Rating summary
| Movie |  | 4.0 |
| Video |  | 3.5 |
| Audio | | 3.5 |
| Extras |  | 3.0 |
| Overall | | 3.5 |
The Land Unknown Blu-ray Movie Review
A mysterious land of dinosaurs and man-eating plants awaits.
Reviewed by Neil Lumbard May 11, 2019
“They don't make them like
they used
to.” - Anonymous
This is a saying which causes
me much aggravation given that storytelling and a love for the craft
of filmmaking is generously found in so many fields of filmmaking
today. While there is some truth to the saying (and one can even
sense that now with the way in which a large effects film like
Avengers: Endgame can demolish box-office records)
the truth
is that genre filmmaking, such as today's modern CGI blockbuster,
holds its roots in the classics of yesteryear which inspired them.
The Land Unknown is
an example
of this inspiration. The film is an old-school genre picture that
palpably demonstrates how much energy and excitement can be created
around a monster-movie concept without a big-budget for the CGI
department of today's modern technical wizards. These cinematic
make-up and prosthetic effects artists crafted worlds from the ground
up with their own singular imaginations.
The film focuses upon a
small group of
explorers who head out across an Antarctic region looking to expand
upon their scientific research. The team is led by the head-honcho
Commander Hal (Jock Mahoney) and the group is capably aided by the
beautiful and smart journalist Margaret (Shawn Smith). In setting out
on this quest, the team finds themselves thrust into the chaos of a
storm that destroys their helicopter and strands them on an island.
This isn't any ordinary island, however. It's a land filled with
man-eating plants, giant creatures, and prehistoric dinosaurs!
What? Is there something behind me?
While the dinosaurs are
made out of
rubber and prosthetic and you can sometimes tell it's being acted out
by a man wearing a giant dinosaur costume, the film has a clear
enthusiasm for its genre roots and is a total blast for anyone
willing to go on a fun B-movie adventure. The film has excitement
and thrills (just as the movie-trailers foretell). The
Land
Unknown wears its genre-infused heart on its sleeve.
Based upon a story written
by Charles
Palmer (The Sellout, Lost Boundaries),
the film's
screenplay was written by Laszlo Gorog (The Affairs of Susan,
The Mole People). The story is fairly
straightforward. Nothing
too unsurprising happens with regards to the plot. (Note: If you're
watching this for a surprise ending, you're watching the wrong
movie.) Yet the script is loose and fun and audiences can really find
something to grasp on to with this terrific genre film.
The cinematography by Ellis
Carter
(King of the Rocket Men, The Invisible
Monster) is a great aid to the storytelling. With the fast-paced direction of
Virgil Vogel (The Six Million Dollar Man, The
Sword of Ali
Baba), The Land Unknown is an often
overlooked gem in the
adventure genre. For audiences looking for a fun weekend Matinee
flick, look no further. Here's your answer.
The Land Unknown Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
The release is presented on
Blu-ray
with a 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded presentation in the original 2.35:1
widescreen aspect ratio. This is an impressive presentation by Kino.
The film scan utilized is excellent. The film has only occasional
minor specks of print wear and is in terrific condition. The
photography has some sequences with soft optics but for the most part
it has a crisp look and the presentation is admirably upgraded with
the high-definition video. Fine film grain is also intact.
The Land Unknown Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
The Land Unknown is
presented
with a lossless audio quality DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo track.
This is a strong lossless audio presentation which preserves the
sound design of the film. The clarity and fidelity of the audio is
superb. While the film's presentation might not have as much of the
punch or oomph of modern productions, the dialogue clarity is
terrific. The release includes optional English subtitles.
The Land Unknown Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
Audio Commentary by film
historians Tom Weaver and David Schecter
Animated Image
Gallery (HD, 1
min. 48 sec.) is a video-montage including high-quality prints of
photography from the film's production.
The Land Unknown
Trailer (SD, 2
min. 10 sec.)
Trailers are also included
for the
following films: One Million Years B.C., War-Gods
of the
Deep, The Land That Time Forgot, At
the Earth's Core,
The People That Time Forgot, The Island of
Dr. Moreau,
and The Neptune Factor.
The Land Unknown Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
The Land Unknown
is a fun
old-school genre adventure. The film's showcase of man-eating
plant life and gigantic prehistoric dinosaurs makes it worth a view.
Shawn Smith (a true beauty and talent) also stands out as a great
member of the cast. This old-school adventure is great fun and will
please audiences of all ages. While the special effects might be
different than modern films, the creativity is unabashedly superb.
The release sports strong video and audio and is well worth
consideration.
