The Best Invasion of the Body Snatchers is...

[rhett]

There's been a handful of films about Jack Finney's iconic cultural parable, and with THE INVASION newly on DVD, let's compare. Which one is your favorite?

[The Chaostar]

Ok, first three film are more than good.
But the 1978 version kicks ass.
Ferrara's film is a bit forgotten I think, which is too bad.

[eric_angelus]

I like all three of the first ones alot, and feel like I should vote for the original...but I gotta go with the '78. I grew up with it, and it kind of defines the story for me. I have not seen the Kidman/Craig movie yet.

[Matt89]

Without a doubt Invasion of the Body Snatchers '78. This, along with Blade Runner, Alien and Close Encounters is one of the greatest films of its kind. (Arguably the best.)

~Matt

[MrKateB]

Wow...this is bizarre--I totally could have sworn this was in another forum and that I'd voted on a poll for this before...Guess it's one more sign I'm heading south faster and faster these days.

For me, the 1956 version always seemed to rank pretty highly, but for overall entertainment value, rewatch factor, and as an all around genuinely great movie, my choice will always be the 1978 version...

The 90's entry by Ferrara had a few eerie parts and a couple of memorable scenes but for me there was also a lot to laugh at, a lot that wasn't so good...

I thought the Kidman version was a hell of a lot better than I was expecting it to be, based on what I'd heard, and it too has its share of creepy moments and good scenes, but the '78 version eclipses that in every sense, in my opinion.

[Katatonia]

I love the 1978 version. I just watched the new one the other night, and it wasn't too bad...

[Erick H.]

The original is a classic but the Kaufman version resonates with me more,I think it's one of the best remakes ever,one of the few that stand alone as their own movie instead of just a rehash(Carpenter's THE THING is another).The Ferrara version is more of a sequel to the '78 film,it's pretty good.I payed to see the Kidman film in the theater and found it overdone and fairly dull.A couple of good bits,but anticlimactic.

I gotta agree with everyone else and say the 1978 version is the best. It's one of my favorite Sci-fi movies of all time. Not that the other versions aren't good as well, but theres just something about the '78 version that takes it beyond the rest.

I watched the newest version last week and aside from a few scenes (the ending for one), I thought it was pretty good, although it was probably the dullest version. It was a hell of a lot better than what I'd heard though.

[dwatts]

The first one for me. The second was overly long.

[Criswell]

I hate the 2nd one. The first is all class.

[satans-sadists]

Originally Posted by Erick H.

The original is a classic but the Kaufman version resonates with me more,I think it's one of the best remakes ever,one of the few that stand alone as their own movie instead of just a rehash(Carpenter's THE THING is another).

I completely agree!

[fceurich39]

1978 version hands down

[Matt89]

Originally Posted by WhatTHEhell19

I gotta agree with everyone else and say the 1978 version is the best. It's one of my favorite Sci-fi movies of all time. Not that the other versions aren't good as well, but theres just something about the '78 version that takes it beyond the rest.

I couldn't agree more.

I think the fact that the '78 version takes place in a huge city makes it all the more frightening than it just happening in some small town or a remote area. The whole film has this overbearing sense of urban alienation. It works wonderfully. It works better having it take place in a city as well because you really begin to notice the way people change into these emotionless clones of their former selves. It becomes all the more frightening. And, the ending to the '78 version is one of the best I've ever seen. Absolute brilliance.

On a side note, how did this movie get a PG rating? LOL

~Matt

[Mazurka Macabre]

The '50s version is my favorite. The reason should be easy to divine for anyone who was a young boy when they first saw the movie: Becky. She was the '50s incarnation of femininity: domestic, beautiful, pert. However, surprisingly she doesn't fall into the times' stereotype. She's flawed; as a divorcée she's damaged goods. She's overtly sensual, as seen in her costume design (the neck and shoulder-baring dress).

When this is all taken away by the pods - in that infamous kiss scene where the filmmakers ignored the logical continuity to great dramatic effect - I was breathless.

[MorallySound]

'78.