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 S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Jules Verne's Mysterious Island")

directed by Cy Endfield
U.S.  1961

Mysterious Island (1961) opens with a spectacular clash of signature Bernard Herrmann brass; from then on, it’s a headlong rush from one thrill-packed set-piece to the next. This classic fantasy adventure tale, the best of many screen adaptations of Jules Verne’s sequel to his own Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, is the inspired collaboration of a superb action director—Cy Endfield, who would give us one of the greatest of all true-life epics, 1964’s Zulu—and an authentic Hollywood genius: Ray Harryhausen, inventor of the film’s “SuperDynaMation” stop-motion animation process and a “total” filmmaker, spearheading the story, art direction, and design of such masterworks as The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) and Jason and the Argonauts (1963).

Excerpt taken from the Julie Kirgo liner notes on the Twilight Time Blu-ray and online located HERE

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Comparison:

Columbia Tri-Star  Region 1 - NTSC vs. Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Resen - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Twilight Time (The Encore Edition) - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Indicator (Powerhouse) - Region FREE - Blu-ray

  

1) Columbia Tri-Star  Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray SECOND 

3) Resen - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Twilight Time (Encore Edition) - Region FREE - Blu-ray FOURTH

5) Indicator - Region FREE - Blu-ray RIGHT

 
Box Covers

 

 

Also available on Blu-ray on a German label release:

 

Re-Re-released by Indicator on Blu-ray in November 2019:
Distribution Columbia Tri-Star Region 1 - NTSC Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray Resen
Region FREE - Blu-ray		 Twilight Time (Encore Edition) - Region FREE - Blu-ray Indicator (Powerhouse) - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:40:39  1:40:45.205 1:40:45.205 1:40:46.040 1:40:47.082
Video 1.78:1 Widescreen anamorphic
Average Bitrate: 4.29 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.66:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 33,338,037,072 bytes

Feature: 32,284,434,432 bytes

Video Bitrate: 31.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

1.66:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 32,229,533,665 bytes

Feature: 31,035,641,856 bytes

Video Bitrate: 31.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

1.66:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 35,716,806,561 bytes

Feature: 31,672,793,088 bytes

Video Bitrate: 29.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

1.66:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 48,254,588,260 bytes

Feature: 34,461,294,144 bytes

Video Bitrate: 35.00 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
 

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

 

Bitrate: Twilight Time Blu-ray

 

Bitrate: Resen Blu-ray

 

Bitrate: Twilight Time (Encore Edition) Blu-ray

 

Bitrate: Indicator Blu-ray

 

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0)  

DTS-HD Master Audio English 3518 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3518 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
* DTS-HD Master Audio English 1643 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1643 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Isolated Score:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1044 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1044 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit)

DTS-HD Master Audio English 3518 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3518 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1044 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1044 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit)

DUB:

Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB

DTS-HD Master Audio English 3519 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3519 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio English 2062 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2062 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1045 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1045 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit)
Isolated Score:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1442 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1442 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentary:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1073 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1073 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit)

LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit
DTS-HD Master Audio English 3277 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3277 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentaries:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Isolated Score:

LPCM Audio Undetermined 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles (yellow) English, French, Spanish, None English (SDH), None English, Spanish, Portuguese, None English (SDH), None English (SDH), None
Features

DVD FEATURES:

·        16/9 Presentation, 1.78:1 anamorphic

·        Optional English, French or Spanish subtitles

·        Theatrical Trailers - "Mysterious Island", "Golden Voyage of Sinbad" and "Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger"

·        Scene Selection - 28 Chapters      

    Special Features include 

·        A Photo Gallery ( 4 sketches, 8 Production Stills, and 2 poster stills )

·        This is Dynamation Featurette (3:24)

·        The Harry Hausen Chronicles (57:45)

·        Mysterious Island Featurette (9:00) 

 

DVD Release Date: October 29th, 2002
Keep Case
Chapters: 28

 Release Information:
Studio: Twilight Time

 

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 33,338,037,072 bytes

Feature: 32,284,434,432 bytes

Video Bitrate: 31.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Blu-ray FEATURES:

· Isolated Score Track (2.0 Stereo)

·Original Theatrical Trailer

·TV Trailer Spot #1

 

Blu-ray Release Date: November, 2011
Standard Blu-ray Case
Chapters: 10

 		Release Information:
Studio: Resen

 

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 32,229,533,665 bytes

Feature: 31,035,641,856 bytes

Video Bitrate: 31.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:
• Trailer (2:41)

• TV Trailer (B+W 1:02)

Blu-ray Release Date: August 29th, 2014
Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters 6 

 

 Release Information:
Studio: Twilight Time (Encore Edition)

 

