THE WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953) 4K UHD REVIEW + WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE BLU-RAY & HMV TAG VIDEO UPDATES

[@cheekster777]

Paramount’s official response to the colour grading issue on War of the Worlds 4K UHD Blu-ray release: “We sincerely appreciate fans’ passion for War of the Worlds and their attention to detail. The scene that has been referenced as being more blue than red was taken from the original three-strip Technicolor negative. Paramount chose not to employ additional color correction, but instead consulted original IB Technicolor prints and matched the look from there.”

[@moviecollector5920]

Well that answers that then Cheekster. Thanks for clearing it up. IB Tech was always a bit 'enhanced' so it's difficult to know how accurate it is at times, but Mars tends to look a bit blue owing to the vegetation. lakes and canals on the surface!!! John.

[@reedgrele6673]

The Criterion Collection of the 1953 War of the Worlds (Blu-ray) has Mars the correct color (RED) as have ALL previous home video releases (VHS, BETA, Laserdisc, and DVD).

[@moviecollector5920]

@@reedgrele6673 Interestingly Reed, the Criterion release is wrong because Mars isn't red and must have been someone grading the video transfer who thought it should be red. I expect the rest of the Blu-ray is correct though so you don't need to sling it out or anything. It's a minor mistake right at the start anyway so it won't affect your enjoyment of the film. John.

[@ghostviggen]

Even dated movies are charming. But they are more perfect for watching on a Saturday morning. While the more timeless classics are reserved for Saturday evening.

[@moviecollector5920]

I think you're right there Ghost. These two could be watched any time of the day or night. John.

[@DB-hc5to]

Hi, Great Reviews, I ended up in HMV Canterbury & purchased the warl of the worlds & when worlds collide , two great films that have benefitted from a 4k restoration. I also purchased the 4k directors cut of Star Trek The Motion Picture, the restoration is amazing, and has completely given the film a new lease of life, the new Atmos Soundtrack is enveloping, and the restored visuals, with the added scenes add more depth to the story, keep up the Great Reviews, Dave , in Broadstairs

[@moviecollector5920]

Thank you D B. I'm not the biggest fan of the first Star Trek film but I've probably watched that one more than any of the others owing to the fact that it got a Super 8 release in 1980. Silent Running may be right up your street going by your latest purchases so if you haven't seen that one I hope to be able to do a review on that recent 4K release soon. HMV Canterbury would be an interesting store to see but I think Canterbury is going down the WEF 15 minute city route this year so I doubt I'll ever get the chance. Let's hope the local people don't let them do it. John.

[@scottgodown569]

I grew up watching old sci-if movies like WOTW, The Forbidden Planet, and This Island Earth on Saturday afternoons. It was a favorite of my Fathers. When they announced the remastered version of WOTW in 4K on streaming services I immediately purchased it on i-Tunes. I was impressed with the image quality and the sound even though it was made in 1953. When the alien device fired upon everyone in the beginning of the movie, it swept right to left i believe, and it immersed the entire area of my theater. It is still my favorite sci-if movie of that era.

[@moviecollector5920]

I saw it on the telly first Scott and I thought it was great. I don't suppose I'd seen anything else quite like it at the time. But I loved all those big science fiction films of the period just like you did. Probably a big part of the reason why I'm a film enthusiast to this day. John.

[@macvideomanlive]

Thanks for another great video!

[@moviecollector5920]

Glad you liked it. John.

[@scifiguy2084]

thank you. this had been on my to buy list. thanks again.

[@moviecollector5920]

I hope you like it Eric. I think the two movies in such high quality is what makes this pack. John.

[@dominus519]

I was amazed how good of a movie The War of the World is. It was way ahead of it's time!. Got the limited edition as well and very happy with it.

[@moviecollector5920]

You've made me think now Dominus! I suspect The War of the Worlds played a big part in fuelling the imagination of many youngsters who went on to enter the film and television industry and create the next generation of science fiction films and programming that in turn inspired a further generation. I wonder if George Lucas was one of the youngsters affected by it and part of the reason he wanted to make Flash Gordon as a film that then resulted in Star Wars. John.

[@purefoldnz3070]

do you remember the British series tripods?

[@moviecollector5920]

Only vaguely. I hadn't thought of it until you posted this comment. The BBC have done another The War of the Worlds mini-series apparently so that's another one to look out for. John.

[@davidprice6994]

One of my fave films and loved your review my friend.

[@moviecollector5920]

Thanks David. Another one I should have got on Super 8 back in the day. John.

[@LaughMuBai]

While cheesy today, loved it as a kid when it came out -- great review thank you!

[@moviecollector5920]

It seems to be aging better now than it was 20 or 30 years ago. John.

[@simonmcpartlin6547]

I agree with your comments on the sound John. I had to do a double take when I found all the speakers being used. For an old film it gave very impressive surround sound. I love seeing the old films which i’ve only seen on television before. It’s often like watching it for the first time. Casablanca 4k looked outstanding when I watched it last week.

[@moviecollector5920]

I'm told that Ben Burt did some of the sound effects for the re-master of The War of the Worlds Simon. Quite fitting that the man behind the sound effects for Star Wars should be given the job given that The War of the Worlds surely must have influenced a young George Lucas. I'm not the biggest fan of Casablanca but I did see the DVD a few years ago and that looked good as I recall. Having said that, I was re-recording a Super 8 print for someone who got a copy with slightly dodgy sound, so my memory could be mixed up there as I would have only used the DVD to sync' up to the film print. I'm probably remembering the Super 8 image quality now that I think about it. John.

[@RoyMurphy1]

Great job John 👍👍.... Have this on my watchlist for a while now....

[@moviecollector5920]

It's rather good value when you think about it Roy because it's got two films to enjoy. Although I did get it for £15 in the recent HMV cyber Monday nonsense. John.

[@RoyMurphy1]

@@moviecollector5920 yea but John, I'm a cheap skate I won't spend more then €15 on a release.....and thats including delivery,😝

[@moviecollector5920]

@@RoyMurphy1 We could both do with a wealthy benefactor Roy!

