HTF Review: The Black Hole

The Black Hole [b]Studio: Disney Year: 1979 [b]RunTime: 97 minutes [b]Aspect Ratio: 16x9 encoded 2.35:1 OAR Audio: DD 5.1 English, 5.1 DD French, Spanish (mono) [b]Subtitles: English for the hearing impaired SpecialFeatures: Extended Trailer (4x3), Making-of featurette (16 mins) ReleaseDate: August 3, 2004

The Feature...

What an ambitious project, and what a bad movie. But for those of us who were of the 1970’s generation, movies like this can be enjoyed in the present in a sort of amicable blend of romantic nostalgia and camp fun. But even without the childhood-memory-loyalism (the same loyalism that bonds me to Krull and Beastmaster), Disney’s The Black Hole has much to recommend it. While I don’t think that the movie succeeds as a take-it-serious “film” by an adult audience, it can still be experienced and enjoyed on many legitimate levels.

The Black Hole represents Disney’s attempt to capitalize on the Sci-fi momentum of Star Wars which had been released just a few short years before. Though many of the effects shots appear dated (along with visible suspension wires supporting actors and robots in many scenes), Disney Studios did manage to capture a stunning visual language with The Black Hole that was surprisingly original in its look and concept. When you consider the number of effects shots contained in this film (almost every scene it seems), “ambitious” is indeed the word that keeps coming back to me to characterize this endeavor. Extensive use of matte painting delivers some very seamless and dramatic visuals, and while some effects-shots appear obvious, many more will slip by you unnoticed. The unique scaffold-glass design of the main ship is beautiful, and particularly respectful given that the effects team really did manage to achieve a self-defined and original visual style on the heels of so many other sci-fi influences. In terms of pure imagery, some compositions inspire with their rich aesthetics (the glowing meteor rolling down the main corridor towards the bridge) and are worth spending time with this film to experience. And who can deny that Maximilian is one of the most sinister and fear-inspiring robots to come along in a *long* while (at least since Gort from The Day The Earth Stood Still). Oh…and did anyone else notice the “hell scene” with Maximilian standing atop the rocky spire and how remarkably similar it is to the scene with Satan standing on a similar spire in South Park Bigger Longer Uncut? Watch and tell me if you think Trey and Parker were drawing a connection.

Well that’s an awful lot of talk about special effects and visual style. That’s because those are the good things about The Black Hole. Despite some well-seasoned names, acting in this film feels over-dramatized and stale, and the screen-play dialog is about as hokey as a junior-high comic strip. Which is a real shame because with a bit of talent and intuition, the script, acting, and direction could have been tweaked just enough to land this film into a nice solid “B” sci-fi category like many other films that didn’t quite make the “A” list, but ended up being good movies none-the-less (Disney’s next similar effort Tron is a good example of a film that may not have brought in the bucks from contemporary audiences, but ultimately ended up being a genuinely good film). The allusion to Captain Nemo from 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea with the crazed-genius scientist was a bit too obvious, and the “cute” levitating robots still felt like R2D2 rip-offs. Never-the-less…if you’re a sci-fi enthusiast, enjoy camp-classics and playing science-fiction-theater 3000 in your living room, or if you’re just curious as to what all the talk is about with this off-the-radar film, I encourage you to give it a try.

Picture...

I boycotted the original non-anamorphic DVD version so all my comments are focused on this new transfer since I’m unable to compare (however, there is little doubt in my mind that this new 16x9 version easily supersedes the previous disc, and Peter’s review at dvdfile attests to this as well).

Aside from what looks like a bit too much high-frequency filtering (reducing fine picture detail in mid and far-ground shots), the image of The Black Hole looks mighty good on my 100” screen. I just upgraded to a new “Dalite Hipower” screen and haven’t had a chance to recalibrate my projector yet, but even so the impression of the image of this disc was more-than-watchable and at times breathtaking. Despite all the rather challenging material, black level is solid and grayscale smooth and naturally gradient. Almost all “artifacts” that I can detect (aside from the image softness from filtering) appear to be film-source related. Some of the effects scenes have an inordinate degree of noise from the optical processes of production, but nevertheless compression seems confident and the DVD is merely demonstrating the appearance of the best-quality film-source available to the mastering engineers. Given the grain and optical noise in many of these effects shots, I can understand the engineers’ temptation to apply a bit of liberal HF or DNR filtering, and in this case I won’t come down hard on them for it though I still personally would have preferred a little more mid/far-ground image detail at the expense of image “cleanliness”. Of course, I’m talking about the impression on a 100” screen from about a 1.6:1 viewing distance:screen width ratio (which was still a very pleasant experience); viewers watching on large-screen HDTVs or plasmas from 2+ screen-widths distance will undoubtedly find the image sharp and well defined, and those watching on more traditional direct-view sets will likely find the image to be “reference” given the limitations of the source.