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 35,716,806,561 bytes

Feature: 31,672,793,088 bytes

Video Bitrate: 29.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:
• Audio Commentary with Film Historians Randall William Cook, C. Courtney Joyner and Steven Smith
• Isolated Score Track
• Ray Harryhausen on Mysterious Island (11:14)
• Islands of Mystery (5:31)
• 3 TV Spots (1:03, 0:26, 0:16)
• Theatrical Trailers (original - 2:40 / Re-release: 2:36 / TV-trailer- 0:22 / TV2 Trailer - 1:02)

• 8-page liner notes by Julie Kirgo
Limited to 3,000 units
 

Blu-ray Release Date: January, 2016
White Blu-ray case

Chapters 24

 Release Information:
Studio: Indicator

 

1.66:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 48,254,588,260 bytes

Feature: 34,461,294,144 bytes

Video Bitrate: 35.00 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Edition Details:
• Ray Harryhausen audio commentary
• Additional Mysterious Island audio commentary with film historians Randall William Cook, C. Courtney Joyner and Steven C. Smith
• New interview with SFX maestro Hal Hickel on Mysterious Island
Ray Harryhausen on 'Mysterious Island' (10:17)
• Michael Craig on 'Mysterious Island' (3:19)
• Hal Hickel on 'Mysterious Island' (2017): new interview with the special effects maestro
• Kim Newman on 'Mysterious Island' (2017): new appreciation by the author and genre-film expert (21:13)
• Islands of Mystery: vintage featurette (5:31)
• New and exclusive interviews with crew members, including camera assistant Ray Andrew (Mysterious Island - 2:43) and production manager Ted Wallis (First Men in the Moon)
• Mysterious Island comic-book
Archival documentaries and interviews
• Super 8 versions of Mysterious Island (8:52)
• Isolated scores: experience the music of Bernard Herrmann (Mysterious Island)
• Original trailer, teasers, TV spots and promotional films (2:41, 2:36, 1:03, 0:26, 0:16, 0:22, 1:02)

• HarryHausen Intro (0:50)

• HarryHausen (9:05)
• Image galleries: extensive promotional and on-set photography, poster art and archive materials
• Limited edition exclusive 80-page book with new essays by film experts Kim Newman and Tim Lucas, an in-depth oral history of all three films, and full film credits
UK Blu-ray premieres of Mysterious Island and First Men in the Moon
Limited Dual Format Edition Box Set of 6,000 numbered units
 

Blu-ray Release Date: November 13th, 2017
White Blu-ray case

Chapters 12
 

 
Comments:

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

 

ADDITION: Indicator - Region FREE - Blu-ray (November 17'): We reviewed Indicator's Ray Harryhausen Volume One (20 Million Miles to Earth, It Came from Beneath the Sea and The 3 Worlds of Gulliver) and this is part of Ray Harryhausen Volume Two which includes favorites Mysterious Island, First Men in the Moon and Jason and the Argonauts.

 

The short story is that Indicator, again, have created the definitive edition of another classic. They technically advance on the Twilight Time transferring at a max'ed out bitrate. It may look negligibly superior - tighter and better in-motion but is the same in terms of color, framing etc. The audio goes linear PCM (24-bit) both authentic mono and the option of a robust DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround track. The Region FREE UK edition also includes optional English (SDH) subtitles.

Where the Indicator make more significant improvement are in the supplements. It has the commentary with film historians Randall William Cook, C. Courtney Joyner and Steven C. Smith as found on the Twilight Time but also has the vintage Ray Harryhausen commentary as another option. There are new interviews with SFX maestro Hal Hickel on Mysterious Island and delightful to see Michael Craig. Everyone enjoys the insights of Kim Newman - a new 'Mysterious Island' appreciation by the author and genre-film expert for over 21-minutes. Islands of Mystery is a 5-minute vintage featurette. There is a new and exclusive interview with camera assistant, on Mysterious Island, Ray Andrew. There is a sampling of the Mysterious Island comic-book, the 9-minute Super 8 version of Mysterious Island, the isolated Bernard Herrmann score - which is counted as one of his best works. Plus there is a series of original trailer, teasers, TV spots and promotional films, vintage pieces with Harryhausen, a cool mage gallery of extensive promotional and on-set photography, poster art and archive materials. The Ray Harryhausen Volume Two package has a limited edition exclusive 80-page book with new essays by film experts Kim Newman and Tim Lucas, an in-depth oral history of all three films, and full film credits UK Blu-ray premieres of Mysterious Island and First Men in the Moon. It is dual format with DVDs of each film included and this is limited to 6,000, numbered, units.

 

Solid Gold - Mysterious Island is my favorite of the Harryhausen boyhood gems and I LOVE this Ray Harryhausen Volume Two set. Our highest recommendation!

***

 

ADDITION: Twilight Time (Encore Edition) - Region FREE - Blu-ray (January 16'): Differences? - pretty much the same (although a 'new') transfer - still very textured - it may be slightly smoother in-motion but I suspect that most systems will not export much, if any, of a visual difference.

