The Return of the Living Dead (1985) (Collector's Edition)

[WaverBoy]

I didn't realise my Second Sight steelbook was misframed. If Shout gives us a new, properly framed transfer (the steelbook transfer's not that hot for HD) and the original audio in lossless, I'm in. I already have all the extras I need on this.

[cfitzpatrick711]

Here's a small clip of tarman's original voice:

Braindead ( Dead Alive ) Tarman atack the punks !! ROCK - YouTube

[Wernski]

Originally Posted by tylergfoster

100% agree. MGM's Blu-ray is stacked, there's a feature-length doc, and the unlockable UK release with the original audio. There's nowhere for this to go, supplement-wise, and Shout! tends to prioritize extras over transfers. Even if they did a transfer, how much better will the movie look? Seems like a waste of time.

Well, if they could put something together with the excised workprint footage, that could be valuable.

[rdodolak]

This release is at least a year away.

Originally Posted by Scream Factory

Release is not planned till Summer / Fall of next year.

[chrismac87]

I seem to recall reading at the time of the DVD release O'Bannon framed and color timed that transfer the way he wanted it, which might be why MGM has been using it over and over again. The audio changes were also his decision as these were things he wanted to do upon the initial release - but time was an issue. So the DVD/Blu version is essentially a "director's cut" of sorts.

I'd be happy with a new scan as well, we are talking about a good 13 years worth of technological advances since the original master was made so there may be room for improvement at this point. The original audio I'm sure will also be included as well as it does seem to be something that Scream tends to do when alternate audio tracks are available - i.e. NIGHT OF THE DEMONS, as well as only including the original mono for DAY OF THE DEAD.

It would be great to see them tackle some kind of NIGHTBREED restoration too and splice the deleted footage back in the film along with a remix of the audio so it all flows seamlessly. Some of the stuff taken out was great and it's a shame that it only exists now in 7th generation bootlegs. Heck, just to include that footage at all transferred from a film source would be worth the double dip for me. I'd also like to see the infamous "blooper reel" included as well.

There really isn't much more they can do features wise - between the US disc and the MORE BRAINS doc included on the UK disc - they don't have much new to bring to the table. The inclusion of the deleted footage, blooper reel and original audio seem like a "no brainer" so hopefully they are part of the package. I'd imagine a majority of the features will be ported sans creating new features since the material does exist, although the MGM stuff might be harder to get. I will say a NEW cast commentary would be great as the MGM one is botched due to the idiotic idea of having "zombies" come in and "kill off" each person as they die in the film. Especially Brian Peck who is a plethora of knowledge for this film and its sequels.

I'm a die hard fan of this film so I'm really hoping this one where Scream pulls out all the stops and gets what the fans want on there. It'd be nice to have one edition that capsules everything so I can ditch the two I have now in favor of that. I guess we will see.

I also do think it's quite the missed opportunity not to release this film on its 30th anniversary...but maybe the wait means good things for it are on the horizon.

[JoeBuck]

Originally Posted by chrismac87

I seem to recall reading at the time of the DVD release O'Bannon framed and color timed that transfer the way he wanted it, which might be why MGM has been using it over and over again. The audio changes were also his decision as these were things he wanted to do upon the initial release - but time was an issue. So the DVD/Blu version is essentially a "director's cut" of sorts.

I'd be happy with a new scan as well, we are talking about a good 13 years worth of technological advances since the original master was made so there may be room for improvement at this point. The original audio I'm sure will also be included as well as it does seem to be something that Scream tends to do when alternate audio tracks are available - i.e. NIGHT OF THE DEMONS, as well as only including the original mono for DAY OF THE DEAD.

It would be great to see them tackle some kind of NIGHTBREED restoration too and splice the deleted footage back in the film along with a remix of the audio so it all flows seamlessly. Some of the stuff taken out was great and it's a shame that it only exists now in 7th generation bootlegs. Heck, just to include that footage at all transferred from a film source would be worth the double dip for me. I'd also like to see the infamous "blooper reel" included as well.

There really isn't much more they can do features wise - between the US disc and the MORE BRAINS doc included on the UK disc - they don't have much new to bring to the table. The inclusion of the deleted footage, blooper reel and original audio seem like a "no brainer" so hopefully they are part of the package. I'd imagine a majority of the features will be ported sans creating new features since the material does exist, although the MGM stuff might be harder to get. I will say a NEW cast commentary would be great as the MGM one is botched due to the idiotic idea of having "zombies" come in and "kill off" each person as they die in the film. Especially Brian Peck who is a plethora of knowledge for this film and its sequels.

