George A. Romero Dead Series Blu-rays...

[aross6]

I really really don't get it... Romero's Dawn of the Dead (#2 in the Dead Series) and Romero's Day of the Dead (#3 in the Dead Series) are already released on Blu-ray, and Romero's Land of the Dead (#4 in the Dead Series) comes out September 30th, but the one that started it all - Night of the Living Dead - and the latest in the series - Diary of the Dead - have (to my knowledge) no Blu-ray release dates in sight!

With such a big cult-following of Romero's work, and the recent explosion of The Walking Dead zombie-comic book series, one would figure that all 5 movies in the Dead Series would be released on Blu-ray as a Collector's Set or Ultimate Edition or something!

I mean, even the Halloween Starter Pack (2/3 are zombie movies) and the Blu-ray Zombie Bundle are coming out real soon... What Gives???

[Beta-guy]

I remember asking last year when night of the living dead would be released, and I'm still waiting, hopefully sometime in 2009...

[jurassic_pork]

Well Diary hit blu-ray in the UK, although I believe it's region locked. I thought I heard a US release date for it though.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Weinstein released NOTLD a few months ago on DVD, and a Blu-Ray is rumored for later this year.

[neo_reloaded]

There will never be a box set of them because different companies own the distribution rights. For the US at least, the rights are as follows:

- Night Of The Living Dead - public domain, anyone can release it.

- Dawn of the Dead / Day of the Dead - distributed by Anchor Bay (both already on Blu-ray).

- Land of the Dead - distributed by Universal Studios (coming to Blu-ray September 30th, which is fairly quickly considering Universal has just started releasing BDs).

- Diary of the Dead - distributed by The Weinstein Company / Genius Products (scheduled for release on Blu-ray on October 21st).

So the only film still in question is Night Of The Living Dead. While it is public domain, a studio would still need a high quality print to source the release from, and they'd need to obtain rights to special features and commentaries and things like that (things that are NOT in public domain). The Weinstein Company just released a pretty nice standard DVD version of NofLD, and have said they intend to release a Blu-ray version as well. Hopefully that comes soon.

[Beta-guy]

Originally Posted by neo_reloaded

There will never be a box set of them because different companies own the distribution rights. For the US at least, the rights are as follows:

- Night Of The Living Dead - public domain, anyone can release it.

- Dawn of the Dead / Day of the Dead - distributed by Anchor Bay (both already on Blu-ray).

- Land of the Dead - distributed by Universal Studios (coming to Blu-ray September 30th, which is fairly quickly considering Universal has just started releasing BDs).

- Diary of the Dead - distributed by The Weinstein Company / Genius Products (scheduled for release on Blu-ray on October 21st).

So the only film still in question is Night Of The Living Dead. While it is public domain, a studio would still need a high quality print to source the release from, and they'd need to obtain rights to special features and commentaries and things like that (things that are NOT in public domain). The Weinstein Company just released a pretty nice standard DVD version of NofLD, and have said they intend to release a Blu-ray version as well. Hopefully that comes soon.

anyone can release the 1968 version of NOTLD but not ever has access to the master to remaster it for HD.

Sony retains the right to the 1990 NOTLD as I understand it.

[aross6]

Originally Posted by neo_reloaded

There will never be a box set of them because different companies own the distribution rights. For the US at least, the rights are as follows:

- Night Of The Living Dead - public domain, anyone can release it.

- Dawn of the Dead / Day of the Dead - distributed by Anchor Bay (both already on Blu-ray).

- Land of the Dead - distributed by Universal Studios (coming to Blu-ray September 30th, which is fairly quickly considering Universal has just started releasing BDs).

- Diary of the Dead - distributed by The Weinstein Company / Genius Products (scheduled for release on Blu-ray on October 21st).

So the only film still in question is Night Of The Living Dead. While it is public domain, a studio would still need a high quality print to source the release from, and they'd need to obtain rights to special features and commentaries and things like that (things that are NOT in public domain). The Weinstein Company just released a pretty nice standard DVD version of NofLD, and have said they intend to release a Blu-ray version as well. Hopefully that comes soon.

Thanks for the info.... well, I guess I'll have to pick them up individually and hope on-a-whim that Weinstein releases NOTLD on Blu! Hey, maybe if they do Amazon will bundle all 5 together into one of those 'Amazon.com Exclusives' like they offer from time to time... that'd be a sweet buy!!!