[@mirvmn2]

Another really good review John :) I have actually only seen the remake of The War of the Worlds from 2005 with Tom Cruise which I really like. U should definitely give it a full review sometime. I think it would be fun to watch the original from 1953 so maybe someday :)

[@moviecollector5920]

Well this 1953 film seems to be surprisingly popular so maybe I will take another look at the 2005 film and see if I can see enough to talk about for a full review. I do like it and I don't need much of an excuse to talk about movies I like. John.

[@robertsrobots6531]

I didn't like the 2005 War of the Worlds when I first saw it but I've come to appreciate it over the years. I think Spielberg is much wilier than I realised. I had thought that the film's major subplot was Ray's (Tom Cruise) journey towards responsibility, now it seems to me more like a warning about poorly raised children. The son has some admirable qualities but the daughter (Dakota Fanning) is a little tyrant!

[@moviecollector5920]

@@robertsrobots6531 In the cinema, I thought the sequence in the basement went on too long and upset the flow of the film. It didn't seem to drag so long on the second viewing on 4K disc but I may take another look at it now because it seems there may be an audience for a full review of that one now. I didn't think the 1953 film would generate much interest at all so it's funny how some films garner an audience for a review video and other seemingly more popular films do not. John.

[@thelookuplookdown]

For the true cinephile, there exist certain titles so legendary and prominent in cinema history, they have to be included in your collection, even though you don't particularly agree with the general consensus. "War of the Worlds" is, for me, such a film. Wonderful to be able to place a comment again, I changed PCs and for some obscure reason could not register comments - till today!. Another good one, John. Thank you. Michael South Africa.

[@moviecollector5920]

Good to hear from you Michael. I was beginning to think you'd emigrated to Mars. I do very much like The War of the Worlds so sorry if I gave the impression that I don't. It's a film of its time though and done in that comic book, ridiculous style that was in fashion back then. Whether or not it's a good 4K disc though is open to debate and I think i'd only be able to work it out if I had a Technicolor 35mm print to check it against as it could be that the definition wasn't particularly good when it was made. It's good, just not perfect and that could be the three-strip Technicolor filming format. The Wizard of Oz would be the one to compare it against but I don't have that one. John.

[@jonnywyattgreengreen3301]

Hi John I enjoyed the review of these 1950s science fiction movie. I love both movies so much . I just got them on 4k . I am glad there's no wires seeing from machines in war of the worlds. I remember seeing war of the worlds at NFT In 1990s and people laughing seeing the wires . They may be bit dated but always love them .l watch them once a year . I remember seeing war of the worlds in 1970s as a kid and totally scared. All the best John

[@moviecollector5920]

Those wires were cables Johnny and that was apparently because the models were so heavy. You can still see the smoke funneling around where one of the cables was in one of the shots. I first saw The War of the Worlds on a television broadcast in the 1970's and I never forgot it. When Worlds Collide was around the same time and that made a big impression too. John.

[@ClarkTeddles]

Great review John! I’ve never actually seen either of these films, but a 4k disc in 4:3 sounds quite interesting. I think I’ll try upload my pink Floyd the wall video today. Seeing as how rare a 70mm screening of it is, I think it will get some attention. Regards, Clark

[@moviecollector5920]

Greetings from a snowy, icy England Clark. I'll have a look to see if you've got your latest up later but if you don't hear from me please give me a prod as there's much going on here right now and I may get a little distracted. I will never tire of seeing film being projected and you're covering it so well now. John.

[@ClarkTeddles]

@@moviecollector5920 Hi John, The video is now up on KZbin, it’s already got around 90 views which is great seeing as how I only uploaded it earlier today. Thanks

[@MidnightsEdgeAfterDark]

The Criterion edition has a great feature about how Ben Burtt did the 5.1 mix for this version

[@moviecollector5920]

Well, well. That rather explains why the sound is as good as it is then. Star Wars meets The War of the Worlds. John.

[@MidnightsEdgeAfterDark]

@@moviecollector5920 indeed, I believe he used the same technology that Peter Jackson did for "Get Back" to separate all the audio although there is a bit of sweetening on some of the effects he tried to stay as faithful as possible

[@moviecollector5920]

@@MidnightsEdgeAfterDark Peter Jackson has done some good work. I didn't like the first The Lord of the Rings so I didn't see the sequels but I'm reaching the point where I fell like I should really take a look at them now. I did collect the 'Scope trailers on Super 8 and they were terrific. John.

[@MidnightsEdgeAfterDark]

@@moviecollector5920 He went a little too "scrub" happy on "Get Back" and the "LOTR" trilogy, but his recent release of "The Frighteners" looks amazing (Turbine just released it in Germany) rumor is we'll be getting a lot of his films in the next couple years in 4k!

[@moviecollector5920]

@@MidnightsEdgeAfterDark I only ever saw The Frighteners at the cinema so I may have to purchase a copy of that one. It seems to have an enthusiastic following whereas I remember it as being quite ordinary at the time. I expect I'll see it differently now that I'm a bit older and much better looking! The Lord of the Rings had really poor image quality at the cinema but to be fair, image quality was on a downward spiral by then so it might not look anywhere near so bad today. I thought Get Back was from 35mm so I don't know why image noise reduction would have been applied so liberally but maybe the light levels were low when it was shot so perhaps a bit too grainy for today's home movie market. John.

[@Dis-Emboweled]

Grew up watching War of the Worlds amd many many orthers as kid since my dad was a huge Sci-fi nut. When Worlds Collide, Crack in the World, War OT Worlds, and Forbidden Planet was some of the frequents. I remember watching War of the Worlds sick with the chicken pox.

[@moviecollector5920]

Aha, maybe it was you with chicken pox that thwarted those pesky martians!

[@JesusMartinez-mk6fc]

John, thank you for your appraisal along with the technical details of these two sci-fi classics released in 4K. I was contemplating getting them. I first saw these two movies as a child on TV in black and white since we didn't own a colour set back then. They had quite an impact on me at the time. I watched War of the Worlds on Blu-ray a few years ago after buying it.

