Rating: 
Summary: Sony makes cheap DVD's...
Review: I'm afraid that Sony has taken the same route with DVD production as Warner Brothers has. Make them very quickly and cheaply and put the bonus features together in a very loose kind of way. That's what they did here. The Making of Featurette is short and has poor interviews. Not much detail goes into how they actually made the movie. It ends, and then we have the Harryhausen Chronicles, which is a very boring film that covers how the effects were done. No mention is ever made of the actors who appeared in the movies, or how the live action segments of the films were made. Everything is about the effects work. Talk about not getting your money's worth.
Rating: 
Summary: my favorite movie of all time
Review: I, like one other reviewer, saw this movie as a child. One of the best scenes in all of motion picture history is the scene where the cyclops moves the entire roof off of his treasure hoard and we see the monstrous face leering in, from the perspective of Sinbad and his crew, who are trapped below. I've seen it probably 20 times. Bernard Herrmann's score is fantastic. At the beginning it sets the stage for what is soon to come. And it ain't pretty.
Rating:
Summary: A grand fantasy adventure
Review: If you love classic films and you love special effects, then you are undoubtedly passionate about the films of legendary Ray Harryhausen, and this is one of his best. In this movie, Harryhausen uses his stop-motion technique in color for the first time (and the print here is terrific) to tell the tale of Sinbad (Kerwin Mathews) as he sails the seas, forms an uneasy alliance with an evil magician (Torin Thatcher) and battles a Cyclops, a two-headed Roc and a dragon. Other memorable effects include the genie Berani and the interior of his magic lamp, the Princess Parisa being shrunk and the servant woman who is turned into a dancing half-woman, half-snake. The action starts right away and continues throughout the film, and Bernard Herrmann's music is, as always, absolutely perfect.DVD extras are excellent, and include: a picture of the original poster; trailers from other Harryhausen features; two interview featurettes, each 12 minutes long; a 3-minute featurette about the Dynamation process; and a one-hour feature about Ray Harryhausen. This is a great package -- and for you enthusiastic polyglots out there, the film can be heard in English, Spanish or Portuguese, while subtitles are available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean or Thai! Having small children who are becoming interested in "scary movies", I've found that the Harryhausen ouevre is a great way for them to find thrills and chills without gore, and a wonderful way for me to reconnect with my childhood joys as well. The whole family has a great time watching these terrific films. I'm really glad they're being re-released in such high quality and with such interesting dvd extras. Superb!
Rating:
Summary: superb classic adventure film for all ages
Review: If you love classic films and you love special effects, then you are undoubtedly passionate about the films of legendary Ray Harryhausen, and this is one of his best. In this movie, Harryhausen uses his stop-motion technique in color for the first time (and the print here is terrific) to tell the tale of Sinbad (Kerwin Mathews) as he sails the seas, forms an uneasy alliance with an evil magician (Torin Thatcher) and battles a Cyclops, a two-headed Roc and a dragon. Other memorable effects include the genie Berani and the interior of his magic lamp, the Princess Parisa being shrunk and the servant woman who is turned into a dancing half-woman, half-snake. The action starts right away and continues throughout the film, and Bernard Herrmann's music is, as always, absolutely perfect. DVD extras are excellent, and include: a picture of the original poster; trailers from other Harryhausen features; two interview featurettes, each 12 minutes long; a 3-minute featurette about the Dynamation process; and a one-hour feature about Ray Harryhausen. This is a great package -- and for you enthusiastic polyglots out there, the film can be heard in English, Spanish or Portuguese, while subtitles are available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean or Thai! Having small children who are becoming interested in "scary movies", I've found that the Harryhausen ouevre is a great way for them to find thrills and chills without gore, and a wonderful way for me to reconnect with my childhood joys as well. The whole family has a great time watching these terrific films. I'm really glad they're being re-released in such high quality and with such interesting dvd extras. Superb!
Rating:
Summary: Magical Harryhausen Special Effects In Lavish Fantasy Story
Review: In this day and age of computer technology and fantastic special effects created on a computer screen I find myself appreciating more and more the wonderous efforts of the early special effects wizards such as Ray Harryhausen with his unique creations in a string of classic films through the 1950's and 60's. "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad", is one of my favourites of his efforts from the 1950's and has everything that the fantasy film lover seeks combining an exciting Sinbad adventure tale with ground breaking special effects depicting fire breathing dragons and savage one eyed Cyclops amongst other things, terrific location photography, beautiful colour and with enough action to appeal to young and old audiences alike. Through the wonders of the new process of "Dynamation", Harryhausen created a breathtaking visual look to this exciting film that really became the benchmark for all future attempts in fantasy film making. These effects have for the most part definately stood the test of time and it is easy to see why "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad", was such a talked about and groundbreaking effort when it was released in 1958.
