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    WSR Detailed DVD Review
    Mysterious Island
    Genre: Fantasy Adventure

    Reviewed In Issue 68 (Jan 2003) Of Widescreen Review®

    Stars:
    Michael Craig, Joan Greenwood, Michael Callan, Gary Merrill & Herbert Lom

    WSR Review Scores
    WSR Picture Rating: 3.5
    DD Sound Rating: 1.5
    DTS Sound Rating: NA
    Download WSR Review
    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score: 4
    Internet Links
    http://www.sonypictures.com
    Special Features
    Includes the three-minute "This Is Dynamation!" featurette, a nine-minute featurette, the fantastic 58-minute documentary titled "The Harryhausen Chronicles," and a photo and art gallery.


     DVD General Information

    (Studio/Distributor): Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number): 07894
    (MPAA Rating): Not Rated
    (Rating Reason):
    (Retail Price): $24.95
    (DVD Type): Single Side, Dual Layer (DVD9)
    (Widescreen Edition): Yes
    (Full Screen Edition): No
    (Anamorphic Widescreen): Yes
    (Running Time In Minutes): 101
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Regional Coding): 1
    (Theatrical Year): 1961
    (Theatrical Release): Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release): No
    (DVD Release Date): 10/29/02
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

     Credits Information

    (Director): Cy Endfield
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      DVD Picture Information

    (Principal Photography): Subscribe Now!
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      DVD Sound Information

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      WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    After escaping from a Confederate prison camp in a huge balloon, Captain Cyrus Harding (Craig) and his group of soldiers hit bad weather and find themselves stranded on a deserted island...or so they think. It seems that the Mysterious Island is inhabited by extremely large crabs and birds. The group eventually learns that Captain Nemo (Lom) was experimenting with the giant beasts in hopes of ending the world

    DVD Picture:
    The anamorphically enhanced 1.85:1 DVD picture certainly has a dated quality, but the image has been nicely restored. Colors are nicely saturated, with slightly brownish fleshtones and generally deep blacks. Source element film grain, artifacts, and scratches are expectedly amplified in the optical visual effects shots, so be aware of what is in the scene if there is an excessive amount of dirt apparent (like the beginning of Chapter 7, on the smoking volcanic island). Much of what some may find unacceptable about the picture is inherent in the source element, and allows us to appreciate how far visual effects have come in the past 40 years. There is little pixelization or edge enhancement to complain about. Columbia TriStar has done a nice job with available elements for this title. (Suzanne Hodges)

    Soundtrack:
    The Dolby

    Reason #123 Why Readers Love Widescreen Review:

    I read WSR for the articles—honest. Terry Paullin's industry insight is refreshing and lively. The lack of comparisons of which home theatre-in-a-box is best or which sub $200 DVD player is best leaves more room for in-depth product and movie reviews. Most importantly, though, I read WSR for the caricature of Gary Reber morphed on to the movie featured on the cover in the Editor's Couch page. Pierce Brosnan had better watch out!

    Brian Schrumpf
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