[@moviecollector5920]

I may have seen The War of the Worlds in black and white first as hardly any of us in this country had colour television until into the 1970's. What would children think of that today? Life has got too easy in some respects but I grew up knowing that my parents had struggled from day one and were continuing to do so thanks to having had two children. That was just how it was then. The Blu-ray of The War of the Worlds is probably good enough Jesus but I've learned that the colour grading of Mars during the opening isn't correct so if you want to see it in the true blue/ochre sort of colouration then you'll have no choice but to purchase the new 4K release. John.

[@TheEsquireClub]

I LOVE THE TECHNICOLOR PROCESS!

[@moviecollector5920]

You're a man after my own heart Francois! John.

[@jessechristensen6028]

I’m sticking with my criterion copy for the corrected Mars coloring.

[@moviecollector5920]

Actually, the Criterion release incorrectly corrected the colour of Mars to red but because this was a three-strip Technicolor it should be a bluey ochre sort of colour. That's what we see in this 4K thankfully. I think it was genuine error by Criterion because we've always been misled to think that Mars is red so it's understandable and whatever the case, it certainly won't spoil the film. John.

[@throughthelensYT]

Havent seen this film yet, but i will be checking it out very soon

[@moviecollector5920]

I think it's pretty good value but be prepared for it's classic 1950's Technicolor look. Maybe it's one you should review as you'll probably stand a better chance than I of bringing it to the attention of younger film enthusiasts. John.

[@sg7335]

There was a sequel series to the original War of the Worlds movie that came out on tv in 1988.Ann Robinson reprised her role as Sylvia Van Buren in the show.

[@moviecollector5920]

I don't think I remember that s g. Thanks for telling me as it might be right up my street. John.

[@bobswanson8464]

War of the Worlds was probable the first Sci-Fi movie that blew my socks off as a kid (that an Godzilla, Raymond Burr). Sci-Fi with great SFX (for a kid...and today in many ways), but with a GREAT story to go with it. Have owned this on DVD and BR, will have to pick up 4K now. Your video at the end makes me want to visit London more and more to visit your EXCELLENT Video Store!!!

[@moviecollector5920]

Morning Bob. It seems that The War of the Worlds had a big impact on many of us as youngsters. I think it's a good value set with the Blu-ray of When Worlds Collide included. Two of the greatest science fiction films from that period and yours for the equivalent of £20 or less. As for getting to London, don't fly in today as snow and ice is causing problems on runways all across the south of the UK. Give it another week or so! John.

[@cheekster777]

Would love to see a dedicated video one day John where you walk us through your cinema ticket collection. Thank you for your consideration.

[@moviecollector5920]

That could take some time!

[@deanchild9848]

Bath has a great HMV store and I loved this 4k Release I sat and watched both movies in one sitting was awesome .....took me back to when I was a kid watching these.....wonder if they do the Time machine?

[@moviecollector5920]

The Time Machine is another timeless (whoops, sorry about the unintended pun there!) classic Dean. As for the Bath HMV, if you didn't see it, there's a bit of a tour of that one in my Heat 4K review video. That's where I purchased that release from so I thought a look at the store would be in order to go along with the review. John.

[@deanchild9848]

@@moviecollector5920 would love to have that film on 4K remastered

[@moviecollector5920]

@@deanchild9848 I've just used my trusty time machine to travel into the future a few years Dean and neither FOPP nor HMV had it on their shelves. There were some really good titles on the shelves though but I didn't manage to bring any of them back. Well, I don't want to change the future and risk universal armageddon! John.

[@deanchild9848]

@@moviecollector5920 I know I was there LOL

[@GA-1st]

It's odd, but I'm not certain when I first saw "The War of the Worlds." I believe it may have been in the mid-60s, when I was in elementary school. The school system used to offer during summer vacation (June through August) a special summer movie series just for students, where'd they screen sci-fi/fantasy movies once a week at my neighborhood cinema (Fox Theatres had built several large neighborhood theaters in my hometown in the 1920s). I recall seeing "First Men on the Moon," "Forbidden Planet," "Captain Sindbad," "Jack the Giant Killer," "Jason and the Argonauts," ""The Time Machine, " "Gorgo," "Day of the Triffids," "Robinson Crusoe on Mars," "Hercules," and, I believe, "War of the Worlds." Perhaps that explains my love of "genre" films? Anyway, I love this movie classic, and own the Criterion blu-ray which is excellent. I think I'll order the 4K!

[@moviecollector5920]

I don't have the Blu-ray but I do know that the opening of that one isn't particularly auspicious as Mars was incorrectly graded red. Not a good start perhaps but thankfully, this 4K has the correct blue/ochre mix to it. We used to have a few 16mm movies at school as one of the teacher's was a film enthusiast but it was television series such as The Time Tunnel, Land of the Giants, Lost In Space and Star Trek that probably started me off down the same genre road as you. John.

[@craigosterberg5045]

Thanks for review John . I was 3 when this film came out. Had to save my pennies in those days 😅

[@moviecollector5920]

26 years later Craig and you could have bought it full length on Super 8 for about £120. Peanuts! John.

[@grahamritchie7508]

Hi John, thanks for the review, last year I did buy both individual titles on blu-ray from an Australian company called "Imprint" "The War Of The Worlds" picture quality looked great on my Epson VP, also sound wise that disc came with DTS-HD 5:1 Surround and LPCM 2:0 Stereo. The DTS 5:1 sounded fantastic. "Imprint" have released some excellent blu-ray titles, this one is certainly something. "Imprint" also released "When Worlds Collide", while not as good as "The War Of The Worlds" its still very good, that one comes with a LPCM 2:0 Mono track. I still have my Marketing 3/400ft versions of both, must watch them again soon.

[@moviecollector5920]

Send those two Marketing 3x400ft releases over Graham! Actually, bring them over towards the end of next April and we'll stick 'em on at the BFCC! See you there. John.

[@Ankka939]

I really like how this looks in 4K and its probably one of my favorite 4K discs. The remake also looks good. I was very impressed by it. I just bought The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) 4K Blu-Ray by Eureka that was just released. Its the oldest movie on 4K disc I think.

[@moviecollector5920]

I think this disc tends to look more impressive on a telly Ankka, possibly because projecting it to any size tends to show up compromises in image quality or maybe it's just that same old problem of all our systems being different. You must be right about 'Dr. Caligari' being the oldest film to get the 4K disc treatment. I wonder if it was worth all the investment because the market is surely extremely limited. John.

