Night of the Living Dead (1990) - Out of Print

[Don May Jr]

Oh, I see. Haven't really read much into this thread because I was waiting for Tom's comment on the disc when he watched it. Completely understandable that people would be upset by the changes, and not everyone knows that I've been friends with Tom for 20 years. We all want answers from the proper channels in situations like this and, today, we got one.

But, it's still a matter of everyone's taste. Even with Tom's approval of the transfer, there will be those that do not like it and they are indeed entitled to that opinion. For me, I enjoy both transfers and will be keeping my DVD copy as well as the new Blu.

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

When you first relayed Savini's reply that it was "Blue?" some people pretty much considered it hearsay. This time around we do have actual quotes too, so there's no room for confusion.

For example this person, who didn't seem to believe that you spoke to Savini (or on his behalf):

[BJQ1972]

Originally Posted by A.MONK

I would say that the success of this movie's quick sell out can be tied to the after market prices for Fright Night. Are there people out there that genuinely love this film? Yes....however there were a lot of people buying multiple copies to sell on eBay.

And if there is one good outcome from this whole thing it is that many of the copies that they sell on will be subject to returns, refunds and hysteria along the lines of that we have seen here - which may dissuade them from buying multiple copies in the future.

[ravenus]

Can any one speak about how good the HD version of NOLD90 available on Amazon is? If it's significantly better than upscaled DVD, I might consider having that as an alternative to the TTBD.

Edit: Ah crap, the HD version has some limitation about what devices it can play on. I play movies/BD's on my PC connected to a Panasonic Viera S-Series 50inch TV. Would that work?

[UNCMT9]

So Savini is cool with it? I'm cool with it. Have a nice day, folks.

[MifuneFan]

What I don't get, are the people who say "Well if Savini is happy with it, then I am too". Are these people sheep, who just blindly follow the filmmakers vision regardless of whether it's right or not? You have eyes for a reason people, just because Savini supposedly approves of it, in no way means you have to as well. A prime example of this is The French Connection, which Friedkin completely changed with a new color timing. That was director approved mind you, but most fans of the movie considered him off his rocker and disagreed completely with the change. I'm not going to say Savini is off his rocker, but this surely is not how he intended the film to look originally, or even on the BD for that matter since he doesn't appear to have been involved directly. I respect his views, but I also respectfully disagree with him,

[UNCMT9]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

What I don't get, are the people who say "Well if Savini is happy with it, then I am too". Are these people sheep, who just blindly follow the filmmakers vision regardless of whether it's right or not? You have eyes for a reason people, just because Savini supposedly approves of it, in no way means you have to as well. A prime example of this is The French Connection, which Friedkin completely changed with a new color timing. That was director approved, but most fans of the movie considered him off his rocker and disagreed completely with the change. I'm not going to say Savini is off his rocker, but this surely is not how he intended the film to look originally, or even on the BD for that matter since he doesn't appear to have been involved directly.

And a lot of fans have no problem with this transfer. It's a choice. Are you trying to keep others from enjoying it because you don't?

[Mr Kite]

Originally Posted by whitesheik

Is this a serious question? I don't know, I don't think Alfred Hitchcock or any of his cinematographers were involved in any Hitchcock transfers, I don't think Orson Welles or any of his DPs were involved in the transfers of his classics, nor hundreds of other deceased directors and cameramen.

But he (David) would know that is why i asked it

PS
I doubt any of those guys are around now to oversee the restoration process.

[Blu Titan]

ok, guys lets play nice . Savini liked it, you might have not or might have liked it . It is what it is. I am sure we all have bigger worries in our lives .

[xiaNaix]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

What I don't get, are the people who say "Well if Savini is happy with it, then I am too". Are these people sheep, who just blindly follow the filmmakers vision regardless of whether it's right or not? You have eyes for a reason people, just because Savini supposedly approves of it, in no way means you have to as well. A prime example of this is The French Connection, which Friedkin completely changed with a new color timing. That was director approved, but most fans of the movie considered him off his rocker and disagreed completely with the change. I'm not going to say Savini is off his rocker, but this surely is not how he intended the film to look originally, or even on the BD for that matter since he doesn't appear to have been involved directly.

You don't have to like it but Savini is the director and I'll respect his opinion and move on. I don't think that makes me a sheep. At this point, with Tom saying he approves of the new version, there's definitely nothing going to happen as far as a new edition so any further arguing about it is simply pointless.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by UNCMT9

And a lot of fans have no problem with this transfer. It's a choice. Are you trying to keep others from enjoying it because you don't?

Where did I say anything of the sort? My post is directed at people who just will blindly accept the transfer now that they know Savini approves of it, not any other group. If someone likes the new transfer based on seeing it with their eyes and not based on the words of the director, then I have no problem with that. I've said as much in previous posts.

[EddieLarkin]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

What I don't get, are the people who say "Well if Savini is happy with it, then I am too". Are these people sheep, who just blindly follow the filmmakers vision regardless of whether it's right or not? You have eyes for a reason people, just because Savini supposedly approves of it, in no way means you have to as well. A prime example of this is The French Connection, which Friedkin completely changed with a new color timing. That was director approved mind you, but most fans of the movie considered him off his rocker and disagreed completely with the change. I'm not going to say Savini is off his rocker, but this surely is not how he intended the film to look originally, or even on the BD for that matter since he doesn't appear to have been involved directly. I respect his views, but I also respectfully disagree with him,

Friedkin later said that the color timing on the first Blu-ray looked nothing like he authorised during the transfer stage, and was changed after his involvement ended. Not really a comparable scenario. A better example would have been Lucas.

