"Director: Karel Zeman"

• The Fabulous Baron Munchausen | Blu Ray | (24/07/2017) from £19.98   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Often described as the Czech Méliès , visionary filmmaker Karel Zeman has been a profound influence on whole generations of film artists from Jan vankmajer to Tim Burton, the Quay Brothers to Terry Gilliam, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Wes Anderson. His ground-breaking innovations in the use of live-action and animation mark him as one of the great masters of 20th Century fantasy cinema, ranking alongside his more celebrated Western counterparts Willis O Brien and Ray Harryhausen. The Fabulous Baron Munchausen (Baron Prá il) is perhaps Zeman s most beloved achievement. Still regarded as the finest film adaptation of Gottfried August Bürger s outlandish tales of Baron Munchausen (made famous in his 1786 book), Zeman s wildly inventive and outrageously fun take on the incredible adventures of the bragging Baron come to life in a film celebrating the courage and imagination of dreamers and poets. With its mind-bending melding of live-action, animation and extraordinary matte work, Zeman has crafted a timeless work that continues to astonish. SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS The Fabulous Baron Munchausen (1961) Presented from a new 4K restoration from original materials by the Karel Zeman Museum and the Czech National Film Archive New and exclusive filmed appreciation by writer, editor and film historian Michael Brooke. Karel Zeman and the World featurette The Birth of a Film Legend featurette Why Zeman Made the Film featurette The Cast Zeman's Special Effects Techniques Karel Zeman: The Legend Continues featurette Booklet featuring a new essay on the film by journalist and critic Graham Williamson New and improved English subtitle translation. Original Czech soundtrack in Dual Mono 24-bit LPCM audio

• Invention For Destruction | Blu Ray | (19/11/2018) from £16.98   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Presented from new 4K restoration, Second Run are delighted to follow their hugely popular release of the great Czech animator and filmmaker Karel Zeman's The Fabulous Baron Munchausen, with his greatest and most famous work - Invention for Destruction. Often described as the Czech Méliès , visionary filmmaker Karel Zeman has been a profound influence on whole generations of film artists from Jan vankmajer to Tim Burton, the Quay Brothers to Terry Gilliam, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Wes Anderson. His ground-breaking innovations in the use of live-action and animation mark him as one of the great masters of 20th Century fantasy cinema, ranking alongside his more celebrated Western counterparts Willis O Brien, George Pal and Ray Harryhausen. Still the most commercially lucrative Czech film ever produced - released internationally to huge success in 1960 as 'The Fabulous World of Jules Verne' - Invention for Destruction is also Zeman's most beloved work. Wildly inventive, and breaking new ground in its combination of live action, animation and design, creating a 'steampunk' aesthetic decades ahead of its time. Zeman's film is both a heartfelt homage and love letter to Jules Verne's wonderful tales of science and adventure, and a valiant cry against man's predisposition to self-destruction. SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS: Invention for Destruction (Vynález zkázy, 1958) presented from a brand new 4K restoration of the film from original materials. Alternate English-dubbed feature presentation as The Fabulous World of Jules Verne, with alternate credits and opening introduction sequence. A new appreciation by filmmaker John Stevenson, director of Kung-Fu Panda and Sherlock Gnomes Karel Zeman s animated short films: Inspiration (Inspirace, 1949) and King Lavra (Král Lávra, 1950) Feauturettes: The Sea Through Zeman s Lens; Why Zeman Made the Film; Zeman's Special Effects Techniques; Restoring the World of Fantasy; About the Restoration Trailer Booklet featuring new writing on the film by film critic and historian James Oliver Region free Blu-ray and DVD Original soundtrack in 2.0 Dual Mono 24-bit LPCM audio

