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  Directed by
  Starring
  Specs
  • Widescreen 1.85:1
  • 16:9 Enhanced
  • Dual Layer ( )
  Languages
  • English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
  • German: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
  • Italian: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
  Subtitles
    English, German, Hebrew, Czech, Greek, Polish, Hungarian, Dutch, Arabic, Portuguese, Turkish, Icelandic, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Hindi, Bulgarian
  Extras
  • Theatrical trailer
  • 2 Featurette - This is Dynamation; The Harryhausen Chronicles
20 Million Miles to Earth
/Sony Pictures Home Entertainment . R4 . B&W . 79 mins . PG . PAL

  Feature
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  Video
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  Extras
Contract

A while ago it was the classic THEM! that proved old B/W sci-fi had a right to look as good as anything else released on DVD. To say I’m pretty chuffed with this latest round of Columbia classics being up to that standard is an understatement. Asides from some grain and (expected) nicks and such on the print, the 16:9 enhanced 1.85 frame is typically top stuff. As the story moves from location to location, night to day, the details is always good, and even the darker recesses reveal an acceptable level of detail at times.

The mono (2 channel) English audio track is just as satisfactory to listen as the picture is to watch. It’s free from distortion or hiss, with the actors spouting off their silly lines with the utmost seriousness and the score going beserk as required. Though it comes off cleanly, it's a little on the thin side for the supposedly bigger effects moments which could have used some real oomph. But it’s old and cheap and stupid, so maybe you're expecting too much, eh?

Where some will feel let down is with the Bonus Features, which are once again mostly the same set of extras as Earth versus the Flying Saucers, and other titles. This is either good or bad, depending on how much of a life you have. So, besides the brief This is Dynamation featurette and longer The Harryhausen Chronicles, narrated by Leonard Nimoy, there’s also a lone Theatrical Trailer, in the inimitable style of the time that we’ve come to love.

This is a no-brainer. If you love the genre (like me) then go get it, as it won’t let you down with its cheesy drama and silly story. And even if the effects aren’t quite up to George Lucas standards, Harryhausen’s work has far more life and character than most things Lucas has put onscreen in the past few years.


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  •   And I quote...
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    - Vince Carrozza
      Review Equipment
    • DVD Player:
          Sony DVP-NS730P
    • TV:
          Philips 55PP8620
    • Receiver:
          Sony STR-DB1070
    • Speakers:
          Wharfedale s500
    • Centre Speaker:
          Polk Audio CS245
    • Surrounds:
          Wharfedale WH-2
    • Subwoofer:
          DB Dynamics TITAN
    • Audio Cables:
          Standard Optical
    • Video Cables:
          Standard Component RCA
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