Mysterious Island (Widescreen) Reviews

• Rip roaring adventure

  
  By AQP1VPK16SVWM on 2003-12-12
  Mysterious Island was always a favorite Harryhausen film of mine as a kid. The screenplay and direction (like those for The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad and Jason and The Argonauts)is top notch. Director Cy Endfield has a solid cast and the pacing along with Bernard Herrmann's classic score creates an eerie and, well, mysterious feeling for most of the movie. The stand out in the cast is, of course, the marvelous and under rated Herbert Lom as Captain Nemo. If you haven't seen the film, I'd rather not spoil the third act of the film for you so won't go into too much detail.
  
  The Civil War is tearing America apart. A small group of Union soldiers and a reporter escape a military prison during the seige of Richmond, Virginia. They also have a There's a scouting balloon just outside the prison walls. As the attack rages, the prisoners escape in the balloon. They are washed up ashore on an uncharted island with a brewing volcano.
  
  It's not ordinary island (no surprise)though as they discover a giant crab and later, giant bees, chickens and other creatures. They're joined in their Robinson Crusoe adventure by a couple of women who are later washed ashore from a shipwreck. They soon discover the origin of the giant beasts and some nasty news about the volcano as well.
  
  The cast gives a good performance. Gary Merrill (best known for All About Eve and former husband of Betty Davis) and Michael Callan are the most recognizable faces. Callan was a regular in a number of movies and television shows as a supporting actor. Joan Greenwood also gives a convincing performance as well. Still, the stand out here is the brooding performance as Herbert Lom. Lom always managed to raise the bar in any film he appeared in.
  
  The screenplay (for those that are interested)isn't all that faithful to Verne's novel. The basic premise is drawn from his novel.
  
  The transfer is pretty good. I doubt with the multiple exposures used as part of the visual effects that the film could look much better than this. Given the use of traveling mattes, matte paintings and other optical effects the image is occasionally grainy and indistinct. There are also some minor issues with digital grain that crop up on occasion. This is usually due to compression issues. It's not a big distraction though and you probably won't notice it all that much in most cases.
  
  There's also some analog artifacts as well but these are mostly in the war sequence at the beginning which were clearly drawn from stock footage in the Columbia library (much as Jason used stock footage for the attack at the beginning and Sinbad for the longshot of the ship passing in the fog. In the latter film its pretty clear as the crew can be seen wearing 18 century sailor garb if one looks carefully).
  
  As it has been noted in previous reviews the soundtrack is in mono and sounds a bit flat. My guess is that, perhaps, Columbia used a different master for the video version of Mysterious Island or just compressed the heck out of it and boosted the bass to make it sound acceptable for video. The sound is quite good but Herrmann's score is in mono here. It would be nice if Columbia could go back to the original orchestral masters to remix and master this but I'm not sure if the original elements are event available.
  
  The extras are quite nice. The Making of Mysterious Island is quite informative as is the vintage "This is Dynamation" featurette included. The photo gallery and theatrical trailers are an improvement over previously issued Harryhausen DVDs. While this isn't quite up to the quality of, say, the Criterion Jason and The Argonauts laserdisc released a decade ago, it's an improvement over many of the vintage films being dumped onto the market for DVD.
  
  All told this is a pretty good (although not perfect) package from Columbia and a noble effort to release vintage films with extras on DVD.
  
  

• Greenwood and Harryhausen: Great!

  
  By A2GCHG6U8HTVIT on 2004-08-02
  This is a nice, satisfying telling of the Verne story, with special effects by Ray Harryhausen and a good score by Bernard Herrman. Escapees from a Civil War prison camp are blown way off course in a balloon they stole. They find themselves on an apparently deserted island somewhere in the Pacific, are joined by two women who were shipwrecked, and eventually come face-to-face with Captain Nemo and the wrecked Nautilus.
  
  They have to deal with pirates, an erupting volcano and Harryhausen's creature threats. These include very large versions of a hungry red crab, an aggressive chicken, a bee and an unhappy squid. Some of the creatures turn out to be very good boiled or roasted.
  
