1960s without wanting to laugh yourself silly, but this little number not only looks the part (albeit in a 60s style -think original Star Trek series production values), it also bridges two distinct styles within the genre. On the one hand, there is the earlier, declamatory style of traditional alien-busting 'Golden Age' sci-fi; on the other the later, more confessional storytelling characterised by '2001: A Space Odyssey' or 'Solaris' through to 'Alien' and 'District 9'. In the latter sort, there is a much darker, dubious foundation; man is usually more a part of the problem than the solution. Arguably, this linking of styles was also achieved quite nicely in 'Forbidden Planet', but excellent as it was, that movie still had us rooting for the 'Cowboys' versus the 'Indians' (despite the 'Indians' being a product of one man's insecure ego), and fell back on that already tired old staple of the misunderstood scientist with a glamorous daughter! For me, the stunning thing about 'Ikarie XB 1' is the astonishingly precocious direction and editing. It is sharp, dynamic and typical of very much later offerings. At a trim 1 hour 23 minutes, it manages to do a great deal. It is true that much of the 'exterior' work is pretty clunky, but that doesn't detract too much from the whole. Also, I'm afraid I did find one thing to laugh myself silly at: the trashing of poor old Patrick, the ageing robot, would have fit right into an episode of 'The Simpsons'! ("Patrick -RETREAT!!"...CLUNK! CRASH! Oh dear, too late!) All this and the discovery of a diabolical weapon called 'Tigger Fun' - what's not to like?

This movie can be viewed in entirety, with English subs, on YouTube.

Finally, whilst writing this, I have learned (belatedly) of the death in January this year of Anne Francis, who played Altaira in 'Forbidden Planet'. I am sure my sadness at her passing will be shared by many.