One of the great early Sci-Fi films to deal with space exploration, supplanting the basic tale of Daniel Defoe’s famous novel (man lost on unknown surface, fends for himself, befriends dude named Friday, all is well) to Mars, with issues ranging from thinly oxygenized atmosphere to slave labor and mining aliens. Criterion’s DVD release is notable more for the new print, which makes director Byron Haskin’s and cinematographer Winton C. Hoch’s deep reds and yellows look amazingly beautiful, than for its few extras (including a recycled commentary track and short featurette about the science of the film), but it’s still great to see this somewhat lost Sci-Fi classic restored to its original glory. Plus, it features a monkey in a spacesuit, and I can’t think of anything funnier, and more adorable, than that.