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

[HDMe]

I'll reiterate an earlier thought too... IF this was intentional by Sony, why aren't they giving/selling this version to the other outlets (Vudu, Crackle, cable/satellite channels, etc.) as well?

You wouldn't do a new transfer, change the color timing, and not sell that one to everyone... would you?

[Tybo28]

Originally Posted by HDMe

I'll reiterate an earlier thought too... IF this was intentional by Sony, why aren't they giving/selling this version to the other outlets (Vudu, Crackle, cable/satellite channels, etc.) as well?

You wouldn't do a new transfer, change the color timing, and not sell that one to everyone... would you?

Or make drastic changes to a film that is being distributed to an exclusive number of fans of the film willing to pay the price. Yet, someone did...

[JYokogawa]

Originally Posted by retablo

Again, you're assuming - for some reason - that TT somehow knows what the original shod look like. Why should they? They are a distributor. They are selling a product given to them by a studio. It should, by all intents and purposes, be correct at this stage. There's no reason they should have to go check every frame of every film they release to see if the color matches a previous DVDm which in itself may or may not be "director-approved" and correct. They are talking about refunds, which is all they can really do.



Who's supposed to be saying it looks correct? TT didn't tweak the color. Sony did. Therefore, why should TT have to say anything? They aren't responsible for whatever changes were made during the mastering. You're placing blame in the wrong place.

And I never said anything about anything "looking correct". I said, quite correctly, that the only ones who really know what's correct are the original filmmakers. Just because people on the Internet saw an old DVD version doesn't mean they know what's correct, either, because not every DVD had the correct color timing.

My point is, it clearly isn't what the filmmakers originally intended. Savini had much more to do with the development of the DVD than he did of this Blu-ray release, not saying he oversaw the entire project, but let's just say he was more involved than he was on this, without a doubt.

And, I'm not going to sit here and chastise you, but have you seen this version? Are you familiar with the DVD version? Either I'm colorblind, or I just can't see how any of the color changes would make a good image on the film. The blue tint makes it appear as if it were dawn, yet they are clearly in the middle of the day, more towards dusk.

I don't believe anyone who's seen this movie more than 2-3 times can sit here and say that this is how the film is supposed to look. The scenes with Barbara running into the house are extremely dull and dark, and two seconds later when she's inside the house, she's still dark and dull, but the intensity of the sunlight is evident in the background. This isn't something that you notice on the DVD, because it's so much brighter. It sticks out like a sore thumb.

Anyone who owns that DVD knows that it was actually a very pretty transfer for a DVD. It upconverts very well. Not to Blu-ray standard, but still, quite well.

The skin colors are completely off at times. The sun is reflecting off their foreheads, yet for Barbara and Ben, they both awfully look dark, even for Ben being a black man. In broad daylight you can't even tell Patty Tallman is a redhead for crying out loud.

Don't get me wrong, the clarity is nice, and there are some scenes that do look fairly good, but those are very few. More often than not while going through it, I just wish someone hadn't turned the lights out. I just feel that so much of the color is lost.

Not only that, but some of the audio was changed as well. Now are you going to sit here and tell me that the audio wasn't in the film in the first place, and they only added it to the DVD?

[JYokogawa]

Originally Posted by HDMe

I'll reiterate an earlier thought too... IF this was intentional by Sony, why aren't they giving/selling this version to the other outlets (Vudu, Crackle, cable/satellite channels, etc.) as well?

You wouldn't do a new transfer, change the color timing, and not sell that one to everyone... would you?

Bingo. Apparently on VUDU it looks good, and I've caught bits of it on live HD before, and it definitely wasn't this same transfer.

[Kryptonic]

Just ordered the DVD for $3 - 10% of what the bastardized version costs.

[HDMe]

Originally Posted by Tybo28

Or make drastic changes to a film that is being distributed to an exclusive number of fans of the film willing to pay the price. Yet, someone did...

That's one explanation... It's also possible this was not what Sony intended to give to Twilight Time.

It's possible someone goofed and gave a corrupted file to Twilight Time... It's also possible someone at Twilight Time goofed in their disc authoring. I don't know what software they use, but even without mucking with the transfer some authoring programs let you apply broad changes to the file you are mastering.

If Twilight Time did it, it was certainly an error.

If Sony did it, it might have been an error but you're right it *could* have been purposeful... but if it is purposeful then surely we would see that circulating the rounds.. unless you think Sony (who didn't want to invest in distributing this themselves) would invest in doing a new master just in the last few weeks for Twilight Time. That wouldn't make sense.

[#Darren]

Originally Posted by Tybo28

But I hope they learned that you have to take SOME interest and know SOMETHING about the product you are selling, especially when your consumers know it so well.

You are absolutely correct. They are a high priced speciality label that only releases a very small number of films each year, and aims those at FILM ENTHUSIASTS, and the mantra of their fans is IMAGE QUALITY - so really there is no excuse not to research their product and do some of their OWN checks before selling it.

