Biggles: Adventures in Time Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Biggles: Adventures in Time Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 8, 2017

Looking to compete with the sci-fi blockbusters of the 1980s, “Biggles: Adventures in Time” perverts its source material to transform itself into a high-flying, year-hopping adventure. The 1986 picture doesn’t truly adapt the series of novels it’s based on, which details the heroism of an ace WWI British pilot. Instead, the production merges the character of Biggles with a time-travel plot that allows the feature a chance to appeal to younger audiences who might pass on the idea of spending time with a stuffy character. It’s a strange creative reach that doesn’t make much sense as the movie unfolds, but small pockets of spirit remain in “Biggles,” which takes time to find its groove, but eventually secures some thrills and spills once the screenplay focuses on wartime suspense.

Jim (Alex Hyde-White) is a man of the 1980s trying to establish a catering business, committed to work. Into his life comes William (Peter Cushing, in his final role), a former WWI commander who informs Jim that he has the ability to fall into “time holes,” where he meets Biggles (Neil Dickson), a WWI flying ace who’s his “time twin,” saving him from certain doom. Jumping back and forth through the decades without warning, Jim is recruited to help Biggles take on the Germans, who are putting the final touches on a superweapon, requiring quick thinking, blunt force, and exploitation of the time holes to help defeat the enemy.

“Biggles” doesn’t make sense, with the whole time travel aspect of the picture random and poorly explained, primarily used as way to modernize the titular character, providing him with fantasy element to overcome the source material’s period escapism. It’s a strange creative choice, and it takes “Biggles” a long time to overcome it, working through comedic time jumps and confusion before it settles into the mission, offering a teamwork approach that clicks thanks to fine performances from Hyde-White and Dickson. Director John Hough doesn’t seem particularly confident with sci-fi business, showing more excitement with flying sequences, delivering impressively daredevil work as planes and a helicopter swoop around the frame, giving the effort a jolt of thrilling stunt work that’s amplified in the final act.

Biggles: Adventures in Time Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation emerges with welcome clarity, offering a good amount of detail to help enjoy the period ornamentation of the movie and the concentration of its stars. Textures are appealing on costumes and locations, and facial particulars are strong, exploring subtle make-up work and emotional intensity. Primaries are secure, completing the divide between hotter hues of the 1980s and reserved, militaristic hues of WWI. Skintones are spot-on. Delineation is communicative. Grain is managed, remaining filmic. Source is in solid shape, with no pronounced instances of speckling and scratches.

Biggles: Adventures in Time Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix handles the basics with care, though a mild amount of hiss carries throughout the listening event. Dialogue exchanges are confident, handling different accents and action excitement without touching distortive extremes. Scoring comes through with satisfactory instrumentation, while soundtrack cuts deliver a heavier percussive thump. Atmospherics are alert, bringing out city life and battle encounters. Sound effects offer appropriate crackle.

Biggles: Adventures in Time Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (11:27, HD) with Neil Dickson is an enjoyable chat with the charismatic actor, who has fond memories of his time on "Biggles," coming to the role with knowledge of the character that he retains to this day. Dickson discusses the pressures of playing a pilot with skittish producers around, and his bond with co-star Alex Hyde-White. There's also reverence shared for Peter Cushing, and an explanation for the time travel aspect of the story, with the moneymen hoping to cash in on the popularity of "Back to the Future."

• Interview (9:01, HD) with Alex Hyde-White is more of a disjointed talk with the "Biggles" star, who jumps from topic to topic as he describes the making of the movie. Without knowledge of the Biggles character, Hyde-White was the outsider the producers were looking for, suddenly thrust into an adventure that required him to be confused. The actor discusses time with Dickson (showing off their wrap gift to each other) and Cushing, and his feelings on the picture's popularity throughout the years, with more people responding to it today than they did in 1986.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

Biggles: Adventures in Time Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Biggles: Adventures in Time" isn't bold enough to compete with Hollywood excess, but it's the rare film that actually gets better as it goes, ditching iffy exposition to become a full-fledged actioner that sprints and leaps around London, working between the two eras in play. It's a shame it takes nearly an hour for "Biggles" to become comfortable with itself, but the picture does manage to find a groove, trading time travel for more direct encounters between good and evil.