Dawn of the Dead (1978) - OUT OF PRINT

[dickdarlington]

• Dolby Atmos remixes.
• Dolby Vision.
• HDR/HDR10+/Dolby Vision (or something) grading on the Zombi cut.
• Blu-ray 3D of the theatrical cut.
• Figure out what bonus materials can be collected from various worldwide releases.

The ceiling is pretty low at this point.

[Purplenoon]

I am very satisfied with my Starz/Anchor Bay Ultimate Edition of DOTD, DVD though it may be. Everything I could possibly want in this flick is in there, and it looks fine for what it's worth. This is a great horror movie, but it ain't Lawrence of Arabia. I expect it to look primitive. It's just a bunch of zombies running crazy in a mall.

[dwk]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

I think for some, the only way to double dip would probably be some new features and having the 3-D release version.

I still think it's insane that Dawn doesn't have a US release in circulation as it's probably one of the biggest horror films of all time. (It's my personal favorite) I know some labels refuse to work with Rubenstein after he broke some good faith, and they are some pretty big labels.

And you can't blame them for not wanting to work with him. It is just a shame that sometimes films end up with a-holes (like the producer that owns nearly all of Verhoeven's early films)

[russweiss1]

Originally Posted by Purplenoon

I am very satisfied with my Starz/Anchor Bay Ultimate Edition of DOTD, DVD though it may be. Everything I could possibly want in this flick is in there, and it looks fine for what it's worth. This is a great horror movie, but it ain't Lawrence of Arabia. I expect it to look primitive. It's just a bunch of zombies running crazy in a mall.

This is a bizarre take for a Blu-ray forum.

[trustno1]

Originally Posted by dickdarlington

Worst case scenario, purchase a Panasonic player and pray to God that the disc can be bypassed using the Top Menu trick.

The top menu trick doesn’t work for the Second Sight bonus disc.

[dickdarlington]

Originally Posted by trustno1

The top menu trick doesn’t work for the Second Sight bonus disc.

We know that. It was just a comment in regards to Region B as a whole.

[Telemachus]

Fans of this film should already own the Second Sight set, it was literally one of the sets that got me to buy an Ultra HD player, it's a perfect set for anyone. Three cuts of the film that anyone can play, and one special features disc you may be locked out of, but you're buying this to watch the film surely? A lot of work was done on this set, just check the thread for it, David M did some great restoration work on this, I doubt Criterion would have all the bells and whistles and little touches this set got regardless of any new fluff they do.

[Stanis]

I own the ultimate dvd from release, ss standard uhds and I ripped the special features locked blu. Im pretty happy, but I wouldnt say the ss discs are perfect, there is a bit of a funny color thing goin on, kinda like ss chainsaws

[HipsterTrash]

Slipcover. I'm sure that's enough to cause some people to buy a new edition.

[BladeRunner2007]

Originally Posted by Stanis

I own the ultimate dvd from release, ss standard uhds and I ripped the special features locked blu. Im pretty happy, but I wouldnt say the ss discs are perfect, there is a bit of a funny color thing goin on, kinda like ss chainsaws

Didn't notice anything wrong with the colors. It has great and consistant color timing. Also supervised and approved by the film's DOP Michael Gornick. It definitely did not change the feel of the movie, unlike many other restorations. It's a bit on the colder side now, but I feel that's correct, since you can actually see that it's cold in scenes that take place outside. You can see the actors' breath. It has all the correct color pallets from that era of filmmaking. The blues (Peter & Roger's uniform and Fran's trousers) also really pop. Many previous releases had totally wrong and too warm colors in certain scenes. The old Anchor Bay disc comes to mind with its pink/purple skies.

[BXR 1138]

You don't even need a region free player to watch the contents of the disc. You can just use a blu-ray drive to rip/back it up with MakeMKV (for your own personal use and as long as you own the disc - obligatory disclaimer).

[HipsterTrash]

I know it's become a slightly controversial issue since some "dinosaurs" like myself rather stay locked to Region A lifestyle. But that shouldn't mean that this film is trapped under the thumb of Rubinstein.
yeah a new blu would be terrific. But jeez, at least get with the times and get this to a streaming platform. I'm sure with the rights still being under Rubinstein it also means that some theatrical showings of it is limited because of him.