I’d really like to sing the praises of one aspect of this DVD transfer/mastering in particular, and that is color. Colors are vibrant, bold, and saturated. It’s rare to watch a film produced in the 1970’s and see color preserved so richly. Reds are deep and don’t looked “faded orange” like so many other films from this era. Fleshtones appear natural and, especially in close-ups, I found myself amazed at the enormous variation in tone and hue. No artifact like Color-banding is anywhere to be seen to my eyes. And how often have you heard me say this…I noticed no distracting edge enhancement from my 1.6 screen-width viewing distance (some minor ringing on hard edges in certain scenes if you looked for it...but nothing to bring attention to itself).

Yes folks, In between the laughs from the corny dialog and untenable suspension of the laws of physics, the image of The Black Hole on my projection screen garnered quite a few “ooohhhss” and “aaaahhhs”. Excepting the slight image softness for large-screen viewers, this DVD really does deliver.



Picture: 4/ 5

Sound...

I’m pretty impressed with what Disney has done. Those of you with the current non-16x9 disc are already familiar with this 5.1 mix, but watching and listening to this dvd was my first exposure and it was a pleasant one. Clearly the limitation is with the source material, the most crippling aspect being the very “dubbed” and canned sounding dialogue (fits the quality of the screen-play ). However, that caveat aside, it’s remarkable what the folks responsible for this 5.1 mix have done. Frequency response is wide and the orchestral presentation is smooth and non-fatiguing. Surround use is also employed more prodigiously than I would have imagined with effects scenes filling out the rear channels nicely when appropriate. I don’t have a center-surround set-up so I’m not certain if the rear channels are discrete or paired together in mono…so those of you with center-rear decoding be mindful of this and if you’re surround field collapses into the single rear channel be sure to disable EX decoding.

The most impressive thing of all about this soundtrack is the unexpected deep bass response. I was watching this film late the other night and kept turning down the volume to make sure that the bass wasn’t disturbing the neighbors…a good thing.


Sound: 4/ 5

Special Features...

You got two! Try to stay calm:

Thanks for the review, David.

I saw this as a kid in the theater, and loved it! Perhaps I'll rent it for a dose of campy nostalgia.

Great review David.

This has long been one of my favorite guilty pleasures. I have fond memories of seeing this on the big screen way back when. And although campy a lot of the time, it does have some truly great scenes as well. The climax with Maximilian has always been a favorite of mine. It is quite intense for a Disney film.

I will be glad to retire my original dvd, although it does have the distinction of being the first dvd I purchased. My only complaint is why couldn't they keep the original artwork, it was so much better.

Although quite tame by today's standards if you put this film in context, it's quite a departure for Disney. There's death, murder, and destruction. Although not actually shown on camera, the guy killed by Maximillian dies a rather gruesome death.

There isn't any gore and the general theme of the movie is still quite family friendly, so the PG rating is warranted. But, The Love Bug this movie is not.

As a 7 year old in 1979 I absolutely loved this film. The dark sides of this movie (while clearly only PG) are strong enough that, for a 7 yr old, it's like seeing an R film. Yet, it has great fun adventure. And hey, those spaceships (both the Cygnus and the Palamino) were pretty darn cool. I even built a Maximillian robot from a hobby kit back then.

The Black Hole is a lot of fun. If you've never seen this movie before, it might seem hard to swallow, but take it for what it is - fun, campy, adventure with some cool robots and spaceships. Never once have I worried about the laws of physics when watching this film. Especially not back in 1979. Hey, it's just a movie for crying out loud!

thanks for the review David!

i was well aware of this film when it was released, but it being a Disney production, and not a well reviewed on at that, made me ignore it until curiousity got the better of me a couple years ago.

from an adult, 2002 perspective there wasn't alot to sink my teeth into, but i find myself still wanting to check it out again.
i agree that some of the gorgeous production design almost mitigates the inane SW-riffs (the Roddy MacDowell robot, etc).

good to hear that the 16:9 transfer looks decent on a Benq at 100" and 1.6x back.
i don't run my screen quite that large, but the old AB disc barely cut it on the 53" RP i watched it on

one thing i am curious about, does the trailer begin with the green grid?
i remember being knocked out by the simplistic computer graphics of that when i saw it at the theater- that was the first bit of CGI i was ever expsosed to and it was quite thrilling at the time

Doesn't the Anchor Bay disk have an isolated score track (or am I crazy)? I assume the new release doesn't?

Also, is the overture included before the film?

Yes, it is.

As always, great review Dave!

What I dug about the film was the atmosphere which outweighed any lame dialog etc... The vibe was cool.

D

The Black Hole has, at times, some of the most awe inspiring production design I have ever seen. its easy to overlook the glaring shortcomings, and enjoy this film for its strengths. John Barry's score is fantastic, most of the matte effects are flawless... and the image of the swirling black hole outside windows are very creepy. As a youmgster, I always thought this movie captured what deep space would look like; dark, cold, and filled with an endless panorama of stars.

The opening minutes of this movie, especially their first pass over the darkened spaceship, is truly wonderful to watch. You almost think its going to be good movie!

Sadly there isn't an isolated score track on the Anchor Bay release. This is the first digitally-recorded score and the one that got me interested in film music in general, so I'd love to see Disney allow somebody to release it on CD.