[@Ankka939]

@@moviecollector5920 I haven't watched Dr Caligari yet but I have heard many saying good things about the release. Sadly it doesn't have HDR.

[@moviecollector5920]

@@Ankka939 I don't suppose it needs HDR. It does make me wonder if we'll ever see a perceptible difference between a downscale to a Blu-ray though assuming a Blu-ray comes from the 4K video master file.

[@tgrujic1965]

I loved both versions of the War of The Worlds. The old was nostalgic and I can appreciate the groundbreaking special effects at the time and the Tom Cruise take was similar but gave us a new spin on the story with really good special effects.

[@moviecollector5920]

I need to watch the 2005 film again because so many people have commented about how much they like it. Could be a good excuse for a full review in the weeks ahead but I seem to have a bit of a backlog of those at the moment so it may be a while. John.

[@jeffkardosjr.3825]

I watched the DVD of The War of The Worlds last year on my 20 some dollar projector.

[@moviecollector5920]

And I bet you had a great time Jeff. There's nothing like projecting to invoke the feeling of being in a cinema. John.

[@dhartist]

Great video! I was worried when I saw this come out that I may have wasted money last year on my Criterion copy of War of the Worlds BUT I'll pass on this 4K since Worlds Collide isn't in 4K. Thank you for always putting out very informative videos and reviews, I also love the tours of HMV and local shops near you. Living in the USA it's always fun to see what other places look like when it comes to selling physical media 😀

[@moviecollector5920]

A few people have now realized that the colour grading of Mars at the beginning of The War of the Worlds is wrong but it's a minor detail and doesn't really matter. I suppose it the constant 'red Mars' label that causes people to think it's red rather than a sort of blue and ochre mix. If the HMV videos gain in popularity maybe we can extend things to what remains in the USA. I know there are still some stores still around that sell music and movies so maybe a few enthusiasts will see if they can shoot some video in those for us fellow enthusiasts around the world. It does seem like the UK is currently in a unique position with HMV still present on so many high streets and shopping centres though. John.

[@jknuttel]

I don't have a 4K player (yet), but I bought the 4K of _The War of the Worlds_ anyway (which I already have on blu-ray) mainly to have the bonus film, _When Worlds Collide,_ on blu-ray. They're films I loved as a child and still enjoy today. The newer version of _The War of the Worlds_ is okay, but I don't have the same fondness for it as I do for the 1953 version.

[@moviecollector5920]

If it wasn't for the 1953 film then science fiction films as we know them today may never have evolved. It was a ground breaker. For this latest release on 4K disc though, the cables have been removed so the ships really do look like they're floating. Imagine if they'd have achieved that back in 1953. I think everyone would have been convinced the damn things were really flying. John.

[@mikewilding3199]

Like yourself saw wow on TV as a small boy. Glad the wires have been minimised . I bought it for when worlds collide which I always thought was the better of the two. Never seen the Tom Cruise version. In my mind it's lumped with all the other bad remakes aimed at those too young to be aware of the original. I digress just to thank you for another excellent review

[@moviecollector5920]

The 2005 film isn't like the original 1953 classic at all. It's probably more like the book but I can't recall ever having actually read it. There are some great sequences in it, particular near the start at Tom Cruise's character's house which has a main road flyover just behind it. That creates a good atmosphere that sucks you in to the whole end of the world scenario. I might watch it again soon if this video continues to prove popular. It seems there's an interest in the 1953 film that I wasn't expecting at all. John.

[@TheShornak]

I personally love War of the Worlds. I remember watching this movie back in the mid 70's when I was in my mid teens. I always felt for the time the effects were real good. Yes the acting is over done but that just adds to the 50's cheesy Science Fiction style. It seems there was always a woman screaming in those movies. I haven't seen the 4k version yet but I need too. When Worlds Collide I also enjoyed. I remember The Professor from Gilligan's Island was in the movie. I young Russell Johnson if I remember right. In WOTW those models of the alien crafts were really big and heavy, that's why they needed all those wires. Since I have lived most my life in Southern California I always liked seeing the Los Angeles scenery from that time. And seeing them blow up the City Hall building was done so well for it's time. I really miss motion control with actual models. Oh and the Flying Wing was so fascinating, I loved those sequences too. Anyway, excellent video. Thank you for sharing your views on these discs.

[@moviecollector5920]

I wish I'd spoken to you first Stephen because your thoughts are exactly the sort of thing that should be in these movie reviews. I don't have much of a history with The War of the Worlds but I remember that I loved it when I first saw it on the telly as a young lad. Looking back at those times now, I loved just about anything science fiction, particularly those that made me think. John.

[@MikeSmith-rh5gc]

I got the Criterion Blu-ray. I love that movie. Wonder how much difference there is between the Criterion and the 4k

[@moviecollector5920]

Apart from the colour grading being wrong at the start of the Criterion Mike, I don't suppose there's much. If you have a 30ft wide screen though, then surely the increased resolution of the 4K would make itself known. John.

[@NiceGuyAidey]

Tom Cruise's War of the Worlds was excellent imo, another subwoofer buster !!!

[@moviecollector5920]

I might take another look at it soon Aidey. Could make for another interesting review video. John.

[@davemillage6129]

Hi John! Great review and thanks! I will add myself to the love this film group as I have viewed it so many times since childhood. I would take this anyday over the remake even though I do love SS and TC! (Why not have both eh!! haha). With the wires showing, without the wires showing, I am not bothered either way just am really excited to listen to this film. The sound of the lasers and other effects really stuck with me and so hoping it will sound good on my system. I like the idea of owning this also because you mentioned the quality of the other film and it is one I have not seen so that will be an added bonus. The slip and art work looks nice as well! It is easy for me to look past the cheesy acting here as for me it falls into Saturday matinee catagory and heavy with nostalgia so all good here. Many thanks for your work and until the next one Cheers for now D in BC!!

[@moviecollector5920]

Good morning Dave. When Worlds Collide may actually be the better film of the two but it is a Blu-ray shrunk down from a 4K cine transfer. It does look very good though and you should have good fun with it. The two films together is what makes this release and if you can get it for the equivalent of £15 like I did then it's a bit of a bargain. John.