• Journey to the Beginning of Time | Blu Ray | (07/10/2019) from £19.98   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Presented from a glorious new 4K restoration, Second Run are delighted to follow their hugely popular releases of The Fabulous Baron Munchausen and Invention for Destruction by the visionary Czech animator and filmmaker Karel Zeman, with his groundbreaking work of fantasy Journey to the Beginning of Time. A joyous adventure that celebrates science and nature, Journey to the Beginning of Time sends four schoolboys on an epic and perilous voyage through prehistory encountering mammoths, monsters and dinosaurs along the way. Using a variety of innovative techniques (cel animation, stop-motion, puppetry and animatronics) Zeman evokes worlds of wonder and discovery to produce his most beguiling and magiclwork. Described as the ˜Czech Méliès', Zeman has been a profound influence on generations of film artists from Jan Å vankmajer to Tim Burton, the Quay Brothers to Terry Gilliam and Wes Anderson. His innovations in the use of live-action and animation mark him as one of the great masters of 20th Century fantasy cinema, alongside his more celebrated Western counterparts Willis O'Brien, George Pal and Ray Harryhausen. An opportunity to succumb to the unique enchantment of Zeman's purity of spirit, his boundless imagination and artistic vision - Karlovy Vary International Film Festival BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS: Journey to the Beginning of Time (1955) presented from a brand new 4K restoration of the film from original materials. The alternative English-dubbed version: a feature-length reconstruction of the US release cut with different credits, opening and end sequences. A new filmed appreciation by John Stevenson, director of Kung Fu Panda The Making of Journey to the Beginning of Time. Restoring the World of Fantasyfeaturette. Image gallery. Trailers. 20-page booklet featuring new writing on the film by film historian Michael Brooke. Region free Blu-ray

• Journey To The Beginning Of Time | DVD | (07/10/2019) from £10.98   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Presented from a glorious new 4K restoration, Second Run are delighted to follow their hugely popular releases of The Fabulous Baron Munchausen and Invention for Destruction by the visionary Czech animator and filmmaker Karel Zeman, with his groundbreaking work of fantasy Journey to the Beginning of Time. A joyous adventure that celebrates science and nature, Journey to the Beginning of Time sends four schoolboys on an epic and perilous voyage through prehistory encountering mammoths, monsters and dinosaurs along the way. Using a variety of innovative techniques (cel animation, stop-motion, puppetry and animatronics) Zeman evokes worlds of wonder and discovery to produce his most beguiling and magiclwork. Described as the ˜Czech Méliès', Zeman has been a profound influence on generations of film artists from Jan Å vankmajer to Tim Burton, the Quay Brothers to Terry Gilliam and Wes Anderson. His innovations in the use of live-action and animation mark him as one of the great masters of 20th Century fantasy cinema, alongside his more celebrated Western counterparts Willis O'Brien, George Pal and Ray Harryhausen. An opportunity to succumb to the unique enchantment of Zeman's purity of spirit, his boundless imagination and artistic vision - Karlovy Vary International Film Festival DVD SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS Journey to the Beginning of Time (1955) presented from a brand new 4K restoration of the film from original materials. The alternative English-dubbed version: a feature-length reconstruction of the US release cut with different credits, opening and end sequences. A new filmed appreciation by John Stevenson, director of Kung Fu Panda. The Making of Journey to the Beginning of Time. Restoring the World of Fantasyfeaturette. Image gallery. Trailers. 20-page booklet featuring new writing on the film by film historian Michael Brooke. Region free DVD.

• A Jester's Tale | DVD | (15/09/2014) from £14.49   |  Saving you £-1.50 (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  The legendary visionary Czech filmmaker Karel Zeman has been a profound influence on whole generations of filmmakers from Jan Svankmajer to Tim Burton the Quay Brothers to Terry Gilliam. His ground-breaking innovations in the use of live-action and animation mark him as one of the great masters of 20th Century fantasy cinema. A Jester's Tale is one of his most renowned and celebrated achievements. Described by Zeman as a pseudo-historical film it is a bold anti-war black comedy following the adventures of a plowboy and a mercenary press-ganged into service on the battlefields of the Thirty Years War of 1618 - 1648. Co-scripted by Pavel Juracek (Ikarie XB1 Daisies Josef Kilián) Karel Zeman's brilliant comic film with its melding of live-action and animation extraordinary matte work along with Escher-inspired impossible constructions anticipates Gilliam's Monty Python animations (not to mention 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' and Gilliam's own 'Jabberwocky' and 'The Adventures of Baron Munchausen'). It also emerges as a sharp satire of war human nature and of our very understanding of history itself. This dazzling feature is presented for the first time ever in the UK. Special Features: Documentary Booklet Essay

