Review by Gary Tooze

Production:

Disc:

Video:

Audio:

• Theatrical Trailer for Zeta One and The Girl on a Motorcycle

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Description: In the tradition of ''Barbarella'', comes this sexy sci-fi cult classic from the late 60's! Following a game of strip poker, blonde bombshell Ann Olsen (Yutte Stensgaard) learns that Special Agent James Word (Robin Horden) is investigating Public Enemy No.1, Major Borden (James Robertson Justice). With the assistance of the nerdy Swyne (Charles Hawtrey), Borden is investigating a race of sexy, scantily clad super women, led by the shapely Zeta (Dawn Addams). It seems that attractive young women are being abducted from Earth and then brainwashed into serving Zeta, all wearing kinky, fetishistic outfits. Borden's plan is to track down Zeta and her seductive sirens and become their new ruler.

***

British babes are plentiful in this light British sci-fi film most likely shot in warmer climes, because the girls sure aren't wearing much clothing.

 

 

The Film:

Excerpt from Good, Efficient Butchery located HERE

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

Zeta One appears to have a decent transfer to Blu-ray from the Redemption arm of Kino. It is in the original 1.66:1 aspect ratio and claims to be from an original 35mm negative. I  don't doubt it. There are a few speckles.  The image 1080P quality is a bit hazy, but this wouldn't surprise many that it is accurate it its theatrical roots (would this have played theatrically?) This is only single-layered with a reasonable bitrate. It has some thickness and some colors can look bright and impressive. There is no depth nor artefacts. You can only say so much about the Blu-ray visuals. There is no digital manipulation that I can detect and I'd say this is a solid replication of the film.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audio is in original 1.0 channel mono via a DTS-HD Master at 853 kbps. It is predictably flat but reasonably clear with some scattered dialogue that was, most probably, inherent in the production. The film exports few effects and nothing particularly aggressive. There are no subtitles and my Momitsu has identified it as being a region 'A'-locked.

Extras :

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
Comparing Zeta One to Barbarella is doing the Vadim film a disservice. This is just a big bucket of crap with some, occasionally nasty, T+A thrown in.  I don't blame the Blu-ray which seems adequate - but I question putting a film like this to 1080P. The only positive I can think of is that Zeta One has some nostalgia with the goofy 70's colors (Yeah - I know it was made in 1969 - maybe it was a head of its time :), lava lamp effects and Charles Hawtrey's (Carry On fame) facial expressions. If you couldn't guess - it is really just some girls being, debatably, sexy with less-erotic nudity. I'd say 'pass'. 

Gary Tooze

March 13th, 2013