Mysterious Island (The Encore Edition) (1961)
Company: Twilight Time
Starring: Gary
Merrill, Joan Greenwood, Herbert Lom, Beth Rogan, Percy Herbert, Michael Craig,
Michael Callan
My Review and Thoughts:
Film: My Rating: 4 out of 5
This is a fantasy classic filled with the wonder and amazing
special effects by one of the greatest special effects creator in films. Ray
Harryhausen needs no introduction. He was the very definition of skill, art
form, mastery in film. His talent was beyond words. His ability was a fine
expertise that made a legacy of craftsmanship through imagination, and the art
form of capturing that imagination on screen through his work. Mysterious
Island is the sequel to Jules Verne’s classic story Twenty Thousand Leagues
Under the Sea. This time Captain Nemo is on an Island, experimenting and
bringing to life a multitude of gigantic creatures. A genius, yet nuttier than
a fruit cake. This time around, stranded strangers upon an island. Little did they know they soon would encounter a vast array of insanity.
A great fantasy adventure. Twilight Time has lovingly
created a dynamic transfer to this classic action adventure that is filled
with the one of kind touch of the master Harryhausen. I have always loved the
talent behind those wonderful creations. Jason and the Argonauts is one of my
favorite films. Harryhausen had away that would leave the inner child, and adult
side amazed. His creations would leave you in awe of the beauty and art form of his mastery.
Harryhausen is a true
god when it comes to creating pure believable imagination of creatures and
monsters. He was a master that brought forth creatures or monsters and turned
them into characters themselves. Brute monsters became characters, and hateful
creatures became living breathing reality through his hands. He developed a
wonder through his hands that everything he did, shined in one way or another. Mysterious Island is no different. The transfer to Blu-ray by Twilight Time
shines in every way possible.
A wonderful fascinating, dynamic science fiction, strangers in a strange-land,
mad scientist and creature laden romp of filmmaking. Fantastical ideas, and
artistic wonderment through imagination. This movie is most of all an interesting
exploration of the science fiction bug that ran rampant in the 50’s and 60’s of
filmmaking. A pure treat of the imaginative recesses of the unknown reality of
science.
The plot is simple yet filled with all the imagination of make believe. A group of confederate troops inside a War Camp, escape through a hot air balloon. They are drifted by the wind and land upon an island, and yes, you would guess right, giant crabs and other wonderful nightmarish creations. So begins the struggle to survive in this wild tormented land.
Directed by Cy Endfield. Endfield is a genius himself. A
wonderful filmmaker that left the world of cinema with many examples of memorable
films. Probably best known for the 1964 film ZULU, and also the awesome much
underrated 1965’s Sands of the Kalahari. Endfield had a natural talent at
expressing a story, and capturing his actors in dynamic roles, no matter how
fancy/imaginative the film was. I think what is more interesting about him, is
not so much the film making, as it is, the man himself. Not only did he direct
films, but he was an author. Plus, a magician which is another odd reality to
him. And might I add, an inventor. Endfield was a dynamic character, and his films showcase a wonderful expertise in film making. His over 30 films and
shorts are shining examples of brilliance.
Audio/Video: My Rating: 5 out of 5
This was probably over my 50th time seeing this, and I have to say, it has never looked or sounded any better. Twilight Time
always give top quality transfer’s, and new outlet’s to these wonderful films.
Mysterious Island is a fantastical experience of child like adventure, and
wonderment of imagination. Crisp in sound and vibrant in color.
LANGUAGE: English
VIDEO: 1080p High Definition / 1.66:1
AUDIO: English 5.1 DTS-HD MA / English 2.0 DTS-HD MA /
English 1.0 DTS-HD MA
SUBTITLES: English SDH
Extras: My Rating: 4 out 5
Isolated Score Track. Again like always this fantastic added
special feature. Love listening to this as always. The man behind this music
score is the one and only Bernard Herrmann. The man behind the music really
needs no introduction to cinema lovers. He is the master
behind some of the greatest music scores of all time. He was a regular on
Hitchcock films composing such masterpieces as Psycho, North by Northwest, The
Man Who Knew Too Much, Vertigo and many, many other Hitchcock films. Now he
also did beyond Hitchcock films such as the masterpieces Citizen Kane, Cape
Fear, Fahrenheit 451, and Taxi Driver. Whatever he graced with his master
talent, was a true one of a kind music orgy of total perfection that left a
movie, with so much more glory, when it had his, musical talent. He was a
multi-award winning master composer. He worked his talent from 1941 all the way
until 1976. His last four movies in the 70’s was an array of his talent from,
De Palma’s Sisters and Obsession, to Cohen’s, It’s Alive, to Scorsese’s, Taxi
Driver. He left his stamp in the music and movie world for all generations to
experience. He also has been graced by other Twilight Time releases with his music
score from The Bride Wore Black CLICK HERE TO READ MY REVIEW and Journey to the
Center of the Earth CLICK HERE TO READ MY REVIEW. His music is still being used
today in films and TV, most recently in the awesome first season of American
Horror Story, and on the big screen in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb.
Audio Commentary with Film Historians Randall William Cook,
C. Courtney Joyner and Steven Smith. This was a fantastic exploration of the
film by very knowledgeable film historians.
Two programs titled, Ray Harryhausen on Mysterious Island
and Islands of Mystery. The first is Ray talking about this film and what went
into creating the creatures and also the storyboards. The second is a black and
white program, basically a promotional production program of the film. Each
together runs about 16 minutes.
TV Spots
Theatrical Trailers
Overall:
I personally think this is one of Harryhausen’s greatest
works. I feel this film, or at least his mastery is often overlooked in this film. I feel
these creatures blended the best inside the film, and created a thought-provoking
look at his expertise in his craft. Mysterious Island I have always felt was
one of the forgotten gems of his mastery.
A fantasy only Ray could master in creature form. Endfield directed another
Jules Verne brainchild. Many don’t realize that Mysterious Island was part 2 to Jules Verne's ultimate classic Twenty Thousands Leagues Under the Sea. Captain
Nemo is once again at his diabolical wonders. An island, giant creatures, and
the wonders of imagination.
Twilight Time did another amazing job at bringing
forth another fantastic experience that they accomplish so greatly. A beautiful
transfer, awesome special features, dynamic visual and hearing. Another
priceless example of how to treat an older film, and express it on a new worthy
product. Highly recommend.
INFO:
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