 

Notable: Twilight Time have added the original mono track (DST-HD Master) for their 'Encore Edition'. Purists will appreciate this - the surround and stereo lossless options remain and the subtitle font has, unusually, shifted slightly (see sample below).

 

The Encore Edition also has many new extras including a wonderful audio commentary with film historians Randall William Cook, C. Courtney Joyner and Bernard Herrmann biographer Steven C. Smith - the expert discussion of Harryhausen, Herrmann and Cy Endfield really adds appreciation. It's excellent. There is the usual Isolated Score Track (in lossless) for the magnificent work of Herrmann. There are two video pieces - 12-minutes with Ray Harryhausen talking about the production of Mysterious Island and a short documentary entitled Islands of Mystery - where it looks like much of the stock footage in the film was taken from. There are 3 TV Spots, a handful of theatrical trailers (including the original, the re-release and two black and white ones from TV) plus the limited edition package (3,000 units) has an 8-page liner notes leaflet with color photos and text by by Julie Kirgo.

 

Well, with the original mono and bonus extras - this is the edition to own - and, more importantly, it is presently available. Don't wait till it goes out of print and then curse... our highest recommendation!

 

***

ADDITION: Resen Blu-ray - March 15': The Resen (Spain) is an exact copy with the addition of a Spanish DUB and Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. They didn't 'take' the isolated score option. The bitrate is exactly the same (see graphs), same extras, same subtitle font, exact same time down to the 1/1000th of a second, different menus and it is also region FREE. Pure bootleg, IMO. The media doesn't appear to be a BD-R this time - we still suggest buying the real deal - despite its exorbitant third-part seller price. Classic childhood adventure.

***

 

ADDITION: Twilight Time- Region FREE - Blu-ray (November 11'): The major attribute of the 1080P bump are brighter colors - but the transfer is also in the original 1.66:1 aspect ratio and shows much more information in the frame. This is dual-layered with a high bitrate. Harryhausen's effects are great but not as seamlessly blended into the film as in some of his other films. The Blu-ray resolution can exemplify these moments - but overall I love the grain and the image is far visually richer with more deft contrast.

 

Twilight Time offer three lossless tracks - all in DTS-HD Master. The 5.1 bump has a whopping 3518 kbps and there is also a less robust mono (original) and the isolated score is available in stereo (2.0 channel). Herrmann's score sounds magnificent and there is some subtle separation in the surround. English (SDH) subtitles are available on the region FREE Blu-ray disc.

 

Outside the isolated score (very cool!) extras are lean with trailer and TV spots. Still one of my favorite of the Harryhausen's and I've been waiting for it since the advent of the new format. Easy purchase for the little boys in us.

 

***

ON THE DVD: Yes, the DVD image is not perfect, but it stems from bad source material. Regardless, it is far superior to any other version you will see on TV or video. How can you not swoon back to boyhood when the combination of Ray Harryhausen, Jules Verne and Bernard Herrmann get together? The upgraded sound ( to DD 2.0 ) was also fine but why didn't they use the wonderful stereo soundtrack that was on the limited edition laserdisc? I was hoping for much more. The colors seem more abnormal than I remember... too vibrant in stages (especially where there is special effects). It looks to be film sourced and the extras are a nice added feature. Still a boyhood fav! out of

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Columbia Tri-Star  Region 1 - NTSC LEFT vs. Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray RIGHT

 

 

 

Resen - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

 

Twilight Time (Encore Edition) - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

 

Indicator - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

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1) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP 

2) Resen - Region FREE - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Twilight Time (Encore Edition) - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Indicator - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

Screen Captures

 

1) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP 

2) Resen - Region FREE - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Twilight Time (Encore Edition) - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Indicator - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) Columbia Tri-Star  Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Twilight Time / Resen - Region FREE - Blu-ray MIDDLE 

3) Twilight Time (Encore Edition) - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

Columbia Tri-Star  Region 1 - NTSC TOP vs. Region FREE - Blu-rays BOTTOM

 

Columbia Tri-Star  Region 1 - NTSC TOP vs. Region FREE - Blu-rays BOTTOM

 

Columbia Tri-Star  Region 1 - NTSC TOP vs. Region FREE - Blu-rays BOTTOM

 

More Blu-ray Captures

Box Covers

 

 

Also available on Blu-ray on a German label release:

 

Re-Re-released by Indicator on Blu-ray in November 2019:
Distribution Columbia Tri-Star Region 1 - NTSC Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray Resen
Region FREE - Blu-ray		 Twilight Time (Encore Edition) - Region FREE - Blu-ray Indicator (Powerhouse) - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Indicator (Powerhouse) initial slate of Blu-rays
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