The finale is handled with care, narrated ominously by Vittorio Cramer. Staying true to Well's novel, it's a shocking finish if you don't know where the story ends, and the creeping alien hand that signifies it's over is a great touch. It caps one of the best science fiction films ever made, and definitely one of the most memorable of the era (and there's a ridiculous amount of competition). It ranked in on multiple AFI "best of" lists, and it deserves it. (***** out of *****)
This new DVD brings a new transfer, one likely to be as controversial as the first. The Technicolor process that was originally used has been taken over, and in its place is a new color mix. The problem with this and the original DVD release are the strings holding the ships are blatantly obvious. They were impossible to detect in other versions because the color was perfectly adjusted. Here you can count the numerous ropes supporting these ships and providing them with their glow.
On the positive side, those same hues have never looked better. The green tone used to portray the second death ray pouring from the alien attack is beautiful, all be it in a deadly manner. Flesh tones and detail are high, while grain and specks on the print have been cleared. A few shots also seem out of focus, likely because of the special effects style of the day and print degradation. (****)
Likewise, the new 2.0 surround audio will draw some ire from long time fans. The added sound effects, used to achieve slight work for the surround channels and bass, hamper the original mono recording (also a choice). Quite obviously, this 2.0 addition offers depth and fullness to the film's audio, but also makes it known this wasn't done back in 1953. Dialogue exchanges are clean in both. It's a personal choice. (****)
Since the original DVD failed to offer any extras, it's a nice change to see a solid stack of features. Two commentary tracks run over the film. Actors Barry and Robinson supply the first, though Barry says little. It's dominated by Robinson, and she supplies a few nice anecdotes about her bloopers on the set. The second is with Joe Dante (who gave us Gremlins amongst others), Bob Burns, and author Bill Warren. This is an active, informative track as they point out famous character actors in small roles and discuss their first viewings of the film.
Article comments
1 - Sterfish
Great review of a classic sci-fi flick.