When seeing a 60's cinema viewing challenge taking place,the first thing which came to my mind was to open up my Castle Blu-Ray set again! Curious about this looking different from the others in the collection, I decided to flip the Zotz.
View on the film:
One of two non- Horror flicks in the set, Indicator give the film the same loving treatment as The Old Dark House, (1963-also reviewed)from crisp audio and a picture transfer that retains film grain, to detailed extras on the background of the production.
Departing from a successful run of Horror shocks for a production he later called "Therapeutic",and turning down offers from Walt Disney to the rights of the novel from him, director William Castle works for the first of two times with cinematographer Gordon Avil, and surprisingly displays a gentle touch for playful light- hearted hip fantasy Comedy which would later find a groove in the era with the likes of I Dream of Jeannie on TV, thanks to Castle sliding the camera along in panning shots towards Jones new powers, which are conjured up by a jaunty score from Bernard Green.
Finding his trademark gimmick to sell the film on by reproducing the Zotz coin, Castle handles Jones superpowers with a magnetic experimental edge, via stylish manipulation of film speeds hitting hilarious sight gags, shock sound effects striking anyone Jones gives the finger to,and in a outstanding set-piece, Castle blending live action and animation for a early use of Bullet Time!
Completely trimming the religious aspect of Walter Karig's novel, (even changing the school Jones works at from St Jude's Theological Seminary, to Saracen's Valley College)Ray Russell reunites with Castle,and in his adaptation successfully scatters the spirit of Disney's live action output of the era onto the film, as Jones (played by a energetic Tom Poston,in the first of his two Castle outings) finds himself a fish out of water,leading to very funny exchanges of Jones trying to get his family to believe the power of Zotz.
Retaining some of the satirical bite of Karig's novel, Russell spins Jones adventure from a absent minded professor into a breezy Cold War Comedy Caper! Thanks to Russell bouncing Jones from arrogant US generals who ignore Jones offer to work with them,into the hands of the evil Reds,who have their eyes on the zotz.
View on the film:
One of two non- Horror flicks in the set, Indicator give the film the same loving treatment as The Old Dark House, (1963-also reviewed)from crisp audio and a picture transfer that retains film grain, to detailed extras on the background of the production.
Departing from a successful run of Horror shocks for a production he later called "Therapeutic",and turning down offers from Walt Disney to the rights of the novel from him, director William Castle works for the first of two times with cinematographer Gordon Avil, and surprisingly displays a gentle touch for playful light- hearted hip fantasy Comedy which would later find a groove in the era with the likes of I Dream of Jeannie on TV, thanks to Castle sliding the camera along in panning shots towards Jones new powers, which are conjured up by a jaunty score from Bernard Green.
Finding his trademark gimmick to sell the film on by reproducing the Zotz coin, Castle handles Jones superpowers with a magnetic experimental edge, via stylish manipulation of film speeds hitting hilarious sight gags, shock sound effects striking anyone Jones gives the finger to,and in a outstanding set-piece, Castle blending live action and animation for a early use of Bullet Time!
Completely trimming the religious aspect of Walter Karig's novel, (even changing the school Jones works at from St Jude's Theological Seminary, to Saracen's Valley College)Ray Russell reunites with Castle,and in his adaptation successfully scatters the spirit of Disney's live action output of the era onto the film, as Jones (played by a energetic Tom Poston,in the first of his two Castle outings) finds himself a fish out of water,leading to very funny exchanges of Jones trying to get his family to believe the power of Zotz.
Retaining some of the satirical bite of Karig's novel, Russell spins Jones adventure from a absent minded professor into a breezy Cold War Comedy Caper! Thanks to Russell bouncing Jones from arrogant US generals who ignore Jones offer to work with them,into the hands of the evil Reds,who have their eyes on the zotz.