Dawn of the Dead (1978) - OUT OF PRINT

[JohnCarpenterLives]

Originally Posted by thatguamguy

I remember reading about that, it kinda sounded more like a bonus feature (to me) than a standalone, but I would buy it in whatever way they try to sell it. Maybe that's what's going on the "Martin" disc?

No clue. I also think it's a standalone release, but who knows?

[HipsterTrash]

Originally Posted by dwk

I dont think it is a matter of money. A company supposedly met his asking price and he walked away on the day the contracts were to be signed.

I would like to know who that was since they're pretty big news concerning this film.

Maybe just MAYBE it'll happen again but Richard won't pull out and let the deal happen.

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by theEXORCIST

Why such big bulky packaging

Wouldn't surprise me if there were four digipacks inside, each dedicated to a different disc, plus a book.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by HipsterTrash

I would like to know who that was since they're pretty big news concerning this film.

Maybe just MAYBE it'll happen again but Richard won't pull out and let the deal happen.

I think it was Shout that was going to release it, but even then the news of him walking away was from like 3 years ago. Hopefully a new deal can be reached or has already been reached. Maybe with Criterion...

[HipsterTrash]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

I think it was Shout that was going to release it, but even then the news of him walking away was from like 3 years ago. Hopefully a new deal can be reached or has already been reached. Maybe with Criterion...

One can dream.
I don't think Criterion would take it. Just a guess. Night seemed cheap and easy to do, but this seems more nightmarish for them to not bother. Plus they have so many other titles that they're interested in.
And that's not saying that Dawn isn't a worthy film. It's one of my fave films and it's one that I want to see a good transfer of.
So if it was Shout maybe they can try again and Rich can come down from his ivory tower and just relinquish it. Free Martin too. (And I also wish Lionsgate weren't sticklers and would release things - I WANT Bruiser so bad on Scream)

Looking at Richard Rubinstein's imdb, I noticed that he has two 2020 productions: CBS' The Stand and the upcoming attempt a Dune franchise with the first film debut. Both must been helpful items to be an Exec. Producer and I'm sure he'll start seeing green come in. This could mean a change is attitude to let Dawn and Martin see Region A light.

[drownsoda]

Originally Posted by HipsterTrash

One can dream.
I don't think Criterion would take it. Just a guess. Night seemed cheap and easy to do, but this seems more nightmarish for them to not bother. Plus they have so many other titles that they're interested in.
And that's not saying that Dawn isn't a worthy film. It's one of my fave films and it's one that I want to see a good transfer of.
So if it was Shout maybe they can try again and Rich can come down from his ivory tower and just relinquish it. Free Martin too. (And I also wish Lionsgate weren't sticklers and would release things - I WANT Bruiser so bad on Scream)

Looking at Richard Rubinstein's imdb, I noticed that he has two 2020 productions: CBS' The Stand and the upcoming attempt a Dune franchise with the first film debut. Both must been helpful items to be an Exec. Producer and I'm sure he'll start seeing green come in. This could mean a change is attitude to let Dawn and Martin see Region A light.

The rights debacle aside, I also find it unlikely that Criterion would deem Dawn of the Dead "important" enough to include in their collection—Night of the Living Dead was a true genre-definer, unlike anything that had been made before it, so I can see how it fits in with their oeuvre in terms of how they curate films. Dawn, though still a great film, doesn't have quite as much cultural currency as Night.

[darkness2918]

Originally Posted by drownsoda

The rights debacle aside, I also find it unlikely that Criterion would deem Dawn of the Dead "important" enough to include in their collection—Night of the Living Dead was a true genre-definer, unlike anything that had been made before it, so I can see how it fits in with their oeuvre in terms of how they curate films. Dawn, though still a great film, doesn't have quite as much cultural currency as Night.

I highly doubt it would be beneath Criterion to release Dawn of the Dead, they’ve released much less important films:



Dawn of the Dead is more “important” than all of those

[blackashford]

Originally Posted by darkness2918

I highly doubt it would be beneath Criterion to release Dawn of the Dead, they’ve released much less important films:



Dawn of the Dead is more “important” than all of those

At the very least Criterion would love to release a Dead/Romero boxset akin to the Antoine Doinel set. As much as I like the Doinel sequels, it's the 400 blows that has all the "cultural currency". Although it's easy to argue how important Romero is to the Zombie and Horror genre at large. So many people cite those movies and his other works that most of his films could be included as at least a bonus or as part of a larger set.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by darkness2918

I highly doubt it would be beneath Criterion to release Dawn of the Dead, they’ve released much less important films:



Dawn of the Dead is more “important” than all of those

These are really outdated and a relic of the time where they occasionally put out mega-popular current movies to try and make bank.

A better comparison would be to things like Lone Wolf and Cub or Lady Snowblood or those Czech sci-fi/fantasy movies. Dawn is vastly more important to the genre than those are to theirs.

