NOTE: The 4K UHD of War of the Worlds (with When Worlds Collide Blu-ray) is reviewed HERE

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

ADDITION: Paramount Blu-ray (September 2022): Firstly, this comes in a package with a 4K UHD transfer of Byron Haskin's 1953 War of the Worlds. We will review / compare it as soon as we can.

Well, the cat is out of the bag and someone should address Paramount's lackluster products - recently their The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence 4K UHD, reviewed HERE. The colors on this When Worlds Collide Blu-ray are dull and brownish. This would be in direct opposition to their description; "Both are essential Technicolor masterpieces from the Golden Age of Hollywood, delivering eye-popping visual effects". This 1080P leans heavily brown and shows less information in the frame than the 2020 Imprint of the same title. It also appears softer and possibly horizontally stretched. Even the monochrome sequence is effected. Colors have far less depth on the bare-bones single-layered transfer. It is significantly inferior video "on the Blu-ray remastered from the original film elements". A visitor the other day and I tried to figure out what is going on. The original audio is lossless with a three lossy DUB and subtitle options. The only extras on this disc is trailer which has also lost any vibrancy. It appears as though this visual weaknesses have permeated the War of the Worlds 4K UHD. Not good, Paramount. Stick with the stacked Imprint Blu-ray for When Worlds Collide.

***

ADDITION: Imprint Blu-ray (September 2020): Imprint have transferred the George Pal, Rudolph Maté directed, When Worlds Collide to Blu-ray. It is on a dual-layered disc with a high bitrate. Most of the 1080P presentation looks appealing with a few instances where the Technicolor may show brief misalignment (see below.) There are also color flecks and speckles but saying that - this still looks vastly ahead of SD. There is depth with the wavering contrast but the colors are vivid and the effects - almost 70-years later - remain fascinating. Without an extensive film-level restoration or Criterion edition - this is about as good as we are likely to get for this beloved 50's science-fiction film.

NOTE: We have added 67 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Imprint use a a linear PCM dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. The rocket and destruction effects carry impressive depth. It is another advancement score by Leith Stevens (I Married a Monster From Outer Space, Great Day in the Morning, The Gun Runners, Syncopation, World Without End, The Night of the Grizzly, 20 Million Miles to Earth, The Garment Jungle) sounding tight and clean. Imprint offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Imprint Blu-ray offers a new commentary by Barry Forshaw (author the BFI Film Classics' The War of the Worlds book) and the inestimable Kim Newman (author of Anno Dracula 1999: Daikaiju). They are enthusiastic - gaining energy from each other in discussing George Pal, the production, matting effects, similar historical and related science-fiction films, others that When Worlds Collide influenced or were evoking (Deluge for the flooding scenes), a bit on Maté and a few of the stars. I feel like they could talk for hours - a pleasure to indulge in this commentary. Also included are 1.5 hours worth of extended interviews with Gene Roddenberry, Ray Bradbury, Ray Harryhausen, Roy Edward Disney, Wah Chang, Russ Tamblyn and Duke Goldstone recorded for the 1985 documentary ”Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal". I was keen to hear input from Roddenberry, Bradbury and Harryhausen. There  is a theatrical trailer, Imprint trailer and the package has a limited edition slipcase (see below.)

It was wonderful to revisit George Pal's When Worlds Collide on Blu-ray. I've watched this four times now. You can really gain appreciation for the art direction, special effects, set-designs while getting a better expression of the Technicolor. It's not without some video imperfections but the majority of the presentation is a delight in 1080P. This is a favorite - one of the earlier apocalypse films and our beloved niche of 50's and 60's science fiction films. When Worlds Collide is a gem resonating massive nostalgia appeal. Patient fans who've waited for this should definitely consider indulging in this Imprint Blu-ray while it is still available.  

Gary Tooze