H D - S E N S E I

A view on Blu-ray by Gary W. Tooze

Dimension 5 [Blu-ray]

(Franklin Adreon, 1966)

Review by Gary Tooze

Production:

Theatrical: United Pictures

Video: Kino Lorber

Disc:

Region: 'A' (as verified by the Oppo Blu-ray player)

Runtime: 1:30:46.023

Disc Size: 21,940,845,743 bytes

Feature Size: 19,887,384,576 bytes

Video Bitrate: 25.80 Mbps

Chapters: 9

Case: Standard Blu-ray case

Release date: September 26th, 2017

Video:

Aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps

Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Audio:

DDTS-HD Master Audio English 1554 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1554 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:

None

Extras:

• Audio commentary by Videodrome (Gideon Kennedy, Matt Owensby and John Robinson)
• Trailer Gallery

Bitrate:

Description: Newly Re-mastered from a 4K Scan by Paramount Pictures Archives! From the depths of the fifth dimension comes one of the most amazing spy thrillers of all time! Justin Power (Jeffrey Hunter, A Kiss Before Dying), an American intelligence agent, aided by Kitty (France Nuyen, South Pacific), a Chinese-American female agent is in a desperate race against time to save Los Angeles from atomic destruction. Using a time-traveling belt, the duo battles an evil organization lead by Big Buddha (Harold Sakata, Oddjob of Goldfinger) with plans to import the bomb and destroy the city of angels. Franklin Adreon (Cyborg 2087) directed this one-of-a-kind Sci-Fi thriller written by Arthur C. Pierce (The Navy vs. the Night Monsters) and wonderfully shot by Alan Stensvold (Thunder Road).

The Film:

Justin Power (Hunter), agent for Espionage, Inc., returns from a mission in which he used a time-travel belt to steal secret plans. He is told by his supierior, Cane (Donald Woods), he is to be teamed with a Chinese agent to combat an Asian crime ring, Dragon, headed by crime lord Big Buddha (Sakata). A sister agency has discovered Dragon plans to destroy Los Angeles if United States forces are not withdrawn from east Asia.

Aware that Dragon has a primitive hydrogen bomb, but no way to deliver it, Espionage, Inc plans to interrogate a captured agent, Chang (Gerald Jann). Chang is being brought from Hong Kong by two agents—Sato (Robert Ito) and George (Robert Phillips)—so they might learn Dragon plans. Chang insists that Dragon will see to it that he will never talk. An assassination attempt occurs immediately. Though George is killed, Chang survives when a female agent shoots the assassin with a dart.

Excerpt from Wikipedia located HERE

The team that brought you Cyborg 2087 produced another time travel story. Dimension 5 (D5) is only marginally a sci-fi film. It amounts to a commie plot spy thriller with a time-shifting belt as one of his gadgets. Jeffrey Hunter stars as the agent with the almost-prescient name of Justin Power. Other recognizable second-tier actors include Harold Sakata ("Odd Job" in Goldfinger), Robert Ito (Quincy, MD) and France Nuyen (Star Trek, Elaan of Troyius).

Excerpt from ClassicSciFi located HERE

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

The single-layered Kino Lorber Blu-ray of Dimension 5 looks quite impressive in 1080P. Colors (reds) are very rich and deep. While the film's effects are wanting (get a load of that time-travel belt) the image quality is highly pleasing. The visuals have a 60's style and there is some depth along with the consistent detail in close-ups. The source is clean, and I noticed no noise - a surprisingly good image. This 1.85:1 Blu-ray gave me a very watchable, and pleasurable, viewing in regards to the picture quality.

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

Audio :

Kino Lorber use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track at 1554 kbps (16-bit) in the original English language. There are effects in the film - an early helicopter a later explosion/fire but also a lot of stock footage that is weak (planes flying and landing etc.). They sound modest. The score is by Paul Dunlap (The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake, Shock Corridor, Shack Out on 101, Cry Vengeance, Portland Expose, Big House U.S.A., Target Earth, Park Row) The dialogue had some accents - and 'Oddjob' was DUB'ed but there are no subtitles offered and my Oppo has identified it as being a region 'A'-locked.

Extras :

Admittedly, I haven't fully indulged in the audio commentary by Videodrome (Gideon Kennedy, Matt Owensby and John Robinson) but I like off-the-cuff discussions. There is also a trailer gallery (although none for the film).

BOTTOM LINE:
Dimension 5 is in our 50s + 60s sci-fi page and it has Captain Pike (Jeffrey Hunter), Elaan of Troyius (France Nuyen) and an obviously DUB'ed 'Oddjob' from Goldfinger (Harold Sakata)! What, you want more? Yes, it's more a Bond knock-off, very much in the OSS 117 mode, than a bone-fide time-travel science-fiction yarn. Weak, sure but I still found things to like about it. France and the other gals looks hot! - Hunter is a debonair dude and it even has a 'Q' with 'Professor' Jon Lormer. The Kino Lorber Blu-ray looks great and has a commentary so there is value her - especially if you have a suspension of disbelief for the story's weaknesses. Will fill a nostalgic shine if you are in the mood. NOTE: At the writing of this review it is 37% OFF at Amazon.

Gary Tooze

October 3rd, 2017

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