Visual special effects have evolved enormously over the years. In this day and age, it would seem that nothing is impossible in the movies. Animals, aliens, robots, machines and monsters could all be made to interact seamlessly with humans and the environment, whether it is in this world, outer space or some imaginary places. One of the greatest visual effect pioneers, innovators and auteurs in the history of cinema is Ray Harryhausen, creator of the unique form of stop motion animation known as Dynamation and source of inspiration for many of today's best filmmakers.
The Fantastic Films Of Ray Harryhausen, which is due to be released in Australia by Via Vision Entertainment on August 19, is a must-own collection for all fans of Harryhausen. It consists of 4 of his best known works, including The 7th Voyage Of Sinbad (1958), The Golden Voyage Of Sinbad (1973), Sinbad And The Eye Of the Tiger (1977) and Jason & The Argonauts (1963), and is available in both Blu-ray and DVD formats. Besides the feature films, the collection also contains extensive bonus supplements, including a rare documentary on Harryhausen.
I had the pleasure of checking out this collection on Blu-rays. Since these films have all been reviewed countless times before already, rather than focusing on specific actors, characters, plots or sets, I will share some general thoughts on revisiting the films.
First, I watched Jason & The Argonauts, considered by many people to be Harryhausen's best film. And that's hardly surprising because it truly is a timeless classic. Like many of Harryhausen's other films, it features creations that simply outshine the actors. The metal giant and the seven sword-fighting skeletons look alive and menacing and make the action scenes not just spectacular, but also thrilling; unlike many of today's films that rely too much on over-polished and over-the-top computer generated effects.
Then, I checked out his three films based on the stories of Sinbad the Sailor. Each of the films features a brand new adventure and gives Harryhausen the perfect opportunity to bring to life more amazing creatures. "Every voyage has its own flavor," says Sinbad in The Golden Voyage Of Sinbad. The same could be said about Harryhausen's Sinbad films - they all have different styles and feature different villains and mythical creatures, but they share one thing in common in that they all showcase swashbuckling adventures on the high seas. These films are incredibly fun to watch even today and really evoke the wonder of childhood.
The overall video and audio qualities of the Blu-rays are excellent, and some graininess in certain scenes is understandable considering the age of the films. And while some of the visual effects may appear basic by today's standards, overall they hold up well. And the fact that they were made 40-50 years ago just proves how far Harryhausen was ahead of his time.
The Fantastic Films Of Ray Harryhausen is a great way to experience the magic and wonder of his films. I have never seen any of the films on the big screen, and may never get the opportunity to do so. But thanks to the release of his classic films on Blu-rays and DVDs such as in this wonderful collection, I now get to watch the best of them over and over again.