[@andylikesstuffchannel]

Great video John 👍I actually don't think I've seen When Worlds Collide or even heard of it 😳 don't know what happened there I must have seen War of the Worlds Dozens of times will have to take a look 👍

[@moviecollector5920]

I think When Worlds Collide is the better film Andy. I hadn't seen it for probably 35 to 40 years but I remembered the ending like I saw it last week. John.

[@andylikesstuffchannel]

@@moviecollector5920 will definitely check it out John cheers. Just watched 1984 Lynches Dune first time in 20 plus years it has its problems but can see what Lynch was trying to do alot better than I remember but I am older now 😂

[@moviecollector5920]

@@andylikesstuffchannel I haven't seen the 1984 Dune since 1984 Andy. I didn't like it but it's possible it's another of those films that I'd watch with older eyes and rather enjoy today. Funny how our opinions can chance as we age. John.

[@floydforthought9998]

War of the Worlds is still Awesome! Definitely prefer it over newer versions. Watched it all the time as a kid and still do now and then. Recently rewatched it and noticed they say the flying machines have “invisible legs”. 😂 Nice one.

[@moviecollector5920]

I didn't notice that line Floyd but I'll keep an ear out for it next time now that you've mentioned it. John.

[@RobHoffman83]

3 strip Technicolor will have triple the grain of a B/W print of the same era because of the 3 negatives used to make the color image. I noticed that when I started buying old Technicolor films on 1080p blu-ray. I'm not sure I'd want a 4K UHD of one.

[@moviecollector5920]

That's a good point Rob and one that hadn't occurred to me. The film to compare The War of the Worlds against is The Wizard of Oz as that went through the same three strip filming process. John.

[@steffylovesmedia7735]

Great review Tom cruise war of the world's I like

[@moviecollector5920]

Evening Steffy. My first impression of the 2005 film was that the Tim Robbins sequence in the basement went on for too long and upset the flow but it didn't strike me quite the same way with the second viewing and that was via the 4K disc. John.

[@timothymathetes]

I look forward to seeing your review of War of the Worlds. I have my eye on that one, and while others have reviewed it, they certainly don't have your level of expertise.

[@moviecollector5920]

I have told several others that I may watch it again soon Timothy as it may be worth the time it takes to put one of these review videos together. I didn't think the 1953 film would be popular at all but it's proving to be a surprise so far so maybe the 2005 version would do quite well too. I like the 2005 film but I need to have a refresher of the 4K disc before I tell anyone to buy it. John.

[@timothymathetes]

@@moviecollector5920 I have seen the 1953 film, but not on 4k. I like it, but I think I enjoy the 205 film more. Thanks for the response.

[@moviecollector5920]

@@timothymathetes I think I enjoy the 2005 film more too. But the 1953 is the more historically notable of the two. John.

[@timothymathetes]

@Movie Collector that's true, too. Once again, Thank you much for your responses.

[@bioshock6935]

In 2 years time we might even get another new remaster of this film by the time you go back to watch this again lol

[@moviecollector5920]

I hear it's going to be re-issued on Super 8!

[@Downhuman74]

Wire removal has more to do with superior resolution of the original negative that trying to appeal to a modern audience. Due to limitations of the era, those wires likely weren't visible or as visible on a standard generations-removed theatrical print. So, in a sense, the wire removal is actually restoring the theatrical presentation somewhat. Just one of the few caveats of modern formats making films look better than they ever did -- you sometimes end up seeing things that weren't meant to be seen. Same thing happened with The Exorcist when it hit Blu-ray -- they had to digitally remove the wires there, too.

[@moviecollector5920]

I don't think that can be quite right Tom because you would expect that the Super 8 releases of both The War of the Worlds and The Exorcist would make the wires invisible but alas, they're prominent and can't be missed. The 'wires' in The War of the Worlds were apparently cables, so whacking great things that were required to suspend the enormous and heavy models. I suppose making the Martian craft so heavy did mean the their motion across the screen was smooth. I do think the wires were disguised sufficiently to get away with it all on television broadcasts years ago so the resolution there was low enough. Not the case on Super 8 which of course is nowhere near as good as 35mm. John.

[@Downhuman74]

@@moviecollector5920 Can't speak to Super 8's quality but I must have seen War of the Worlds about a dozen times on various television broadcasts as a kid -- in both Black & White and Color. It wasn't until I finally saw it in HD some years ago that I really noticed the wires. They were probably always there to be found, to be honest, but they didn't really jump out at me until I finally saw WoTW in a proper format. With The Exorcist, I watched it a couple of dozen times on VHS and you could spot the wires if you really were looking but they weren't at all obvious to me -- and very easy to ignore. But once the DVD hit, the wires were definitely a bit more visible. I was mistaken about the wires being removed for the Blu-ray -- they're still there and very visible.

[@moviecollector5920]

@@Downhuman74 Super 8 was too high definition to get away with these wires but television broadcasts weren't. Given that cinemas back in 1953 tended to have big screens and not the tiddlers of so many multiplexes today, the enlargement perhaps caused enough image degradation to get away with it. We need that time machine to go back and check! John.

[@davidhardy7356]

Thanks for another great review John . I have not yet taken the plunge into " upgrading " to the 4K players and discs or projectors . As a now well retired 35mm / 70mm Cinema film projectionist and film collector since i was a young lad i still watch mainly on Blu Ray format and of course 16mm / Super 8mm / Standard 8mm films . I do have some 35mm in my collection but that has lay dormant for some years due to a move to a smaller home and the disposal of my 35mm Westar Century projector . However after watching your 4K reviews and reading the PROJECTIONS magazine reviews i may now dip onto 4K in the very near future . How is good old Keith Wilton Of Ealing keeping these days ? I still have all of his DVD Filmtek releases in my collection and still watch them from time to time . Cheers and Regards . David Hardy 🙂

[@moviecollector5920]

I had a couple of The Men Behind The Movies on at the weekend David. Keith's not very well these days I'm afraid but I'm hoping to get up to see him soon. I want him at the BFCC on April 29th as that's a big reason for actually resurrecting the conventions. We just don't see each other without the conventions to conspire over so I'm hopeful this channel will help to make new events a success. I have Noel Pratt working on a second 35mm projector for me as my original (which belonged to Keith and what he used to use for 35mm at conventions until the xenon version came along) is going to have to go back to convention duties. Noel's done a lamp and sound upgrade to that one so hopefully it will be adequate. If you do get into 4K collecting then maybe do it gradually by getting a player so you can play the discs even if the display is only capable of HD. Then when you do get a 4K telly or video projector you'll be ready to go with a while library of discs to stick on and watch like you were watching for the first time. John.

