H.G.
Wells' The Shape Of Things To Come (1979/Blue Underground
Blu-ray)
Picture:
B Sound: B Extras: B Film: C+
Landing
on Blu-ray is the low budget 1979 Sci-Fi thrill ride, The Shape of
Things to Come, which channels plenty of excitement and some
laughs (both intentional and unintentional). Not as visually
impressive as the original Star Wars or Star Trek
films, it obviously hoped to catch the attention of that audience at
that time. The Shape of Things to Come stars Jack Palance
(Curtis' Dracula), Barry Morse (Space: 1999), Carol
Lynley (Night Stalker, Vigilante), and John Ireland
(Spartacus) to name a few.
Planet
Earth has become uninhabitable in the future and what's left of
humanity has colonized on the Moon. Humanity's continued survival
depends on an anti-radiation drug only available on planet Delta
Three, which is under reign by the evil Emperor Omus (Palance), who
is humanity's biggest enemy and is trying to attack the moon with his
mechanical army. It's up to Dr. John Caball (Morse), his three
friends, and a robot named Sparks to stop Omus and save humankind in
his time period known as 'the tomorrow after tomorrow'.
Directed
by George McCowan (Frogs) with inspiration from H.G. Wells'
novel of the same name, the film has some decent special effects and
production value and all of the charm that you would expect from a
Saturday matinee-type B-movie, but isn't visually dazzling enough
(and a bit too predictable) to remain too memorable amongst other
classics of the time.
Presented
in 1080p high definition with a widescreen aspect ratio of 1.66:1 and
nice sounding English 5.1 DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) and DTS-HD Mono
mixes to both try out with the film, the film looks and sounds better
than it ever has on Blu-ray disc thanks to fine restoration work.
Blue Underground (as usual) has done a great job with this release.
Extras
include...
Jason's
Journey - Interview with star Nicholas Campbell
Symphonies
in Space - Interview with composer Paul Hoffert
French
Trailer
TV
spot
Poster
and Still Gallery
Pressbook
Gallery
Of
course, serious sci-fi and Wells fans know the book was made into a
British feature film classic back on 1936, also finally restored.
You can read about two fine Blu-ray editions of the William Cameron
Menzies-directed film at these links...
Criterion
U.S. version
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/12214/Beyond+The+Black+Rainbow+(2010/Magnolia/Mag
Network
U.K. British Region B version
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/11707/Doctor+Who:+The+Krotons+(1968/Story+No.+47/
-
James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
