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 S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "The Deadly Invention" aka "Vynález zkázy" or "The Fabulous World of Jules Verne" or "An Invention for Destruction" or "Invention for Destruction")


Directed by Karel Zeman
Czechoslovakia 1958

 

NOTE: This package is compared to Criterion's Blu-ray set of Three Fantastic Journeys by Karel Zeman HERE.

 

Presented from new 4K restoration, Second Run are delighted to follow their hugely popular release of the great Czech animator and filmmaker Karel Zeman's The Fabulous Baron Munchausen, with his greatest and most famous work - Invention for Destruction.

Often described as the Czech Méličs , visionary filmmaker Karel Zeman has been a profound influence on whole generations of film artists from Jan Svankmajer to Tim Burton, the Quay Brothers to Terry Gilliam, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Wes Anderson. His ground-breaking innovations in the use of live-action and animation mark him as one of the great masters of 20th Century fantasy cinema, ranking alongside his more celebrated Western counterparts Willis O'Brien, George Pal and Ray Harryhausen.

Still the most commercially lucrative Czech film ever produced - released internationally to huge success in 1960 as 'The Fabulous World of Jules Verne' - Invention for Destruction is also Zeman's most beloved work.

Wildly inventive, and breaking new ground in its combination of live action, animation and design, creating a 'steampunk' aesthetic decades ahead of its time. Zeman's film is both a heartfelt homage and love letter to Jules Verne's wonderful tales of science and adventure, and a valiant cry against man's predisposition to self-destruction.

Posters

Theatrical Release: June 27th, 1958 (Bruxelles Film Festival)

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Review: Second Run - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Box Cover

   

CLICK to order from:
Distribution Second Run - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:22:32.583 / English version: 1:22:29.125      
Video

1.37:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 47,878,327,274 bytes

Feature: 17,724,635,136 bytes / English version: 17,703,960,576 bytes

Video Bitrate: 24.99 Mbps / 25.00 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:

Audio

LPCM Audio Czech 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit 

English version:

LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles English, None (none on English version)
Features Release Information:
Studio: Second Run

 

1.37:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 47,878,327,274 bytes

Feature: 17,724,635,136 bytes / English version: 17,703,960,576 bytes

Video Bitrate: 24.99 Mbps / 25.00 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• A new appreciation by filmmaker John Stevenson, director of Kung-Fu Panda and Sherlock Gnomes (16:16)
• Karel Zeman s animated short films: Inspiration (Inspirace, 1949) (11:29) and King Lavra (Král Lávra, 1950) (29:37)
• Why Zeman Made the Film (03:33)
• Zeman's Special Effects Techniques (03:20)
• Restoring the World of Fantasy (02:49)
• Restoration (03:32)
• Karel Zeman Museum (01:12)
• Trailer (01:19)
• Booklet featuring new writing on the film by film critic and historian James Oliver
• Original soundtrack in 2.0 Dual Mono 24-bit LPCM audio


Blu-ray Release Date: November 19th, 2018
 Transparent Blu-ray Case

Chapters 12

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: This package is compared to Criterion's Blu-ray set of Three Fantastic Journeys by Karel Zeman HERE.

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

Second Run premiere their new 4K restoration (from original materials) of Karel Zeman's "Invention for Destruction" on a dual-layered Blu-ray with a supportive bitrate. We are given the choice of viewing the film in either the original Czech, or the alternate English-dubbed "The Fabulous World of Jules Verne" version featuring an alternate intro and credits sequence in a separate, although the same quality, 1080P 24fps rendering. The image here is impressive, with details clearly visible and contrast well-layered. The almost 3D abstract composition achieved by Zeman's collage effect is not at all ruined at all by this enhanced clarity.

Second Run present the film with its original 24-bit 2.0 mono soundtrack in the original Czech language. Though it would be nearly impossible to have the audio surpass the visual innovations, the film's soundtrack is quite novel and the audio transfer here is admirable. The score is thanks to Zdenek Liska (Cremator, The Fabulous Baron Munchausen). There are optional (a new and improved translation) English subtitles for the original version on this Region-Free Blu-ray, although the English DUB version has no subtitle options.

Two of Karel Zeman's short films are included on this Blu-ray for the first time. The 11.5-minute Inspiration from 1949 involves an artist getting inspiration from the rain outside. 1950's King Lavra is a 30-minute comedic short with Zeman also using his unique stop-motion animation style. Filmmaker and animator John Stevenson (Kung Fu Panda) spends 16-minutes expressing his admiration for the film in a new featurette. Up next are 5 short (a few minutes each) featurettes on Zeman and his work. These are; "Why Zeman Made the Film", "Zeman's Special Effects Techniques", "Restoring the World of Fantasy", "Restoration", and a promo for the "Karel Zeman Museum". Also included here is the film's trailer. There is a 12-page booklet featuring "Age of Wonders: Marvelling at Zeman's Invention for Destruction", a new essay on the film by film critic / historian, James Oliver.

Karel Zeman's 1958 experimental feature receives a beautiful 4k transfer thanks to Second Run. Zeman was known as the Czech Melies and clearly influenced the work of Tim Burton and Terry Gilliam. This film is wild and I urge everyone to check out this Blu-ray.

Gary Tooze

Menus / Extras

 

 

The Fabulous World of Jules Verne alternate credits and opening introduction sequence

 

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Box Cover

   

CLICK to order from:
Distribution Second Run - Region FREE - Blu-ray




 

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