  The movie holds up well because of a strong story, good action, and fairly well-defined characters. It features Herbert Lom, in my view an under-rated actor, and Joan Greenwood. By this time Greenwood was taking character parts and doing a lot of stage work. But from the mid-Forties to the mid-Fifties she was, I think, one of the sexiest, smartest and funniest star actors Britain has ever produced. Her plummy, smoky voice is inimitable. She is coy and slightly lascivious in Kind Hearts and Coronets, sexy and brave in The Man in the White Suit.
  
  The DVD transfer is just fine.
  
  

• One of Harryhausen's BEST!!!

  
  By on 2002-11-03
  After "JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS", this has always been one of my favorite pictures by special effects guru RAY HARRYHAUSEN. The story is great, the monsters (especially the giant crab) look fantastic and HERBERT LOM is wonderful as CAPTAIN NEMO ("Contact with my species has always disappointed me"). The picture and sound on the DVD is most pleasing. My only complaint (and its a minor one), is I'm tired of seeing the hour long special "THE HARRYHAUSEN CHRONICLES" as a bonus feature. I think its on every Harryhausen disc except "JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS". Its a nice feature (don't get me wrong) but does it have to be on EVERY DISC? But the movie is what's most important and this is a very enjoyable film given a nice presentation on this DVD. Buy it and enjoy!!!
  
  

• JULES VERNES' CLASSIC TALE....

  
  By A1GF7BR6K22GZD on 2002-11-20
  Entertaining fantasy-adventure based on Jules Vernes' story about escapees from a Civil War prison who hijack a hot air observation balloon during a thunderstorm and get blown off course. They crash land on a strange island and discover it's inhabited by giant creatures. They are joined by two female survivors of a British ship wreck and forge together for survival. They battle a giant crab, a giant bird and a giant honeybee before they encounter the islands' oddest inhabitant---the infamous Capt.Nemo who has invented a submarine and learned to move about underwater with special equipment fashioned from giant sea shells. They are soon set upon by pirates whom Nemo dispatches when he sinks their ship. Nemo agrees to help them escape before a huge local volcano erupts. Great score by Bernard Herrmann and imaginatively filmed with a spirited cast. Only problem is the DVD transfer---it's not very good. Kind of a disappointment since this is a very colorful and stylish film. But since this is the best we can do for now I'll have to recommend it for lovers of escapist fare and Ray Harryhausen fans. The creatures are wonderful and the individual set pieces involving them are great. There's a marvelous underwater encounter with a giant tentacled shell creature near the end of the film that's mostly done in silence to great effect. The film is grand entertainment even if it's not the best quality DVD it should be.
  
  

• DISCOVERING NEMO

  
  By A3LZGLA88K0LA0 on 2004-10-25
  From its opening raindrenched hot air balloon sequence to its catastrophic volcanic eruption, MYSTERIOUS ISLAND is one of Ray Harryhausen's most brilliantly realized films. The master special effects wizard who long before CGI defined stop motion animation brings us fantastic sequences, including the giant crab, bees, chicken (or whatever) and squid. By 1961, Harryhausen had honed his art to where one can only marvel at how much a single man and his team could do.
  Herbert Lom (Phantom of the Opera, the Pink Panther series) is remarkable as the gentlemanly Captain Nemo, whose only goal is to rid the world of war; Gary Merrill is the crusty newspaper correspondent who admires Nemo; Michael Craig is the dashing leader of the Union soldiers; teen hearthrob Michael Callan is the somewhat cowardly young man who achieves his manhood after rescuring the fair Beth Rogan from the aforementioned giant chicken; Joan Greenwood is the snooty but earthly Lady; Percy Herbert, one of Britain's finest character actors, shows up as a confederate stowaway; and Dan Jackson is the black naval officer who helps everyone out. The revered Bernard Hermann offers one of his bombastic, but brilliant, scores, and the movie just sails along on its own energetic level.
  Children should be delighted to watch this movie, simply because it doesn't rely on gore, and one can show them what movies were like before computers.
  
  
• Mysterious Island
  By AVHW3NHUV579T on 2002-10-30
  One of the last Ray Harryhousen films to be released on DVD. Unfortunately a very grainy print. and the mono soundtrack is fair at best. Bernard Hermann's score in stereo is breathtaking but you won't here it on this DVD. That's unfortunate. Fair job of remastering on this one! However,
  The wide screen format is excellent. And the picture to this day is as entertaining as it was in 1961. Story and special effects are a treat!!! Fun and exciting to watch!
  
