5.9 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Glenn Manning, "The Amazing Colossal Man," believed dead after falling from the Hoover Dam, reemerges in rural Mexico, brain damaged, disfigured, and very hungry.
Starring: Russ Bender, Rico Alaniz, George Becwar, Charles Stewart (III), June JocelynHorror | 100% |
Sci-Fi | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
In 1957, director Bert I. Gordon found a hit with “The Amazing Colossal Man,” his submission for the giant creature subgenre sweepstakes, riding a trend with a supersized human twist. The picture has some credible drama to fuel its weirdness, with the screenplay trying to create a sympathetic character out of a 60-foot-tall man, understanding his frustrations before a city-threatening rampage began. For 1958, Gordon returns to the well for “War of the Colossal Beast,” which isn’t sold as a sequel, but it tries to be, catching up with the newly alive abomination as he struggles with a fresh round of scientific prodding and military hostility.
The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers "War of the Colossal Beast" with a "New 2K Scan of the Fine-Grain Film Element." It's a nice upgrade for a feature that's never been treated with much respect on home video, gifting fans an appealing level of detail that explores makeup achievements and costuming. Dimension is compelling with outdoor visits and warehouse tours, maintaining dimension. Delineation is satisfactory. The brief color sequence that concludes the picture delivers enjoyable pop. Source is in good condition, with some mild judder and speckling, and a few jumpy frames.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix brings clarity to dialogue exchanges in "War of the Colossal Beast," with mild sibilance issues at times. Dramatic emphasis is noted, and voices remain clear. Colossal Man grunting is pitched a little louder, endeavoring to add some intimidation to the creature, which is effective, but fuzzes out on occasion. Scoring isn't precise, but musical moods are set, ramping up violent encounters. Some weird and brief fluctuation is found at the 59:00 mark, but this could be an artistic choice or an inherent issue.
"The Amazing Colossal Man" enjoyed more attention to character and motivation. "War of the Colossal Beast" is a quickie that forgoes story to deal with known elements of oddness, though the sequel is more gruesome in many ways, including a bravely downbeat ending. That's an improvement. The rest is entertaining but largely forgettable, reserved for monster movie junkies and Gordon aficionados.
1954
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1982
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1978
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1957
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2013
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Спутник
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The Alien Incident
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Warner Archive Collection
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1953