Review of Classic Sci-Fi Boxset

Introduction

Universal`s Classic Sci-Fi boxset contains The Creature From The Black Lagoon, The Incredible Shrinking Man, This Island Earth, Tarantula, The Thing From Another World, It Came From Another World and Invasion Of The Body Snatchers.

Unfortunately, Universal only sent out review copies of Invasion Of The Body Snatchers - which is available separately and has its own review - and This Island Earth. As This Island Earth is only available in this box set (currently), it has to be catalogued here as "Classic Sci-Fi Boxset", although effectively this is a review of This Island Earth.

All the movies in the box set are classics of the sci-fi genre, and deserve a place on the shelf of any committed sci-fi-movie-fan. All the movies were made during the 1950s vogue for sci-fi, and share the uneasiness of the Cold War times they were made in. Black Lagoon, Shrinking Man and Tarantula share a disquiet about the forces being unleashed by the atomic programme of the 1950s, when the US and USSR were firing off nuclear tests like a pair of 14-year-old pyromaniacs. Thing, It Came From Another World and Body Snatchers played on the paranoia of the time of imminent Commie invasion.

This Island Earth (henceforth to be called TIE), is classic 1950s sci-fi hokum. The Metalunan Mutant (the thing with the exposed brain and the bug eyes) is one of sci-fi`s most iconic images and yet it has taken until now for the movie to be released. TIE`s reputation has possibly been sullied by its use in Mystery Science Theater 3000 - The Movie, where (for the uninitiated), the heavily-edited movie is screened with a yak-track provided by three comedians portraying a space-going janitor and his robot buddies who enjoy nothing more than screening old movies and making catty comments. Although MST3K can be entertaining, for this movie fan SUITF (Shut Up In The Front! - or better still STFUIF) would be a better title. That`s why I`m so pleased Universal has released the movie in its complete and unfettered form.

This Region Two release is a distinct improvement on the recent Region One edition, which was presented in 1.33:1. TIE was made in the early 1950s, when widescreen formats were just being introduced. According to the IMDb, the original aspect ratio for the movie was 2:1, and it is obvious from comparing the two editions of the movie that TIE was shot open-matte (that is, exposing the full Academy Frame at 1.33:1), then presented in theatres matted down to fill a wide screen. This R2 edition shows the image at 1.77:1, which is close enough to Original Aspect Ratio not to lose any sleep over it.

Rex Reason is Cal Meacham, the square-jawed scientist whose research project starts receiving electronic parts which far exceed current earth technology. A catalogue (which makes me view Maplin with suspicion) entices him to build a triangular-screened television called an Interociter. Once completed, the Interociter provides the sender of the parts and the catalogue - the high-foreheaded Exeter (Jeff Morrow) a two-way communication with Meacham. He offers Meacham a place at his think-tank.

Meacham soon finds that Exeter isn`t the philanthropist he makes out and is actually an alien (duh!), picking the brains of the smartest Earthlings in an effort to rescue his doomed planet. He attempts to escape Exeter`s laboratory in a small plane in the company of Dr Ruth Adams (Faith Domergue), but they are thwarted when their plane is taken aboard a flying saucer commanded by Exeter and they are taken to his planet Metaluna.

I`d class TIE as being up there with Forbidden Planet as the best of the 1950s era sci-fi cycle. Full of striking imagery and photographed in eye-popping Technicolor, it is the product of an age that is fast becoming totally alien to modern-day audiences. I`d regard the box set as worth buying for TIE alone (you`ll find I`m less than complimentary about the copy of Invasion Of The Body Snatchers), but taking Thing From Another Planet and the other films into the equation, it`s a bona fide bargain.

Video

As poor as the transfer of Body Snatchers is, the transfer of TIE is excellent. Admittedly it is unrestored, and some print dirt is evident, but the image is sharp, Technicolorful and looks pretty damn good for a fifty-something movie. The movie is presented in 1.77:1 anamorphic widescreen, which as I`ve said before is as near as dammit to the OAR.

Audio

Dolby 2.0 reproduction of the original mono PerspectaSound.

Features

Only subtitles.

Conclusion

A terrific box set of seven of the best `fifties sci-fi movies. If you love giant bugs, tiny blokes, pod people and intellectual carrots, you`ll be in heaven with this set. Admittedly there is one disappointing transfer in the set (I`ve only been provided with two movies out of the set), but there`s enough `fifties paranoiac goodness to keep any sci-fi-movie-fan happy. Seven classics, and not one dud among them.