Harryhausen’s giant monster movies have never been regarded as highly as some of his later work, and that’s a shame. His animation brought to life some of the most memorable creatures of the ‘50s, one of them being the giant octopus in It Came from Beneath the Sea. While the human drama sags, the action is top notch, and the creature, while not anything out of this world, is completely believable as the beast takes out San Francisco.
Out of three ‘50s monster movies available on Blu-ray from Harryhausen’s portfolio, Beneath the Sea is undoubtedly the best looking. It’s remarkably sharp, and detail is stunning. The light film grain is natural and doesn’t interfere with the presentation. Black levels create solid contrast.
The film comes in both colorized and black & white variations. The color job is excellent, and aside from some pasty faces, looks spectacular. There is however a lack of separation between shades, which effects both versions. It looks digital (which it is), and makes changes in color tones look rigid. The print is in remarkable shape, with the exception of the stock footage. 
While Earth vs. the Flying Saucers actually managed some surround work, Beneath the Sea isn’t that lucky. Surround effects are nowhere to be found. Instead, this TrueHD mix does offer some nice use of the front channels. During the attack, the octopus can clearly be heard attacking from off-screen in the appropriate direction. Bass is flat, and the soundtrack is strained at its highest points. 
Many of these extras are carried over from the DVD/Blu-ray release of 20 Million Miles to Earth. A commentary with Harryhausen and various visual effects artists (modern and classic) is somewhat dry, but still informative and fun.
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