Movie Review: Fantastic Voyage (1966)

A loaded cast including Stephen Boyd (Ben-Hur), Raquel Welch (One Million Years B.C.), Edmond O’Brien (The Barefoot Contessa), Donald Pleasence (Halloween), and Arthur Kennedy (Peyton Place) heads up this Jules Verne-style Cold War science fiction adventure.

It’s got all the retro-futurism I could possibly ask for. Seriously, the mid-sixties to early-seventies is probably my favorite era of science fiction in terms of the look, and in this film’s case, even the sound.

The plot involves a team of doctors and scientist miniaturizing themselves to stop a blood clot in a scientist that can’t be cured through traditional methods. It’s a lot of plot for what’s essentially a showcase of 1960s special effects.

And a showcase of Raquel Welch’s beauty, of course.

The effects have needless to say become quite dated. But even then, it’s still a visual treat. The art direction is pretty great.

This movie may not have the most interesting characters, but it’s still pretty entertaining. It’s a bit slow, perhaps, but the story is quite unique and interesting.

It’s entertaining and imaginative science fiction, though it is probably more imaginative than entertaining.

Rating: 7/10