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

[deltasun]

Originally Posted by Kriztoffer Swank

Just to throw in my two cents since this is a hot topic...

I was wary of the disc when I heard all the hubbub and saw the screenshots, but it's clear to me now that none of those screens were truly representative of the disc. On a properly-calibrated TV (like mine), the visuals are not as dark as what was presented about a week ago. Colors are definitely muted, however, and there is like a ten-minute period toward the beginning where it is very blue, but it didn't bother me. Of course, I'd never seen the film before, so I have nothing to compare it to. Watched the HD trailer on the disc and that's probably more how it "should" look, but I'm perfectly satisfied with the final product. In a perfect world, though, we'd eventually get a disc which is more representative of how the film would have looked in theaters, sort of like how The French Connection got redone. Maybe in three years or whenever we'll see that...

Here's a good review of the disc with properly-captured screenshots:

http://wtf-film.com/site/2012/10/02/...iving-dead-90/

This is closer to, if not precisely, what I see in my calibrated set as well. Just look at how different that scene is, where you see his legs as he steps out of the truck, to what's been inaccurately shown here previously.

Thanks for sharing that link.

[Mr Kite]

Originally Posted by JoeDeM

Contact SAE, and ask about purchasing one of the returned ones, it's worth a try.

Great idea anyone have the contact Addy/Email?

[HyperRealist]

Originally Posted by tele1962

Great idea anyone have the contact Addy/Email?

http://www.screenarchives.com/contactus.cfm

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by tele1962

Great idea anyone have the contact Addy/Email?

TT mentioned on their FaceBook page to PM them if you're interested in one of the returned copies.

[jjdpw50]

Originally Posted by Kriztoffer Swank

Here's a good review of the disc with properly-captured screenshots:

http://wtf-film.com/site/2012/10/02/...iving-dead-90/

That's what my TV shows also. It doesn't matter, I still choose the original color. And the newsman that Cooper sees is blue, where it should be closer to b&w.

[beadelf]

So started watching this last night, images I've seen on this site are far darker then what I see on my tv? Relieved. I can understand what people are saying as there is a sharp change in colour and brightness compared to the DVD.its most noticeable in the opening. Apart from that I liked the rest, the image was better than the DVD (which I'll still keep for the extras ) . On the upside I got enemy mine and that looks and sounds great!! I was more concerned about that as its a better movie than notld and one of my fave films.

[Mr Kite]

Originally Posted by HyperRealist

http://www.screenarchives.com/contactus.cfm

Originally Posted by rdodolak

TT mentioned on their FaceBook page to PM them if you're interested in one of the returned copies.

Thanks Guys.

[Kriztoffer Swank]

Originally Posted by jjdpw50

That's what my TV shows also. It doesn't matter, I still choose the original color. And the newsman that Cooper sees is blue, where it should be closer to b&w.

Right. There's no question (I don't think) that the timing has been altered. If it's true that the DP had some involvement with this, it appears he took a revisionist approach to the timing, which...is a bit unfortunate, as I firmly believe that Blu-ray should exist to recreate film precisely as it would have looked on initial exhibition, but at the same time I'm pleased with the results regardless.

I just wanted to point out that the previous screencaps which people were griping over are in fact poorly captured and don't show anything what the disc is actually like.

All this said, if I see the DVD for a reasonable price (saw it at Walmart for $7.50 and that's too high), I'll probably pick it up. I highly doubt it'll be my preferred viewing copy, but I'd like at least once to see the movie the way it probably should have been. I'm having very strong doubts that what we're seeing on the Blu-ray is what the DP had done originally and is more a "This is how I wanted it to be done" or "This is how I'd like it to be viewed now" type of deal, which...I have no problems with, but the original timing should be available in HD as well.

I mentioned The French Connection before. I kinda like the heavily-altered look of Friedkin's version, though I'm happy now we have the DP-approved transfer. I own both and have no intention of ever selling either, and what I watch will depend on what I feel like seeing that given day. I really hope that Sony go back and redo Night of the Living Dead at some point, because if this is the only HD preservationist copy we have, that's sorely disappointing. Again, it looks good (IMO), but I want the original timing preserved as well and made available on Blu-ray.

[MaCruz]

I watched the first part again last night just to get a second feel to the PQ. I think it's not too bad. I'll say that it's a little dark for my tastes but nothing to stress over about. I'm watching it on a collaborated Panasonic plasma HDTV.