This all about appreciation for a tremendous film and how everyone should see it, in any way possible.

[Matt89]

Would be great if this finally got a stateside release, but tbh I'm perfectly content with my Second Sight UHD. One of my favourite sets in my collection.

[dickdarlington]

Originally Posted by HipsterTrash

But jeez, at least get with the times and get this to a streaming platform. I'm sure with the rights still being under Rubinstein it also means that some theatrical showings of it is limited because of him.

This film has been re-released three times in less than two years.

October 2022: 3D release at most Regals.
October 2023: 2D release (using the Second Sight remaster) at most Regals.
Spring 2024: 2D release at independently owned theaters and drive-ins.

If anything, it’s mind boggling that we’ve seen three theatrical releases yet not a single home video release in the US.

[HipsterTrash]

Originally Posted by dickdarlington

This film has been re-released three times in less than two years.

October 2022: 3D release at most Regals.
October 2023: 2D release (using the Second Sight remaster) at most Regals.
Spring 2024: 2D release at independently owned theaters and drive-ins.

If anything, it’s mind boggling that we’ve seen three theatrical releases yet not a single home video release in the US.

I'm more so theorizing that there might be some theatre showings that were halted due to Rubinstein. I don't officially know. I also wouldn't put it past him.

[dickdarlington]

Originally Posted by HipsterTrash

I'm more so theorizing that there might be some theatre showings that were halted due to Rubinstein. I don't officially know. I also wouldn't put it past him.

In 2022, we had 9 Regal theaters in my city. It played at 7 / 9 for two weeks. They kept it out of the Cinebarre and Luxury locations.

In 2023, we had 7 Regal theaters in my city. Went down to 5 / 7 as they kept it out of the Cinebarre and Luxury locations again. Only played for one week versus two.

In 2024, one of the locally independent theaters played it for two nights.

At least in the US, Rubinstein isn’t limiting theatrical playdates. I’m now on track to see this film in theaters every year.

[PrestigeWorldwide]

Originally Posted by BXR 1138

You don't even need a region free player to watch the contents of the disc. You can just use a blu-ray drive to rip/back it up with MakeMKV (for your own personal use and as long as you own the disc - obligatory disclaimer).

The blu-ray drive is the best option in my opinion, as the cost has been relatively low over several years. Still using a blu-ray drive from 2010, and with minimal use since I rarely import these days, it will probably last many more years. At this point, I'm content with the SS 4K set, the old Anchor Bay blu-ray, and Ultimate DVD edition set.

[travisbickle]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

I wish someone could release the 3D version, would love to see what that is like.

I saw it in theaters a few years ago. Nothing special TBH, it was just cool to see Dawn on the big screen.

[starsteam]

Originally Posted by GeoffOliver

Also, for what it's worth, the officially licensed Facebook page of Night of the Living Dead posted a picture of the Criterion logo with this caption.



Since they've already released NOTLD on Blu-ray and 4K, I'm wondering if it might actually be a stateside release of Dawn. I've heard Criterion has pursued it before. Maybe they finally worked out a deal. I guess if anyone could do it, it's them.

Criterion just announced a UK release of their NOTLD 4K. It looks like their version uses the digipack packaging.

[DukeTogo84]

So it looks like Night of the Living Dead 4K in the UK was NOT the big news. MifuneFan posted more over in the Criterion thread, but I found all of this pretty interesting. I also don't want to get my hopes up, but a Criterion release of Dawn would be amazing.

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

So, someone by the name of Jim Cironella on the NotLD FB page said this



I looked him up, and he is the producer of a Dawn of the Dead documentary titled "Memories of Monroeville: Revisiting the 'Dawn of the Dead' Mall" (2020). He was also involved wiht one of the extras for Criterion's NotLD release, has done liner notes for some music releases too, and is considered pretty knowledgeable on all things Romero from what I'm reading. I imagine Second Sight's release will likely remain tops, but it would still be pretty huge for the US market if Criterion were able to get Dawn of the Dead. Trying not to get my hopes up though.