Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Journey to the Seventh Planet Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 27, 2016

Mind games command 1962’s “Journey to the Seventh Planet,” but they’re the inexpensive kind, giving the picture a chance to keep costs down by messing with group consciousness, which is easier on the special effects budget. An endearing offering of confusion from director Sid Pink, “Journey to the Seventh Planet” manages to overcome its monumental monetary limitation, showcasing delightful visual invention to bring a taste of paranoia and alien manipulation to life.

In the futureworld of 2001, a rocket is sent into deep space, only to be intercepted by an alien brain as the crew travels to Uranus. Instead of commencing a bloodbath, the production keeps the horror of “Journey to the Seventh Planet” within, introducing the telepathic menace that uses its powers to disorientate and destroy the visitors, who struggle to figure out what’s happening to them. Although the story isn’t inspired, Pink’s directorial finesse is, gifting “Journey to the Seventh Planet” a rich visual presence that’s boosted by imaginative costume design, stop-motion animation, and model work, offering fans of low-budget sci-fi plenty to enjoy as the tale bounces between mind-control terror and post-manipulation confusion.

Journey to the Seventh Planet Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.67:1 aspect ratio) presentation allows "Journey to the Seventh Planet" room to breathe on Blu-ray, achieving encouraging clarity throughout, making detail a highlight to study during the viewing experience. Textures on costuming and facial particulars are terrific, along with monster encounters. Colors are tastefully refreshed, offering secure primaries that amplify set design achievements. Grain is fine and filmic. Delineation pushes to the boundaries of the original cinematography. Source reveals mild speckling and scratching, but nothing overwhelms.

Journey to the Seventh Planet Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix secures the sci-fi mood of the picture, delivering interesting atmospherics with planetary visits and bustling sound effects for ship interiors and alien interactions. The feature is thickly dubbed, preserving intelligibility, making performances easy to follow. Scoring retains acceptable instrumentation and placement, guiding the tone of the effort.

Journey to the Seventh Planet Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historian Tim Lucas.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:07, HD) is included.

Journey to the Seventh Planet Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Exploitative touches are amusing, with the crew seduced by visions of alluring females, and there's a creature feature aspect to "Journey to the Seventh Planet" that arrives in the third act. It's a short picture, with brevity the production's best friend, capably working through survival challenges and alien threat without pausing for too long, keeping its B-movie spirit alive throughout. It's far from polished entertainment, but "Journey to the Seventh Planet" is engaging and surprising, never far from a cinematic moment to help viewers forget that the whole effort is missing true monetary aid to help bring its expansive vision for monsters and space travel to life.