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

[metropolis]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

That gives me the impression that they were aware of it differing greatly from the old before it was released, but didn't put out a warning about it.

No I don't think so. I think it means they will be doing a little bit of QC in future.

[Oblivion138]

Originally Posted by Bad Sandwich

I'd typically agree with this sentiment, but this is clearly somewhat of an exception in that we're not talking a dispute over slight color push/brightness/contrast difference...we're talking previously-midday bright outdoor scenes that now look like dusk. It's a dramatic shift, the sort of major discrepancy I'd wager at least some people would be able to recall accurately from theatrical viewings, even from over 20 years ago.

Perhaps so. But I don't personally know anyone who saw it in 1990, and I don't trust random voices on the internet. As of this moment, I have the vague recollections of total strangers to go by, versus the opinion of the director. Can't say I'm feeling particularly swayed in the direction of the former.

Originally Posted by metropolis

No I don't think so. I think it means they will be doing a little bit of QC in future.

So we're still blaming Twilight Time for Sony's master? Good. I'd hate to see logic ruin a perfectly good torches-and-pitchforks session.

[metropolis]

Originally Posted by UNCMT9

I think he meant the source was never really that strong. The image that some saw in theaters and home video was incorrect to begin with. At least that's how I take it.

That is a heck of a big guess. Nothing that is known about the flick supports that theory.

[metropolis]

Originally Posted by RelicUK

Is it just me or does all TT seem to care about is how much of a "collectible" this is and how much this will "skyrocket" on ebay...

And why should they care, they have your money and practically NO ONE is going to return it to SAE when they can sell it for 3 times the amount on ebay, everyones a winner! ..except the hardcore fans of the film

this

[Ill_Be_Back]

Originally Posted by hotrats

i'm with the review on highdefdigest all the way. This disc makes a nonsense of the sunset, features "daylight" i've only seen the like of during a solar eclipse and is missing audio elements. Either twilight time didn't know about these issues, in which case they are incompetent, or they did in and went ahead anyway in which case they are cynically greedy. If this disc was an unlimited edition sold by sony every copy would now be on its way back to the retailers and they would be besieged with complaints as in the case of the fifth element. I don't see why twilight time should be treated any differently, they are not your benefactors, they are a company out to make money like any other. Absolutely fine when they deliver, when they don't they have to take complaints as well as they accept praise when they get things right. I wonder how many of those praising the transfer have a few extra copies they're hoping to sell.

+1

[metropolis]

Originally Posted by jak

My wife and I watched the film last night. I was surprised when she remarked the movie looked blue.She knew nothing about the discussions concerning the pq. We watched it on a 60" Samsung led tv that has been calibrated. I figured the whole blue color problem was just exagerated,but it was really noticeable. I've spent the last 28 years working in quality control in the photofinishing business. Color has been my profession. This film is screaming blue/magenta. I found the pq was a real bummer,yet life goes on. I understand the frustration though. We paid top dollar and it's reasonable to expect a decent transfer. So many scenes just didn't have a natural look. I understand those that have buyers remorse. I doubt I will ever watch my copy again. I will just stick it on the shelf. It's disappointing but not earth shattering.

Thank you for a very illuminating post.

[Bad Sandwich]

Originally Posted by Oblivion138

Perhaps so. But I don't personally know anyone who saw it in 1990, and I don't trust random voices on the internet. As of this moment, I have the vague recollections of total strangers to go by, versus the opinion of the director. Can't say I'm feeling particularly swayed in the direction of the former.

It just seems like somewhat of an intellectual cop out in the face of overwhelming dissent, though. I mean, these things (weariness over theatrical recollections from years past; (non)reliability of past video incarnations) can ultimately be said of any release and used to play devil's advocate against even the most wonky and egregious tampering, and those which have been clearly subject to an overwhelming majority claiming "It's never looked like this!" in response (Aliens; The French Connection V1). I mean, would you honestly, with a straight face, adopt this same stance (which essentially amounts to "Well, it could in fact have originally looked this way, because memory is unreliable and whatnot") over the latter? With the crushing majority claiming glaring differences in appearance that ensued? Aliens, in contrast, is such a case as I mentioned before where the alleged disparity is sufficiently "slight" (global color push) where the "it could just be in everyone's heads" argument has, IMO, more validity (though, FTR, I firmly lean to the notion Aliens never before appeared quite as it does on BD, sans anything airtight to back that up). But this? This sort of (claimed) difference carries considerably more legitimacy to me, simply on account it's so jarring. Not trying to come off as combative here BTW, sorry if that's how this reads.

[metropolis]

Originally Posted by HyperRealist

Would have been nice to get an explanation for the botched audio.

That has been conveniently ignored.

[Torrente]

Savini liked the new transfer. He didn't approve the changes as he wasn't there in the room when they made them but he liked the result. Does it make it the best transfer there is?
Of course not, hell Romero even approved the last Miramax transfer of the original NOTLD plagued with severe cropping.

Will I return the BD to TT?
Of course not, that would just be a stupid move: this BD is a limited edition already sold out, if I'd decide I don't like it when I will watch it, and if I can make money out of it, I won't hesitate!