[beadelf]

Originally Posted by MaCruz

I watched the first part again last night just to get a second feel to the PQ. I think it's not too bad. I'll say that it's a little dark for my tastes but nothing to stress over about. I'm watching it on a collaborated Panasonic plasma HDTV.

yeah its not too bad, But I can see why people dislike it.

[balthazar_bee]

Originally Posted by HyperRealist

I live within 100 miles of where it was filmed. The birds stop chirping at night and don't start again until about 1/2 before sunrise.

Lawdy, HyperRealist. Every time I think this thead can't possibly get anymore glib, snarky or pseud-expert, we descend even further.

This thread is my only vice right now. I can't stop reading it. This is a problem because it's eating up close to an hour a day at this point. Insanity. Brief moments of insight, immediately steam-rollered upon by an avalanche of snark, hysteria and hilarity. I need to make a break from it for the sake of my own mental health. First, a few comments about the issues raised here.

As someone else said, I feel like I've watched the blu-ray half a dozen times already, but my package is still at the post office. (By the way, I'm in Southwestern Ontario and it looks like mine arrived yesterday. O Canada!)

Does anyone actually believe that Twilight Time, an independent company that likely fights tooth-and-nail to make a profit, actually cut a cheque for Tom Savini to get him to endorse the blu-ray? Do you think TT is that interested in protecting Sony's QC reputation?

When I first heard that people were complaining about the setting sun montage or the birds chirping at dusk "not making sense", I had the same thought another poster did. Picture an overcast afternoon. I mean really overcast. NOTLD90v2 overcast. Have you ever looked at the horizon just as the sun goes down? Sometimes (not always) there's little window between the horizon and the cloud cover, and you're treated to the sight of a lovely orange sun setting. Then it's night proper.

Anyway, scrape the altered picture "controversy" aside and there's other stuff underneath, namely a marginally higher price and availability. That's it. It's not about getting "ripped off" (as the normally astute Blu Pat has said) because it's quite easy to actually make a profit selling these things, regardless (or because of) anything that's been altered. And in this case, TT is taking them back, opened, no questions asked.

Thirty dollars. People don't want to pay thirty dollars for an HD release of a movie. You can't even get a decent bottle of scotch for that much. If you love the movie, what's thirty dollars? If you don't, why buy it in the first place? (Oh yeah, multiple copies, etc.)

And you have every right to refuse to buy it. But why is everyone so damned mad at this little (almost mom-and-pop) company called Twilight Time? Here in Canada Olive releases are, what, five bucks less? And Criterion releases are almost always more.

But then we get the same arguments over and over and (and thanks to me) over again about the nature of capitalism and limiting supply and whether it's a business model that Mr. X wants to support. Dear me, the problems of the modern world.

Christine is still going to sell out immediately. And guess what? It's going to look and sound beautiful. Moreover, I'll be buying one, and any other Twilight Time releases that catch my eye. (One copy only, if you please.)

But I'd like to thank the entire NOTLD90 blu-ray thread team. We really needed everyone to make this thread what it was, and your efforts are appreciated (even those of you who appear to have a scrap of perspective and threatened to derail the comedy with your logic).

[mayorofsmpleton]

Originally Posted by beadelf

So started watching this last night, images I've seen on this site are far darker then what I see on my tv? Relieved. I can understand what people are saying as there is a sharp change in colour and brightness compared to the DVD.its most noticeable in the opening. Apart from that I liked the rest, the image was better than the DVD (which I'll still keep for the extras ) . On the upside I got enemy mine and that looks and sounds great!! I was more concerned about that as its a better movie than notld and one of my fave films.

All the features were ported over, I believe. It's just the trailer and the commentary right?

[beadelf]

Originally Posted by mayorofsmpleton

All the features were ported over, I believe. It's just the trailer and the commentary right?

my dvd has a 25 min making of with delete footage in it.

[thephantomcat]

Originally Posted by mayorofsmpleton

All the features were ported over, I believe. It's just the trailer and the commentary right?

There's a short making of feaurette that discusses the cuts made for the MPAA and some behind the scenese stuff. Not the most in depth or amazing featurette, but it is not included in the Blu-ray.

[mayorofsmpleton]

Originally Posted by HDMe

Devil's advocate... what happens if the person who bought it from you watches it and complains about it and wants a refund from you? Would you refund it? If not, would you be willing to put up with the eBay hassle that he could kick-off or the potential chargeback if he paid via PayPal?

That's the risk you run if you sell it on eBay.



