3-D Rarities Volume II Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

3-D Rarities Volume II Blu-ray Movie Review

An eclectic collection of 3D rarities that is a must-see for fans of the format

3-D Rarities: Volume II is the latest installment of rare 3D gems restored and presented by Flicker Alley in collaboration with the 3-D Film Archive. The release was crowd-funded in part through a campaign program which helped these cherished shorts to be restored and presented on Blu-ray for the first time. The set includes a selection of previously rare 3D productions which span the course of over 40 years of production. The set has been a labor of love project for 3D aficionados the world over and is broken down into three distinct parts.

The first portion of the set includes rare 3D shorts. These shorts include: A Day in the Country, The Black Swan (set to music from Tchaikovsky), Mid-Century Memories in Kodachrome Stereo (showcasing 3D photography) and featuring narration from stereoscopic anthropologist Hillary Hess, Games in Depth – which showcases sports and some day to day activities – as well as a film production along the way while similarly taking a glimpse at boating, diving, swinging, airplanes, and, dancing.

The shorts section also includes a prologue for Frankenstein's Bloody Terror to give horror fans a slice of 3D suspense. There is even a short 3D reel containing a rare West German-Spanish co-production which was produced in Hi-Fi Stereo 70. The last inclusion in this section of the release is the trailer promoting The 3-D Movie (which showcases snippets from a variety of 3D productions).

An outstanding magic trick.

The second section of the release is devoted to the feature-length The Sword of Granada (El Corazon y la Espada). The film has the important distinction of being the first 3D production which was ever made in Mexico. For more information on the release, please refer to the individual review.

The last part of the release is a selection of 3D photographs showcasing the immersive photography of Harold Lloyd (as presented by granddaughter Suzanne Lloyd Hayes). The release also ends with a loving tribute slide notating those who contributed to the crowd-funding for the release. A fitting way to conclude the set.

The 3-D Rarities: Volume II collection is a labor of love for fans of 3D. What a joy it is to experience these rare gems that were previously unavailable on home media. The selection is fantastic and each short has something unique to offer. I was particularly moved by the ballet of The Black Swan and experiencing it in 3D made me wonder why more performance-art works are not produced in the format. The selection of photographs were also eye-opening for me as I had never before truly experienced 3D photography and was blown away by how immersive it can be compared to 2D photography. The inclusion of a feature-length film is also greatly appreciated and rounds out the package. Fans of 3D would be remiss to not pick up this fantastic set (and share it with family and friends). 3-D Rarities: Volume II is a blessing for 3D lovers of all ages.

3-D Rarities Volume II Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

There are many elements to consider when analyzing the presentation quality for the second collection of 3-D Rarities. The quality of the source video is sometimes a bit inconsistent and certainly the level of 3D effect utilized in each piece is not identical in quality. Some shorts show their age more so than others. The release is a treasure trove for 3-D fans but it isn't perfection with sparkling clear transfers on each short.

The first short in the set, A Day in the Country, is presented with the best elements that were available. The short is decidedly underwhelming from a picture-quality perspective with a lack of refined black-and-white cinematography one would hope for if it had received a quality restoration. The print looks decidedly aged and there are scratches during the presentation that are occasionally distracting. There certainly appears to be unavoidable crosstalk and ghosting on this short which is due to the original negatives having been destroyed.

As the original negatives no longer exist for A Day in the Country, I urge viewers to take these elements into consideration when considering the lower-quality of the presentation. Even with underwhelming black levels and a poor quality scan in use, the 3-D in the short is reasonably impressive given the age of the film and sometimes left me feeling stunned by the creativity demonstrated with regards to the pop-out effects.

The second short in the collection, The Black Swan, has some minor specks and scratches on the print but is otherwise a surprisingly clear and crisp presentation given the age of the film. The 3D is truly spectacular in this short – a sight to behold – and will absolutely pull audiences in and won't let go. There is something magical about the ballet benefiting from the extra depth 3D provides. Viewers should feel quite satisfied by the generally clean presentation and the effective use of 3D.

The next short, Mid-Century Memories in Kodachrome Stereo, showcases 3D photography taken from 35mm film, and the photos are simply breathtaking and make one wonder why modern photos are even made in flat 2D. The 3D photography truly pulls one in to the world of these photographs and makes it feel more breathtaking and intense – these photos are lovingly presented: crisp, clear, and beautiful. I found the photos to be some of the most compelling that I have personally seen. It made me question why our modern age does not embrace 3D photography more. Instead of seeming to be a distant memory, the 3D photographs pulled me into the frame as if no time had passed.

The short film entitled Games in Depth looks nice overall. The color is a little faded and less robust than ideal but the print quality is superb and rather clean looking (in fact, much cleaner and with less print wear than expected). This was another nice 3D presentation that used the 3D effects creatively as it played with sports as the backdrop.

The presentation for the prologue to Frankenstein's Bloody Terror has some of the weakest 3D in the set. I enjoyed the 3D even if I found it decent at best. The piece was visually interesting and made for a nice addition to the set. Colors look a little faded and the image isn't as crisp as desired.

The most inconsistent presentation on the release is the inclusion of the trailer for The 3-D Movie. The trailer has some reasonably impressive depth and 3D pop-outs but the quality of the source footage itself is underwhelming. The source qualities within the trailer varied from piece to piece and the appearance of grain and other print deficiencies left me less impressed. Nonetheless, a decent if average-looking trailer that could have used serious restoration.

The Sword of Granada (El Corazon y la Espada) is the most impressive presentation. The film was meticulously restored with a brand new 4K scan which dramatically improved on the photography. Additional details on the presentation can be found be reading the individual review.

Overall, the quality of 3D on the second set of 3-D Rarities from Flicker Alley left me feeling quite impressed and satisfied. The source quality varies somewhat from piece-to-piece but the efforts in restoring the feature-length film and preserving as many of these rarities on Blu-ray as possible is commendable. The release is one that was compiled with love and care (even despite some picture quality inconsistencies).

3-D Rarities Volume II Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Just as with the picture quality on the included shorts in the set, the audio quality can differ somewhat from piece-to-piece. Most of the included shorts featured on this collection have good audio quality overall given the age and quality of the source materials. Viewers should be a bit forgiving of the presentation quality given the age of the source audio and the budget of the release.

I was generally pleased with dialogue reproduction and music clarity throughout the release nonetheless. If I have any major qualms to mention, it's that the short prologue for Frankenstein's Bloody Terror has audible hiss on the audio track. The hiss was a bit distracting but the dialogue was still clear enough to understand.

For more information on the audio quality for the feature-length film, The Sword of Granada (El Corazon y la Espada), please refer to the individual review.

3-D Rarities Volume II Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

In addition to all the 3D gems included in the set, the release comes packaged in an attractive clear case with inner art print. The set includes a 14 page booklet featuring rare photography and notes from 3D expert Mike Ballew.

Audio Commentary on The Sword of Granada (El Corazon y la Espada) featuring author David Wilt and film historian Dr. Robert J. Kiss

Audio Commentary on The Black Swan featuring 3-D film expert Mike Ballew

3-D Rarities Volume II Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

3-D Rarities: Volume II is an essential release. The selection of shorts, photographs, and the feature-length film The Sword of Granada (El Corazon y la Espada) add up to a wonderful release which is aimed squarely at die-hard 3D fans hoping to experience some rarities of the 3D medium. While the picture-quality can be a little inconsistent due to the source limitations, the 3D effect is generally excellent and the set feels meticulously compiled as a passion project. The experience was magical and one that I enthusiastically recommend to 3D fans of all ages. The set should be considered essential viewing for enthusiasts: don't miss it. Highly recommended.