FANTASTIC VOYAGE [1996 / 2013] [Blu-ray] [UK Release] The Most Fantastic Journey Ever Imagined! Four Men and One Women on the Most Fantastic, Spectacular and Terrifying Journey of their Lives!
An incredible journey through the inner workings of the human body is now even more spectacular in Blu-ray high definition.
In this Academy Award® winning sci-fi adventure starring Stephen Boyd, Donald Pleasence and Raquel Welch, an elite medical team in their state-of-the-art submarine, the Proteus, is shrunk down to microscopic size and injected into the bloodstream of an ailing scientist to save his life. Battling the body's powerful natural defences – as well as a saboteur in their midst – the crew is in a race against time to complete their mission before the miniaturisation wears off.
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 1967 Academy Awards®: Win: Best Art Direction-Set Decoration in Color for Dale Hennesy, Jack Martin Smith, Stuart A. Reiss and Walter M. Scott. Win: Best Effects and Special Visual Effects for Art Cruickshank. Nominated: Best Cinematography in Color for Ernest Laszlo. Nominated: Best Film Editing for William B. Murphy. Nominated: Best Effects in Sound Effects for Walter Rossi. 1967 American Cinema Editors: Win: Eddie Award for Best Edited Feature Film for William B. Murphy. 1967 Hugo Awards: Nominated: Best Dramatic Presentation for Richard Fleischer (director), Harry Kleiner (screenplay), David Duncan (adaptation), Jerome Bixby (story) and Otto Klement (story). 1967 Laurel Awards: Nominated: Golden Laurel Award for Action Drama. 1967 Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA: Win: Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing in a Feature Film.
FILM FACT No.2: Bantam Books obtained the rights for a paperback novelization based on the screenplay and approached Isaac Asimov to write it. Because the novelization was released six months before the film, and many people mistakenly believed that the film was based on Asimov's book. The film inspired an animated television series. The film was the original idea of Otto Klement and Lewis Bixby. They sold it to 20th Century Fox who announced the film would be "the most expensive science fiction film ever made." Richard Fleischer was assigned to direct and Saul David to produce; both men had worked at the studio before. Richard Fleischer had originally studied medicine and human anatomy in college before choosing to be a film director. Harry Kleiner was brought in to work on the script. The budget was set at $5 million. The budget went up to $6 million, $3 million of which went on the sets and $1 million on test footage. The film starred Stephen Boyd, making his first film in Hollywood for five years. It was the first role at 20th Century Fox for Raquel Welch, who was put under contract to the studio after being spotted in a beauty contest by Saul David's wife.
Cast: Stephen Boyd, Raquel Welch, Edmond O'Brien, Donald Pleasence, Arthur O'Connell, William Redfield, Arthur Kennedy, Jean Del Val, Barry Coe, Ken Scott, Shelby Grant, James Brolin, Brendan Fitzgerald, Brendon Boone (uncredited), Kenneth MacDonald (uncredited) and Christopher Riordan (uncredited)
Director: Richard Fleischer
Producer: Saul David
Screenplay: Harry Kleiner (screenplay), David Duncan (adaptation), Jerome Bixby (story) and Otto Klement (story)
Composer: Leonard Rosenman
Cinematography: Ernest Laszlo, A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Color by Deluxe)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 [CinemaScope]
Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
English: 1.0 DTS-HD Master Mono Audio
Spanish: Dolby Digital Mono Audio
French: 5.1 DTS-HD
Spanish [Castilian]: 5.1 DTS-HD
German: DTS-HD Mono Audio
Italian: 5.1 DTS-HD
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English SDH
Running Time: 96 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Andrew's Blu-ray Review: Cinematic journeys come in all shapes and sizes, but what makes a motion picture voyage truly “fantastic.” Well, if Richard Fleischer's 1966 genre classic ‘FANTASTIC VOYAGE’ is any indication, all one really needs are a dying communist defector, a super-secret government facility, a shrinking ray, a miniaturized submarine, and Raquel Welch in a tight wetsuit! A prototypical high concept sci-fi adventure flick, the film is full of dazzling imagination and inventive special effects, creating an engaging adventure that still manages to hold up fairly well. Some elements are a bit dated, but the film's sense of wonder is palpable, and its lasting influence is evident from the moment the main titles start, all the way until the screen fades to black, taking audiences on an astonishing expedition into the mysteries of the human body.
