Diary of the Dead & Night of the Living Dead Anniversary

[patrick]

Sorry for the unwieldy title, but here's what we'll be seeing May 20th from Dimension (courtesy of Dread Central):

Yesterday we got the word on Diary and Night of the Living Dead DVD dates. This morning we pointed you to the first look at the art. Now Dread Central can exclusively tell you what will be on both discs!

One of our inside sources dropped us a line with the following specs, and no, it's not a joke. More may be added before the discs' May 20th street date, but this is what you’ll definetly be getting!

Diary of the Dead
# Audio Commentary with George A. Romero, Director of Photography Adam Swica, and Editor Michael Doherty
# ”For The Record: The Making of Diary of the Dead” – A ninety-minute, five-part look into the creation of the film including interviews with the cast & crew.
# ”Character Confessionals” – A series of “in-character” confessionals from the cast that were not seen in the final film
# ”Familiar Voices “– A look at some of the original recording sessions of three of the famous voices used in the background of the film.
# ”MySpace Short Contest Winners” – The Best of the “MySpace” Diary of the Dead contest winners

Night of the Living Dead: 40th Anniversary Edition
# Duane Jones' Final Audio Interview
# Audio Commentaries
# ”One For The Fire – The Legacy of Night of the Living Dead” - An all-new ninety-minute documentary on the making and enduring appeal of the film featuring cast & crew interviews
# Restored all-new 4x3 1080p HD transfer

Damn, now that is an impressive amount of goodies, no? I’m especially excited for the new NotLD doc. If there are any more updates, we’ll let you know!

And since these are Weinstein Co. properties, there's no word on Blu-Ray releases down the line.

[domino harvey]

Aren't there like twenty other versions of these titles

[miless]

yeah, but most of them are PD shit. A new HD transfer (from the original elements, I assume) would be a big step for such a popular (or at least cult-popular) title.

[Cold Bishop]

And let us please not forget the dreaded John Russo Cut, made to give the movie a "more modern pace".

This has always been a movie in need of quality control, and despite one strong dvd out there (the Millenium edition I believe), its this lack of a definitive DVD which has kept me from owning the film despite being a fan.

An HD transfer would be welcomed indeed.

[Gregory]

yeah, but most of them are PD shit. A new HD transfer (from the original elements, I assume) would be a big step for such a popular (or at least cult-popular) title.

According to Romero, the original master of Night of the Living Dead was lost in a flood. Anyway, I think the Millennium Edition looked outstanding and it was packed with extras, too.

[Barmy]

Yes, the world is in desperate need of an HD version of a no-budget schlock film. But I'm waiting for the 45th Anniversary Edition.

[Cold Bishop]

Because lord knows that an HD remaster can only make 35mm Hollywood films look better.

[exte]

Yes, the world is in desperate need of an HD version of a no-budget schlock film. But I'm waiting for the 45th Anniversary Edition.

Barmy! Go away!

[Mr Sausage]

And let us please not forget the dreaded John Russo Cut, made to give the movie a "more modern pace".

This has always been a movie in need of quality control, and despite one strong dvd out there (the Millenium edition I believe), its this lack of a definitive DVD which has kept me from owning the film despite being a fan.

An HD transfer would be welcomed indeed.

Seriously? You're a fan of the film and yet don't own it, not because there isn't a "strong dvd" of it--which would be mindboggling enough--but because there isn't a "definitive" one? Of Night of the Living Dead? I don't want to question what kind of "fan" you are, but you seem to have missed about every point possible with this movie. I don't own Night of the Living Dead on DVD, I own it on a 15 year old VHS that tells you on the tape lable and on a screen before the movie starts that "If you experience picture problems, adjust tracking control." That's the definitive version of this movie, and I think many who love this movie understand why.

[Cold Bishop]

Seriously? You're a fan of the film and yet don't own it, not because there isn't a "strong dvd" of it--which would be mindboggling enough--but because there isn't a "definitive" one? Of Night of the Living Dead? I don't want to question what kind of "fan" you are, but you seem to have missed about every point possible with this movie. I don't own Night of the Living Dead on DVD, I own it on a 15 year old VHS that tells you on the tape lable and on a screen before the movie starts that "If you experience picture problems, adjust tracking control." That's the definitive version of this movie, and I think many who love this movie understand why.

