5.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Set two hundred thousand years ago, when the human race had to adapt to their brutal savage environment or disappear into oblivion. For Bog, the great warrior this struggle means conquering the Earth and gaining supremacy over his rivals.
Starring: Serafino Profumo, Aldo Sambrell, Adriano ChiaramidaAdventure | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Italian: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
It wasn’t exactly a blockbuster, but 1981’s “Quest for Fire” became a major hit against all odds. It offered a serious take on prehistoric adventuring, with director Jean-Jacques Annaud pushing to challenge audiences with a film that was rich with atmosphere and passed on English dialogue, laboring to immerse viewers into this world of danger and mystery. It wasn’t exact science, but it provided a few dramatic jolts, and “Quest for Fire” was a strange enough offering to encourage ticket-buyers to take a chance on a rare storytelling leap of faith. The feature made money, inspiring others to attempt to recreate such an epic viewing experience, but on a much lower budget and without the polish of a refined helmer. 1983’s “Master of the World” steps up as part of a new wave of “stone age” offerings, with the Italian production attempting to recreate the appeal of Annaud’s endeavor. Writer/director Alberto Cavallone gets a bit gruesome with his version of early man rampaging, but there’s a certain spark of insanity to the effort, which earnestly attempts to deliver event film majesty while dealing with B-movie interests.
The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is billed as "newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative." "Master of the World" is a grungy movie to begin with (using lots of aged stock footage as well), but the viewing experience is quite appealing, offering as much detail as possible with this cinematographic style. Crusty skin surfaces are appreciable, along with animal skin costuming. Fine bear fur is also distinct. Locations are dimensional, offering deep views of the surrounding areas. Colors are largely naturalistic, exploring greenery and rocky hills. Costuming provides richer browns and grays. Skintones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is heavy but film-like. Source is in good condition.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix is unusual, as there are no dialogue exchanges in "Master of the World." Outside of brief bookend narration, the only language offered here are grunts and screams. And those grunts and screams remain consistent and pronounced during the listening event, identifying the primal nature of the production. Scoring cues offer a larger synth sound, securing moods and action beats. Sound effects are simple (including that hilarious Chewbacca roar) but effective.
"Master of the World" asks a bit too much of the viewer with its run time, which isn't always filled with spellbinding screen activity. And when growled communication fails to do much for the endeavor, Cavallone turns to gore, including the absolutely revolting visual of brutes feasting on the brains of recently beheaded victims, eagerly dining on goopy innards (an interview on the disc explains what's actually being devoured, making the moments much, much worse). "Master of the World" isn't quite as fun as its sillier rival, "Ironmaster," but Cavallone's vision to revive the "Quest for Fire" atmosphere is something to see, playing the whole thing with refreshing seriousness, even during its wackier moments.
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40th Anniversary Special Edition
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Warner Archive Collection
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