  
• Sounds like...
  By A35BSZORDA51XD on 2003-09-26
  There's a number of differences of opinions regarding the audio portion of this DVD. I own both the DVD and VHS versions of Mysterious Island, and can tell you that sonically the tape is superior, with Bernard Herrmann's score in stereo (as it was recorded). This is also true for the VHS version of The 7th Voyage of Sinbad. If the DVD of Sinbad is not up to the quality of the remastered tape (as another reviewer noted), then I'll not be in a rush to replace mine anytime soon. Thanks to the previous reviewers who noted this.
  
  
• It may not be Verne, but it is Harryhausen
  By on 2002-09-18
  Another Stop-Motion tour de force by the undisputed master of the art form.If you have to write a book report, make sure you read the book , it's very loosely adapted. The creatures scenes of note include a fight with a giant crab, and a giant bee sealing people in a honeycomb.While giantism abounds on the Mysterious Island, Harryhausen does slip in a prehistoric bird, in context most people assume it's a giant chicken.It may not be Harryhausen's best, but he's never made a bad film.Collect them all.
  
  
• one heck of a movie
  By AU96UXTYO6BXJ on 2003-12-15
  this is one of my favorite jules verne movie along with 20000 leagues...but my only complaint as with all columbia harryhausen movies on dvd is sound..my vhs tape is 4 times better sound than this dvd..i'm asking if ray reads any of these or someone from columbia dvd please do better a better job on sound...my dvd list on chapter and extras has better sound than the movie..it would mean so much to all fans if these were redone and done right with at least surround sound on all ray's movies on dvd.
  
  
• The Island of Gigantic Creatures
  By A23Q1T4MXZHFM7 on 2007-03-11
  Jules Verne is one of my favorite classic science fiction writers so Verne based movies are on my must-see list. In Japan Mysterious Island is not that well-known Verne stories just as Around The World In Eighty Days, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea or Adrift In The Pacific. So this 1961 movie gives me a great clue because I haven't yet read the original novel.
  
  The story in this movie seems to blend elements of various classic adventure stories such as Defoe's "Robinson Cruisoe", Swift's "Gulliver's Travels", as well as Verne novels such as "Around The World...", "20,000 leauges..." and "Adrift In The Pacific". Special effects in this movie reminds me of "Boy I Shrank The Kids". It seems not like that the creature got bigger but humans shrank before the creatures. Special effects seems outdated viewing from CG-accustommed modernists. Yet the film is vivid because of the splendid acting particularly Captain Nemo. Cartoon like adventures galore.
  
  Verdict: Despite its outdated F/X the movie delivers
  Rating: 89 out of 100
  Recommended for: Wide range of classic Sci-fi movies fans.
  
  
• Exciting sci-fi
  By A2Q13PHEXGR48Q on 2003-07-05
  Mysterious Island is a very exciting movie that is even better because of the graphics done by Ray Harryhausen. Five Union prisoners and one Confederate soldier in a hot air balloon are caught up in a huge storm, blown off course and crash land on an unknown island full of plenty of secrets. The castaways meet two women whose ship was sunk forcing them to take cover on the island. All the survivors must deal with a huge crab, enormous bees, an oversized bird, and plenty of other surprises. The creatures made by Harry Hausen are very good and really ahead of his time. Without computer graphics, he was able to make excellent creatures that still look very good.
  
  Michael Craig plays the heroic leader of the castaways and is pretty good in the role. The rest of the Union prisoners are also okay, but I didn't recognize any of them from other roles. The Confederate soldier I recognize from The Bridge on the River Kwai, but cannot remember his name. Herbert Lom appears late in the movie as Captain Nemo, the famous submarine commander who disappeared several years before the story takes place. The DVD is great with extras that show how Hausen created some of the creatures, a making of documentary, theatrical trailer and widescreen presentation. This is a very enjoyable movie that keeps you in your seat from beginning to end! Do not miss!
  
