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Krakatoa, East of Java

Krakatoa, East of Java

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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Krakatoa Goes Boom
Review: Although it takes almost an hour and forty minutes for this to happen, when the big rock does blow the film really comes alive with fireworks, boiling lava, miniature ships and some great tsunamis. Unfortunately the story leading up to those events is less enthralling, with a handful of familiar faces giving mostly flat, or in Diane Bakers case - overwrought, performances and faced with the glum prospect of being a mere supporting cast to the real star, the special effects. They play a group of disparate people who sail to the island in search of a sunken cache of diamonds, except for one woman who is trying to find her young son. Soon(not soon enough), there will be an eruption but not before Captain Maximilian Schell is forced to deal with the doped up rampage of Brian Keith, the almost-hijacking of his ship and too many other perils to mention.
This big production has a nice period design and is better than many of the 70's disaster flicks that would (dis)grace the movie screens only a few years later. The film's main purpose however was to showcase the Cinerama process it was made on and for that reason viewing the movie in it's widescreen form is strongly recommended...

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Jules Verne inspired disaster film
Review: Anchor Bay has re-released this film in all it's 131 minute unedited glory (this is the copy with the hot air balloon on the cover). Some sources say this film originally ran 136 but that's counting the intermission. The DVD is terrific (no skips or jumps), widescreen, great sound and color. The unedited version helps the story along without question so take that in account when reading reviews that talk about muddled plotting in the shorter version. If you are into Jules Verne style films you'll like this one complete with volcanos, tidal waves, hot air balloons, deep sea exploration, late 19-century sailing ships, convicts, etc... Perhaps a little too much brought into the film and dispensed with quickly, but still nifty as far as the genre goes. Maxmillian Schell (the captain in the Jules Verne inspired THE BLACK HOLE) plays the captain, Diana Baker plays his love interest looking for her long lost child, Brian Keith plays an over-the-hill diver.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: At long last
Review: Finally, this video/DVD is available for sale again. I had read that the title of this movie had actually been changed and re-released under the new title. I had been looking for it on laser disc but could never find it. Like one of the other reviewers, I also saw this movie in the theaters as a child and loved it. Of course, I will see if it is as I remember. The giant tidal wave that covers Java is a most memorable scene. This film should be mandatory viewing for volcanologists since this eruption is the largest in recorded history.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Krakatoa ruined by DVD release
Review: For some reason I've always enjoyed Krakatoa having originally seen it in Cinerama.

This DVD is frankly a disaster; many years ago Benny Hill did a sketch of a movie set on a boat that kept jumping. This is what the print on this DVD does all the time. Whereas Benny Hill was funny, this is not.

The picture is weird to say the least; it is billed as Widescreen on the box but even when playing it in Widescreen on a Widescreen TV the picture is too squashed.

The sound is not AC3 stereo although I thought it was clear.

The film has been cut terribly and runs far short of the time billed on the DVD case.

Don't bother with this awful print; let's hope the movie gets restored properly.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Where's the plot?
Review: I had high expectations during the first 20 minutes or so of this movie, but the were all dashed. It starts out okay and it is interesting but as it goes on, you may find yourself wondering when the story is going to start. Unfortunatly it never does. I describe this movie as a mix of alot of people's stories all mixed up and unconnected. The volcanic explosions were great visually, but the wern't lead up to very well at all. It was kind of like, "Okay, let's have an explosion." with no suspence or anything. ALSO, the quality of the DVD is HORIBLE it jerks and the sound is off about a second at some times and it stoped for about 5 seconds at a time about every ten minutes. Very Annoying. Don't waste your money on this DVD.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Yikes! What were they thinking?
Review: I immediately purchased this DVD title because it is the very first movie I remember watching at a theater as a very small child! The theater was the Cinerama Dome on Sunset Blvd. in 1969-1972 Hollywood, (they re-released it a few times, I saw it 5 times at that theater). This DVD simply put, is bad! Even on a big screen TV the picture is squashed, the sound is muffled, the theater experience is lost. The editing seems to have been done with scissors and tape. Entire scenes are missing, or cut very short. However, the best parts of the movie that I remember from when I was four years old are ok. The volcano eruption scenes, tidal wave, and really cool lava piercing the ship! That's the stuff you remember for a lifetime.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: krakatoa big bang
Review: I saw this movie at the theater when it came out and liked it immensly. I like a good movie with historical action, even if the story characters are lacking. I have the widescreen version and was a little disappointed in that some scenes were omitted which made the story line choppy. Overall, I believe if the omitted parts are included in the other versions, then it will be a good story to watch. The special effects are very good and worth getting the movie for.I rated this movie low because of the omitted parts and the editing for the widescreen version.( I believe various sources were used which affected quality).

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: excellent classic film
Review: I've seen this movie when I was a kid. It's a great classic! I've been looking for this movie all over the place, I'm glad I finally found it and it's on DVD!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Entertaining disaster flic....
Review: if you don't take it too seriously! Mediocre acting, but pretty good special effects. The build up to the tidal wave sequence is quite effective and the wave scene doesn't disappoint. The unedited version does help to put the story together and it's now not so disjointed. Transfer is pretty good for its age and I'd recommend.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Entertaining disaster flic....
Review: if you don't take it too seriously! Mediocre acting, but pretty good special effects. The build up to the tidal wave sequence is quite effective and the wave scene doesn't disappoint. The unedited version does help to put the story together and it's now not so disjointed. Transfer is pretty good for its age and I'd recommend.


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