Search DVDBeaver |
S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
(aka 'End of the World')
directed by Ray
Milland
USA 1962
Panic in Year Zero is quite compelling - a nuclear attack leaves Los Angeles in chaos and ignites survival fear and hording throughout the city and suburbs. Trying to escape the disaster, a family is luckily heading for their usual vacation spot only to encounter moral and ethical decisions of their own enroute. Exhaustive star Ray Milland both directs and stars in a fairly low budget 'cold-war-panic' film that poses some heavy questions. It's hard not to get caught up in the ensuing battle for existence, envisioning yourself in the family's shoes. One heck of a fun night at the films... bring the popcorn! out of |
Posters
Theatrical Release: July 5th, 1962
More Apocalypse-related films on Blu-ray and DVD reviewed (click review buttons to also see comparisons where applicable) from our article Films From The End of the World: |
Comparison:
MGM - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT 2) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - RIGHT
|
Box Covers |
|
|
Distribution | MGM Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC |
Kino Lorber Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
Runtime | 1:32:09 | 1:32:06.604 |
Video | 2.32:1
Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.74 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 23,639,941,607 bytesFeature: 20,494,030,848 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 26.21 Mbps |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
||
Bitrate: |
|
|
Bitrate Blu-ray: |
|
|
Audio | English (Dolby Digital 2.0) |
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1582 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1582 kbps / 16-bit (DTS
Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 256 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps |
Subtitles | English, French, Spanish, None | None |
Features |
Release Information:
Edition Details: • trailer
(2:23) |
Release Information: Studio: Kino Lorber
1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 23,639,941,607 bytesFeature: 20,494,030,848 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 26.21 Mbps
• Intro by legendary director Joe Dante (9:10)
• Trailers (Panic in the Year Zero - 2:24,
X-Ray, the Man With the X-Ray Eyes - 2:19,
Premature Burial - 2:31) Standard Blu-ray case Blu-ray Release Date: April 19th, 2016 Chapters: 8 |
Comments: |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were obtained directly from the Blu-ray disc.
ADDITION: Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray March 16': This new 1080P image is quite a step-up from the old SD. We lose a sliver of information on the top and side edges but the improved contrast and detail is remarkable. Either the DVD is vertically stretched or the Blu-ray has some Cinemascope mumps (or a little of both) but the Blu-ray looked great in-motion with plenty of depth. It has a touch of appealing gloss, as well, and it's very clean and crisp by comparison to the interlaced DVD.
Kino Lorber use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track at 1582 kbps (16-bit) in the original English language. Strangely, there are very few effects in the film - but the animated score is by AIP go-to guy Les Baxter (X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes, US version of Baron Blood, The Beast Within etc.) and sounds jazzy and tight via the lossless - quite the groovy theme song! There are no subtitles offered and my Oppo has identified it as being a region 'A'-locked.
Kino add some keen extras - notably another enjoyable audio commentary by
film historian
Richard Harland Smith who points out some interesting research that
enhances the viewing. There is also a 10-minute introduction
by director Joe Dante giving further
background and his personal enjoyment of the film. We also get trailers
for some Milland/Kino Blus;
Panic in Year Zero,
X-Ray, the Man With the X-Ray Eyes
and
Premature Burial.
I always love a good (or bad) apocalypse film
and despite the flaws this captures a time and it's one of those movies
I always seem to reach for - if I'm in that mood. Great tow own in HD and
the commentary adds immense value and we certainly give this a
recommendation.
*** ON THE DVD (2005): Well, there are two schools of thought - transfer great films to DVD properly, add competent extra features and sell for a healthy price OR slap it onto to DVD - tabled with another minor film of similar genre and charge peanuts. MGM have opted for choice #2 for their Midnite Madness series. Yes, like the second feature The Last Man on Earth, this is not progressive (see last capture), and no extras for 'Panic..." to speak of, but for enjoyment ratio over $'s - you really can't beat this and we love the anamorphic widescreen although the image has some softness. We still endorse for fans. |
Menus
1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT 2) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - RIGHT
|
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Subtitle Sample Screen Captures (on DVD only)
MGM - Region 1 - NTSC
|
1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
|
1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
|
DVD has Combing evident
More Blu-ray captures
Box Covers |
|
|
Distribution | MGM Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC |
Kino Lorber Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
More Apocalypse-related films on Blu-ray and DVD reviewed (click review buttons to also see comparisons where applicable) from our article Films From The End of the World: |