[@davidhardy7356]

@@moviecollector5920 ... John thanks for the reply . I am sorry to read about Keith's health these days . Give him my best wishes and regards when you next speak to him . That is interesting to read about the upgrades Noel Pratt has done to the 35mm projector . I am hoping to get to the next BFCC in April my general health , finances and transport allowing of course . Great to read you had a couple of The Men Behind The Movies on at the weekend . I was saddened to read about the passing of Anne Simmonds and David Wyatt recently . CHEERS ! David

[@moviecollector5920]

@@davidhardy7356 Dave Wyatt appears on the end of MBM3 I think, with an appeal for people to come forward for a similar documentary on 9.5mm. I wonder if he ever made any progress with that. Terribly sad that he's gone. So many seem to be heading to the big movie vault in the sky lately. Hopefully there are enough of us left to have a good time together on April 29th! John.

[@cheekster777]

Thanks John.

[@moviecollector5920]

You're welcome as always. John.

[@JungleJeffarnold]

Watched these last night, I picked up the limited edition 25% off in the prime sale 😀 I was laughing at the special effects but still a fun movie.

[@moviecollector5920]

The special effects were ground breaking at the time Jeff, even with the cables so visible to suspend the Martian ships. Films have to be watched from the perspective of the era in which they were made. It's a fun movie but was actually quite disturbing in some ways when I first saw it as a child. John.

[@JungleJeffarnold]

@@moviecollector5920 I thought the miniature work was great where they built an entire town, It was more the flash of green light and people vanishing, I can't really remember movies that disturbed me while I was young, I found "Last house on the left" disturbing when I got older, I guess growing up watching Freddy Krueger desensitised me 😂

[@moviecollector5920]

@@JungleJeffarnold I think Cannibal Holocaust at an open air cinema in the south of France when I was about 16 years old that did me in Jeff! John.

[@benjijack22]

Great review John i showed "War Of The Worlds" way back in the 70s during my Cinema Projection days for a late night presentation it was a double feature with "BARBARELLA" i remember both 35mm prints were in lovely condition possinbly Tv prints, and we had a full house for this they looked and sounded great on our BIG SCREEN probably better than 4k if i may say! lol - But John may i say what are Paramount doing to us Blu Ray collectors NO Blu Ray for "War of the Worlds"! for those of us who are happy with HD Blu Ray and do not wish to go over to 4k and the cost duplicating our already HD Blu Ray Collection! - Keep up the great work John always enjoy your comments. - Mark - Wallasey

[@moviecollector5920]

Greetings Mark. It's still icy and snowy here so I don't know what it's like in Wallasey but being so far up there, I expect you've got some pretty cold conditions too. This double release isn't too badly priced so for eventualities like this maybe what you need is a 4K player even if you don't have a 4K display. At least this 4K release of The War of the Worlds will then display just like a Blu-ray and you can enjoy it today. I think it's a good 'un bit it's difficult to tell as it's not as good as others from the period but may be due to the three-strip Technicolor filming format. I haven't seen the 4K of The Wizard of Oz but I would have expected that to have been better because the CAV NTSC LaserDisc of that one was so good and with such rich Technicolor reproduction. John.

[@pauljc26]

Another movie review i have never watched and this is actually coming out in Australia, so i might have to pick it up

[@moviecollector5920]

It's a good value release Paul but bear in mind that When Worlds Collide is a Blu-ray. It's a good Blu-ray though and from a 4K master. I only paid £15 for this pack in the recent HMV sale. Christmas came early! John.

[@Philipwaltho]

Great films

[@moviecollector5920]

Better today than they were when I first saw them as a child too. Some fine works of art simply age well, just like me! John.

[@robertromero8692]

The Spielberg film of WOTW is closer to the original story, and has FANTASTIC audio that's truly impressive, but the 50s version has a Technicolor charm that's enjoyable to watch. Same for WWC. One aspect of this WOTW release that's been commented on a lot is that Paramount made Mars look more blue than red as it should be. Many people prefer the Criterion blu ray to this one for that reason, since Mars looks clearly red in that release.

[@moviecollector5920]

I would hope that the people who mastered the colour grading for this release checked it against an original Technicolor print. Actually Robert, i suspect this video transfer came from a Technicolor print but I'm likely wrong there. Mars does tend to look blue and ochre in a decent telescope so I think the colour is right in this 4K as you say. John.

[@Daniel-S1]

Thanks.

[@moviecollector5920]

You're welcome Daniel. It's a darned good release if you're tempted to buy a copy. John.

[@cliveallsop2490]

Hi John, It's a great film, just one thing being slightly annoying, the fighting machines were on wires because they either didn't want to or couldn't afford the stop motion to make them move as tripods. The Cruise/ Spielberg film is a night and day difference on dvd/ bluray to the 4k being excellent. But for me the best version of War of the worlds is Jeff Wayne's musical.

[@moviecollector5920]

There is also a BBC three-part series apparently too Clive. I find myself wanting to see that now. Don't know how I ever missed it actually. John.

[@iansmith6166]

@@moviecollector5920 That BBC production was really pretty poor John so you're not missing much. It had it's moments but some of the character beats and contrived coincidences to serve the plot were quite absurd. A shame, I'd hoped for more.

[@moviecollector5920]

@@iansmith6166 No need for me to watch that one after all then. What a shame. John.

[@C4rL72]

cheers John, been toying about picking this up or not, Im going to leave it and spend the hard earned on better 4k titles, ( I got highlander at the weekend ) and I already own a digital copy of WOTW.