[Tybo28]

Originally Posted by HDMe

That's one explanation... It's also possible this was not what Sony intended to give to Twilight Time.

It's possible someone goofed and gave a corrupted file to Twilight Time... It's also possible someone at Twilight Time goofed in their disc authoring. I don't know what software they use, but even without mucking with the transfer some authoring programs let you apply broad changes to the file you are mastering.

If Twilight Time did it, it was certainly an error.

If Sony did it, it might have been an error but you're right it *could* have been purposeful... but if it is purposeful then surely we would see that circulating the rounds.. unless you think Sony (who didn't want to invest in distributing this themselves) would invest in doing a new master just in the last few weeks for Twilight Time. That wouldn't make sense.

I have a feeling it was intentional. It just looks like someone tried to modernize it. Some dude in a room somewhere got "creative". I hope it was a mistake, but, I gotta admit... I think Sony would say it was intentional either way, so they won't have to deal with it. They have their money, and wont be getting any more for this movie. I hope I'm wrong. If Sony says its right, it would be up to TT to "correct" it (and it needs corrected). If it was their mistake, they would have to id think. Which would also be awesome. Judging from their attitude....never gonna happen. Seems more like "live with it, or return it". Their statement made it sound like even if a janitor at Sony signed off on it, its right. I hope I'm proved wrong. Have to wait and see.

[kinkyqueen]

Peeps have seen this movie 'hundreds of times'?

[sheldo]

Wow this thread exploded since I last checked last night, most of it squabbling, has Savini reported back as yet?

[JYokogawa]

If there are still any doubters, look at the trailer on the disc itself. The color seems much more suitable for the film, and you're only getting a minute glance.

Specifically, compare the shot of Barbara running through the woods, the zombie on the road as Ben drives through and hits him, and the zombie standing in the doorway that Ben kills with a tire-iron in the kitchen.

Also, the short scene with the horde of zombies coming towards the farm is also much more vibrant in color.

[Dickieduvet]

Originally Posted by sheldo

Wow this thread exploded since I last checked last night, most of it squabbling, has Savini reported back as yet?

Not yet, Heard he's strapping on his D!ck gun that he wore in FDTD and heading over to see the Sony tech team though and he isn't firing blanks!

[ucfmatt]

Just finished my copy. There is noticeable "darkness" during the daytime scenes in the beginning of the movie. I wouldn't worry about it too much because it only last maybe 30 minutes.

Originally Posted by #Darren

30 minutes is one third of the movie. I consider that too much.

It's definitely not just 30 minutes. It starts 3-4 minutes in and lasts the entire rest of the movie.

[HotRats]

Twilight Time have already been sailing close to the wind with among the most expensive and minimally featured back catalogue titles on the market (Olive Films seem to be managing with lower prices and unlimited editions) but it beggars belief that this went through mastering and production with no-one comparing it against the DVD. Unless TT bite the bullet and remaster and replace their credibility will take a hit from which they may not recover

[psicon]

Originally Posted by xiaNaix

Nice comparison. Hopefully this will prevent further posts from people claiming the image has only been darkened and does not have a blueish hue.

Nah, Twilight Time will say they are not an accurate comparison.

[Blu Titan]

Please, no personal attacks. We all have our opinions, but lets give everyone a chance to express theirs.

[iamsometal]

Originally Posted by psicon

Nah, Twilight Time will say they are not an accurate comparison.

Of course Twilight Time will say that. They're still in denial. I will say that the split screen comparisons do exacerbate the issue due to perceived contrast. Something brighter next to something darker is always going to make each side look even more so. But Twilight Time is still undoubtedly on the defensive, and will most likely continue to be until they and Sony discuss the issue.

[thephantomcat]

It sounds like the only answer some people want here is for Twilight Time to admit they bumped the "blue tint" button magiacally from their homes in California and it made the manufacturers in Pennsylvania produce blue tinted discs. Poor innocent Sony did nothing wrong.

[Ill_Be_Back]

Has anyone else not got an e mail from SAE yet about their order?

[iamsometal]

Originally Posted by thephantomcat

It sounds like the only answer some people want here is for Twilight Time to admit they bumped the "blue tint" button magiacally from their homes in California and it made the manufacturers in Pennsylvania produce blue tinted discs. Poor innocent Sony did nothing wrong.

Only speaking for myself, that's not what I want at all. It's obvious this is not an authoring or compression issue, that the color timing choice or error occured in the remastering process (somewhere between telecine and digital master) at Sony. I think everyone gets that. The problem with Twilight Time is that they had to have been aware of the altered color timing and made no mention of it, which they should have done.

Anyone watching the blu-ray on a properly calibrated display can see that it's just too damn dark as soon as Barbara gets attacked, all the way through until the last 5 minutes of the film. And skin tones are clearly skewed towards unnatural blue tones. Any label that flies the flag of quality and prices their releases at a premium should check their releases for anything unusual BEFORE releasing them.