6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
In this remake of the classic '50s sci-fi tale, a boy tries to stop an invasion of his town by aliens who take over the the minds of his parents, his least-liked schoolteacher, and other townspeople.
Starring: Karen Black (I), Hunter Carson, Timothy Bottoms, Laraine Newman, James KarenHorror | 100% |
Sci-Fi | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.36:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
I sense something. A presence I've not felt since... Dan O'Bannon? Ah, yes. Lest ye forget, O'Bannon (Dark Star, The Return of the Living Dead) is the scorned screenwriter who almost gave us an alt-reality version of Ridley Scott's Alien that you definitely would not consider to be one of the best sci-fi/horror films of all time had he had his way. With Invaders from Mars, though, the cheesy remake of the 1953 film of the same name, he gets his way, this time with the help of co-writer Don Jakoby (Lifeforce, Arachnophobia) and some very tongue-in-cheek impishness courtesy of director Tobe Hooper (yes, he of Texas Chainsaw Massacre infamy). There's quite a bit of fun to be had in Invaders from Mars, and a spirit of '50s nostalgia that permeates everything from the bizarre creatures (God bless practical FX) to the intentionally ham-fisted dialogue and throwback performances of the cast. Comparisons to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and suggestions that it's one of the clear inspirations of Tim Burton's Mars Attacks are not far off at all, and the parade of instantly familiar '80s character actors and bizarrely mish-mashed beasties is what makes this one such a blast. It's not great cinema but it works in a weird way. Just imagine what Alien would have been with O'Bannon and Hooper at the helm? I can't tell if I'm offended by the idea or intrigued...
The out-of-print 2015 Shout Factory Blu-ray didn't offer much in the way of a properly restored presentation of Invaders from Mars. In short, it was a disappointment. Not a lot has changed in the eight years since, or in the move to Sandpiper for distribution. The film's 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer still traces its origins to a rough-n-tumble master that struggles with grain spiking, red and black crush, slight print damage throughout, and everything from more substantially visible specks and dirt particles to significant scratches. Contrast isn't always up to snuff either, coming on too strong or, on occasion, too weak, both of which haunts the picture. Otherwise, you could certainly do worse. Invaders from Mars at least bears the marks of a clear high definition upgrade, which is a plus if you've only ever owned the even faultier DVD version. Colors are decidedly stronger and more than up to the task at hand, with some welcome punch added to primaries, much richer depth and darkness infused into black levels, and more impressive shadow delineation. Detail receives a boost as well (at least when the aforementioned grain isn't swarming and blotting out what a full restoration might spare). Edge definition is clean and natural for the most part, despite a noticeable softness that returns to the forefront here and there, and fine textures are nicely resolved overall. The creature models and puppets look great actually, and it's easy to spot just how much care went into the design and execution of each monstrosity. (Although beware: optically achieved FX sequences are especially vulnerable to both softness and grain spiking.) Bottom line? Invaders from Mars, if given proper treatment, could look a whole lot better. Imagine a new 4K-scanned remaster! Even so, it could look much, much worse. Fans will be moderately pleased regardless.
Talk about strange happenings. While the screener received and the previously released limited edition Blu-ray of the film featured both 5.1 and 2.0 lossless tracks, retail copies of Invaders from Mars apparently only include a 2.0 mix. That's not necessarily a terrible development -- the stereo track features intelligible dialogue, excellent prioritization, and plenty of bright, lively effects and music, all presented with lossless aplomb -- but it is disappointing that an even stronger 5.1 is out there, somewhere, and hasn't been added here. Take that as you take it.
Shout Factory is know for putting together bountiful extras for its releases. Sandpiper Pictures is not know for such things. It's too bad. The out-of-print 2015 release special features haven't been acquired, making this yet another barebones Sandpiper disc.
Fun. There's that word again. Invaders from Mars can be described as many things; a lot of them positive, if you're in the right frame of mind. But fun is the word that returns to my mind over and over again. Hooper's 1986 remake is a whole lotta fun, and still delivers said enjoyment and entertainment all these years later. Unfortunately, Sandpiper, like Shout Factory before it, doesn't give Invaders from Mars its proper due. While the film's audio presentation is decent (despite a missing 5.1 track), its video transfer struggles, all but demanding a new 4K restoration and remaster, and its supplemental package, well, doesn't exist. Here's hoping Invaders from Mars one day gets a release worthy of its fun. For now, though, you could do a lot worse. Nab this Blu-ray release, pop some popcorn, ignore the issues and enjoy this underappreciated little gem of a cheeseball would-be classic.
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