[Spider1981]

Though there is not much info for it at the moment, Diary of the Dead is slated for a US release on Blu-ray on October 21 (link)

Im positive I read somewhere on blu-ray.com about an upcoming but yet unannounced Blu-ray release of the original Night of the Living Dead, but I can't find it when I do a search.

Edit: Heres a link to the article on bloody-disgusting which mentions a 4Q Blu-ray release.
http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/11893/

[SDon1969]

Originally Posted by Spider1981

Im positive I read somewhere on blu-ray.com about an upcoming but yet unannounced Blu-ray release of the original Night of the Living Dead, but I can't find it when I do a search.

I remember reading that link as well.

[Deadset]

I've been searching too for any news on a blu release of the original Night of the Living Dead....no such luck.

However, the best transfer to date that I've ever seen is the ME:

[kubrick]

NOTLD is released on Blu ray in the UK in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully land of the dead will be region free then i will have them all. Only problem is varying case sizes, Diary/Night i have bought from stores in the UK, Dawn/Day i have imported.......

[Beta-guy]

Originally Posted by kubrick

NOTLD is released on Blu ray in the UK in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully land of the dead will be region free then i will have them all. Only problem is varying case sizes, Diary/Night i have bought from stores in the UK, Dawn/Day i have imported.......

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Night-Living.../dp/B001CHG054

[Snyder-man]

Originally Posted by aross6

I really really don't get it... Romero's Dawn of the Dead (#2 in the Dead Series) and Romero's Day of the Dead (#3 in the Dead Series) are already released on Blu-ray, and Romero's Land of the Dead (#4 in the Dead Series) comes out September 30th, but the one that started it all - Night of the Living Dead - and the latest in the series - Diary of the Dead - have (to my knowledge) no Blu-ray release dates in sight!

With such a big cult-following of Romero's work, and the recent explosion of The Walking Dead zombie-comic book series, one would figure that all 5 movies in the Dead Series would be released on Blu-ray as a Collector's Set or Ultimate Edition or something!

I mean, even the Halloween Starter Pack (2/3 are zombie movies) and the Blu-ray Zombie Bundle are coming out real soon... What Gives???

its kinda like trying to trying to bundle the childs play series...they released that awesome collection in sept but the first one was owned by MGM i believe and left out. its really dumb.

[aross6]

Originally Posted by Spider1981

Heres a link to the article on bloody-disgusting which mentions a 4Q Blu-ray release.
http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/11893/

Originally Posted by Beta-guy

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Night-Living.../dp/B001CHG054

Between seeing these two posts I think I'm gonna hold off on buying the NOTLD that was remastered and released on DVD in May 2008 on the off-chance that the Blu-ray is probably coming soon! No sense in double-dipping anymore than one has too...

[Lyle_JP]

Originally Posted by Deads3t

I've been searching too for any news on a blu release of the original Night of the Living Dead....no such luck.

However, the best transfer to date that I've ever seen is the ME:

The Weinstein transfer is, by and large, superior to Elite's. It has far better contrast and shadow detail, is less noisy, and has had damage digitally repaired. However, since most of the damage was around where the film was spliced together, the Weinstein transfer is zoomed more than the Elite in several shots to crop out the worst of the damage. The Elite transfer just repeated frames to excise the damaged ones, resulting in picture that occasionally had a stutter to it.

Both have the same audio commentaries, as well as the last Duane Jones interview. Otherwise, the Elite version has superior extras.

[DarkClown]

I've always assumed the reason NOTLD has not been done was that no suitable master was available. It would be great if some studio has access to such a print.

[Lyle_JP]

Originally Posted by DarkClown

I've always assumed the reason NOTD has not been done was that no suitable master was available. It would be great if some studio has access to such a print.

As I recall, both Elite and the Weinsteins have had access to Image Ten's negatives. Elite's transfer was "state of the art" for the late 90's, but they didn't have access to most of the cool digital toys available today. The Weinstein transfer is what you're looking for.

[DaleDark]

Originally Posted by Beta-guy

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Night-Living.../dp/B001CHG054

I clicked this link just to see what if any extras the UK version of NOTLD had. Then I see that the same company is also issuing John Carpenter's Escape From New York, The Fog, and They Live!!! WTF is MGM/Fox and Universal waiting for?!?!

[Col. Zombie]

There will be nothing but a big nerdgasm the day that the original NOTLD is announced.

[aross6]

Not sure if it's a coincidence or what but the Diary of the Dead [Blu-ray] product page was added to Amazon today... you can't pre-order yet but the release date is slated for Oct. 21st as discussed in this thread!