The story opens with Sinbad (Kerwin Mathews), returning from a peace mission to a neighbouring country. Running short of supplies he stops in at the uncharted island of Colossus where he and the crew barely escape with their lives when they are attacked by a savage giant Cyclops and take with them a strange magician by the name of Sokurah (Torin Thatcher). Sokurah however has lost a magic lamp in his escape from the Cyclops and once he is safely in Baghdad with Sinbad he schemes on how to return to the island to get it back. Using a spell he shrinks Sinbad's fiancee Princess Parisa (Kathryn Grant) to miniature size and when her father vows war on Sinbad's family Sinbad is forced to cooperate with the magician who says he can return the Princess to normal size but only after he is returned to Colossus. Hiring a crew of cut throats Sinbad travels with Sokurah and the Princess to the island but many obstacles get in his way where he has to fight the menacing Cyclops, a fire breathing dragon and risk his life to get part of the shell of an egg laid by the monsterous two headed bird called the Roc which is needed in the spell to cure the Princess. After returning the Princess to her correct size however Sinbad is betrayed by Sokurah and he finds himself fighting against a deadly skeleton soldier created by the magician that nearly kills him in a deadly sword fight before Sinbad is able to destroy him. Sinbad and his group then barely escape with their lives having to get past the savage fire breathing dragon on guard at Sokurah's castle. Sokurah however pays for his treachery with his life and Sinbad is at last able to board his ship reunited with his fiancee at her correct size and the two sail home to get married.
The legendary Arabian Nights tale of the intrepid Sinbad lent itself very well to Harryhausen's creative style of presentation and the use of rich colour for the first time in one of his efforts aided greatly in making this a memorable viewing experience. Of course the visual effects are the real star of the movie with some of the unforgettable creatures such as the Cyclops, the two headed flying Roc, and probably best of all the fighting skeleton, becoming some of the most classic creatures put onto film from this or any other decade. Beside the spectacular effects you would think the human performances would pale however there were some great casting choices in "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad", that greatly enhance the story. Kerwin Mathews is an ideal choice as Sinbad and with his handsome looks, earnest delivery along with great skills as a swordsman he is the perfect image of what Sinbad should be like, fighting all types of unknown terrors for the sake of the woman he loves. Mathews had his work cut out for him in this role as he was required to do all his reaction shots and fencing scenes without the benefit of a visual partner as the special effects creations were added later. The smoothness of his delivery is all the more remarkable because of that and still look perfect in the many scenes where he is dealing with the monsters he encounters in his adventures. Equally impressive is veteran character actor Torin Thatcher who specialised in villianous characters and here has one of his best as the crafty Sokurah the Magician. His deliciously evil character is a perfect contrast to Sinbad's upright and honest character making for some great interactions between the two. Kathryn Grant has the more conventional role here of the endangered Princess which she handles well despite most of her work merely involving her on the sidelines of the main action. The other visuals in "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad", are equally impressive with the Spanish locations standing in for the Middle East giving the film a beautiful visual quality and the superb exotic costumes in all their rich colour being greatly enhanced by the use of colour photography.
"The 7th Voyage of Sinbad", is the ultimate in exciting escapism from a simpler time in movie going. I can always imagine how blown away 1958 audiences must have been to first see this visually stunning film with its incredible special effects up on the big screen. While in effects lavishness it may now have been surpassed by our modern movie makers this film is still a treat for audiences seeing it again after many years or for the first time. The innocent straight forward story of good against evil with plenty of dangers along the way for our hero and heroine still makes for exciting viewing but I admire the film first and foremost for the great innovations it introduced with the incredible Dynamation process that changed forever the way fantasy films were made. For an old fashioned Saturday Matinee adventure/fantasy treat you can't get better than Columbia Studio's dazzling "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad".