[@moviecollector5920]

So many great titles, so little money. In fact, it's such a problem right now that I thought I'd put the 4K of Heat on this evening to see if the house gets any warmer! John.

[@moviemouth8089]

I looking forward to checking out these versions of the war of the worlds and when worlds collide to see how obvious woody woodpecker is now whom Pal secretly placed in all his movies. Also can I suggest a review of the latest 4k release of Invaders from mars (1953). I have picked it up and found it to be superior to previous release as they have repaired alot of the film and so it looks amazing. This one though went from dvd straight to 4k. I would love to know you’re thoughts on it. Loving your channel as always, all the best.

[@moviecollector5920]

I haven't seen Invaders From Mars for a long, long time... in a galaxy far, far... whoops, sorry - wrong film. It's always fun to do the reviews of older movies but it's rare that any do well as a KZbin review. 'The War of the Worlds' was a bit of a surprise initially but it's not generated many views since the first few days after it went up. Maybe a round-up review of some science fiction films would give me an excuse to include one or two lesser titles. We'll see. John.

[@moviemouth8089]

@@moviecollector5920 ironically my classic sci fi of 50’s video is my most popular video so far so there is definitely a fan base for it just that it not mainstream anymore. As I say loving your content and how much knowledge you have. Thank you for sharing and take care.

[@alaindelacourt9030]

salut belle vidèo sur tout sa comme toujour

[@moviecollector5920]

Merci bien comme toujours Alain. John.

[@bryanbond1658]

I'm going to order it. I have both on DVD. So hoping it is an upgrade I'm sure it will be

[@moviecollector5920]

Oh, for sure it will be an upgrade Bryan. Just the colour alone should make it worth the money. John.

[@openears8914]

What projector are you using for 4k?

[@moviecollector5920]

Optoma UHD550X. It's no longer available but there are others now for less money. John.

[@openears8914]

@@moviecollector5920 nice. I just got the nebula Cosmo's max 4k but I'm finding the HDR not bright enough . I was looking at a new screen. What screen are you using

[@moviecollector5920]

@@openears8914 Sometimes HDR does vary so don't mess around changing anything because of the odd disc here and there. We are using our ten foot drop down screen at the moment but the plan is to put that back into action in the living room when we can. The best thing to project on if it's possible is a flat white wall. I know that goes against what 'experts' will tell you but they wouldn't earn any money if they only tried to sell you a pot of paint. The reason we got the ten foot wide drop down was because where we needed to project in a previous home was in front of balcony doors and windows. The room was 10ft 3" wide so we just fitted the screen in. The best thing to do with projection is to mask the image with black which fools the eye into thinking the contrast is better than it really is. I motorized ours about 20 years ago but it can be done manually with hooks and boards covered in black velvet. John.

[@444chroma]

Thanks John!! HDR really helps WOTW I think. I like the movie because it feels so dated....like science fiction beginning to find its way. First viewing might not impress but it kind of grew on me. Technicolor is lovely. Phantom of the Opera (1943) and The Ladykillers are two of the recent ones I've seen

[@moviecollector5920]

I just mentioned The Wizard of Oz in another reply but that one should be pretty special too. I don't think the colour in The War of the Worlds is as good as some other 4K Technicolor releases but that may be down to both my systems rather than the disc itself. John.

[@Philipwaltho]

yes i saw that season with jaraed martin it was good a bit grusome

[@moviecollector5920]

Was that a television series Philip?

[@Philipwaltho]

Hi yes it was good but a bit gory at times

[@moviecollector5920]

@@Philipwaltho Hmmmmm, sounds interesting. I think someone else on here mentioned that series too now that you've reminded me about it. John.

[@jknuttel]

Attention: Movie Collector Man - Have you reviewed Universal's Horror Classics? I believe _Dracula_ (1931) is the oldest film available on 4K Utra HD.

[@moviecollector5920]

No, I haven't. I'm not the biggest fan of those old horrors but I do like the original home movie releases of them which had the most fabulous box artworks. John.

[@stephengoad6886]

I’ve just purchased and looked at this duo film combination. I’ve never particularly liked this version of War of the Worlds as it’s too far from the original story for my liking but I have to admit it is an amazing film from the effects point of view considering it’s age. I’ve not seen the Tom Cruise version of War of the Worlds but I’m quite sure I wouldn’t like it for the same reasons. For me the story is best remaining in the 1800’s in England.

[@moviecollector5920]

The Steven Spielberg/Tom Cruise film is actually very interesting Stephen so it may be worth a try. Apparently, there was a BBC mini-series sometime so that was probably set in England and may be preferable but I don't think I ever saw it. The 1953 The War of the Worlds has had the cables removed that suspended the Martian ships but I tend to think that has improved the movie for the modern audience they hope to appeal to now. Normally I don't like such things but for some reason this modification seems okay to me. Just don't ever touch Star Wars!!! John.

[@aurellio33]

Really like forbidden planet too, hope they make that on 4K

[@moviecollector5920]

I thought it was available but maybe I'm getting confused with the full length Super 8 release which I managed to never actually purchase! John.

[@markmitchell5220]

I saw the Tom Cruise "War Of The Worlds" at the best theater in Seattle. I was impressed and bought the 4K disc. I'd be interested in what you think of it.

[@moviecollector5920]

I need to watch it again sometime Mark. I didn't think it would be popular enough for me to spend the time doing a review of it but now I'm not so sure. I very much liked the film though and despite not being the best image quality ever committed to 35mm film, I liked the way it looked. I loved the opening scenes at the house with the flyover behind. That set the scene and sucked me right in. John.

[@garyharper2943]

@@moviecollector5920 underrated gem! Very good 4K and soundtrack and I already own it, so your review won’t make me buy another.

[@moviecollector5920]

@@garyharper2943 Damn! So I won't cost you any more money if I do a review of the 2005 film Gary. I'll have to think of something else now then. John.

[@Celestialrob]

Hey John, I'm hoping that we will be able to buy "When World's Collide" on a separate disc as I had just bought the Criterion War of the Worlds and don't need the double dip, unless price drops drastically over here. Loved your review though and I also enjoy your shopping trips. Things are going from bad to worse in my home theater. The evil seamstress is having almost 1500 pounds of bathroom tile delivered next week and storing it.... you guess it... My very own disaster movie.

