V

* * ½

STARRING: Marc Singer , Faye Grant, Michael Durrell, Peter Nelson, Jane Badler, Neva Patterson, Andrew Prine, Robert Englund, Richard Herd, Penelope Windust, Rafael Campos

1983, 205 Minutes, Directed by: Kenneth Johnson

Description: Aliens pretending to be friendly come to Earth and are received openly. The aliens have masqueraded themselves to look just like humans. When it is discovered that the aliens' planet is dying and that they have come to rape the Earth of its natural resources, the war for Earth begins. An important key to the humans' success is distinguishing their own from the aliens.  — Amazon.com

Long before giant flying saucers floated ominously over the major cities of the world in Independence Day, there was V. One of the most expensive television movies ever made, V with its above average special effects, was also a tale of alien invaders. Unlike the invaders of Independence Day, these reptilian creatures were a more patient lot. Their approach was rather to pose as humanity's friends on peace mission while threatening to establish a fascist dictatorship using earth's scientists as scapegoats.

Despite its cardboard characters, V (originally shown in two parts and followed by V: The Final Battle and a television series) proved imminently watchable and a hit with most television audiences.

Worth checking out on video if you haven't seen it - in some ways it is much better than the much-hyped Independence Day.

Sci-Fi Movie Page Pick: This made for TV series replete with cardboard sets and characters is actually more fun and thrilling than the 1996 Independence Day blockbuster.
 

•  Read an extended review of V.
• See also: Cold Fusion Video Reviews.
• Listen to an exclusive podcast interview with show creator Kenneth Johnson: “There is considerable enthusiasm for a new V movie. . .”