Although I was only six years old, I remember the television ads for Disney's The Black Hole. I remember because it made me scared of Black Holes despite my mother's attempts to reassure me that they wouldn't hurt me.
I also remember the commercials for the awesome robot, which I am sure were made into toys as well. That robot, a Roddy McDowall-voiced R2-D2 clone, named V.I.N.CENT. (Vital Information Necessary CENTralized) is not remembered for his special effects nor his technological prowess, nope he is remembered for being the joker of the class filled with R2D2 and the like. Watching this film again, I can't even believe that even in 1980 people would amaze at the feats of this futuristic robot.
So although I doubt Disney intended a comedic touch to this space thriller, Vincent provides it and really makes this a campy classic. The story tries to be dramatic with Anthony Perkins looking like a stiff with a board up his bum and Maximilian Schell giving a rediculous badguy or is he goodguy protrayal.
The theme of the movie, that big old black hole, never truly appears as threatening as it perhaps should. Plus if we can travel space with such ease, why do these people act like they are on a carnival ride, as opposed to a real technological advance? In spite of the stiff acting and truly rediculous plotlines, The Black Hole is worth a watch if only to laugh at the sometimes cute, sometime stupid, but always entertaining Vincent.
The Disc:
Disney's space saga looks every bit as tired and dated on this transfer as the film itself. There's alot of dark and black here that just isn't as sharp as some of the other discs the company has brought from the vaults. Still the transfer is given in an acceptable 2.35:1 anamorphically encoded aspect ratio.
The soundtrack fares much better with the Dolby Digital 5.1 track making pretty good use of the action sequences in the film. I suspect the audience that ventured out to see this film back in 1980 marveled more at the sounds than the actual film.
Why Disney released this for a second time (Anchor Bay released it the first time) is beyond me. However they do add a new feature, Through the Black Hole, a sixteen minute interview with special effects designer Harrison Ellenshaw, who shows much pride despite the obvious basic effects even compared to contemporaries of its day (Star Wars, Star Trek etc...).
There's an extended trailer but nothing much else here for fans to marvel.
bottom line:
A really bad movie and a transfer that isn't quite up to standards make this at most a rental for a campy evening. It's almost worth watching just for the robot but don't expect any true science fiction here.
2.5 out of 5
By - Brian Gray
1/2