I still don't own Andrei Rublev, Persona, Ugetsu, Passion of Joan of Arc, Sunrise, etc. etc. etc. All films I consider to be the absolute pinnacle of cinema, and absolute favorites. I simply don't have the money to buy everything, and when I do have cash, I usually opt for some R2-4 dvd I haven't seen, or something that conveniently falls in my lap and makes me go "I should buy that".

When it comes down to it, some of those favorites, those films you've loved and seen several times before you could be bothered to buy a DVD of it, are the ones you need to buy the least. I already know and love the films, I don't need to validate that feeling by purchasing them. Which isn't to say I won't purchase the film, or don't want to (because I do buy them and would love to have them all), I'm just not driven to it. I'm more likely to buy something I haven't seen, a film I've seen but was confused/underwhelmed/disliked but want to give second chance since I feel there was something there I missed, or films I seen once, really liked, but haven't had the chance to revisit. If I am driven to buy an absolute favorite of mine, its usually when a new edition is released, which is why I do buy something like Pierrot Le Fou or the Paradjanovs as soon as there released..

I don't know, thats just me. When you add that feeling above, with some wariness as to the quality of DVDs, I don't find it out of the question not buy them. However, I can attest to having this also on VHS as a child. It ranks right alongside a VHS of Robocop, Batman (1991), Fist of Fury (aka The Big Boss starring Bruce Lee, not be confused with Fist of Fury aka the Chinese Connection starring Bruce Lee) and a double feature of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and Batman (1966) recorded from HBO. Oh, I also loved those Goodtime trailer collections.

[manicsounds]

The Millenium Edition of Night Of The Living Dead was good, but have you watched it recently? It's pretty soft. It was good for its time, and had good commentaries, as extras, but the new documentary is the big selling point for me.

[Roger_Thornhill]

The Millenium Edition of Night Of The Living Dead was good, but have you watched it recently? It's pretty soft. It was good for its time, and had good commentaries, as extras, but the new documentary is the big selling point for me.

Agreed, I'd skip the new NOTLD dvd but the documentary intrigues me. I also was one of ten people to actually like Diary of the Dead so I'll be picking that up as well.

[Cronenfly]

DVD Talk on NotLD. The reviewer praises the new doc and transfer (significantly improved over the Elite DVD's), but notes that:

there have been some changes made to the framing of the film compared to past editions and in some spots it looks like it was zoomed in slightly (possibly to eliminate the boom mic from a few shots) but this doesn't really harm the film much in the long run even if it's bound to annoy purists.

[Fletch F. Fletch]

DVD Talk on NotLD. The reviewer praises the new doc and transfer (significantly improved over the Elite DVD's), but notes that:

there have been some changes made to the framing of the film compared to past editions and in some spots it looks like it was zoomed in slightly (possibly to eliminate the boom mic from a few shots) but this doesn't really harm the film much in the long run even if it's bound to annoy purists.

I've watched the new doc and it IS amazing. Very comprehensive. It looks like they got almost everybody back who is still alive. And I thought that the new transfer is crystal clear. And they ported over the commentary tracks from the Elite disc.

[Cronenfly]

Yes, minor cropping and some extras dropped from the Elite disc aside, this seems to be the version to beat.

[Person]

Yes, minor cropping and some extras dropped from the Elite disc aside, this seems to be the version to beat.

I just wish that there was also a Blu-Ray edition. I have bought this film four times over the years (VHS plus three DVDs) and I'm getting to the stage where I hesitate like a startled deer when stuff like this comes out ONLY on SD DVD.

[Rich Malloy]

Yeah, I'm still fine with the original Elite disc - the one with the reddish/orange cover and the neat intro where the new transfer comes bursting out of that old, scratchy, murky stain that was NOTLD as we saw it for so many years. It's great that there's finally a better transfer on the old format, but - for me - it's come out at a moment where only "blu-ray" would necessitate an upgrade for most titles.