• The Fabulous Baron Munchausen | DVD | (24/07/2017) from £14.49   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Often described as the Czech Méliès , visionary filmmaker Karel Zeman has been a profound influence on whole generations of film artists from Jan vankmajer to Tim Burton, the Quay Brothers to Terry Gilliam, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Wes Anderson. His ground-breaking innovations in the use of live-action and animation mark him as one of the great masters of 20th Century fantasy cinema, ranking alongside his more celebrated Western counterparts Willis O Brien and Ray Harryhausen. The Fabulous Baron Munchausen (Baron Prá il) is perhaps Zeman s most beloved achievement. Still regarded as the finest film adaptation of Gottfried August Bürger s outlandish tales of Baron Munchausen (made famous in his 1786 book), Zeman s wildly inventive and outrageously fun take on the incredible adventures of the bragging Baron come to life in a film celebrating the courage and imagination of dreamers and poets. With its mind-bending melding of live-action, animation and extraordinary matte work, Zeman has crafted a timeless work that continues to astonish. SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS The Fabulous Baron Munchausen (1961) Presented from a new 4K restoration from original materials by the Karel Zeman Museum and the Czech National Film Archive New and exclusive filmed appreciation by writer, editor and film historian Michael Brooke. Karel Zeman and the World featurette The Birth of a Film Legend featurette Why Zeman Made the Film featurette The Cast Zeman's Special Effects Techniques Karel Zeman: The Legend Continues featurette Booklet featuring a new essay on the film by journalist and critic Graham Williamson New and improved English subtitle translation. Original Czech soundtrack in Dual Mono 24-bit LPCM audio

• Invention For Destruction | DVD | (19/11/2018) from £11.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Presented from new 4K restoration, Second Run are delighted to follow their hugely popular release of the great Czech animator and filmmaker Karel Zeman's The Fabulous Baron Munchausen, with his greatest and most famous work - Invention for Destruction. Often described as the Czech Méliès , visionary filmmaker Karel Zeman has been a profound influence on whole generations of film artists from Jan vankmajer to Tim Burton, the Quay Brothers to Terry Gilliam, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Wes Anderson. His ground-breaking innovations in the use of live-action and animation mark him as one of the great masters of 20th Century fantasy cinema, ranking alongside his more celebrated Western counterparts Willis O Brien, George Pal and Ray Harryhausen. Still the most commercially lucrative Czech film ever produced - released internationally to huge success in 1960 as 'The Fabulous World of Jules Verne' - Invention for Destruction is also Zeman's most beloved work. Wildly inventive, and breaking new ground in its combination of live action, animation and design, creating a 'steampunk' aesthetic decades ahead of its time. Zeman's film is both a heartfelt homage and love letter to Jules Verne's wonderful tales of science and adventure, and a valiant cry against man's predisposition to self-destruction. SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS: Invention for Destruction (Vynález zkázy, 1958) presented from a brand new 4K restoration of the film from original materials. Alternate English-dubbed feature presentation as The Fabulous World of Jules Verne, with alternate credits and opening introduction sequence. A new appreciation by filmmaker John Stevenson, director of Kung-Fu Panda and Sherlock Gnomes Feauturettes: The Sea Through Zeman s Lens; Why Zeman Made the Film; Zeman's Special Effects Techniques; Restoring the World of Fantasy; About the Restoration Trailer Booklet featuring new writing on the film by film critic and historian James Oliver Region free Blu-ray and DVD Original soundtrack in 2.0 Dual Mono 24-bit LPCM audio