  
• solid family fun
  By A2Y8GWKBMHQRKZ on 2003-03-01
  I've reviewed the VHS version of this movie, and the DVD doesn't add much, but the picture and sound are definitely clearer, and you get a short documentary about the making of the movie. You also get some other documentaries that seem to appear on all of the DVD's of Harryhausen movies, which would interest you more if this was the first such movie you had.

  It's a lot of fun, my kids especially like it, and they did a good job putting it on DVD.
  
  

• Another Harryhausen DVD disappointment
  By A3IUSV27ZZ4EFK on 2003-04-27
  Finally got this DVD,and again I was disappointed with the less then great remaster of this movie. Just like the " 7th Voyage Of Sinbad" DVD, this one's soundtrack really let me down, especially when I had the vhs version where the picture and soundtrack was really remastered. The soundtrack on the vhs had a great surround sound quality, even though it never mentions it on the box cover,and this DVD sorely lacks this. Columbia Pictures really got sloppy with this like they did with "7th Voyage",and when they claim remastered in high definition sound and picture, and then its not,I think you should get your money back. The only reason I give it 2 stars is being in widescreen, and thats a shame as this is one of my favorite Harryhausen movies.
  
  
• No, it wasn't faithful to Verne...
  By A31U2QT7SAL7K on 2004-07-04
  However, what movie versions of literature usually are? Instead of criticizing the liberties taken, let's just look at the points of merit of the film: great special effects by way of the stop-motion master Ray Harryhausen, a stirring score by legendary Bernard Herrmann, superb scenery, a tale of survival, and lots of action.

  Of course the acting is a little wooden but there are decent performances from Herbert Lom as "Captain Nemo", Joan Greenwood as "Lady Fairchild", and Gary Merrill (the former MR. Bette Davis) as "Mr. Spillet".

  The real highlight for this viewer upon the film's release was the inclusion of a pivotal character portrayed by a black man, Dan Jackson as "Neb". The character is in the novel but he is younger and a bit too "subservient," reflecting the times of the book's publication. In 1961 it was notable to see a black man in a fantasy film, portraying an "equal" to his fellow castaways.

  The DVD extras, including the documentary "The Harryhausen Chronicles", are adequate but the film holds its own as a wonderful excursion into the fanciful and makes for a fine family film.
  
  

• Another Harrhausen Classic
  By A3CTN13CF7DCSN on 2007-03-10
  A must have film for all Harryhausen fans. Good storyline,plenty of beasts, a little romance and great action.
  
  
• A journey worth taking
  By A3559I6Q7RCPP3 on 2003-07-16
  The Mysterious Island, released two years before one of Harryhausen's most celebrated works, Jason and the Argonauts, still stands well enough by itself. Granted, a battle with a giant crab kind of pales alongside a battle with a skeleton army, but hey-tastes differ. My favorite effects sequence was with the giant bees-I'm still in awe over the attention to detail that was shown to the bee's movement and to the hive. Other highs: the prison escape sequence in the beginning and the balloon ride, the undersea battle with the shellback squid or whatever it was called, the inside of the Nautillus, which reflected more of a swinging sixties theme than a nautical one, and of course, the gigantic prehistoric chicken--I mean, come on! What more can you ask for? The special features are nice, you will get some insight into the making of MI. The transfer was okay to me, but I don't niggle very often about those things. Turn the volume up, turn the lights off and you have all the cinematic experience you could ever hope for.
  
  
• WHAT IS A PHORORHACOS ??
  By A3A81ZZ4ANLZ8G on 2004-03-28
  A Prehistoric Phororhacos (a giant chicken like bird!), you'll have to see it to believe it. Only the legendary special effects wizard Ray Harryhausen could come up with such an imaginative and colorful creature. Once again Harryhausen's incredible imagination and stop-motion dynamation process brings to life creatures we could never ourselves imagine. They used to show this movie every so often on Saturday afternoons, it was always a fun filled journey into escapism and a treat to watch. The picture is clear and the colors are vibrant to say the least. My only complaint is that the sound isn't in 5.1 Dolby Digital, but it's still really good. Bernard Herrmann's score is excellent and in my opinion brings the film to another level. Mysterious Island is based on the work of Jules Verne and considered to be the sequel to 20,000 Leagues under the Sea. While Jules Verne's novel didn't include any gigantic creatures the film took some liberties and allowed Harryhausen to give us wonderful creatures such as giant oysters, bees, Phororhacos , undersea cephalopod and a giant crab. Fill up the popcorn bowl and turn out the lights. Now sit back and take a journey to the "Mysterious Island". You won't be disappointed with this movie. Thanks to Columbia Pictures for putting this movie on DVD. Pure fun for the whole family!
  