After a defecting Cold War scientist is gravely injured during an assassination attempt, the government scrambles to find a way to save his life. With a dangerous blood clot in his brain, the only option becomes surgery, but traditional means simply won't work. Instead, an intrepid crew strapped inside a specially designed submarine are shrunken down to microscopic size and injected into the scientist's bloodstream. With only 60 minutes to spare before they return to full size, the group will have to locate the clot and remove it while constantly facing deadly threats from the dying man's own natural defences and a potential saboteur on board.
The first 38 minutes of the film are dedicated to careful setup, economically, yet methodically laying the groundwork for the incredible adventure to follow. After a stylized, dialogue-free opening and an inventive main title sequence, the mission is established clearly, the objectives are conveyed, the dangers are discussed, the crew's roles are defined, and the rules of the process are all detailed, highlighting little bits of information that will become pertinent as the plot evolves. Throughout it all, director Richard Fleischer maintains a slow but intriguing style, building up anticipation for the characters' inevitable entry into inner space. Long, wide shots using up the entire frame of the CinemaScope image are common place, and in a potentially risky move, Richard Fleischer forgoes the use of a musical score until we enter the patient's body, giving the audience a delayed visual and auditory jolt.
Once the fantastic voyage itself really begins, the film enters a wondrous fantastic world of effects heavy imagery and tense dangers. All the while, the story's 60 minute deadline ticks down perilously in the back of our minds, and Richard Fleischer actually has the expedition play out more or less in real time. Each new location brings upon fresh challenges, and one after another the crew is forced to work their way through cleverly designed obstacles that play up the inherent hazards of the human body. Excursions into the bloodstream, the lungs, the inner ear, and even the brain are all given an ethereal, otherworldly beauty, and the pre-computer era sets, production designs, and elaborate special effects techniques reveal a remarkable level of painstaking craft and ingenuity.
Of course, as impressive as a lot of the visuals remain, the effects work isn't without some notable age-related stumbles. Wires holding up the actors are clearly visible in several scenes, and compositing issues with the pre-computer blue screen shots cause a few odd anomalies, and at one point, a sliver of the Captain's head is erased. Still, these flaws are all understandable, and especially given the film's ambitious scope, the results are rather incredible... and appropriately trippy.
A little less forgivable, however, are the actor's oddly wooden and flat performances. Coupled with frequent technobabble and thin philosophical musings, the cast's dry line readings lack personality, making it hard for any of the characters to really stand out. Sure, not every element of 'Fantastic Voyage' has aged as well as others. Yes, there are flaws in the special effects, the narrative is full of clichés, the pace is a bit slow, the acting is mostly ineffectual, there are a few unintentionally funny moments, and the whole thing takes itself a little too seriously, but as a pioneering example of high concept science fiction adventure, the film is actually kind of perfect. Endlessly imitated and parodied, this is a creative, entertaining, visually mesmerizing, painstakingly crafted, and defining piece of genre film making and one that fully earns the “fantastic” in its title.
Blu-ray Image Quality – The film is presented in a stunning 1080p Color by Deluxe image transfer with an awesome 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Shot with 20th Century Fox's CinemaScope process, gives the film’s impressive widescreen photography imagery and an impressive very creative visual designs that still impress today. The print is in fantastic shape with a light to moderate layer of natural grain and virtually no signs of age or damage. With that said the film's heavy reliance on compositing work and optical effects does lead to a comparatively rough and grainy look in many of the VFX heavy scenes which pre-dominates the films second and third acts. Thankfully, clarity remains strong, and though the movie has a fairly soft look, fine details and textures are apparent, revealing many of the little intricacies in the design work. On that same note, however, the high definition image also brings out a lot of the understandable deficiencies in the 1960s special effects, leading to many shots where wires and blue screen issues are clearly visible. Colours are nicely saturated, and once the characters embark on their journey into inner space, we are treated to lots of ethereal hues that pop from the screen. White levels are well balanced, but blacks do look a tad milky in a few shots. Nearly pristine, 'Fantastic Voyage' makes its way to Blu-ray with a great, respectful transfer free from unnecessary manipulation. There are some inherent weaknesses to the original shooting methods, but fans should be very pleased with this authentic presentation.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – The Blu-ray is provided with a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track and alternatively a 1.0 DTS-HD Master Mono Audio track. I primarily listened to the surround sound remix, but also sampled the mono mix, and each track offers a strong experience. Dialogue is clean and relatively full for a film of this age. The 5.1 remix mostly respects the movie's mono roots, subtly adding a more expansive sense of space with some welcomed directional effects. The main title sequence is especially noteworthy, with creative design work that features a plethora of engaging “sci-fi” effects. The film's inventive musical score is also spread nicely with solid fidelity. Distinct surround use is minimal, however, and most sounds are relegated to the front speakers. With that said, minor ambiance and echoes of music cues do hits the rears, bolstering the soundstage. The original mono track is also very effective, and though it lacks the directionality and enhanced dynamic range of the surround mix, it provides an authentic experience. Both tracks are thankfully free from any major age-related hiccups like hissing, but I did detect some minor background static/crackling during isolated instances. Whether you go with the 5.1 or original mono track of the film ‘FANTASTIC VOYAGE’ it still sounds great, and giving purists an untainted mix and those open to remixes get a respectful upgrade that avoids unnatural gimmicks and again is a brilliant audio experience.