[mars396]

I watch this every October.

Yesterday mine arrived, and for the first time, I watched a Blu-ray the DAY I GOT IT.

I was prepared for the worst, judging by the screenshots posted here.

I sat ready with my TV remote, ready to adjust brightness, contrast, etc. but I never had to change a setting. This Blu-ray looks awesome.

Is everyone complaining about the opening scenes in the cemetary and when Barbara finds the house ? Or the entire movie ??? I was prepared to be completely "in the dark" when she confronts the Baby Doll Zombie, but it just didn't look like that. Nor when Ben pulls up to the house in the truck.

I can see where the opening scenes now kinda look like an overcast day, as opposed to bright sunny day, but I agree with the DIRECTOR - it adds to the mood.

my 2¢

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by Cortiz

This thread needs to be shut down until there is ACTUALLY an OFFICIAL update and not a bunch of He said , I said crap....

Ummm, the director already made a comment. What else is expected? Personally, I would have much preferred that the movie remained as it was. However, the change was made and that is basically it. Keep it, sell it, or return it. There will be no other options.

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by Dickieduvet

HEY FOLKS, BAD NEWS!!!!!

Just had an update from Tom Savini via FB:

His response:

"You know what...I watched it last night and it's beautiful. I can't see anything wrong with it and I watched it on my 70 inch high def Sharp"

That's from the Director himself.

I''VE TOLD YOU! I KNEW IT!, and I WAS RIGHT! I am going to re-post my statement below that I had originally written 2 days ago in regards to the quote above:

I just watched it myself tonight, and I do agree the darker atmosphere suits the film more appropriately than the DVD. Many people don't like it because, it's not what they're use to seeing. This is the way the movie should have looked on previous formats. Compared to the DVD, the blu-ray is far superior. The DVD appeared to have too much outdoor, and indoor lighting to be a zombie movie...Personally, I thought the blu-ray looked exceptionally good! The video is sharp, detailed, and vibrant. The audio is an improvement as well because, the soundtrack was originally recorded in Ultra Stereo, an audio codec which was formerly utilized primarily in B movies. Tom Savini should be very well pleased of this HD transfer from Twilight Time.

[Mr Kite]

Now that is settled i will give one of you guy's $10 for one of your spare copy's.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by EddieLarkin

Friedkin later said that the color timing on the first Blu-ray looked nothing like he authorised during the transfer stage, and was changed after his involvement ended. Not really a comparable scenario. A better example would have been Lucas.

Do you have a link to that? I recall reading that Friedkin definitely made changes that are present in that BD release, and this actually created a rift between him, and cinematographer Roizman.

edit: here's the interview I guess? I don't buy his excuse for a second. I think it's just BS meant to sell the re-release as his proper vision. Backpedaling 101

AVC: So what was your reaction to the criticisms of the French Connection Blu-ray? You personally re-timed the colors for Blu-ray, and some people felt you’d defaced a masterpiece.

WF: Oh, The French Connection Blu-ray, the master that we made was absolutely perfect. Then when Fox took it out to reproduce it, mass production, it goes through four different companies. It got screwed up badly, and I didn’t know that. I had only seen the master; I never saw any of the playback copies. And Owen Roizman, the cameraman, got a copy at Best Buy and said it looked like ****! He denounced it. I said, “What are you talking about?” He brought his copy in, and we ran it next to the master, and he was right. The prints were badly made. So we remade them, he and I supervised a new version of the Blu-ray, which went into a Best Buy exclusive, for I think six months, and then it’ll go broad—it’ll replace the other one. What I learned was that Fox, when they put that DVD out, there was a little warning inside the box that said, “This may not play well on your home receiver. If it doesn’t, write to w-w-w dot so-and-so, so-and-so. We’ll send you a disc that will make your own playback receiver compatible.” This was like a caveat emptor. And Roizman was right. The copies were all over the place. That’s not a perfect process, either. We made new ones that should be great, because we had a different company do the mass release. They’re at Best Buy, and when their exclusive expires, they’ll be everywhere.

source: http://www.avsforum.com/t/1422040/fr...nection-br-1-0

In any event, you're right Lucas can be substituted and it is the same thing.

[Ill_Be_Back]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

Ummm, the director already made a comment. What else is expected? Personally, I would have much preferred that the movie remained as it was. However, the change was made and that is basically it. Keep it, sell it, or return it. There will be no other options.

I agree nothing can be done now...

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by Ill_Be_Back

I agree nothing can be done now...

Nothing could have been done anyways . This was/is the choice of Sony who called/calls the shots. Whether Savini liked it or not will matter to some fans, but that is it guys. My main concern would be, that customers should have been made aware of the changes prior to purchase. However, anyone who is upset can return the BD for a refund. I am moving on from this .

[psicon]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

Personally, I would have much preferred that the movie remained as it was. However, the change was made and that is basically it. Keep it, sell it, or return it. There will be no other options.

Yeah, that's it in a nutshell

[EddieLarkin]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Do you have a link to that? I recall reading that Friedkin definitely made changes that are present in that BD release, and this actually created a rift between him, and cinematographer Roizman.

I didn't, but I used that fancy thing called Google for you, third result after searching "friedkin french connection color timing"

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/william...mmaking-today/