  On the DVD
  Digitally mastered audio & anamorphic video
  Remastered in high definition
  Photo gallery
  The making of Mysterious Island
  The Harryhausen chronicles
  "This is dynamation featurette
  Widescreen presentation
  English audio
  English, French, and Spanish subtitles
  Theatrical trailers
  Interactive menus
  Scene selections
  
  
  
• Ray Harryhausen lends his talents to this Jules Verne story
  By A2NJO6YE954DBH on 2006-07-08
  There was a woefully bad 15-part serial version of Jules Verne's "Mysterious Island" released in 1951 that stupidly gave away the big surprise by listing Captain Nemo's name in the credits. Fortunately a decade later the release of this version of "Mysterious Island" replaced that one in the public's consciousness. The team that put together "Mysterious Island" consisted of producer Charles Schneer, special effects wizard Ray Harryhausen, and composer Bernard Herrmann, which is important because it puts the film more in the tradition of their earlier collaborations, "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad" and "Jason and the Argonauts," than it does Verne's novels. Obviously the 1954 Disney film version of "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" had an influence on this 1961 film by director Cy Endfield ("Zulu") as well.
  
  During the American Civil War, Union Captain Cyrus Harding (Michael Craig) is being held prisoner in a Confederate prison camp along with young Herbert Brown (Michael Callan), cynical "New York Herald" reporter Gideon Spillett (Gary Merrill), and a former slave named Corporal Neb Nugent (Dan Jackson). During a massive hurricane the group escape by stealing an observation balloon and sailing over the palisade, taking with them a Confederate soldier, Sergeant Pencroft (Percy Herbert). The storm is so fierce that it blows them to an uncharted (and dare I say, mysterious) island somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean, where the balloon crashes.
  
  Harding is pulled from the water by unseen figure and the group decides to put the war behind them and work together to survive (I was going to say this is sort of like "Survivor," after the merger, which Nemo playing the Jeff Probst role, but clearly the more relevant television analogy today would be to "Lost"). But beyond the basic requirements of staying alive they learn that they have to contend with monstrously giant crabs, equally giant bees, and a ship full of bloodthirsty pirates. To make things more interesting a pair of shipwrecked female castaways are added to the little band, namely Lady Mary Fairchild (Joan Greenwood) and her pretty young niece, Elena (Beth Rogan). Using the abandoned cliff side cave of the pirates as their new home the castaways settle in for the long haul, all the while receiving timely help from their mysterious benefactor.
  
  I never read the novel, but I still have the "Classics Illustrated" comic book version of "Mysterious Island." For me the big impression was the things the castaways did to bring a touch of civilization to the island, and while that is greatly reduced in the film you do get a least a visual sense of what they have been up to in order to make the best of a bad situation. Of course, the situation proceeds to get even worse, which forces the unseen benefactor, Captain Nemo (Herbert Lom), to reveal himself and his identity, and to help the castaways one last time.
  
  It is a good thing that Lom does not show up until the end of the film, because he overpowers the rest of the cast, just as his character enjoys superiority over them as well. Merrill stands out from the rest as the crotchety reporter, who is almost as smart as he is cynical, and Craig manages to hang on to the hero role throughout, but Herbert and Elena descend to the puppy love phase and are just begging to be eaten by one of the giant creatures on the island, preferably the giant chicken. This is not a great film for this genre, but it certainly holds up as a more than decent Saturday matinee movie.
  
  Harryhausen's stop-motion animation is always fun, even though no one will consider his work in "Mysterious Island" to be up to the finest moments of "Sinbad" or "Jason." The link between the giant animals and Captain Nemo is a bit absurd, since hunger has never been considered one of the causes of the American Civil War, but by the time we learn about these we have already enjoyed the castaways trying to fight the monsters (the crab is the best and the chicken has to be the nadir of Harryhausen's distinguished career). Actually, the balloon journey at the beginning provides the best special effects in the movie, especially given the impressive musical score by Herrmann. This movie is not about political philosophy, but about monsters in an exotic location and the sense of adventure that has thrilled young schoolboys for generations.
  
