Two classic George Pal films in one package? Count us in! As an even bigger sweetener, The War of the Worlds, still the most enjoyable version of the H.G. Wells story, has been upgraded to a 4K UHD disc!
The Earth is in peril from two very different sources in this pair of fabulous ‘50s sci-fi pictures that Pal produced. His impact was so great on the burgeoning genre that the actual directors (Bryon Haskin and Rudolph Maté) are forgotten. In The War of the Worlds, alien invaders land in California (moved from Victorian London in the novel) and slowly begin their mission to destroy mankind.
The earlier When Worlds Collide is an even grimmer affair as Earth is threatened by an approaching planet, prompting the creation of a rocket that will save a select group of people. The depressing choice of who shall be aboard the ship is almost as bad as the fate awaiting those left behind.
Fans of sci-fi cinema will no doubt be familiar with both of these films, and it’s a pleasure to say they both stand up brilliantly today. The War of the Worlds is packed with atmospheric scenes, be it when the Martians land and the first contact or Gene Barry and Ann Robinson hiding in a shack when we first get a good glimpse of the aliens. The 4K disc presents the film spectacularly, looking vibrant and as good (if not better) as the day it was released. There have been a few digital ‘improvements’ to remove the very obvious wires holding the war machines, but only a true pendant will baulk at that. The bonus features are all ported over from previous releases, but it’s great to have them all in one place.
If there’s a disappointment with the set, it’s that When Worlds Collide is included on a standard Blu-ray only. It’s not a deal breaker, but it would have made sense to give both movies the 4K treatment. That said, it still looks brilliant and is a massive improvement from the previous DVD releases. It’s a film that should be revered more than it is, with a powerful statement on the state of mankind amid a strong sense of pessimism.
The set itself is given a deluxe slipcase that houses the two discs in a fold-out digipack that includes a 3-D pop-up of the main film’s poster art. Also included are a couple of cute magnets depicting the spaceships of the films and a nice set of mini photo/art cards. All in all, a pretty sweet package.
The War of the Worlds / When Worlds Collide 4K + Blu-ray set is out now.
