NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

This new Second Run Blu-ray is descried as "Ikarie XB 1 is presented from a new 4K restoration from original materials by the Czech National Film Archive". Early text screens tell us: The goal of digital restoration was to make the film available in a form similar to how it could have been seen and heard by an audience at the time when it was first released in 1963. As a result, various features that originate from the shooting of the film or its laboratory processing have been preserved and are evidence of the technologies and creative approaches of the time.

Supported by grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway and co-financed by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic. Project partners were the National Library of Norway and CESNET.

The source for the digitization were film materials preserved in the National Film Archive in Prague. The image was digitized from the original negative and the sound from the sound negative.

The restoration was done by the Hungarian Filmlab in Budapest, under the supervision of the National Film Archive in Prague, in 2016.

Eric reviewed the 2013 Second Run PAL DVD HERE.  While we haven't compared, the new 1080P is a notable upgrade. In this new restoration remain a few inherent weaknesses with some possible warping and inconsistencies in sharpness but it still provides a very worthwhile HD presentation with a strong adherence to the film elements and the film's pioneering effects appearing impressive.    

Second Run use a linear PCM 2.0 mono channel track (16-bit) in the original Czech language and the transfer adeptly supports the, often, intense score of Zdenek Liska (The Cremator, The Shop on High Street, The White Dove, Fruit of Paradise, The Fabulous Baron Munchausen). It sounds very clean (also restored) with some depth and there are optional English subtitles on the Region FREE Blu-ray.

Extras include, from the previous DVD - as described by Eric: "Critic Kim Newman offers an appreciation of the film, which he first encountered in its US version and then later in its original form. He suggests that Russia beating America into space lead to an approach in science fiction film of exploration rather than invasion. Michael Brooke's essay in the included booklet gives an overview of Eastern European science fiction from the twenties to the sixties, an analysis of the film, as well as some detail about the changes imposed on the film for its US release through American International (less extensive than their treatment of some other imports but ten minutes shorter, removal of anti-American/anti-capitalist references, and a nonsensical surprise ending). He also mentions that Stanley Kubrick only thought the film was only "a half step up from your average science fiction film" even though the film's influence is felt throughout 2001." As new supplements we get a 12.5-minute short film entitled The Most Ordinary of Occupations (Nejvšednější povolání) from 1964 regarding mathematics and science by actor/director Josef Kořán. Second Run include an alternative opening, end scene (cast and staff's names in the credits were altered significantly to look like English) and trailer of the US version Voyage to the End of the Universe, plus a 2016 trailer/photo gallery and a liner notes booklet with aforementioned essay by writer and film historian Michael Brooke.

NOTE: I understand there is an Easter Egg (hidden) supplement of Mehelli Modi from a Barbican Film Podcast talking about the film for about 1/4 hour (found while accessing the extensive 'Photo Gallery'). I have not indulged myself.

It's almost challenging not to view Ikarie XB 1 with a awe-inspiring sense of fascination. This is true not only as it is part of a less-exposed breed of Eastern European science fiction film but also the ambition and scale of the effects. For this it carries some camp value but much more in a kind of haunting story that IS evocative of both the latter-arriving Star Trek original TV series and Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey . The Second Run 4K-restored Blu-ray transfer is very desirable to those seeking this charismatic and curious sci-fi gem in the best possible presentation. You aren't going to see much like Ikarie XB 1 in your digital library and we definitely recommend!

NOTE: Some who enjoy this may also wish to take a peek at Planet Bur.

Gary Tooze