  
• The Creativity, Idealism, and Venality of Captain Nemo
  By A3Q04XXGGED746 on 2007-03-14
  
  I first saw this film as a child, and remember being thrilled by the scenes. It was a delight to see it again after some 40 years. But there is more to this film than meets the eye. Other reviewers have extensively discussed the adventure aspects of this film, and I will instead focus on some deeper issues raised.
  
  Captain Nemo said that he lived alone on the island because he had become disillusioned with humanity. He especially opposed war, and, in previous years, had used his invention of the submarine to sink battleships. One of the Union soldiers stranded on the island pointed out Nemo's inconsistency: Nemo opposed violence, yet used violence to promote his goals! The Union soldier also pointed out that he himself was using violence to promote a worthy cause--the freeing of the slaves in the American Civil War.
  
  Nemo said that he changed his mind about living alone forever as a result of the determined struggles of the castaways in attempting to survive. That is what motivated Nemo to help the castaways surreptitiously by such things as dragging one of the nearly-drowned soldiers to shore and building a fire for him, shooting the giant chicken, sinking the attacking pirate ship at a critical time, etc.
  
  Nemo also came to believe that war was caused by human want. This is what motivated him to make these giant versions of creatures such as the crab, chicken, and bee. These giant creatures would provide an inexhaustible supply of food for all humans, and there would be no more need for war.
  
  Nemo was creative, and said that he was a man of reason, not faith. Yet at a critical time, Nemo became resigned to death because of the unexpectedly-early erupting volcano. Ironically, he had to be prodded by the castaways to not give up and to adopt one of their ideas. They used the balloon to raise the sunken pirate ship for the escape. The castaways make it, but will Nemo? I will not spoil the ending by revealing it.
  
  
  
  
  
• great sci fi
  By A2KGMLHTZAYTRT on 2003-10-24
  one of the better sci fi flicks in the early 60's and a must for all fans of jules verne. this movie has a great storey line and a great adventure tale to boot.
  maybe a re make will make this a better movie, this is the kinda movies..kids should see on saturday afternoon.
  
  
• Great Survival/Fantasy Adventure!
  By A3O536E2YOKK4Y on 2005-10-13
  "Mysterious Island," based on the classic Jules Verne book, is outstanding for a number of reasons:
  
  -- A truly awe-inspiring score by Bernard Herrmann, one of cinema's best ever.
  -- Likable cast & characters, including Michael Craig as Captain Craig and Herbert Lom as the eccentric genius Captain Nemo.
  -- Good acting & script.
  -- Fantastic creature F/X by Ray Harryhausen, which holds up well TO THIS DAY.
  -- Compelling adventure/survival story (unlike, say, the comparatively boring "Jason and the Argonauts").
  -- A very authentic vibe of mystery.
  -- Some interesting musings on humanity's penchant for war & violence and possible solutions, etc.
  -- Fabulous Spanish coastal locations (with interesting fake mountain & volcano backdrops).
  -- If you're a red-blooded male you'll find it hard to take your eyes off young cutie Beth Rogan (Elena) and her skimpy island outfit. Trust me, she blows Raquel Welch and her infamous cavegirl outfit in "One Million Years BC" out of the water.
  -- Lastly, the seven castaways include African-American Dan Jackson as Corporal Neb Nugent, a highly likable character just as important as any of the others. This is no big deal today, of course, but keep in mind the film was made in 1961 BEFORE the Civil Rights Movement and five full years before Star Trek featured Uhura as an important cast member in 1966.
  
  CONCLUSION: Although "Mysterious Island" is from 1961 it's so well made that its age is irrelevant. Make no mistake, this is cinema of the highest order -- a must for all fantasy/adventure/survival fans.
  
  
• so , you want to go to an island .....far far away .......
  By A3KHV9XIMBLROU on 2006-01-31
  This little treasure is one of my favorites from childhood ! This was the Thanksgiving day movie followed by JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS ( BOTH ARE TWO OF RAY'S ) ..... JUST GET THE ENTIRE SET !!! YOU'LL BE HAPPY YOU DID !!!
  