[metropolis]

Originally Posted by Oblivion138

So we're still blaming Twilight Time for Sony's master? Good. I'd hate to see logic ruin a perfectly good torches-and-pitchforks session.

Several here feel TT is responsible for the Blu ray's which bear their name, and that logic has been well justified in this thread.

[sheldo]

Originally Posted by AndrewFM

Even if SAE mark their orders "GIFT" or "CUSTOMS PAID", Royal Mail STILL sometimes saddle you with a bill for import tax - they seem to do it at random.

The SAE envelope was marked as $5 value so you shouldn't ever get charges on their packages (there was no packing slip with the real value inside) as per the HMRC site :

goods you have purchased, of £15 or less are free from customs duty and import VAT.

Originally Posted by RogerMathus

On a properly calibrated display the picture does not look anything like the screen captures posted. I just watched on an 8 ft projection system and did not detect the blue tint and the interior scenes held very good detail. The opening five minutes are bright but the sky is cloudy. The transition to darker, upon second viewing, is fairly gradual and believable.

I never noticed any smurf o vision apart from blueness in the night scenes (the proper night scenes that is!) the BD looked fine on my plasma bar the scenes from when barbara starts running from graveyard up until they enter the house after Ben despatches the crippled zombie; those like shoddy 'day for night' scenes complete with a full choir of birds singing away! BD is fine so will be keeping it.

[psicon]

Originally Posted by Kentai

I didn't say a word about their accuracy, but here's what I get using Media Player Classic's decoder...

[Show spoiler]

Thanks. Ties in exactly with previously posted versions of that shot.
Including the "false over exaggerated" comparison.

[kinkyqueen]

This thread has become so much fun i'm thinking about saving the textfiles

[Whirlygig]

For those still saying the screencaps are an inaccurate representation of the video...have you at least learned from this not to judge the color/sharpness/detail of any film purely from screencaps that you see on your computer? Even the ones you see in official reviews on this site? If so then at least that much came of this.

[ravenus]

Going forward, if TT encounters another situation where the new transfer differs greatly from the old, we will bring that to collectors' attention prior to the disc being offered so that you may know of the changes beforehand. Thanks for all your support.

Best,

Nick Redman and Brian Jamieson.

Excellent. While I am not happy with the drastic color change on this blu-ray, this is the best thing that TT can do for future releases with potential issues. In fact I would request that since certain titles can get sold out in pre-order before any reviews come out, it'd be nice if they could release a few full resolution screenshots for every upcoming release so the fans can have the correct idea about what they're getting for their money.

[klauswhereareyou]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Excellent. While I am not happy with the drastic color change on this blu-ray, this is the best thing that TT can do for future releases with potential issues. In fact I would request that since certain titles can get sold out in pre-order before any reviews come out, it'd be nice if they could release a few full resolution screenshots for every upcoming release so the fans can have the correct idea about what they're getting for their money.

This sounds better, but really they should send out review copies to sites like bluray.com before they go on presale, that way when you got these titles that sell out in one day, people know what they're getting into.

[DMRI2006]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

Ubetcha rdodolak. Everyone who is panicking, trying to unload their disc on eBay and Amazon before word gets around, seems to be forgetting that essential fact. Overnight, this Blu-ray has now become an even more exclusive edition, which might never again appear in any format (the *lost* 20th Anniversary Director Approved and DP Supervised version that was never released by Sony).

Never underestimate fan curiosity and compulsion...especially Horror-SF-Fantasy collectors.

The prices are going up again. That fan poll posted here doesn't have so much as one person voting to return it. IMO the amount of fan outrage and people who hate it so much they want to unload it will be outweighed tenfold by folks whose copies won't be going anywhere. Interest will steadily increase as copies become scarcer over the next 6-12 months. I can see it being sold for Fright Night-like levels a year from now provided there's no other reissue (which I'm doubting there will be -- Fright Night hasn't been reissued). TT probably has a window of exclusivity for these titles.

[UNCMT9]

Originally Posted by DMRI2006

The prices are going up again. That fan poll posted here doesn't have so much as one person voting to return it. IMO the amount of fan outrage and people who hate it so much they want to unload it will be outweighed tenfold by folks whose copies won't be going anywhere. Interest will steadily increase as copies become scarcer over the next 6-12 months. I can see it being sold for Fright Night-like levels a year from now provided there's no other reissue (which I'm doubting there will be -- Fright Night hasn't been reissued). TT probably has a window of exclusivity for these titles.

That's sort of the problem I have with all this bickering. All those that are calling people out for liking this, are holding on to their copies and STILL complaining about never ordering from TT, etc. There's an old expression, the pot calling the kettle black.

[Ill_Be_Back]

Originally Posted by UNCMT9

That's sort of the problem I have with all this bickering. All those that are calling people out for liking this, are holding on to their copies and STILL complaining about never ordering from TT, etc. There's an old expression, the pot calling the kettle black.

Hey! I am never going to buy from TT again man! Never again man!

[UNCMT9]

Originally Posted by Ill_Be_Back

Hey! I am never going to buy from TT again man! Never again man!

I forgive you...