Mysterious Island (Widescreen)
Description
Based on Jules Vern’s classic novel, MYSTERIOUS ISLAND is
the story of five men escaping from a Confederate prison in an observation
balloon. When they land the balloon, they find themselves on a South Seas
island where they encounter pirates, a giant bird, a giant crab and even
Captain Nemo. Jules Verne’s classic adventure is perfectly matched
with Ray Harryhausen’s timeless movie magic in Mysterious Island. Based on
Verne’s sequel to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, this rousing Civil War-era
fantasy begins when a band of Union war prisoners (and one Confederate
straggler) escape in a hot-air balloon, which crash-lands on the titular
island of mystery. Verne’s novel doesn’t include any gigantic creatures, but
Harryhausen’s version–under the capable direction of genre specialist Cy
Endfield–features giant oysters, bees, a prehistoric Phororhacos (a giant
chickenlike bird!), an undersea cephalopod, a giant crab, and enough danger to
keep its resourceful ensemble on constant alert. Captain Nemo (Herbert Lom,
ably filling James Mason’s shoes) is a third-act hero, pursuing an ill-fated
dream to save humanity from hunger and war. The action may be too intense for
younger viewers, but Endfield’s pacing and Harryhausen’s stop-motion mastery
make Mysterious Island a wondrous precursor to Harryhausen’s follow-up
classic, Jason and the Argonauts. –Jeff Shannon
Features:
Product Details:
- Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Fantasy
- Format: Multiple Formats, Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
- Contributor: Crane Wilbur, Michael Callan, Michael Craig, Daniel B. Ullman, Anna Sofroniou, Gary Merrill, Joan Greenwood, Dennis Muren, George Lucas, Henry Selick, Charles H. Schneer, Cy Endfield, John Prebble, Ray Harryhausen, Richard Schickel, Jules Verne, Ray Bradbury See more
- Language: English
- Runtime: 1 hour and 41 minutes
- Aspect Ratio : 1.85:1
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- MPAA rating : NR (Not Rated)
- Product Dimensions : 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 2.4 Ounces
- Item model number : 2226635
- Director : Cy Endfield, Richard Schickel
- Media Format : Multiple Formats, Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
- Run time : 1 hour and 41 minutes
- Release date : October 29, 2002
- Actors : Michael Craig, Joan Greenwood, Ray Bradbury, Ray Harryhausen, George Lucas