First time for everything. That's the first title I've seen that said Twilight Time provided them a screener copy. It does beg the question, though... IF they provided a free screener copy, where did it come from? Did they make more than 3000? Or was it one of those 3000?

I'm sure they press more than 3000. They can only SELL 3000 legally but surely they have at least a handful of extras in case there's an issue with a faulty disc, etc.

[mayorofsmpleton]

Originally Posted by thephantomcat

There's a short making of feaurette that discusses the cuts made for the MPAA and some behind the scenese stuff. Not the most in depth or amazing featurette, but it is not included in the Blu-ray.

You're right, I forgot about that.

[thephantomcat]

[Show spoiler]

Originally Posted by balthazar_bee

Lawdy, HyperRealist. Every time I think this thead can't possibly get anymore glib, snarky or pseud-expert, we descend even further.

This thread is my only vice right now. I can't stop reading it. This is a problem because it's eating up close to an hour a day at this point. Insanity. Brief moments of insight, immediately steam-rollered upon by an avalanche of snark, hysteria and hilarity. I need to make a break from it for the sake of my own mental health. First, a few comments about the issues raised here.

As someone else said, I feel like I've watched the blu-ray half a dozen times already, but my package is still at the post office. (By the way, I'm in Southwestern Ontario and it looks like mine arrived yesterday. O Canada!)

Does anyone actually believe that Twilight Time, an independent company that likely fights tooth-and-nail to make a profit, actually cut a cheque for Tom Savini to get him to endorse the blu-ray? Do you think TT is that interested in protecting Sony's QC reputation?

When I first heard that people were complaining about the setting sun montage or the birds chirping at dusk "not making sense", I had the same thought another poster did. Picture an overcast afternoon. I mean really overcast. NOTLD90v2 overcast. Have you ever looked at the horizon just as the sun goes down? Sometimes (not always) there's little window between the horizon and the cloud cover, and you're treated to the sight of a lovely orange sun setting. Then it's night proper.

Anyway, scrape the altered picture "controversy" aside and there's other stuff underneath, namely a marginally higher price and availability. That's it. It's not about getting "ripped off" (as the normally astute Blu Pat has said) because it's quite easy to actually make a profit selling these things, regardless (or because of) anything that's been altered. And in this case, TT is taking them back, opened, no questions asked.

Thirty dollars. People don't want to pay thirty dollars for an HD release of a movie. You can't even get a decent bottle of scotch for that much. If you love the movie, what's thirty dollars? If you don't, why buy it in the first place? (Oh yeah, multiple copies, etc.)

And you have every right to refuse to buy it. But why is everyone so damned made at this little (almost mom-and-pop) company called Twilight Time? Here in Canada Olive releases are, what, five bucks less? And Criterion releases are almost always more.

But then we get the same arguments over and over and (and thanks to me) over again about the nature of capitalism and limiting supply and whether it's a business model that Mr. X wants to support. Dear me, the problems of the modern world.

Christine is still going to sell out immediately. And guess what? It's going to look and sound beautiful. Moreover, I'll be buying one, and any other Twilight Time releases that catch my eye. (One copy only, if you please.)

Well, said.

[sheldo]

Originally Posted by mayorofsmpleton

I'm sure they press more than 3000. They can only SELL 3000 legally but surely they have at least a handful of extras in case there's an issue with a faulty disc, etc.

Have TT actually said the contract they make with these companies specifies they can only/ will only sell 3000 copies or is it more of a selling point (they would of never sold out if it had never been limited edition, 3000 copies creates an artificial demand)

[thephantomcat]

Originally Posted by mayorofsmpleton

I'm sure they press more than 3000. They can only SELL 3000 legally but surely they have at least a handful of extras in case there's an issue with a faulty disc, etc.

TT has a deal in place in the event discs are lost during shipping or arrive damaged. Also a small number of promotional copies are pressed for the directors or stars. This information is taken from their Facebook wall. These questions were posed earlier on the Wall and TT was gracious enough to respond.

[Captain Mal]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

... but NOTLD90 is now a moodier experience more in line with recent zombie movies.

Don't agree with that. Modern zombie movies don't look artificially darkened. If anything, some of them have brighter - hot colors like the remake of Dawn of the Dead. The bd of NOTLD 1990 doesn't feel moodier to me... it looks as if I'm wearing sunglasses or someone turned down the brightness on my display, creating this artificial darkened look. Looks awful to me on my calibrated Plasma.