The Jupiter Menace

If you like watching UNSOLVED MYSTERIES, IN SEARCH OF series with Leonard Nimoy, or these kind of shows seen on TLC, you'll probably like THE JUPITER MENACE. The events they say will occur never happened in real life but that doesn't mean the film doesn't contain some interesting bits of information or ideas, most of which have been widely copied ever since. Because of the overall familiarity of the subject, I'd say that TJM is probably the most ripped-off movies of all time. And yet, few people know about it. It is very obscure.

Best-selling author Graham Hancock and his books about ancient civilizations predicting the end of the world, world wide cataclysmic events, the poles shifting, Antarctica, etc, basically took his ideas from this pseudo-documentary. Seriously, Hancock became a millionaire by little or no research. He just watched THE JUPITER MENACE.

Anyway, I love watching obscure movies and this one is really obscure. I only heard about this 20 year old movie in the past couple of weeks. I always keep an open mind with these kind of pseudo-scientific films. It's always easy for me to overlook the silly stuff and simply keep the really interesting ideas. And THE JUPITER MENACE does have a lot of interesting things about it amidst the goofier stuff. Also, on a sociological level, it's an interesting time capsule. I didn't regret buying the video on eBay.

Happily, the music score to this documentary is still in print, and recommended for those into electronic music. Other than that, however, there is nothing to recommend this film. The "interviews" are obviously scripted, and too much "evidence" is based on the Bible and psychics. The predictions in the film never came true, but this review is not based on that. Even though the music is a scream, it seems inappropriately pasted into the documentary. Probably not a good use of one's time, except for perhaps the many examples of bad 80s hair.

Although the content of the movie itself is a bit on the lame side (though quite amusing), the soundtrack is a real treat for those who have an ear for early electronic music. It is performed by Synergy (Larry Fast), who produced several cutting-edge electronic music albums starting in the mid-70's. You can still find CD's of this soundtrack and Synergy's other works if you search the internet. I recently picked up an autographed copy of this soundtrack CD for the same price as what you'd pay for a regular disc at the local record store. Google "the artist shop" if you're interested (this is not an advertisement, but I personally have been very satisfied with all of my purchases there).

One hopes that George Kennedy was either well paid or was unaware of the full intent of those behind "The Jupiter Menace." In his defense, Kennedy appears only a few times throughout this "documentary" and doesn't embarrass himself to any great extent. Among the crop of Bigfoot, Bermuda Triangle, and UFO "documentaries" made in the 1970s and into the '80s, "Jupiter Menace" is a real gem. The film reveals its dire message that an alignment of planets in the, then near future, 1982 will start a period of turmoil on Earth that will reach its peak in 2000 causing a basic end of the world as we know it. The film is a prime example of this silly scare genre and includes goofy re-enactments and interviews with "experts" that are taking facts from Bible prophecy and/or psychic visions. Certainly more amusing today, now that we've passed all the dates foretold in the movies as being doomsday, this movie will entertain those curious. Particularly fun is the near-guarantee given by nearly everyone interviewed in the film that May 5th, 2000 is the certain end of the happy existence we've enjoyed on planet Earth. Also fun and equally frightening are the interviews with survivalists in the Ozarks and Illinois that are preparing to survive the deadly days ahead of us all in the 1980s. One must wonder, where are those folks now??? Sadly, they're likely still packed away in a bunker somewhere! :)

A kook filled look at crazies saying the world is going to suffer massive earthquakes starting in 1982 and culminating with a planetary alignment on May 5, 2000 that will destroy all civilization. What more could you want? This is so awesome to watch after all these earnest nut jobs have been proven wrong. A great soundtrack and a great party movie!