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

I guess the real questions are - "Why is this is a 1.66:1 aspect ratio?" and "Are the dragons on the Isle of Colossa dark green or light green?"

From Lawrence French's excellent article in Cinefantastique (interview with Ray Harryhausen HERE) we know that Ray Harryhausen never really wanted his movies to be projected in any of the then new “widescreen” formats. He accepted the 1.85 aspect ratio under protest from the studio, but he hated working in the extreme widescreen formats, especially when he had to make First Men in the Moon in Panavision. It appears many shots are cropped too closely from both the top and bottom of the frame in the 1.85 format, so Columbia’s new 1.66 format transfer of The 7th Voyage of Sinbad will be a compromise that includes more information in the frame - which you can see in our captures below - extensively in the top and bottom but a bit on the two sides as well.

As for the colors - it can usually be a moot point in a film like this excepting for one pet peeve that I am always noted for mentioning; skin tones. Most other color details can be extremely hard to validate - especially when hues are only marginally altered - and even more so when it is a fantasy film. But the redness of skin tones is a clear sign of some boosting (usually in black/red levels). This is common digital manipulation to bring up detail a few notches. It usually works too... as and as long as it isn't overdone it can achieve its desired ends (Criterion are one company who appear to utilize this form of processing to improve their DVD image quality). In the new 50th Anniversary editions (both SD and Blu-ray) it appears that this has taken place. Personally, I don't find the adjusted colors abhorrently unnatural - other may disagree. The Blu-ray has it more prominently (and at least not orangey) than the SD and it also exhibits more detail (Duh!).

Fans of film grain will probably appreciate this visible attribute in the Blu-ray transfer. It really gives the 1080p transfer a more film-like look and I'm glad I don't see evidence of DNR to remove it. Long live grain even if this also has some noise interspersed. It's thick on the screen and it makes me love The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad just that much more. Aside from some early flickering the image is quite strong.

Audio - yes - a TrueHD bump that sounds pretty decently mixed. I liked it a lot, but I also appreciate the original mono being available as well. The good thing about these 'artificial' bumps is that it makes the viewing experience seem more than a repeat. I've seen this film a dozen times or more and I relish this newly rendered image and audio which makes the experience come alive to some degree. I trust you can only do so much with the original elements of The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad and I wasn't expecting modern standards. I'm happy with what I see and hear. 

Supplements are excellent - even on the old SD-DVD. But the 50th Anniversary editions duplicate the old extras - 'A Look Behind the Voyage' (11:45) , `Jason and the Argonauts' (Landis interviews Harryhausen) (11:52), `This is Dynamation' (3:26) and `The Ray Harryhausen Chronicles' (57:53) - and augment with much more. I don't see anything additional on the Blu-ray beyond the new SD-DVD. The commentary is okay - it's always nice to hear Harryhausen but some of the questions fired at him sound pretty geeky - 'What did you make the roc's eggshell out of Ray?". That's okay, I suppose because I, too, love the answers which generally come with an anecdote. I did like the Herrmann stuff with his biographer giving some solid input on the man beyond his greatness. Bottom line on the extras are they are great - fans will not want to miss out.

This is part of my three favorite Harryhausen works (the other two being Mysterious Island and Jason and the Argonauts). I can hope the other two come to Blu-ray soon. There was no way I wasn't going to own this in the best possible home theater representation. If you can remember this film is 50 years old you are more likely to accept that the transfer is not going to be like Iron Man. I'm content and will watch this Blu-ray a third and fourth time within the next week. Does that sound like an endorsement? It sure is Harufa.      

Gary W. Tooze