The War of the Worlds (1953)

Even though it changes much — including moving events from Victorian Britain to modern-day California — the US made version of H.G. Wells' famous novel is still recognisably War of the Worlds, with whole scenes and certain important themes firmly in place. Unsurprisingly, American concerns pervade, with commentary on other nations left to a nameless narrator (Cedric Hardwicke).
The alien 'tripod' design got changed for financial and logistical reasons. but the result is fortuitously unforgettable. The eerie green glow, sound effects and unsettling music add additional threat to an iconic and overwhelmingly dramatic menace that's equipped with a devastating killer heat ray.
In general the pacing is excellent, but the ending is abrupt. The film's biggest shortcoming, however, is its closing affirmation, which could've easily added a lingering ambiguity but instead feels like tacked on societal pandering.

4 unsympathetic intellects out of 5

Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964)

Daniel Defoe’s Crusoe story has pervaded popular culture so deeply that it’s easy to fool ourselves into thinking we know all about it, but I've only ever read an abridged version, so while I spotted the obvious parallels it’s very likely that a lot of the smaller ones were missed.
On the surface it’s the story of an astronaut (Paul Mantee), a monkey named Mona and a slave (Victor Lundin) as they struggle to survive on Mars. Beneath that framework is a more rewarding study of how the human spirit can endure in the face of seemingly impossible odds.

3 squeeze-tubes out of 5