Can anybody determine if this is the same 5.1 mix that Anchor Bay used? I think the Anchor Bay DVD has a decent mix, though some of the sound effects seemed to be very loud.

Nice review, I liked this much more when I was younger, but it is still enjoyable on that camp level. I'll probably have to pick this up.

I'm pretty sure it does. I'll double check when I get the chance. Agreed that the effect is moving despite the simplistic graphics. Tron hits me the same way.

And yep...the overture is there in tact.

Glad to see so many of you enjoy this film. When you get your copy please post your impressions of the disc back here in this thread.

The crazy finale, which explores the divided good and evil aspects of the Mad doctor's soul (and even suggests sex between the evil Maximillian and the Mad Doctor) is downright giddy in its combination of poetry and kitsch. Its like a clown trying to read a Shakespeare sonnet. You watch it and think, "Silly clown, that was terrible, but we still love you."

as i recall, the first Anchor Bay release had a defect in the 5.1 track--i think one channel was missing, perhaps?

anyway, AB fixed the disc and reissued it with a sticky red dot beside the barcode to tell which was the fixed product. however, the defective discs stayed on the shelves...

is the audio track on the Disney disc coreect?

The original Anchor Bay DVD was missing the right front channel.

Neil

Just watched this last night. Looked better than I expected, but some scenes still showed some softness. Still not bad looking, considering it's a very dark movie.

On the AB releases, I originally had a 1.33:1/2.35:1 flipper that came in a red keep case, which I believe was the defective disc, although the only time I ever watched it was prior to getting a 5.1 setup. I then replaced it with a newer AB version that came in a black keep case and only had the widescreen version-the disc had artwork on one side. I believe this was the corrected version.

the correct version had a red dot sticker on the back of the case.
i dont remember if it was on the insert or actually on the plasctic dvd case.

Ernest, that was probably the most apt description of why I still enjoy films like THE BLACK HOLE and TRON. Perfect!

This movie can never be discussed in my presence with out my Maximilian Schell impression (complete with faked echo)...."In...through....and beyond..."

Funny story about the ending...

I was watching this movie with a friend and
Warning Spoiler! Click to show

the correct version had a red dot sticker on the back of the case. i dont remember if it was on the insert or actually on the plasctic dvd case.

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On the AB releases, I originally had a 1.33:1/2.35:1 flipper that came in a red keep case, which I believe was the defective disc.

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Acck! That's the disc I have! The red keep case, flipper disc with scope version on one side and pan-and-scan on the other! No red dot on the outside! The insert is the chapter listings!

Play the widescreen side in 5.1 and see if you have a right front channel.

Neil

I just did. Works fine.

I also have fond memories of this movie.

The score is one of Barry's best, somewhat repedative but up there with Out of Africa and Dances With Wolves. It is a real shame that Disney refuses to release an authorised version on CD.

The movie is excellent camp material. The line.
"Her mission was the same as ours. To find habitable life in the universe." attests to the high hopes but its shortfalls.

The movie is visualy stunning, and very atmospheric, helped by a soundtrack that should never be attached to such a campy attempt.

I am not sure if I am sold on the upgrade. I have the corrected ab version. It is possible that when I get a front projector I will upgrade but for now the nonanamorphic version is fine with me.

Ohh what the hell is up with that cover art??????????

Indeed. I could never figure out why a planet is being shown on the front cover of this.

Neil

Take out those f&*#ing floating robots, improve the dialog, have better acting and an ending that actually makes sense and you'd probably have a dynamite film here. The visual design is awesome, the concept a viable one, most of the special effects (apart from aforementioned robots) are excellent, the music is striking, the sound remarkable, and some of the horror elements truly horrifying. I was so bitterfly pissed off after seeing this, because it had such great potential. But Disney wanted so badly to make this a family entertainment that it compromised the film almost beyond hope. We just don't need Pat Butram and Roddy MacDowalls' voices giving us "comic relief" from a pair of childish, Star Wars-rip-off tin can robots. They alone drag this film down several notches. The cast is mostly wooden to the point of boring. Still, THE BLACK HOLE is a movie I go back to from time to time. The gorgeous (but all too short) shuttle ride in the tube between ships, the eerie funeral and discovery of the secret of the worker droids, the terrifying death of Anthony Perkins at the "hands" of Maximilian, the starscapes and black hole itself... all these offset the crappier aspects of the film just enough to make it watchable. Here is a film I wish Disney would remake, as an adult-oriented story that preserves the awe we feel about the inifinity of space and its exploration.

Hmm, "The Black Hole" does strike me as a good name for an "adult-oriented" movie. It could star Charmaine Star.

Checking a certain site, somebody already had that idea

It's just 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea set in space. Once you get that, the rest of it (as awful as it can be sometimes) finally begins to make sense.

Hmm. I don't remember scratching my head at the end of 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA trying to decipher five minutes of surreal and apparently senseless images. Yes, the basic plot of the two is very similar, but the voyage "into" the black hole is a hugely disappointing and anticlimactic, IMHO.