I'm a die hard fan of this film so I'm really hoping this one where Scream pulls out all the stops and gets what the fans want on there. It'd be nice to have one edition that capsules everything so I can ditch the two I have now in favor of that. I guess we will see.

I also do think it's quite the missed opportunity not to release this film on its 30th anniversary...but maybe the wait means good things for it are on the horizon.

Theres an anniversary screening of this at the Egyptian theatre in LA next weekend (which Im going to be near but miss ) with a cast discussion/Q&A, I pretty much guarantee that its going to be recorded for this release.

[chrismac87]

Originally Posted by JoeBuck

Theres an anniversary screening of this at the Egyptian theatre in LA next weekend (which Im going to be near but miss ) with a cast discussion/Q&A, I pretty much guarantee that its going to be recorded for this release.

I heard about that. The biggest issues I have with those screenings is the same information is always covered as let's say what's on the documentaries. There's also a lot of the same questions, audio/video quality is always questionable, etc. I'd rather them port the documentaries, make them available in HD, get the work print footage, the blooper reel, new commentary with the cast and the original soundtrack than do anything like record a live event.

Unfortunately you may be right but I feel like if they're going to wait on putting this out - something bigger might be in the running. I mean think about it, if all they were doing was porting extras/transfers, etc. - that stuff's all available. They could've very easily had that out this year rather than waiting till next Summer so hopefully that means something bigger is at work here.

[Tommy R]

This IS a "holy grail" release for me if they include the original audio. I'll cut them slack on "Dead Beat Dance" because I know that was changed because of rights issues (tough oddly the cackling that starts the song, and the scream at the end are intact on the DVD and blu), but all the other changes O'Bannon made were NOT good. Turning down "Burn the Flames" is worse than ANYTHING Lucas has done to the Star Wars trilogy in the last 18 years.

As for anything else, I'm beyond satisfied with supplements, from the MGM bonus material and commentaries, the More Brains DVD, and the "Complete History" book, I feel I know everything there is to know about RotLD. But I STILL watch the original VHS release because of O'Bannon's Lucas-ing. I've thought of getting the UK blu (I only recently found out it had the original audio), but if this region 1 release ends up with the original soundtrack, I'll be fine with waiting.

As for the work print that some are hoping for, I have a VHS copy of it, and it's nothing to write home about. I believe it's actually under 20 minutes longer, and that extra time consists mostly of LONG lingering shots with nothing of substance. There's maybe ONE TRUE "deleted scene", and a handful of extended scenes that have a small amount of extra dialogue, and a few that are alternate takes with slightly different dialogue, (for instance, Burt calls Spider a "black bastard" instead of "dick brain"). It's definitely something that would interest an uber-fan of the film and I'm glad to have it on tape, but it's a far cry from "20 minutes of deleted scenes" that I thought it was going to be going in. It's actual VERY trying to sit though; it truly is a work print as in it needed a LOT of work in this form. And of course there's the alternate ending, which isn't as alternate as you may think and I find the final ending in the theatrical cut superior.

[Optimus-Prime-Rox]

Originally Posted by Tommy R

This IS a "holy grail" release for me if they include the original audio. I'll cut them slack on "Dead Beat Dance" because I know that was changed because of rights issues (tough oddly the cackling that starts the song, and the scream at the end are intact on the DVD and blu), but all the other changes O'Bannon made were NOT good. Turning down "Burn the Flames" is worse than ANYTHING Lucas has done to the Star Wars trilogy in the last 18 years.

As for anything else, I'm beyond satisfied with supplements, from the MGM bonus material and commentaries, the More Brains DVD, and the "Complete History" book, I feel I know everything there is to know about RotLD. But I STILL watch the original VHS release because of O'Bannon's Lucas-ing. I've thought of getting the UK blu (I only recently found out it had the original audio), but if this region 1 release ends up with the original soundtrack, I'll be fine with waiting.

As for the work print that some are hoping for, I have a VHS copy of it, and it's nothing to write home about. I believe it's actually under 20 minutes longer, and that extra time consists mostly of LONG lingering shots with nothing of substance. There's maybe ONE TRUE "deleted scene", and a handful of extended scenes that have a small amount of extra dialogue, and a few that are alternate takes with slightly different dialogue, (for instance, Burt calls Spider a "black bastard" instead of "dick brain"). It's definitely something that would interest an uber-fan of the film and I'm glad to have it on tape, but it's a far cry from "20 minutes of deleted scenes" that I thought it was going to be going in. It's actual VERY trying to sit though; it truly is a work print as in it needed a LOT of work in this form. And of course there's the alternate ending, which isn't as alternate as you may think and I find the final ending in the theatrical cut superior.