Rating:
Summary: "From the land beyond, beyond"
Review: It must have been the biggest thrill to see this film on the screen
in 1958. Great direction,great cast,great score and best of all the
magic of Dynamation! I have yet to see any "cgi" effects film today
that will hold up or be as responsible entertainment wise than this
simple hat trick.(okay,maybe Jurassic Park) Kerwin Mattews stars in
the title role battling Cyclopes, giant Two headed Rocs and Dragons
on the island of Colossa as he desperately tries to restore Perrisa
(Kathy Crosby)his future wife back to her human size.Thorin Thacher
hands down is the most sinfully, evil wizards to slither across the
screen as Rich Eyer is wonderful as "baronnie" the genie of the lamp. It's just one of those films that works on every level because
it was created as a well made watch and not a rushed product.Ray
Harryhausen's effects work is surpassed only by that of Bernard
Herrman's score. I didn't notice any flaws on the disc as stated
by other viewers but that's probably just me and my "glad to be
watching it on a flat screen mentality."
Rating:
Summary: 7th Voyage DVD is a winner!
Review: Matlin's summary above is quite accurate in describing this film. I first saw this film as a child of 10 at a drive-in theater. The memory of the imagery and the music have stayed with me over the years. I've seen the film since on tv, film festivals, and vhs. None had the clarity of image and sound of this new DVD release. Columbia has done Harryhausen's film classic proud. The print quality has NEVER looked so good and is presented here enhanced for 16x9!. The original mono sound is also quite good and Herrmann's brilliant score moves the story right along. The extras on this disk are quite good with the lengthy "Ray Harryhausen Chronicles" being the highlight. The added trailers for other Cloumbia Harryhausen films are a treat. Thanks to Columbia for an excellent presentation! Their DVDs are the industry standard!
Rating: 
Summary: Not as impressive as later offerings.
Review: Monday, January 24, 2005 / 3 of 5 / Not as impressive as later offerings.
Hadn't seen this one in decades and had forgotten much of the plot. Interestingly there wasn't much there, the baddy is not as notable as the Golden Voyage or the Eye of the Tiger, but oh that Cyclops and Dragon! A bit sad to see the Roc baby barbequed, but the prisoner/crew got their comeuppance when mom got home. Sinbad is blackmailed into getting the magician's genie lamp. The magician had shrunk the betrothed princess so it's off to the isle of Colossi with a crew of prisoners. Hmm, mutiny possibilities anyone? Fortunately the formula would be perfected in later Sinbad films, this one lacks a bit. But I did get a kick out of watching the magician egg on the Dragon like a puppy to chase Sinbad.
Rating: 
Summary: Old people are biased. No way to argue otherwise.
Review: Ok. Let me be honest. I saw this movie recently. For free. I want the time I wasted on this overrated piece of junk back. Why do all of the high ratings I am seeing exist? Because of the "superb" acting?? The "amazing" special effects? I think not...these things simpy did not exist. Just because people may have grown up with this movie certainly DOES NOT make it a good movie on its own. The acting was horrible! As a theater minor in college, I can honestly say I know what I am talking about; however, I think that any sane person would agree with me in saying that the acting was absolutely horrendous. The dialogue was cheesy, unrealistic, and most certainly stereotypical of any old "classic" that everyone seems to love. The fight scenes were pathetic - Sinbad throws perhaps the worst punches I have ever seen in my life, and the weakest sword strikes possible. All of his lines seemed too dramatic for its moment in the movie, and his lines simply did not seem genuine. I felt like I was looking at someone reading off a script for the first time. I am not even going to start on the Princess. Weeeee!!!!
Perhaps I am being too mean. I could see how, a young child at the age of 1-8 years old could enjoy, or perhaps love this movie. I can understand that, for its time, the special effects were great. However, I cannot understand how ANYONE could say the acting was good in the least. Or the musical score for that matter. I felt like my ears were going to be blown off by the high, dog whistle like sounds.
Let me say a few other things. I honestly think that if this movie was remade today - by perhaps Spielburg or someone such as Tim Burton - and the dialogue changed - it would be a very interesting and exciting film. Get some better actors and actresses, modern special effects, and perhaps a darker tone and you have a summer blockbuster. People would go to see it based on nostalgia of the original alone.
But I must say one more thing. The fact that I gave this movie two stars comes from its story, and its "ehhh" special effects. Yes, for its time, it was good. But it is now, not then. Special effects such as those simply cannot garner such high ratings from any sane person, especially due to so many other negative aspects of this movie. I think that anyone over the age of 8 who sees this movie for the first time will be thouroughly disappointed - but not as disappointed as me. Come on people, dont give ratings based on nostalgia. Give ratings based on quality.
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST!
Review: One answer.......This film goes beyond the land beyond! The best special effects, the best characters, the best story, andt he greatest achievment by Ray Harryhausen
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