Not that I think it will happen, since its rights are too expensive, but if all licensing costs were equal I’m sure they’d be all over it. I mean, they have a blu-ray of Scanners!

[DukeTogo84]

Yeah, Dawn of the Dead is a pretty important film and if it was an easy pick-up I'm sure Criterion would nap it up. They release far less important films than this and plenty of films not even half as good as this one.

[thatguamguy]

Criterion almost certainly *would* release "Dawn of the Dead". I don't think that they deliberately avoid important horror movies, I think it's a function of the market; important horror movies will sell very well, which means that there are companies willing to pay higher license fees. I don't know what the most expensive license Criterion ever got would be, but I bet it's not 1/4 of the cost of "Dawn of the Dead".

[happydood]

Originally Posted by thatguamguy

Criterion almost certainly *would* release "Dawn of the Dead". I don't think that they deliberately avoid important horror movies, I think it's a function of the market; important horror movies will sell very well, which means that there are companies willing to pay higher license fees. I don't know what the most expensive license Criterion ever got would be, but I bet it's not 1/4 of the cost of "Dawn of the Dead".

This. If they're releasing Cronenberg films, I'm sure the would love to have Dawn Of The Dead.

[El_Fez]

If Criterion can release the shit 60's Godzilla flicks - and I say this as someone who loves that franchise - then surely releasing a movie that is just as important to cinema as Night is, that's a no-brainer.

[Region_unlocked]

Originally Posted by darkness2918

[Show spoiler]I highly doubt it would be beneath Criterion to release Dawn of the Dead, they’ve released much less important films:

Dawn of the Dead is more “important” than all of those

TBF Kevin Smith in general was a pretty important figure in the American indie filmmaking scene in the 90's. It's weird to wrap your head around now, but he was on equal footing with Quentin Tarantino for a while. IMO Clerks is probably more influential than Chasing Amy, but either way that pick isn't entirely out of nowhere.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by Region_unlocked

TBF Kevin Smith in general was a pretty important figure in the American indie filmmaking scene in the 90's. It's weird to wrap your head around now, but he was on equal footing with Quentin Tarantino for a while. IMO Clerks is probably more influential than Chasing Amy, but either way that pick isn't entirely out of nowhere.

It’s difficult to remember now, but yeah, he was a fairly respected filmmaker up until Jersey Girl. Even Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back had a good reception at the time! Mallrats was regarded his only misfire. Times sure change! Now that is considered one of his best and JASBSB largely mocked.

[Member-222782]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

Wouldn't surprise me if there were four digipacks inside, each dedicated to a different disc, plus a book.

Yuck, no cardboard, please. These aren't four different films so they don't need individual cases but if they go this route I hope they choose regular Elite clear cases. I hated what Indicated did with the Norman J. Warren set. Take a cue from Vinegar Syndrome's Angel and Amityville collections. But, seriously, whatever happened to seamless branching? It's a brilliant idea that has been severely underused.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

Wouldn't surprise me if there were four digipacks inside, each dedicated to a different disc, plus a book.

Yes please.

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

Yuck, no cardboard, please. These aren't four different films so they don't need individual cases but if they go this route I hope they choose regular Elite clear cases. I hated what Indicated did with the Norman J. Warren set. Take a cue from Vinegar Syndrome's Angel and Amityville collections. But, seriously, whatever happened to seamless branching? It's a brilliant idea that has been severely underused.

I 100% agree. By far the worst part of that Warren set was the use of digipacks. I would also agree with you that the individual cases are unnecessary for this release however I certainly wouldn't be opposed to them if each came with poster art from that releases part of the world. It's very possible that the case may end up being like that found on the original Blade Runner 5 disc set.

In regards to seamless branching, I feel like that works fine for multiple endings but when a film has been drastically extended/shortened and/or when musical cues have been changed that I much prefer to have each cut of the film on its own disc. If we're all about having the best possible presentation then having each cut on its own disc ensures that.

[BladeRunner2007]

I remember my Blade Runner disc with the TC/International TC/DC used seamless branching, but it wasn't so seamless as the images was always stuttering whenever a scene came up that was exclusive to one version of the film. This was really annoying. Anyone else experiencing that???

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

Yuck, no cardboard, please.

Alright, then. Three (or four?) amaray cases. Either way, I do think each cut will be treated like its own thing. How else would you explain the bulky-ass box? There'll likely be a book of some sort, but I doubt it'll be any more than 100 pages. And if they go the posters and art cards route... well, they don't exactly take up much room.

Originally Posted by BladeRunner2007

I remember my Blade Runner disc with the TC/International TC/DC used seamless branching, but it wasn't so seamless as the images was always stuttering whenever a scene came up that was exclusive to one version of the film. This was really annoying. Anyone else experiencing that???

No, but that sounds like my worst nightmare.