Never got to see the demise of Jewel Shephard's Casey or John Philbin's Chuck characters in the movie question is was there anymore of these 2 in the work print version?

[kristoffer]

Any chance of this being Region All?

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by kristoffer

Any chance of this being Region All?

Why wouldn't you just get the Second Sight release if you're in Europe?

Anyway, very little chance.

[kristoffer]

Ohh. I wasn't aware of that! I will get that. Thanks.

[Tommy R]

Originally Posted by Optimus-Prime-Rox

Never got to see the demise of Jewel Shephard's Casey or John Philbin's Chuck characters in the movie question is was there anymore of these 2 in the work print version?

It's been about a decade since I've watched it, but I don't recall anything to note with those two.

[Jack_Tripper]

Originally Posted by Tommy R

This IS a "holy grail" release for me if they include the original audio. I'll cut them slack on "Dead Beat Dance" because I know that was changed because of rights issues (tough oddly the cackling that starts the song, and the scream at the end are intact on the DVD and blu), but all the other changes O'Bannon made were NOT good. Turning down "Burn the Flames" is worse than ANYTHING Lucas has done to the Star Wars trilogy in the last 18 years.

As for anything else, I'm beyond satisfied with supplements, from the MGM bonus material and commentaries, the More Brains DVD, and the "Complete History" book, I feel I know everything there is to know about RotLD. But I STILL watch the original VHS release because of O'Bannon's Lucas-ing. I've thought of getting the UK blu (I only recently found out it had the original audio), but if this region 1 release ends up with the original soundtrack, I'll be fine with waiting.

As for the work print that some are hoping for, I have a VHS copy of it, and it's nothing to write home about. I believe it's actually under 20 minutes longer, and that extra time consists mostly of LONG lingering shots with nothing of substance. There's maybe ONE TRUE "deleted scene", and a handful of extended scenes that have a small amount of extra dialogue, and a few that are alternate takes with slightly different dialogue, (for instance, Burt calls Spider a "black bastard" instead of "dick brain"). It's definitely something that would interest an uber-fan of the film and I'm glad to have it on tape, but it's a far cry from "20 minutes of deleted scenes" that I thought it was going to be going in. It's actual VERY trying to sit though; it truly is a work print as in it needed a LOT of work in this form. And of course there's the alternate ending, which isn't as alternate as you may think and I find the final ending in the theatrical cut superior.

The original audio is on the Second Sight UK BD, if you didn't know that I mean. PCM uncompressed.

[Tommy R]

Originally Posted by Jack_Tripper

The original audio is on the Second Sight UK BD, if you didn't know that I mean. PCM uncompressed.

Yeah, I've only recently heard about that. Though, being a UK release, wouldn't it have the PAL speed-up?

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by Tommy R

Yeah, I've only recently heard about that. Though, being a UK release, wouldn't it have the PAL speed-up?

Not on blu-ray.

[Marv Inc.]

Originally Posted by Tommy R

Yeah, I've only recently heard about that. Though, being a UK release, wouldn't it have the PAL speed-up?

[Jack_Tripper]

Originally Posted by Tommy R

Yeah, I've only recently heard about that. Though, being a UK release, wouldn't it have the PAL speed-up?

Nope, it is 1080p 23.976 fps just like US releases. I've had the UK release since it came out in 2012 and it's the best the film has ever been released. Some of the extras are PAL though.

[Tommy R]

Originally Posted by Jack_Tripper

Nope, it is 1080p 23.976 fps just like US releases. I've had the UK release since it came out in 2012 and it's the best the film has ever been released. Some of the extras are PAL though.

Cool, that's good to know. I'm not all too familiar with technical details like this, so forgive my ignorance, lol. I looked on amazon.co.uk and it looks like there are two different releases, and I assume it's that steelbook edition, correct? It seems to be pretty spendy, so I'll wait till word comes about this new release.

[Jack_Tripper]

Originally Posted by Tommy R

Cool, that's good to know. I'm not all too familiar with technical details like this, so forgive my ignorance, lol. I looked on amazon.co.uk and it looks like there are two different releases, and I assume it's that steelbook edition, correct? It seems to be pretty spendy, so I'll wait till word comes about this new release.

Yes, the steelbook is the one I am talking about, but that is no longer made and thus the high price tag from sellers. Second Sight re-issued it in a standard BD case though. It is exactly the same disc for WAY less money. Here is a link to the standard edition:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Return-Livin...he+living+dead

I personally own both the steelbook and standard case versions and can 100% confirm that the standard case version is the same disc with no changes.