Britain's
most ambitious ever science fiction film has been given an equally
enterprising two-disc special edition by Network. Unparalleled
before or since in the UK film industry Things To Come is a
sprawling, epic and stunning classic if you can overcome the
somewhat dated style of acting. With a story spanning a world
war that leaves mankind reverted to a feudal society of warlords
to a rebuilt technocratric civilisation on the cusp of space
exploration the film reflects many of H G Wells beliefs and
fears who had a direct hand in the scripting of the film. This
was Britain's answer to Metropolis and an equally important
milestone in both mainstream and genre cinema that would only
be surpassed over thirty years later by Kubrick's 2001 A Space
Odyssey.
EXTRAS:
The 1936 film has an intriguing and complex history that is
treated respectively and in great detail by the presentation
and extras on this release. Top marks to Network for sourcing
the longest running existing version of the film and given it
an excellent digital transfer and restoration from the original
film elements that blows away previously available commercial
releases. Also featured is a virtual extended edition that strives
to provide a glimpse of what the film could have looked like
if it contained long-lost missing and scripted, but unfilmed,
scenes. Film and TV historian Nick Cooper provides an authorative,
if subdued, commentary as well as meticulously researched viewing
notes in the form of a twenty-four booklet. The set of extras
are expanded further with a comprehensive image gallery containing
a myriad of film and merchandise stills, a vintage 1975 interview
with actor Ralph Richardson conducted by Russell Harty, 1971
documentary On Reflection: Brian Aldiss on H G Wells and The
Wandering Sickness, a vintage audio treat of 78rpm recording.
Oh, and there's a trailer as well!
A
solid, faultless and comprehensive release essential for any
serious film buff.
FILM: 5/5
EXTRAS: 5/5
