gwanji

THE FLICK: Those who insist on trying to convert the unenlightened to the stop-motion artistry of Ray Harryhausen are fighting a losing battle. As the effects master’s lifelong friend Ray Bradbury puts it, “We grew old together, but we never grew up.” And that’s the key to enjoying films like “Beast from 20,000 Fathoms” and “Valley of Gwangi”; keeping your heart and mind open to the fantastic. The vast majority of audiences simply don’t get it, but those that do are in for a treat. “Beast” is loosely based on a short story by Bradbury and is also Harryhausen’s first solo project (he assisted mentor Willis O’Brien on “Mighty Joe Young”), hired to bring his titular Rhedosaurus to life on a low, low budget. Laying down the groundwork for atomic monster tales like “Godzilla,” the story has its prehistoric dino thawed out at the Arctic Circle, only to make its way to New York City and Coney Island for the famous flaming rollercoaster finale. As is often the case, the film wrapped around Harryhausen’s effects isn’t much to speak of – lacking in quality actors, dialogue or suspense. But the dramatic power of Harryhausen’s creations carries the audience over the weak points. “Beast” proves that he had that skill from the beginning, with standout scenes like the monster’s siloughette attack on a remote lighthouse and its almost Shakespearean death at the hand of a military sharpshooter (played by a young Lee VanCleef). “Valley of Gwangi,” based on an unfinished Willis O’Brien treatment, has echoes of “King Kong” as a vicious Allosaurus is removed from its hidden valley and put on display at a Wild West show. While simplistic compared to Harryhausen epics like “Jason & the Argonauts,” Gwangi itself is a masterpiece of muscle and teeth – with a personality more clearly defined than any member of the cast. Harryhausen devotees will thrill at the round-up scene (in which a team of live-action cowboys rope the dino like an oversized steer) and the cat-and-mouse conclusion inside an enormous monastary. “Gwangi” retains that sense of wide-eyed showmanship - the magic ingredient that separates Harryhausen’s work from the contemporary CG artists it inspired. THE FEATURES: Both movies look spiffy on DVD (although “Gwangi” does have a few scenes with a strange flicker not caused by the stop-motion animation) and also get their fare share of newly produced extras. “Beast” includes two short documentaries. “The Rhedosaurus and the Roller Coaster” gives Harryhausen a chance to spill his guts about the making of the film and “An Unfathomable Friendship” reunites him with buddy Ray Bradbury for a sit down reminiscence session. The latter should be particularly cherished by fans as both men are witty, talkative and informative. “Gwangi” also comes with a making-of entitled “Return to the Valley.” This one’s a little on the lighter side, mostly a tribute to Harryhausen’s genius from modern day animators. Both discs include trailers for additional features like “Clash of the Titans” and O’Brien’s “The Black Scorpion.” FINAL SCORE: Warner Bros. gets a “A” for effort for putting together a fresh set of extras on these fan favorites. It’s nice to see a studio treat B-movie classics with such loving attention.