  
• Mysterious Dynamation
  By AAEP8YFERQ8FC on 2006-11-07
  "Mysterious Island" is a 1961 adaption of the book of the same name by Jules Verne, a film that features effects animated with stop motion by Ray Harryhausen. It was a lot of fun to watch, and the special features on the DVD were great.
  
  In the midst of the American civil war, a group of prisoners escape and hijack a balloon. Unfortunately gets caught in a storm and blown all the way through to the Pacific Ocean. The group manage to survive the squall and the seas and wash up on a mysterious island, lush, fertile and crowned with a still active volcano. Together with a couple of women from a shipwreck, they make a living, gather goats and work on making a ship to get back home. Blunt and primitive axes are the least of their problems. This mysterious island is full of giant animals: giant crabs, giant birds and giant bees, all of them rather defensive when they come in contact with people. There's also the threat of pirates, and the curious Captain Nemo. Will the group ever make it off the island? Is there something about this island they should know?
  
  There's a lot to like about this film, I reckon. It's well paced, it's got a memorable bunch of characters who have great little conversations. My favorite character is probably Mr Spilitt, the war journalist whose a bit rough around the edges, and the only civilian man washed up on the island. They're always giving him a hard time, it's kind of funny. Ray Harryhousen's stop motion special effects are really cool too, as they always are. The matte paintings used for the backgrounds are beautifully done, and really added to the mystery and depth of the island. The tropical location helped too.
  
  Special features include an hour length documentary called "The Harryhousen Chronicles", narrated by Leonard Nimoy (he gets around, doesn't he?). It's covers Ray Harryhousen's stop motion career, from it's beginnings in his parent's garage, all the way to his Oscar win in 1992 for his contributions. It features interviews with Ray Harryhousen, Ray Bradbury and George Lucas, to name a few people, and also features a little bit (not a whole lot, but a little bit) of previously unseen stop-motion footage from a couple of Ray Harryhousen's rejected and unfinished projects. It was all really interesting. There's also an original 1960s featurette called "This is Dynamation", which is mostly a promotional showcase for Harryhousen's effects in "The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad", plus a featurette specifically about Harryhausen's effects in "Mysterious Island", featuring Ray Harryhausen once again. There's also a photo gallery of various shots and promotional material. A good selection of special features, I thought. It's thorough, but not overwhelming.
  
  I'd recommend this film to anyone with a love of adventure and anyone with an eye for old time special effects. It's worth a look.
  
  
• It is NOT wide screen
  By A38QG5NMV0G7YU on 2007-01-11
  The movie is a 5. The fact that it's advertised as Wide Screen yet isn't is why I give this a 4. Mysterious Island is one of my favorite movies, but I've never seen it in wide screen. (I was grounded as a kid when it was at the movies ...) Anyway, I was excited to finally be able to see Mysterious Island in Wide Screen. It's advertised that way, states it's wide screen on the package, but trust me -- it isn't.
  
  
• MYSTERIOUS ISLAND
  By A3IJIPOERIV7Y5 on 2007-02-19
  Jules Verne's tale of "Mysterious Island" comes to life in this 1961 adaption brought to the screen for us by Producer-Charles H. Schneer and Creator of Visual Effects-Ray Harryhausen. The screenplay is well written by John Prebble, Daniel Ullman and Crane Wilbur; being wonderfully directed by Cy Endfield.
  The visual effects created by Ray Harryhausen are great as usual and include a Giant Crab, the Phororhacos, Giant Bees and the Cephalopod. There is a really solid cast in this film which includes Michael Craig, Joan Greenwood, Michael Callan, Gary Merrill, and Beth Rogan. Herbert Lom delivers a fine performance as Captain Nemo. This movie was filmed in Spain and the location is quite nice. The music by Bernard Herrmann conducting the London Symphony Orchestra is absolutely fabulous, setting the tone throughout the entire movie. There are also special features, which includes "The Harryhausen Chronicles" narrated by Leonard Nimoy.
  I remember being fascinated with this movie as a child growing up and always wanting more, wishing the movie would have ran a little bit longer than usual. While I love this movie and am very grateful to own it on DVD, there are some things that need to be mentioned here.
  In the widescreen process, the top and the bottom of the picture are cut off, which is really weird. Note: when the movie starts showing, you will see that the bottom of the Columia Pictures statue is cut off. This movie also needs major restoration, and Columbia Pictures should not have released it without doing so. The audio is in 1.0 mono which is an insult; it should have been remastered in 5.1 surround.
  To sum it up: the movie needs a major restoration and it should be remastered in 5.1 surround with an excellent anamorphic video presentation. However, it is an excellent movie and I am glad to have it on DVD. Anything that Ray Harryhausen is involved in is great!
  