[@moviecollector5920]

This just isn't acceptable Rob. Doesn't she know that in a home the cinema always comes first!?! John.

[@Celestialrob]

@@moviecollector5920 I showed her your response and she laughed 🤪

[@moviecollector5920]

@@Celestialrob I knew you were going to do that! Thanks Rob. No doubt I'll be made really welcome when I show up one day!!! John.

[@Celestialrob]

@@moviecollector5920 the seamstress thinks we are silly..... and hilarious :)

[@moviecollector5920]

@@Celestialrob I think 'genius' best describes us!

[@iansmith6166]

I think the problem with 'old' films such as this is that you can't recapture the feeling of watching it back in the day (in my case, during my childhood decades ago). That being said, I would have been watching it on a old CRT in black & white... so the miracle of watching it in 4K.... Seems churlish to complain it doesn't blow one away like other old films on 4K discs might. I think having When World's Collide as a bonus swings it as a great release. What can I say, I loved these films as a kid and it's always fun watching them again. I'll be getting the 4K of Silent Running tomorrow, that's another old favourite. Maybe you'll review that disc someday?

[@moviecollector5920]

I wanted to get Silent Running on release day Ian but it's a bit hit and miss with postmen being on strike. I was thinking I'd get into an HMV to purchase a copy but now we're covered in ice and snow so that's not a good idea either. I have the Universal 8 400ft cut down and I've never tired of the film so it won't take much of an excuse to do a review video when I get a copy. As for The War of the Worlds, it's a classic and a trend setting film that probably set science fiction movies on a path that resulted in the classics such as Star Wars and Alien. There are still great science fiction films coming out today but I do think the alien invasion stories have gone too far in the past 20 years or so. I'm largely thinking of Independence Day here but there have been plenty of others. John.

[@iansmith6166]

@@moviecollector5920 Funnily enough I caught some of Independence Day airing on TV over the weekend, hadn't seen it in years. It was so clumsily staged and written almost like a pastiche of alien invasion movies. There's a film dating badly- doubt it will stand the test of time like George Pals film has, for all it's obvious technical shortcomings. As far as alien invasion/ encounter films go, I think Denis Villeneuve's Arrival is the gold standard. Absolute genius film.

[@moviecollector5920]

@@iansmith6166 I need to watch Arrival again. I can remember it really well but I found the image to be lacklustre which didn't help its appeal too much. I found the same with the Blade Runner sequel but going through that again for a Top Ten movies shot on video review I found some sequences actually looked really good. Sometimes how a film looks during its opening can cloud our judgement and that's possibly the perfect example. Independence Day was rather awful really. Good fun but awful. John.

[@FatNorthernBigot]

I'm a huge fan of classic sci-fi from this era, but honestly I have to ask, as a novice, do these films benefit from a 4K transfer? An enjoyable review as always, thank you.

[@moviecollector5920]

I think the colour is what makes it Andrew. That doesn't apply so much to When Worlds Collide as it's a Blu-ray and doesn't have the same rich look at The War of the Worlds. Both are very dated now but still good fun. John.

[@FatNorthernBigot]

@@moviecollector5920 The storytelling went where the FX could not really follow. It's all part of the charm 🙂👍

[@moviecollector5920]

@@FatNorthernBigot I agree. It actually somehow made it all the more real so much have really made an impact in 1953. John.

[@saint6563]

Technicolor ✅ SciFi ✅ SFX ✅ OAR ✅

[@moviecollector5920]

Now that is a good summary!

[@garyharper2943]

I was only 2 so I can’t remember what it originally looked like.😊

[@moviecollector5920]

I was -11 so I was even younger Gary! John.

[@thribs]

I’m more of a fan of the musical. Someone should do a blend for a future adaption

[@moviecollector5920]

Apparently there was a BBC mini-series too. I feel like I need to see that one too now I know it's out there. John.

[@cp070476]

I think my expectation of Jaws 4k was too high. I can't tell a difference between UHD and Bluray. A bit disappointing to be honest.

[@moviecollector5920]

Make sure you've got HDR switched on Lborg because that's the likely reason you can't see the difference. I think it's chapter 4 with the bronze/gold coloured car on the little car ferry and that is the scene to look at to see how much better the 4K is. The Blu-ray is excellent though. John.

[@cp070476]

@@moviecollector5920 HDR is on John, I switched between the 2 versions. Indeed the blu ray is that good think I was expecting too much. Just bought the top 5 on UHD. Jaws, Alien, Predator, The Thing and Indy boxset. Predator 4k surprised me the most, It's always had lots of grain but it was the detail and the HDR sunshine that amazed me. Looks superb. 👌

[@moviecollector5920]

@@cp070476 It's odd that Predator was always a bit of a mess on video when it was just about perfect on Super 8. I suppose it all comes down to who is doing the work and Buck Labs did Predator for Super 8. They were real film enthusiasts and were consistently producing the best quality around that time. Things do seem to be a little more consistent with 4K releases now which indicates that the people doing the grading of the cine transfers are getting a better understanding of HDR. Jaws is better on 4K but it's just the colour and density that is perceptible and initially, I struggled to spot it too as historically I've done film reviews (rather than video) and the main criteria there was always definition as film naturally has superior colour and density. John.

[@SEAL341]

Ooh, my poor wallet...!

[@moviecollector5920]

Who needs heating anyway?!? Or food for that matter! John.

[@DeCapitanOG]

I'm not into "special editions". Scrubbing the wires is scrubbing the movie in my opinion. Can't support that.

[@moviecollector5920]

I understand what you're saying. It has been done well though and will help to keep this movie popular among younger members of the population. John.

[@chadbrick67]

On my hisense U8H all dolby vision movies look incredible absolutely incredible.. I rip them to a MkV or Mt2s file. Doesn't get any better

[@moviecollector5920]

Hisense offer amazing value Phil. I see some absolute bargains in ALDI and LIDL occasionally - massive Hisense screens for a couple of hundred pounds. Shame they never got into 4K video projectors too! John.