BERMUDA DEPTHS on DVD from Warner Archive

[kpa]

[Gwangi]

[kpa]

[GFan]

[TheMaster]

[GaryT]

[Gwangi]

[Jinzo Ningen]

[GaryT]

[Tom R VanSlambrouck]

[Jinzo Ningen]

[Gwangi]

The Warner Archives DVD of "Captain Sindbad' actually looks pretty good. In regards to "The Bermuda Depths", while it is not a digitally restored print we are watching, truth be told, I didn't think it looked bad either.

[jaymazing]

Razorback is one of the titles I picked up and it looked fine to me.

[Jinzo Ningen]

Well... I finally got a chance to watch all 4 of the Warner Archive titles I ordered a few weeks back. My thoughts:

The Bermuda Depths looks fine. I have to disagree with GaryT and his opinion that the transfer looks like a 20-year old VHS. I personally think it looks pretty good, actually. I panicked over nothing. I am still a tad bummed about the fact that it is not in any sort of widescreen aspect ratio, as stated in the info on WB's website; rather it's a standard TV/1.33:1 ratio, which in retrospect is fine I guess, since that's how I originally saw it. The movie itself isn't quite what I remember, but it is surprising just how much of this unique film that I did recall - especially after only having seen it once, over 30 years ago. Worth a look, and if it's still on sale for $15 you really can't go wrong.

Captain Nemo & The Underwater City looks very nice. Clean, sharp and solid colors with very minimal dirt & dust. No BlueRay release to be sure, but for something that's just not available anywhere else (except maybe through some eBay booter) you have to accept. As for the movie - well it's a pretty tepid affair, but it does have it's moments (and there IS a kaiju of sorts that I had completely forgotten about). It's biggest flaw is its studio-bound look. Not a single frame of film shot on location - also, after Disney's take on the character, it's hard to keep that version from overshadowing this one. And to be honest, this film's Nautilus design is... interesting, but no where near as cool as Disney's. Plus the interior set for the Captain's super sub looks really tacky, like gold-painted plywood. In fact the entire film has the look & feel of an MGM musical, so much so that I kept waiting for one of the characters to break into song. Thankfully none did.

Captain Sindbad was a very pleasant surprise. The film looks as good as any classic flick that's had a professional restoration & remastering treatment. The picture is very crisp & clear and the colors are super vivid and jump right out at you. A gorgeous-looking print. The story is kinda lame, bringing to mind images of Bert Gordon's "The Magic Sword" - which isn't necessarily a bad thing I suppose. Just know going in it that this is no Harryhausen 'Sinbad' and you'll be fine. The film actually sorta grew on me as it went along. And the cast seemed to be having a good time, which adds to the overall enjoyment.

Razorback was the least-looking of the 4 titles, as far as print quality goes. Of the 4 films I bought this is the one I thought looked like it had been sourced from a VHS tape or off a cable TV broadcast. A shame too, because this film has some of the most visually striking camerawork I've seen in a long time. I had completely forgotten just how stylized it was. The opening sequence is simply amazing in its use of set-ups & lighting. This movie is no "Jaws" but it gets far more right than it does wrong. The only bad thing I can say is how totally unappealing this movie makes the people of Australia look. With only a couple of exceptions, most of the local cast look as though they just walked off the set of "Mad Max" and onto this one. Everyone is filthy, mean, rude, evil or just outright stupid. Hardly a glowing travelogue for the friendly people from Down Under. Also, I felt that Gregory Harrison was sadly miscast in this. He just didn't bring the level of conviction to the part I thought he should have. Not a complete miss-fire, but he could've done much a better job. I still recommend the film to anyone contemplating a purchase because as an overall movie experience the film scores a solid bull's eye, IMHO.

Has anyone ordered From Hell It Came ??? That film is a true guilty pleasure of mine, but I have a Sinister Cinema print of it that looks decent. I can't see forking over another $20 for Tobunga if the print quality isn't really outstanding.

Also, would anyone care to comment on Doc Savage if they have it? I know only a little of the film itself and have never seen it. This is another instance where I'm not willing to shell out $20 on an unknown if the print quality is lame or the movie itself is only so-so.

[GFan]

[Jinzo Ningen]

[SeaHawk]

[Jinzo Ningen]

[lhb412]

[GaryT]

[kpa]

[ryuuseipro]

[kpa]

[Gwangi]

[GaryT]