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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Creature From The Black Lagoon In 3D!

    Featured In Issue 170, October 2012

    3D Picture4.5
    Picture3.5
    Sound2
    WSR Score3.5
    Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
    (Studio/Distributor):
    Universal Studios Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number):
    61123308
    (MPAA Rating):
    G
    (Rating Reason):
    (Retail Price):
    $159.98
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    79
    (Color Type):
    Black & White
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    Not Indicated
    (Theatrical Year):
    1954
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    10/02/12
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Jack Arnold
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor):
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers):
    (Academy Awards):
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
    (Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
    (Disc Soundtrack):
    DTS HD Lossless 2.0
    (Theatrical Sound):
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (DTS Bit Rate):
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
    (Additional Languages):
    (French Language):
    (Spanish Language):
    (Chinese Language):
    (Subtitles):
    (Cantonese Language):
    (Mandarin Language):
    (Japanese Language):
    (Italian Language):
    (German Language):
    (Portuguese Language):

    Captured and imprisoned for scientific study, a living "amphibious missing link" becomes enamored with the head researcher's female assistant (Adams). When the hideous creature escapes and kidnaps the object of his affection, a crusade is launched to rescue the helpless woman and cast the terrifying creature back to the depths from which he came. Featuring legendary makeup artist Bud Westmore's brilliantly designed monster, Creature From The Black Lagoon is an enduring tribute to the imaginative genius of its Hollywood creators. (Tricia Spears)

    The Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection boxed set features eight films: Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, The Bride Of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, Phantom Of The Opera, and Creature Of The Black Lagoon. A 48-page book featuring behind-the-scenes photographs, original posters, correspondence, and more is included in the set. Special features on Creature From The Black Lagoon In 3D! include commentary with Film Historian Tom Weaver; Back To The Black Lagoon (SD 39:40); Production Photographs; a trailer gallery featuring Creature From The Black Lagoon, Revenge Of The Creature, and The Creature Walks Among Us; 100 Years Of Universal: The Lot (HD 09:25); and My Scenes.

    The 1080p MVC 3D picture is presented in black and white and in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio of the original theatrical release. This is a real trip back to the earliest days of 3D. The picture quality is remarkably good, with excellent depth and perspective throughout, even in the murky underwater scenes. The occasional out-of-screen effect is gimmicky, but fortunately is limited to a few spear gun lunges, a bat out of Dracula's lair, and the creature extending his arms. Otherwise, the 3D exhibits natural depth and character volume, as well as scale. For a film that was released theatrically 58 years old, this is a fine restoration that even achieves an impressive level of resolution and decent gray scale balance. (Gary Reber)

    The original theatrical soundtrack was produced in monaural, using the Western Electric Recording system. The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 2.0-channel soundtrack is dual monaural. The sound quality is dated, with distortion particularly evident in the music score. Dialogue, however, is always intelligible and nicely presented. Overall, this is an undistinguished monaural soundtrack that is indicative of the quality of the day. (Gary Reber)

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