Dawn of the Dead (1978) - OUT OF PRINT

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

Just sticking with the four-disc DVD set until there's a proper U.S. BD release.

Between that ^ Anchor Bay and the Umbrella and the Spanish official bootleg of the Argento Cut I'm set, I'm not buying this movie again until it gets the restoration it deserves.

I thought that the Italian Argento Cut restoration would be a nice little stepping stone but that set was a crushing disappointment IMO, containing the same botched transfers of the other cuts (wrong video levels) as the Japanese edition and the actual 4K Argento restoration itself barely registers as anything like 4K, along with some very odd colour timing choices (pink fluorescent lighting, anyone?). The open-matte version is a very weird viewing option too, and far too distracting thanks to the splices that are momentarily visible every...single...time...there's...a...cut. Danny won't thank me for saying this but that set is a HUGE waste of time, hence me picking up the Spanish Argento cut Blu-ray for like £6 instead.

[El_Fez]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Yeah. For the 'big event' type movies, Disney classics and grand old dames like Wizard of Oz, fine, I can see the thinking there because they have a built-in theatrical outlet to claw a few $$$ back, coming from the major studios as they do. But to do it off your own back and then just hope that the Good Cinema Witch will then float down in a bubble and grant you a theatrical release of your unrated zombie movie was kinda naive.

The thing is? With an eye to The Long Game, I bet you could make some cash back on this, but it's gonna be a slow burn. I mean we're not talking something obscure like The Werewolf and the Yeti or El Santo and Blue Demon vs Dracula and the Wolfman here - Dawn of the Dead will move units, but it will take time. 4 or 5 Octobers down the road, I bet you'll break even.

[The Fallen Deity]

I will never understand Anchor Bay's logic behind adding even more DNR to an already DNR'ed transfer for their BD release.

[balthazar_bee]

I blame the times. When the original AB release hit the streets, it was a while back, and even many home theatre enthusiasts weren't really consistent about what a "good" transfer should look like -- many simply felt that the grain should be reduced by any means necessary, giving it a smooth, digital appearance (hell, some people still feel that way).

That was quite a while ago, back when people were complimentary of the original Patton transfer.

We're due for an upgrade, Mr. Rubenstein. I am sending this thought to you...

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by El_Fez

The thing is? With an eye to The Long Game, I bet you could make some cash back on this, but it's gonna be a slow burn. I mean we're not talking something obscure like The Werewolf and the Yeti or El Santo and Blue Demon vs Dracula and the Wolfman here - Dawn of the Dead will move units, but it will take time. 4 or 5 Octobers down the road, I bet you'll break even.

Sure, it's Dawn fer chrissakes! But sadly El Rubinstein doesn't appear to see it that way. He's had the cost of the conversion burn a hole in his pocket and it seems that he needs it patched up sooner rather than later, hence the hefty licencing costs allied with punitive licencing terms that he's apparently hawking to those who come calling.

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

I will never understand Anchor Bay's logic behind adding even more DNR to an already DNR'ed transfer for their BD release.

As said above, it was simply the thing to do at that time. It's not so much outright DNR as an indiscriminate dirt removal pass which removed specular highlights as well as bits of negative/positive dirt, a victim of the state of restorative tech as much as anything.

[Markgway]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

That's as may be, but because the 5.1 is so respectful anyway it's not the most ghastly downmix you'll ever hear.

That's not really the point though... as well you know.

[Geoff D]

Sure, sure. But my point is that it'll do until such time as it gets properly handled.

[The Fallen Deity]

Yeah the 5.1 mix is surprisingly well done. The same can't be said for the Argento Cut's 5.1 mix though.

[Geoff D]

It doesn't help the Argento Cut's cause that it's got little to no ADR to begin with, it makes the on-set dialogue harder to hear in several scenes and in others you can even hear cars going by and whatnot. The 5.1 remix that's on the aforementioned Italian restoration takes all that and adds laughably bad steerage of the sound with lots of reverb, it's like 'my first 5.1 mix' or something.

The Arrow 5.1 is so respectful in comparison it might as well be mono aside from a few showy stereo effects like the ricochets when flyboy is shooting at the zombie in the generator room - but even then they still used the original (and gloriously cheesy) ricochet sound effects.

[StingingVelvet]

Arguing over which rice cake flavor tastes better is just a way to tread water waiting for a steak.

[Geoff D]

Damn, that's almost like a haiku, we's getting into some philosophical shit now.

Erm...eat enough rice cakes and you will still feel full, Velvet-san?

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Damn, that's almost like a haiku, we's getting into some philosophical shit now.

Erm...eat enough rice cakes and you will still feel full, Velvet-san?

More like Art of War. Velvet say; when classic looks like junk, eat like junk food.

[El_Fez]

Did you guys see this? There's a real dead body in Dawn of the Dead!



Savini borrowed it from a costume shop, dressed the 'prop' and bob's yer uncle!

[Hedji]

The Creep in Creepshow is also a real human skeleton.

[20th Century Boy]

Originally Posted by balthazar_bee

That was quite a while ago, back when people were complimentary of the original Patton transfer.

Did this really happen? Ye Gads!

[balthazar_bee]

You won't have to look too far...or even leave this site...<cough>five stars<cough>...

[El_Fez]

Hey, what do we know about this:



I saw it over on CDJapan, runs for 119 bucks and says nothing about it other than "Zombie (Dawn Of The Dead) 35th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Box" and it's got 3 discs with a run time of 385 minutes.

Is this a overseas version of the Ultimate Edition? I cant find any data anywhere.

[Spire]

Originally Posted by El_Fez

Hey, what do we know about this:



I saw it over on CDJapan, runs for 119 bucks and says nothing about it other than "Zombie (Dawn Of The Dead) 35th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Box" and it's got 3 discs with a run time of 385 minutes.

Is this a overseas version of the Ultimate Edition? I cant find any data anywhere.

Long story short, not great transfers. Poor/wrong black levels if I remember correctly. Theres info in this thread and elsewhere on the forum, just gotta do some digging.

[x5gb]

Originally Posted by Spire

Long story short, not great transfers. Poor/wrong black levels if I remember correctly. Theres info in this thread and elsewhere on the forum, just gotta do some digging.

Thats the Japanese blurays, and while the transfers are not perfect, and as long as you have either a htpc or a tv that can change the incorrect rgb levels, the theatrical and director's cuts are the best currently available. The Argento Cut was trumped recently by the Italian 4K (replacement version) which again is not perfect. One day when Rubinstein decides he needs the money these will get the transfers they deserve.

[oldgame]

Is this a glitch in the matrix?