The Black Hole

Overview

"The Walt Disney classic space adventure head-trip The Black Hole comes back to DVD, this time not from Anchor Bay, but from Disney DVD themselves. While the disc is nowhere near a special edition, the presentation is still a class act, and there are still a few juicy extras to sink your teeth into. The film itself looks fantastic in all its anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen glory, and the Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track does fair justice to both John Barry's score and all of the intense laser-blasting robot action. On the extras front, there's a 16-minute ""Through the Black Hole"" featurette that includes an interview with matte effects supervisor Harrison Ellenshaw as he talks the viewer through the various old-school effects techniques that the film employed. Being one of the last productions to champion that style of filmmaking, it's a fascinating world that's presented and one that many computer effects artists working today could learn a thing or two from. Also interesting is Ellenshaw's mention of a crazy alternate ending and the admission that even he doesn't know what the robot-worshipping hell sequence really means! For any fans of the film that don't already own it, this is a slim but fine release that, at the very least, will instantly deliver the whacked-out goods whenever you need them."

Product Details

Release Date:	08/03/2004
UPC:	0786936234213
Original Release:	1979
Rating:	PG
Source:	Walt Disney Video
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:38:00
Sales rank:	451

Special Features

Through the Black Hole" featurette; Extended trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Maximilian Schell	Dr. Hans Reinhardt
Anthony Perkins	Dr. Alex Durant
Robert Forster	Capt. Dan Holland
Joseph Bottoms	Lt. Charles Pizer
Ernest Borgnine	Harry Booth
Yvette Mimieux	Dr. Kate McGraw
Tom McLoughlin	Capt. S.T.A.R.
Ana Foxxx	Actor
Kiki Minaj	Actor
Peyton Sweet	Actor
Roddy McDowall	V.I.N.CENT
Slim Pickens	Bob
John Barry	Composer

Technical Credits

Jeb Rosebrook

Bob Barbash

Richard Landau

Gerry Day

Gary Nelson	Director
Jeb Rosebrook	Screenwriter
Bob Barbash	Screenwriter
Richard Landau	Screenwriter
Gerry Day	Screenwriter
Ron Miller	Producer
Danny Lee	Special Effects
Eustace Lycett	Special Effects
Art Cruickshank	Special Effects

Editorial Reviews

This Disney project, an attempt to challenge Star Wars, is too uneven for its own good but has earned a cult following thanks to its extraordinary look and willingness to take unusual chances. The most amazing thing about The Black Hole is how dark it is for a Disney production; it is full of horror-film-styled shocks, like the scene where Dr. Hans Reinhardt attacks one of the film's crew, and the surreal climax avoids the typical Disney happy ending. Unfortunately, the script doesn't live up to its ambitious aims; the story hints at dark avenues that it never truly commits to, and the characterizations are distressingly flat. The cast does the best they can with their mediocre roles, with Maximilian Schell turning in the most attention-grabbing work as Reinhardt and Yvette Mimieux doing the most emotionally affecting work as Kate. Behind the camera, director Gary Nelson creates some memorable set pieces (the best being a nerve-janging meteor attack), but lacks the style necessary to overpower the script's lack of substance. Despite these shortcomings, The Black Hole remains worthwhile as an experience in sight and sound. The goregously designed sets and spaceships are nothing short of stunning and the old-fashioned optical effects remain impressive even in this post-CGI era. The film also boasts an almost Wagnerian score by John Barry that could very well be his finest work outside the James Bond films. Ultimately, The Black Hole is too inconsistent in its storytelling to be truly satisfying, but its look and its unexpected surprises make it a worthwhile choice for patient cult film fanatics.