I'm glad to see this guilty pleasure re-issued on DVD, even absent observable extras let alone selectable scenes. Let's get this straight from the start: For its place in the genre Journey to the Far Side of the Sun is no worthy successor to the magisterial 2001: A Space Odyssey, but to this day I admire the Century 21 Supermarionation productions if only for their craftsmanship and earnestness, the sheer effort that had to require, and the sheer fun that had to inspire.
Towards the end of the Supermarionation run for syndicated television you could tell Century 21 was moving towards live-action. I can only infer that Journey continued the trend with the increasing sophistication of the special effects and the box office from the two feature-length Thunderbirds films. The syndicated live-action television series "UFO" and The Protectors would soon follow.
Unfortunately, the more live the action the more serious, the less fun, and the greater challenge posed the viewer to suspend disbelief. Most unfortunately, Journey suffers from a characteristically padded and uninformed script (air/sea rescue in Mongolia?) premised on howling bad science (whilst conducting their orbital "electronic survey" our intrepid astronauts couldn't just switch on the wireless and LISTEN?) and ending with disappointing ambiguity (was it all a flaming--???). If you're still intrigued by the premise but want more meat on the technical bones you'd do better to read Arthur C. Clarke's short story "Technical Error" and Martin Gardner's The New Ambidextrous Universe (and, most recent, Neil F. Comins' What If the Earth Had Two Moons?).
And Yet: Flashes of directorial style, genuine suspense and delightfully parched wit. An astronaut's dream sequence superior to Jordan Belson's fleeting counterparts in The Right Stuff. If you must call the musical score cheesy, call Barry Gray's cheese artisanal. Near-seamless transitions between live action and in-camera miniatures, a Derek Meddings trademark. A production designer who must've been delighted to not have to work with colanders and matchbook covers. And a director and cast who must've agreed to do their very best with what they had and take their chances with that. In spite of yourself you will want to stay to the very end.
Journey earns five stars at best, the fifth awarded out of fondness, with an E for Effort.
Towards the end of the Supermarionation run for syndicated television you could tell Century 21 was moving towards live-action. I can only infer that Journey continued the trend with the increasing sophistication of the special effects and the box office from the two feature-length Thunderbirds films. The syndicated live-action television series "UFO" and The Protectors would soon follow.
Unfortunately, the more live the action the more serious, the less fun, and the greater challenge posed the viewer to suspend disbelief. Most unfortunately, Journey suffers from a characteristically padded and uninformed script (air/sea rescue in Mongolia?) premised on howling bad science (whilst conducting their orbital "electronic survey" our intrepid astronauts couldn't just switch on the wireless and LISTEN?) and ending with disappointing ambiguity (was it all a flaming--???). If you're still intrigued by the premise but want more meat on the technical bones you'd do better to read Arthur C. Clarke's short story "Technical Error" and Martin Gardner's The New Ambidextrous Universe (and, most recent, Neil F. Comins' What If the Earth Had Two Moons?).
And Yet: Flashes of directorial style, genuine suspense and delightfully parched wit. An astronaut's dream sequence superior to Jordan Belson's fleeting counterparts in The Right Stuff. If you must call the musical score cheesy, call Barry Gray's cheese artisanal. Near-seamless transitions between live action and in-camera miniatures, a Derek Meddings trademark. A production designer who must've been delighted to not have to work with colanders and matchbook covers. And a director and cast who must've agreed to do their very best with what they had and take their chances with that. In spite of yourself you will want to stay to the very end.
Journey earns five stars at best, the fifth awarded out of fondness, with an E for Effort.