NoirFan

This is a tough one. The original is one of the finest science fiction films of it's era, with very little of the hokey dialogue and stiff acting that mar even critically acclaimed sci fi films like The Day the Earth Stood Still and Forbidden Planet. A tough, taut thriller that can be read as either an indictment of Communism or McCarthism, depending on how you interpret it. The studio-imposed compromised ending is unfortunate, but certainly not Don Siegel's fault. The Philip Kaufman remake is a wonderfully paranoid update that taps in perfectly to the 70's zeitgeist, with a truly chilling finale. Transporting the action to Me Decade capital San Francisco is a brilliant move, as the film neatly satirized the self-help craze. I'm going to give the nod to the remake - Michael Chapman's disorienting cinematography and Danny Zeitman's unsettling, almost avant-garde score give it the edge. I also included Abel Ferrera's remake and 2007's Invasion in the poll, though frankly I don't think either one is worthy of comparison.

OldBoy

please use the search function once in awhile.

http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread.php?t=488693

wm lopez

I watched the 1956 through out the 1970's on Sunday afternoons and it wasn't till the 90's that I found it was consider a sci-fi classic. I never liked the movie and used to hate when they would show it on sci-fi theater on Sundays.

NoirFan

Okay. Please use capitalization once in a while.

Chad

I prefer the original.

dhmac

That old poll thread is out-of-date because it omitted the 2007 version, so this new thread is justified (IMO).

I voted 1956 version mainly because of one thing: Kevin McCarthy's great performance. His gradual shift from normal guy to hysterical madman completely makes the movie. I think his performance is so strong that it makes the original film the least dated of the great '50s Sci-Fi films (most of which tend to be somewhat marred by wooden performances across the board).

I then rate the 1978 version a close second because it adds some great things (like the bloodcurdling shriek of the replicated people) but Donald Sutherland lacks Kevin McCarthy's mania which adds so much to the first film. Love the final shot though - it's one of the truly great Sci-Fi classic scenes.

The other two version (1993 and 2007) are both worth-seeing but each have problems. The 1993 version just didn't communicate the danger that strongly to me (being set on a military base where everyone already marches around like a robot didn't help much). I like that the 2007 version added the interesting twist of the invasion being a viral contagion taking over the original bodies instead of having the bodies replicated, but it never had the imminent danger feeling of the first two versions and its ending is easily the worst of the bunch (I'd really like to see the original director's cut to see if it improves this ending).

So my overall view is:
1956 version: own it
1978 version: own it
1993 version: rent it
2007 version: rent it

naitram

Original for sure, still a great picture.

Seantn

I like both, but I prefer the 1978 version by far. I just love it, it's one of my favorite sci-fi films.

Seantn

The original director's ending of the 2007 version had Nicole Kidman and her son flying off in a helicopter, but there was no cure to what was happening, so they flew off into an uncertain future....fade to black...the end.

islandclaws

1978.

I just love the vibe present throughout the film. It's ably directed, well cast and looks awesome. The ending is one of the great moments in sci-fi films.

I love the original because I'm a huge fan of 50's B pictures. I also love Ferrara's '93 version. Maybe it's because I grew up watching it, but I think it's a great piece of film. I haven't seen the latest version, but from what I hear I don't need to.

Rockmjd23

78
56
07
93

FRwL

Original. I also like the 51 Thing over the 82 one.

mike45

The 1956 is the Classic.

The 1978 is good but having grown up during this time , I find it dated.

Mr. Cinema

One of the few instances where I prefer the remake to the original.

'78 version over the '56 version. Others...Dawn of the Dead '04 and The Thing '82.

dhmac

Wow, that's a lot like the ending of the 1993 version.

chris_sc77

I've never seen the original but I'd vote the others as follows:
78
93
07

(Also the Puppet Masters is pretty good as well and that is really the same movie as Invasion of the Body Snatchers)

Zen Peckinpah

I'd say the '78 one, but the '56 one is still some great 50's sci-fi.

A few friends of mine watched the '78 one recently (expecting some sort of campy, fun bloodbath of a movie) and all of them fell asleep during it. I think it's a great atmospheric sci-fi/horror film and scares the shit out of me every time. A truly great film. Also loved the recent nod to it on South Park (the Britney Spears episode).

riley_dude

The Nicole Kidman one is out of the running?

Definitely 78 for me. One of my all time favorite horror movies.

MoviePage

1956, for being a more significant film overall and for having a lot of social relevance in its time. The 1978 version is a classic too, obviously, and is of course "scarier." The 1993 version has some really good stuff in it as well -- I remember Ebert loved that one.

Charlie Goose

Same for me.

Donald Sutherland was terrific in the 78 version. And what a great ending.

sb5

It's really close between 56 and 78, but 78 comes out slightly on top for me.

Haven't seen 93, 07 is only ok.