Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.0

The Land That Time Forgot Blu-ray Movie Review

The Last Jedi's Luke Skywalker? No, sorry kids. That's not Mark Hamill on the cover...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown December 30, 2024

"No, there's nothing wrong with our shooting, gentlemen. In primitive nervous systems like this allosaurus, even a fatal wound might register in the brain with a delay. As your saying would have it, this chap was late for his own funeral."

Believe me, I would go on at length about the genius, influence and legacy of Ray Harryhausen if I had the chance. I was perfectly prepared to do just that when The Land That Time Forgot popped up in my review queue. What I forgot, however, is that not all golden and silver-age Harryhausen-esque stop motion effects are created equal... or stop motion... or made by Harryhausen for that matter. No matter what your eyes and expectations tell you when glimpsing Land's cover art, the film's creatures were overseen by Roger Dicken, who preferred puppetry to stop motion and quote-unquote realistic movement to jittery effects. It's clear, though, he was a student, official or unofficial, of Harryhausen's work, as it's difficult to spot much difference... unless you extend analysis to the subjective "feel" of the prehistoric beasties that lumber to life in director Kevin Connor's yawn-inducing adventure. The story meanders, sure, but so do the creatures. The personalities of Harryhausen's monstrosities are sorely MIA here, and gaping maws, bulging eyes and crushing tails can only do so much. And that perhaps would matter too, if the dinos were key to the film. But so much time is spent with our hapless explorers and their newfound Neanderthal frenemies that the draw of the picture -- the veritable thunder lizards -- seem like little more than an asterisk-dotted afterthought.

"I do not expect anyone to believe the story that I am about to relate. It even seems incredible to me that all that I have passed through, all those weird and terrifying experiences, should have been encompassed within as short a span as three brief months. It must have been a little after 3 o'clock in the afternoon that it began, the afternoon of June 3rd..."

The year is 1916, and a German U-boat commanded by Captain Von Schoenvorts (John McEnery) has successfully sunk a British supply ship filled with civilians. Managing to survive are Tyler (Dough McClure) and Lisa (Susan Penhaligon), along with a few British officers. Realizing their only hope for rescue is found with the Germans, Tyler and the group board and take over the U-boat, with plans to return to friendly waters. However, Von Schoenvorts isn't easily toppled, with power struggles and violence leaving the ship lost at sea. As fuel is drained and supplies dwindle, hope is found with the discovery of Caprona, a hidden land filled with prehistoric inhabitants, offering the ailing and now allied crew temporary sanctuary. Exploring the island with hopes to collect enough oil to return home, the visitors are faced with unique challenges of survival against towering dinosaurs, while making friends with Ahm (Bobby Parr), a curious native eager to help the strangers.

Click here to read the rest of Brian Orndorf's review of The Land That Time Forgot, which he says "is notable for being the hit film that kickstarted interest in bringing author Edgar Rice Burroughs's lesser-known works to the screen." However, he adds, "While largely faithful to the Burroughs book, the feature has difficulty conjuring excitement, often working through long, dry patches of exposition and surveillance before something of note actually occurs. In a story that includes a visit to a mysterious land populated with dinosaurs and tribes of primitive man, it's strange to feel restless watching the effort, which shows tremendous difficulty summoning adventure."

The Land That Time Forgot Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Land That Time Forgot features a hit-or-miss 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer that is strikingly similar (or perhaps identical) to the 2015 Kino Lorber and 2017 Umbrella Entertainment Blu-ray releases of the film. Colors and contrast are nice and vibrant, barring composited shots, matte painting-reliant scenes, and some creature effects sequences. It's not that these moments fail or falter, just that they appear more faded and less vivid than practically realized, wholly in-camera bits. Prosthetics seams are much more apparent in high definition, as are the inorganic joints of dinosaurs (particularly the lower jaws). Compositing errors are obvious too, as is the case with pterodactyl wires, tape marks and other elements flitter into view, even if only for a split second. Skintones are relatively lifelike, though, despite some ruddy, brownish patches, primaries have suitable pop, and black levels are reasonably deep. Detail pitches and pulls a bit, rising and plummeting in clarity (apparently as the optical gods will it). Thankfully, finer textures and crisper edges are the norm, without too much in the way of disappointing scenes, especially when the crew is confined to the bowels of the submarine. Add to that a lack of any significant banding or blocking and you have a transfer that gives as often as it takes.

The Land That Time Forgot Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Land That Time Forgot returns to Blu-ray with a strong DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track. Dialogue is intelligible and carefully prioritized in all but the most chaotic creature attacks. Dynamics are surprisingly good, considering the lack of LFE support. And music and ambient effects are handled with care. There aren't any stunning moments that will leave anyone born after 1985 breathless, but the track is fit and faithful enough to earn solid marks.

The Land That Time Forgot Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Umbrella Entertainment and Kino Lorber both included an audio commentary with their Blu-ray releases of The Land that Time Forgot. The Kino edition also included a 12-minute Making-Of featurette. Unfortunately, the only extra included on the Sandpiper Pictures Blu-ray release is a 2-minute, standard definition version of the film's theatrical trailer.

The Land That Time Forgot Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"With the sinking of the submarine, all our hopes of getting away from Caprona have disappeared. We are alone, spurned by even the highest, the Galu. So we have to go on in the way of Caprona till we find peace. I would rather live here with Lisa than to live elsewhere without her. She says the same of me. If God wills it, we shall live our lives here. However, we are determined to move ever northward, ever forward, toward the greater mysteries that lie ahead... of this land that time forgot."

The Land That Time Forgot isn't exactly a classic, but it has its place in film history and still has some delights to offer... if you're willing to wait around patiently for the movie to hit its creature feature stride. Sandpiper's Blu-ray is just as hit or miss, with a decent but not great video transfer, a solid DTS-HD Master Audio track, and a near-barebones supplemental package.