The Beast (Two-Disc Special Extended Version)

This release is not an official version by Universal, but under licence to a company that release rare titles called TIMELESS MEDIA GROUP. Originally they released the edit version of this 2 part mini-series of the `The Beast' . Now here is the uncut version.Universal originally released the 2 Disc Laserdisc (2hrs 56mins Complete 2 part mini-series Uncut version) commercially in the US in 1996.What I like about this production are the unique cast, the familiar faces; Look out for two former Australian's Soap `Home & Away' stars Les Hill and Andrew Hill (The two young divers). The drama in between especially the relationships and the blend of mild terror of the deep make this production enjoyable. The special effects are pretty impressive. The giant squid, I thought was really realistic and terrifying especially when it opens it's beak.This was a made for TV Drama based on the book by Peter Benchley.It was first shown on TV, Christmas 1996 here in the UK over two nights.Now for the 2 DVD Discs itself. Firstly this was digitally recorded, both picture and stereo sound. I have the uncut version on Laserdisc released by Universal back in 1996, and as far as I can see no scenes are missing in this 2008 release. It is UNCUT. In comparison the picture quality is better than the laserdisc and is DVD quality. The original broadcast of `The Beast' was in stereo as well as the video (Edit) and Laserdiscs releases. For some reason this 2 Disc set has a mono-mix sound. Why?? If you are not bothered about the sound, this is still and enjoyable watch considering the low cost of this DVD set. It has a good menu system on both discs, but is bare bones, with no extras whatsoever. The DVD cover is quite nice, though the back cover is similar to the earlier edit version DVD release. It also come in an outer cardboard sleeve.Fans and people who like this TV production have been waiting for this uncut version to surface on DVD for a long time and will no doubt welcome this release.Perhaps Universal or this `TIMELESS MEDIA GROUP' may release the original stereo version with extras on the discs in the future. But it is great to see this fantastic TV mini-series on DVD.

Ok you guys want action, thrills,and edge of the seat entertainment?? Well,here it is!! This movie is fantastic and it has great special effects. If you haven't seen it,grab it. Oh and by the way, the 180 min. Version is cheaper than the 110min. Version, go figure. Anyway it might make you think twice or three times before you go boating again!!! Lol! Also it came in great condition and quickly!! Highly recommend!!!!

To be frank, I've been waiting years for 'The Beast' to be released in its entirety on DVD. We've seen condensed released before, yes. This. however, is nothing like the releases seen before. It releases the mini-series on two discs, Parts I and II appropriately, as it was initially aired. Some of the creature effects may be a touch cheesy at times (the tentacles whipping aimlessly across the Seafox comes to mind), but at other times it is horrifyingly convincing.In my mind, the creature effects team did a staggering job bringing Architeuthis dux to terrifyingly convincing life. In particular, the juvenile A.dux was rendered with an obvious eye to biological realism. Perhaps the proportions are thrown into ranges we've never confirmed for this species, but with that in mind, we have no measure of the exact size for this species being that man is incapable of probing the ocean depths wholly. Steve Alten addresses this well in his novel "Primal Waters" when he deems man the master of all earth's domains but one - the deepest regions of the ocean, which remains as alien to us, in many ways, as the far reaches of space.Also, for those unfamiliar with marine life, one shouldn't be too quick to denigrate the behavioral interpretation of A.dux in this mini-series. It hearkens well to Benchley's novel, which was based on the premise questioning "what if the giant squid were simply a much larger equivalent to the Humboldt squid," which as many who are familiar with the species know, are often thought to be more vicious than sharks when caught, cornered, or for that matter, hunting. The voracity of the Humboldt is what inspired this take on the Giant Squid, and is what led literary critics to originally deem the creature in the book as making "the shark in jaws look like a goldfish." The squid's intelligence, viciousness, and perhaps even vengefulness are rendered well in the mini-series, as one watches the billowing mantle soar across screen with the massive tentacles and whips snaking behind (again, immense credit to the creature effects team for making the animal so convincing). All together, the story is solid, the effects for a mid-90s mini-series are good, the creature (again) magnificent, and the acting excellent (with the GLARING exception of the soap-opera-like daughter of Whip Dalton and her peers). For fans of Benchley or creature films, I can't recommend this highly enough.

This movie has been lost in obscurity and was supposedly panned by critics, but I don't really see why. It's got solid acting (William Peterson knocks it out of the park), an acceptable plot, and the practical effects are good for a TV movie (although there's one scene that's really bad and you'll know it when you see it). If you've seen Jaws, this movie is very similar to that, but that's to be expected when both novels were written by Peter Benchley. That's not to say this is a ripoff, but they are indeed similar enough that you could almost say this is Jaws with a giant squid instead of a shark. It also takes a note from Jaws 3 that wasn't in the novel. Regardless, this is a very enjoyable movie to simply watch with friends, or add to your collection if you're a lover of creature flicks.