Blu-ray Review Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959) Blu-ray Review (1 Viewer)

[TheVid]

I'm just curious. By anamorphic projector, do you mean you have an anamorphic lens attachment (Panamorph, I think they are called) for viewing 2.35:1 movies?

Yes, exactly, a projector that squeezes the image then switches to a lens attachment. It's not mine, but I watched it with friends at a locally-owned electronics store. I sure wish I didn't have to live without one of those!

 

[Johnny Angell]

and it seems worth mentioning that FOX decides to license JOURNEY for premium pricing, but gives WALMART exclusivity to an obscure title (even for Duke fans) like BARBARIAN in a blu-ray/dvd package for 13 bucks.

when someone is browsing discs, I'd would argue that Wayne's star power removes almost any of his movies from the obscure list. Why Journey is considered too obscure for the usual business model, escapes me.

 

[Radioman970]

Mine arrived today!

Very cool. Boone is a delight in that. I didn't even know who he was when I was a kid and I thought it was the coolest guy to be traveling with that old looking dude James Mason.

 

When "Journey" was first shown on US network TV in October 1965, on The ABC Sunday Night Movie, it was shown without opening credits. The credits were placed at the end of the film after the final commercial ("The stars and credits of tonight's show"). I remember being amazed that Pat Boone got top billing over James Mason. But Pat was quite good in the film - it's easily the best movie he ever appeared in.

 

[Radioman970]

that always messes me up when the credits are last... the movie playing again?!!
I don't remember Boone in anything else. In the 80s, on a station I was working at, I was the only one (sucker!) who didn't mind doing the Sunday morning stuff. I'd get there about 6AM and run all the church stuff. We had the Pat Boone show on cassette I'd run. It was very relaxing. Pat would say "and now, my own sweet daughter Debbie will sing for you..." Sometimes it would be Light up my Life! :p I still have a few of those cassettes, but Pat is probably recorded over on most of them, with my air check.

 

[Matt Hough]

Pat Boone was at one time one of the top ten box-office stars in America (ranked as high as #3), so it's no surprise that his name was placed first. Despite being Oscar nominated and appearing in many films for the decade previous, James Mason was not a box-office star to the same extent.

 

[Bob Furmanek]

My friend works with Pat Boone. He said he has not met a nicer, more level-headed star from that era.

 

[Jon Hertzberg]

My friend works with Pat Boone. He said he has not met a nicer, more level-headed star from that era.

Yeah, I'm sure he's a nice man...I just wish he'd cut back on the anti-gay and anti-Obama ravings.

 

I got to "talk" to Pat Boone in an online chat in 1996 over Prodigy (anybody remember Prodigy?) I had just gotten a computer, and couldn't believe it when he took my question. He said he was very proud of "Journey" and singled out Bernard Herrmann, praising him for his invaluable contribution to the film.

 

[John Hermes]

My friend works with Pat Boone. He said he has not met a nicer, more level-headed star from that era.

I met Pat at a couple celebrity golf tournaments around 1980. He was very nice and accommodating. I still have my super 8 sound film with him ad lib singing and joking with us. People forget what a huge music chart star he was in the 1950s, second only to Elvis.

 

[Radioman970]

He had bigger hits with covering many current goldie oldies than the original artists. I don't think his versions are as sought after today as they once were.

 

[Robin9]

He had bigger hits with covering many current goldie oldies than the original artists. I don't think his versions are as sought after today as they once were.

Some of his movies are sought after! Come on Twilight Time. Where's April Love? And what about Bernadine?

 

[Eric Vedowski]

In the original press reports about the Twilight Time line (from 12/10) "April Love" was one of the movies listed. I believe it was mentioned on their Facebook page as well.

 

[JoHud]

Where's April Love?

Last I heard, Fox was still working on getting a quality transfer so it may be a while before TT is able to make it available.

 

[Robin9]

Last I heard, Fox was still working on getting a quality transfer so it may be a while before TT is able to make it available.

Well, that's encouraging at least. Thank you.

 

[Bob Furmanek]

I spoke with my friend who does work with Fox materials.
This was a straight out optical 35mm film job. It was not a frame by frame 4K scan with digital clean-up.

 

[David Weicker]

I spoke with my friend who does work with Fox materials.
This was a straight out optical 35mm film job. It was not a frame by frame 4K scan with digital clean-up.

Could you clarify which film you are referring to - Journey To The Center Of The Earth, or April Love?
David

 

[Bob Furmanek]

Oh, sorrow, it was Journey.

 

[RolandL]

Oh, sorrow, it was Journey.

Hey Bob,
I knew what you were talking about.
I wish web sites would do a better job of screen shots. Blu-ray.com makes the shots look like a DVD - http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Jules-Vernes-Journey-to-the-Center-of-the-Earth-Blu-ray/39539/ . If you click on the images they are 1920 by 1080 but don't look it. I did a comparison of Blu-ray.com's screen shots to my DVD and they look the same. But, when I compare my Blu-ray to my DVD on my 1080p TV I can see a difference. The Blu-ray is clearer and shows more detail.

 

[John Hermes]

Hey Bob,
I knew what you were talking about.
I wish web sites would do a better job of screen shots. Blu-ray.com makes the shots look like a DVD - http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Jules-Vernes-Journey-to-the-Center-of-the-Earth-Blu-ray/39539/ . If you click on the images they are 1920 by 1080 but don't look it. I did a comparison of Blu-ray.com's screen shots to my DVD and they look the same. But, when I compare my Blu-ray to my DVD on my 1080p TV I can see a difference. The Blu-ray is clearer and shows more detail.

The Blu-ray is pretty weak though, IMO. Only a modest step up from DVD. I probably would have saved my money for other things had I known this beforehand.