Dawn of the Dead (1978) - OUT OF PRINT

[hvacigar]

Man, I love this movie for camp value...so I picked it up today. First, I am always impressed with how older videos can even look good on Blu. This isn't going to win any awards for quality, but it looks great. The only thing is that the special effects get an even bigger laugh on Blu. The high def really shows how cheesy mustard and ketchup blood can look.

[richard lichtenfelt]

Thanks for the heads-up. I was wondering if this one would look really good on bd. I loved this movie it was creepy and funny all at once.

I'll buy it on Oct. 16, since that's when Transformers comes out and I really dislike paramount for not honoring the pre-orders placed before their exclusivity fiasco. They could have insisted on fulfilling contracts already in place and still gotten their pay-off. They simply didn't feel like sticking up for us at all.

[zombieking]

I'm all over this one like a fat kid on a candy bar!

[venusiansky]

Can't wait to see it. I live a couple miles from the mall (Monroeville, PA) that it was filmed at.

[SS316SRV]

I was amazed at the picture quality. Remember that this movie was made with a couple hundred thousand. This isn't camp, it is effective. It truly is still an a freaky movie. If you like horror, zombie, independent, guerilla filmmaking, or are just a fan of well made movies, pick it up.

[Xerious]

Originally Posted by SS316SRV

I was amazed at the picture quality. Remember that this movie was made with a couple hundred thousand. This isn't camp, it is effective. It truly is still an a freaky movie. If you like horror, zombie, independent, guerilla filmmaking, or are just a fan of well made movies, pick it up.

i didn't find it the least bit scary, the zombies were too... well stupid. but i enjoyed it none-the-less for it's sheer classic status. i'm a zombie movie fan, and this was an excellent addition to my collection.

best scene: dude at the beginning gets his head blown the F off and just explodes everywhere... that is HD in it's glory

[SiXXftUnder]

Originally Posted by zombieking

I'm all over this one like a fat kid on a candy bar!

ZING!!!

[SS316SRV]

Originally Posted by Xerious

i didn't find it the least bit scary, the zombies were too... well stupid. but i enjoyed it none-the-less for it's sheer classic status. i'm a zombie movie fan, and this was an excellent addition to my collection.

best scene: dude at the beginning gets his head blown the F off and just explodes everywhere... that is HD in it's glory

True there isn't any pop-out scares. The scary comes from being isolated in with three other people trying to survive with creatures that used to be human, but are now dead, that are trying to eat you. Remember that the zombies are dead people. For more information on Zombies and their characteristics read Max Brooks' "The Zombie Survival Guide". It will keep you alive when there is no more room in hell.

I am not trying to convince you, but just trying to share our opinions like adults. As long as you love this movie, you are alright by me.

[Xerious]

Originally Posted by SS316SRV

True there isn't any pop-out scares. The scary comes from being isolated in with three other people trying to survive with creatures that used to be human, but are now dead, that are trying to eat you. Remember that the zombies are dead people. For more information on Zombies and their characteristics read Max Brooks' "The Zombie Survival Guide". It will keep you alive when there is no more room in hell.

I am not trying to convince you, but just trying to share our opinions like adults. As long as you love this movie, you are alright by me.

The zombies weren't as convincing as Day of the Dead. I believe the Romero fans are evenly split between Dawn and Day. I appreciate both movies for their satire (humans being a greater threat to themselves than zombies). If the people weren't stupid, I don't think the zombies would have had a chance. What someone needs to do is remake NotLD (again) and make it more like 28 Days/Weeks later. Now that, I assure, would be frightfest.

I can't wait for the remake of Day!!!

[SS316SRV]

28 Days Later is not a Zombie infestation though, they are humans who utterly animalistic. The fear with Romero's zombies is that they lurch forward , they are a slow approaching doom. The "fast zombies" of the Dawn remake rely on cheap scares (the pop out kind). It is the ability to see your death slowly approaching that makes Romero's undead so terrifying.

[erowe83]

Originally Posted by SS316SRV

28 Days Later is not a Zombie infestation though, they are humans who utterly animalistic. The fear with Romero's zombies is that they lurch forward , they are a slow approaching doom. The "fast zombies" of the Dawn remake rely on cheap scares (the pop out kind). It is the ability to see your death slowly approaching that makes Romero's undead so terrifying.

Althought I enjoyed both types of "zombies", I completely agree with you, this is why they are so terrifying...they just wont stop..its there numbers and overwhelming odds. IMPENDING DOOM!!

[Takeshi666]

Let's lift this thread to the top.