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Audio Commentary by Film and Music Historian Jeff Bond: Jeff Bond provides a steady stream of amazing trivia about the film's production, offering details on the films award winning special effects, its sets, music, sound design, cast, script changes, and historical place within the evolving motion picture industry. There is an endless and frequently engaging discussion of the film, most frequently oriented around how the film's extraordinary visuals were brought to life. We find out the film was well-researched that Jedd Bond is able to put a price tag on intricate sets, effects work, and the full-size Proteus. We also get to hear lots of very in-depth information, such as the cast perilously dangling from wires painted with acid, the differences in Isaac Asimov's novel. We also find out some juicy gossip that the male cast was very eager to touch Raquel Welch's chest. Though a little dry at times, but despite this the audio commentary is packed with lots of information and all in all it is well worth a listen especially for fans of this film.
Special Feature: Fantastic Voyage: Lava Lamps & Celluloid Lava Lamps and Celluloid: A Tribute to the Visual Effects of ‘FANTASTIC VOYAGE’ [1996] [480i] [1.37:1] [17:40] This special feature is a great look at the film and its ground-breaking special effects. The documentary focuses on the film's award winning visual effects. Interviews with Hollywood effects supervisors are included along with behind-the-scenes photos and sketches, highlighting all of the impressive and painstaking techniques that were used to bring the film's visuals to life and especially without the use of computers that were of course not available at the time. Contributors include: Richard Edlund, Craig Barron, Stephen Boyd (archive footage), Jean Del Val (archive footage), Arthur Kennedy (archive footage), Edmond O'Brien (archive footage), Arthur O'Connell (archive footage), Donald Pleasence (archive footage), William Redfield (archive footage) and Raquel Welch (archive footage).
Special Feature: Whirlpool Scene: Storyboard to Scene [1996] [480i] [1.37:1] [2:22] This special feature actually offers three versions in the production process, and you have them both appear in a split screen image presentation.
Trailer and TV Spots [1996] [480i] [1.37:1] [13:07] There is a film trailer and three TV spots are viewable separately or together. If you want to see what real faded colour film looks like, then have a look at these.
Special Feature: Isolated Score Track with Audio Commentary by Film and Music Historians Jeff Bond, Jon Burlingame and Nick Redman: Leonard Rosenman contributed a rather unusual film music score, and one which makes an entrance surprisingly late in the film, and one which reminds me personally of the works of Milton Babbitt or Roger Sessions. Despite the film music score does not enter the film until well past the half hour mark, which gives the three commentators a nice breathing room to discuss 20th Century Fox with Nick Newmans and Leonard Rosenman and eventually the commenters wisely bow out right before the music starts.
Finally, ‘FANTASTIC VOYAGE' is easily one of the most distinctive science fiction films of the sixties, and I personally would rate it, especially In terms of concept if nothing else, and second only to ‘2001: A Space Odyssey.' It's easy to look back on the practical and photochemical effects from the vantage point of shinier technology and find them somehow less than convincing, but that's like holding Georges Méliès to the same standard as James Cameron. While some of the performances and even the dialogue are a bit on the clunky side now and again, overall the film is a viscerally exciting piece of filmmaking, well-paced, and even if it takes a while for the miniaturisation and insertion into the body to happen, and ultimately, extremely tense and suspenseful. Older viewers and even those who first saw `Fantastic Voyage' on television as children are going to be delighted by this new Blu-ray, and younger viewers may well find themselves unexpectedly entranced by it as well. That is why this has been a firm favourite film of mine, as when it was first shown in the cinema, we all wanted to join the crew of the Proteus submarine and see if what the crew saw of the inside of the body, was actually true and ever since it has been a firm sci-fi favourite of mine with other films released in the 1960s, But now I can view this brilliant film whenever I want to indulge in some good sci-fi pleasure and I am so lucky to now add this brilliant film to my ever increasing Blu-ray Collection. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
