A "10" the first time

Rating: 10/10 (18 August 2006)

I remember when I first saw "Plan Nine from Outer Space," when I was a kid. My best buddy and I had our baseball game rained-out, so we went to the matinée at our local theater in our suburb. We knew nothing of the film or Ed Wood, so we assumed it would be a "B" matinée flick (at that age we didn't really know or use that designation, but we knew what these kinds of movies, shown on Saturday afternoons, were). We also understood that the quality of work - acting, camera shots, and even story line, would not be the equivalent of the first-run films in the major theaters, or which could be viewed later at this same theater during nighttime presentations. However, we didn't feel cheated by this film. Even in our adolescent way, we enjoyed its bizarre characters, dialogue, acting, scenery - appreciating in amateurishness and the fact that it was so awful it was funny and enjoyable. That film, and Wood's others, are in the category that for quality you would rate them a "1" on the proverbial "1 - to - 10 "dial" -- then decide to move it one notch farther to a "10," in recognition that in its awfulness it was so fascinating and funny it actually provided a thoroughly-enjoyable experience. This biopic captures this essence of what the untalented, yet also undaunted, Ed Wood was all about. Johnny Depp is one of the outstanding talents today, and this talent is displayed here. Martin Landau certainly deserved the acclaim for his portrayal of Bela Lugosi. All the supporting cast, without exception, were also outstanding. Finally, the depiction of this movie genre, and the feel for the mid-1950's Hollywood, are superb. Give this one a "10" on the dial the first time.