  
• What book was this based?
  By on 2003-06-11
  Almost, but not quite, entirely unlike the book. Verne did not
  write about women, they were only very minor characters in
  a couple of his books. There were no giant critters in the
  book. But the movie was very enjoyable saturday matinee
  fun when I was a kid. Ray Harryhausen's stop-action special
  effects were state of the art at the time, but now look
  quite primitive. This movie is not an early classic like
  Forbidden Planet, but is a good B movie.
  
  
• Mysterious Island
  By A2JF35K1KMSD97 on 2005-10-08
  Excellent, during the 60's this type of movie was inovative and the special effects by Harryhausen were superb. This movie and others of this type stand the test of time.
  
  
• Exciting Action Adventure Enlived By Superb Harry Hausen Special Effects
  By A2TOU0N8XE68W4 on 2005-12-07
  Ray Harryhausen really is one of the legends of Hollywood Filmmaking and his genius for creating amazing special effects is evident in all of his films in the science fiction/fantasy genre such as "The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad, "Jason and the Argonauts", and this effort "Mysterious Island", based on the novel by Jules Verne. While not his most spectacular effort "Mysterious Island", is still hugely entertaining and contains some of the masters best work in stop motion animation. The film comes across more as a great old fashioned adventure yarn like those that many of us were fortunate enough to grow up with and the beasts that were created for this story namely a giant crab, a huge birdlike dinosaur, and a swarm of gigantic bees were really unsurpassed for this time making "Mysterious Island", essential in the collection of any science fiction lover.
  
  
• Should be more like this
  By A3A66MBY6K0O9E on 2006-07-05
  I admit my review may be tinged by nostalgia, but I find that even after the many years that have passed since I viewed this as a youth, it still retains its ability to instill a sense of participation in an incredible adventure. Well written, and with a wonderful cast, this movie still retains the charm and sense of wonder that it filled me with as a boy. An adventure the whole family can enjoy. I highly recommend it to a whole new generation of viewers. Sit down and watch it with your kids or grandkids. You won't regret it.
  
  
• Survivor On The Mysterious Island
  By A1U360OMVQRPUB on 2006-11-26
  I watched this with my nine-year-old, who noticed immediately that the pacing of the story was slower than he was used to. I explained that was how things used to be done in movies. Now everything is hurry up and get it done. Still, he stayed as glued to the TV as I did, and I'd seen the movie before -- the first time when I was about his age, and in black-and-white because it was on the Sunday matinee Mystery Theater.
  
  The reason "The Mysterious Island" works, and it's more than Ray Harryhausen's great claymation sequences, is because this is old school storytelling. You've got Civil War prisoners, Union soldiers, escaping from a Confederate prison by hot air balloon, then getting caught in an unusual storm that blows them completely across the United States and nearly to New Zealand, as they find out later.
  
  The sheer adventure of the tale, not knowing what to expect and what was going to happen to the heroes, carries the story along. After they reach the island, things become a bit more predictable, but watching everything come together is still a fascinating bit that's worth rewatching or introducing to young audiences. There's enough action without being overly violent or bloody to keep them fretful about the heroes and how everything is going to turn out. And, thankfully, there are several comical moments too.
  
  Freely adapted from Jules Verne's novel, THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND is a grand adventure that employs great storytelling and a little bit of science that elementary school students can enjoy. I'm glad movies have moved on from here in the special effects and on-location departments, but the best elements of adventure are contained within this movie. It's nice to re-visit the old neighborhood, and THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND is one of the best tickets you'll get.
  
  

• Journey to the Center of the Earth
• 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (Special Edition)
• The Time Machine
• H.G. Wells' First Men in the Moon
• Jason and the Argonauts