Mysterious Island (Widescreen)

Buy This Item Mysterious Island (Widescreen) by Sony Pictures  Available from Amazon  $16.99  on 11-15-2008     Jules Verne's classic adventure is perfectly matched with Ray Harryhausen's timeless movie magic in <I>Mysterious Island</I>. Based on Verne's sequel to <I>20,000 Leagues Under the Sea</I>, this rousing Civil War-era fantasy begins when a band of Union war prisoners (and one Confederate straggler) escape in a hot-air balloon, which crash-lands on the titular island of mystery. Verne's novel doesn't include any gigantic creatures, but Harryhausen's version--under the capable direction of genre specialist Cy Endfield--features giant oysters, bees, a prehistoric Phororhacos (a giant chickenlike bird!), an undersea cephalopod, a giant crab, and enough danger to keep its resourceful ensemble on constant alert. Captain Nemo (Herbert Lom, ably filling James Mason's shoes) is a third-act hero, pursuing an ill-fated dream to save humanity from hunger and war. The action may be too intense for younger viewers, but Endfield's pacing and Harryhausen's stop-motion mastery make <I>Mysterious Island</I> a wondrous precursor to Harryhausen's follow-up classic, <I>Jason and the Argonauts</I>. <I>--Jeff Shannon</I> Reader Reviews I agree with others about beauty in the simplicity of the special effects. When this movie was made it was cutting edge. I watched it with my husband (who has seen it several times before) and rather enjoyed it. The battle scene with the giant chicken is priceless. I look forward to catching up on other movies from Ray Harryhausen. Truly enjoyable for the whole family!

Mysterious Island (Widescreen) Available from Amazon Price: $16.99 Updated on 11-15-2008.

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