Are there any news on giving the Ultimate Edition box set a HD upgrade?

[ImportFanatic]

Since this thread has "risen from the grave", can anybody tell me if later pressings of this disc have had the DTS logo on the disc art removed? Since the movie doesn't actually feature a single DTS track its always bothered me a tad.

[wd40cloud]

Originally Posted by ImportFanatic

Since this thread has "risen from the grave", can anybody tell me if later pressings of this disc have had the DTS logo on the disc art removed? Since the movie doesn't actually feature a single DTS track its always bothered me a tad.

I doubt it. Day of the Dead is the same way. My theory is AB just used the disc art they had on hand for the stand alone DVD releases and removed the DVD logo and slapped a BD logo on there.

[ImportFanatic]

Originally Posted by wd40cloud

I doubt it. Day of the Dead is the same way. My theory is AB just used the disc art they had on hand for the stand alone DVD releases and removed the DVD logo and slapped a BD logo on there.

Well in the original press release both Dawn and Day were listed as having only DTS audio.

[Tybo28]

Did anyone order the new Japanese box set? I'm anxiously waiting to hear if it's really a new transfer and how it holds up. Pretty expensive, though.

[Spire]

Release date got pushed back to Dec 20th, if you didnt know. I'm also hoping someone (blu-ray.com) does a good review of it within the next month or so. PLEEEEAASE!

[rickah88]

I would monitor this thread, as it's more likely someone might post feedback there... I know I'd like to hear more about it!

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...=1#post8512847

[buck135]

Originally Posted by Spire

Release date got pushed back to Dec 20th, if you didnt know. I'm also hoping someone (blu-ray.com) does a good review of it within the next month or so. PLEEEEAASE!

I have it preordered. I'll post my thoughts (for what they're worth), when I receive the set.

[Zantoro]

Dear Dawn fans:

Unfortunately, the transfer on all three discs leaves much to be desired. Unless you are an avid fan like myself, I would suggest spending your $150 elsewhere. After watching the director's cut last night, I can confirm what Kentai wrote on his blog about the strange "green-color grading." Besides the picture of Roger and Peter in the truck on his website, you can observe the same green-clover tint in the scene where Peter jumps into the helicopter with Frannie.

I also noticed some mosquito noise on the walls of this film. I found it happened most on the white walls. It is especially noticeable when Peter walks out of the entrance of the abandoned airport building to give Flyboy a lesson on gun handling.

As for the new "True HD/Advanced 96K Sampling," I can say that is also a disappointment. I noticed some hiss in the center channel during the conversation between Peter and Roger about fleeing Philadelphia. This hiss does occur throughout the film in certain quiet moments. Its presence, however, does not make the film unwatchable; nevertheless, for the price of this set, it should not be there or it should be reduced.

On the positive side, the packaging is beautiful—like most Japanese products. The glossy sliver box reminds me of the old laser disc released many years ago. Four post cards, a booklet, and an advertisement for upcoming Blu Rays constitute as the tangible extras. The discs, sadly, contain the trailers we have all seen many times before.

Even though it is popular among genre fans and Romero to praise the third film (Day of the Dead) as the ignored masterpiece of the trilogy, I respectfully disagree. Dawn entertained as well as satirized. It offered more than just Savini's fatalities. It was a symbolic, clever film that poked fun at our material urges. Basically, our material drive is so strong that it remains with us even when we are dead. Not to mention the brilliant reversal where the viewer starts rooting for the zombies during the last half of the film.

On the other hand, Day started out good, but it lost the way toward the climax. Many claim that the film is cerebral; however, I think the claim is only half true. When the zombies enter the complex, the film becomes a cartoon of sorts. It's almost as if Romero realized audiences would throw rocks at the screen if the zombies did not get their free hot lunch. So, he devises this weak plot point about the infected effeminate soldier as means to deliver the carnage. To make matters worse, the tough, psychotic captain reveals himself a paper tiger, leaving his men to be digested by the shambling trespassers. It is so badly contrived and hopelessly predictable compared to Dawn.

What I am getting at is that a film like Dawn deserves a definitive release comparable to Day's. I hope that someone somewhere is or will be up to the task. Here are some scans from the contents of the box set. It looks like they will be releasing Piranha, The Crazies, Knightriders, and some others soon. Maybe they'll get those right?

Best,
Zan

Works Cited

"Dawn of Japan: The Good News and the Bad News."Kentai's Films.

N.p., 30 Dec. 2013. Web. 29 Dec. 2013.
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