The 3 Worlds of Gulliver Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

The 3 Worlds of Gulliver Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov January 20, 2018

Jack Sher's "The 3 Worlds of Gulliver" (1960) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Indicator/Powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; new video interview with producer and director David Sproxton; new video interview with cinematographer Alex Riddett; archival audio commentary by Randall Cook, C, Courtney Joyner and Steven C. Smith; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Different sizes

The 4K restoration of Jack Sher's The 3 Worlds of Gulliver made its Blu-ray debut in the United States via Twilight Time in 2016. For a complete analysis of the film, please see my colleague Jeffrey Kauffman's review of the U.S. release here.

The 3 Worlds of Gulliver Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.66:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Jack Sher's The 3 Worlds of Gulliver arrive on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.

The release is sourced from a very strong 4K restoration of the film and it is the best looking one from the three releases that are included in The Wonderful Worlds of Ray Harryhausen, Volume One: 1955-1960. Indeed, the basic qualities that we typically scrutinize in our reviews are all very solid and the entire film has that consistent and very pleasing organic appearance that proper 4K restorations ensure. Depth and clarity, in particular, are very good and on a large screen the strength of the master instantly shows (see examples in screencaptures #2 and 5). Obviously, because of the nature of the visual effects that are used throughout the film there are small density fluctuations, but they are part of the film's cinematography (see examples in screencaptures #3 and 10). There are no traces of problematic digital work. The entire film is also very nicely color-graded. There are excellent primaries and a terrific range of healthy nuances. Image stability is excellent. Lastly, there are no distracting age-related imperfections to report. Great presentation. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location. For the record, there is no problematic PAL or 1080/50i content preceding the disc's main menu).

The 3 Worlds of Gulliver Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English: LPCM Mono (48kHz, 24-bit). Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

Bernard Herrmann's score probably benefits the most from the lossless treatment, but there are other parts of the film where dynamic intensity is also very pleasing. I specifically wish to mention that overall balance is excellent -- there is excellent clarity but when there is plenty of activity dynamic movement never interferes with it. There are absolutely no traces of age-related imperfections to report.

The 3 Worlds of Gulliver Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - original theatrical trailer for The 3 Worlds of Gulliver. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Image Gallery - a collection of original stills and promotional materials for the film.

• Isolated Score - presented as LPCM 2.0.

• Interview with Dave Alex Riddett - in this new video interview, cinematographer Alex Riddett (Shaun the Sheep Movie) discusses the enormous impact Ray Harryhausen's films had on him and his work. The interview was conducted exclusively for Indicator/Powerhouse Films in 2017. In English, not subtitled. (9 min).

• Interview with David Sproxton - in this new video interview, producer and director David Sproxton reveals his admiration for the work of Ray Harryhausen. The interview was conducted exclusively for Indicator/Powerhouse Films in 2017. In English, not subtitled. (10 min).

• Interview with Peter Lord - in this new video interview, producer and director Peter Lord (Chicken Run) discusses the type of impact Ray Harryhausen's work had on him and explains how the cinema-going experience has evolved during the years. The interview was conducted exclusively for Indicator/Powerhouse Films in 2017. In English, not subtitled. (10 min).

• The Making of 'The 3 Worlds of Gulliver' - in this short archival featurette, Ray Harryhausen quickly explains how The 3 World of Gulliver came to exist. In English, not subtitled. (6 min).

• Audio Commentary - this audio commentary was recorded by Randall Cook, C, Courtney Joyner and Steven C. Smith and has appeared on previous releases of The 3 Worlds of Gulliver. The three gentlemen engage in a lively discussion that covers a wide range of topics, from the specific casting choices that the folks at Columbia made for this film to the important role that Bernard Herrmann's score had for the image of the film to the careful on-location shooting that was done. It is a very good commentary with plenty of factual information.

• Booklet - an 80-page booklet with new essays and technical credits is included in the The Wonderful Worlds of Ray Harryhausen, Volume One: 1955-1960 box set.

The 3 Worlds of Gulliver Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This release of Jack Sher's The 3 Worlds of Gulliver is the best of the three that are included in The Wonderful Worlds of Ray Harryhausen, Volume One: 1955-1960 three-disc box set. It is sourced from an excellent recent 4K restoration that was completed by Sony Pictures. As expected, it is Region-Free and comes with a good mix of exclusive new and archival bonus features. RECOMMENDED.