Altered States (1980) - July 10,2012 Review

[Akijama]

Altered States Blu-ray

Altered States Blu-ray Review

"Altered States" is a movie that, once you've seen it, you're unlikely to forget it.

Produced in 1980 and starring a young William Hurt in his film debut as a psycho-physiologist who explores altered consciousness, the plot takes you through a physical and hallucinatory journey through the history of human evolution.
It's based on the immersion-tank experiments of Dr. John Lilly in the 1970s.
The director, Ken Russell, used symbolic imagery and mind-blowing special effects to create a dazzling extravaganza that explores the uncharted regions of mind, body and spirit.
William Hurt's character is himself a guinea pig in his own altered-state experiments. Blair Brown plays his brilliant wife, devoted to bringing him back from the most altered state one can imagine.
The movie rocks you to the core, taking you through various hallucinagenic states, through the birth of the universe and back again.

[csdot]

excellent movie, ive had it preordered since it was announced.

[MikeyHitchFan]

I've liked this trippy film since I saw it in 1980 when it came out. I was 19 then.

[Oblivion138]

Ah, it'll be nice to be able to get rid of my old DVD copy of this.

[PowellPressburger]

For those who like this films concept you should track down a copy of THE MIND BENDERS w/ Dirk Bogarde it is interesting also. Although a much different film... The Mind Benders is a good companion piece. (Just don't let the colorful cover art of the DVD mis lead you the film is a drama)

[csdot]

DVD Beaver review up
sounds very promising!

[willbfree]

And in a collectible "caveman foot" slipcase too, with real fur! Awesome.

The excellent tv series FRINGE got a few ideas from this movie, I think.

[Russell_L]

LOVE this film. July 10 can't come soon enough!!!

[MichaelR]

Altered States Blu-ray review

[solarrdadd]

i loved this movie, it's really trippy. watched this movie when it came out in the theater, was high as a kite, so was the group i saw it with. couldn't tell what was what, i was tripping, the movie was doubly tripping so, i had to come back another day and watch it straight and it was still as good except this time i wasn't in the movie with Hurt!

can't wait to get this, day one and everytime i watch Fringe, i think of Blair Brown as i remember her in this movie super, nerdy hot!

don't get high anymore but if you do, this is the movie for stoners!

shrooms Rule!

[Akijama]

Review look good!I feared for video quality.

Now,if only Warner would bother to put The Devils on Blu...:/

[ZoetMB]

Saw this movie in 70mm 6-track at the Loew's Astor Plaza in NYC (61 foot screen, 1500 seats). I took my brother who was in for a visit from Florida and who was very impressed with the PQ and AQ of the movie/theatre.

This movie was a trip, but even back then, no one took it seriously. It got lots of laughs from the audience and that was even from the people who weren't stoned.

I'm not always a big fan of home systems that over-emphasize the bass, but because this was released in "Megasound", this film does require lots of bass playback to emulate how it was originally released. See my post in the Outland review thread for how the "premiere" theatres were rigged for Megasound at the time.

Never realized this was William Hurt's first movie. It seemed like he had already been around.

[SilentNight]

I might be wrong on this but didn't Bran Ferran, the guy that did the effects for Star Trek The Final Frontier do the effects for this? I have only seen this once many years ago on VHS and can't remember a thing about it but I certainly am curious about the special effects.

I'll pick this up cheap at some point.

[martymagicman]

What the reveiwer didn't talk about is that this movie is very loosely based on the life of the late Dr. John Lilly. Dr. Lilly invented the isolation tank. He was also trying to build a computer that could talk with dolphins but in the late 70's, early 80's computers just weren't that fast or powerful. I met Dr. Lilly at a workshop in 1983. He was strung on out something called "vitamin K". His wife was the one who kept him together. Amazing man. She was amazing too.

Find out what the Earth Coincidence Control office is...
Read his book " The Center of the Cyclone"

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

Saw this movie in 70mm 6-track at the Loew's Astor Plaza in NYC (61 foot screen, 1500 seats). I took my brother who was in for a visit from Florida and who was very impressed with the PQ and AQ of the movie/theatre.

This movie was a trip, but even back then, no one took it seriously. It got lots of laughs from the audience and that was even from the people who weren't stoned.

I'm not always a big fan of home systems that over-emphasize the bass, but because this was released in "Megasound", this film does require lots of bass playback to emulate how it was originally released. See my post in the Outland review thread for how the "premiere" theatres were rigged for Megasound at the time.

Never realized this was William Hurt's first movie. It seemed like he had already been around.

do you happen to know what other films were released in megasound?

I hope Warner's gets around to releasing Wolfen another film that got the deluxe 6-track sound mix for it's 35mm to 70mm blowups.

[Monty70]

Originally Posted by Akijama

Now,if only Warner would bother to put The Devils on Blu...:/

...or sell the rights to Criterion for a definitive BD release. If I had to name one film that absolutely requires a quality blu-ray release immediately, The Devils would be it.

The Devils is the only film I have ever seen that left me speechless. (literally needed a moment to compose myself afterward)

Back on topic, I have a $5.00 best buy coupon to use this tuesday for the Altered States BD. I hope they have it in store.

[MichaelR]

Originally Posted by SilentNight

I might be wrong on this but didn't Bran Ferran, the guy that did the effects for Star Trek The Final Frontier do the effects for this?

Indeed he did. He even wrote an article about it in American Cinematographer, but the date is way before their online archive.

[HeavyHitter]

I've been wanting to see this movie for many years - will have to finally check it out.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by Monty70

...or sell the rights to Criterion for a definitive BD release. If I had to name one film that absolutely requires a quality blu-ray release immediately, The Devils would be it.

The Devils is the only film I have ever seen that left me speechless. (literally needed a moment to compose myself afterward)

Back on topic, I have a $5.00 best buy coupon to use this tuesday for the Altered States BD. I hope they have it in store.

not to gloat, but the 2004 Director's cut of The Devils with the Rape of Christ scene restored elicited a from me - and I've seen this numerous times (in varying cuts of the film).

[The Krouser]

The reviewer said the "late" Dick Smith's make -up effects, Dick Smith is still alive and working doing the thing he does best . . . movie magic!