The Dead Zone (SE) (1983, Cronenberg

[justeleblanc]

This will be a September release according to www.davisdvd.com and I'm wondering if anyone knows the specifics and whether or not this constitutes a double-dib or of this will be like the Carlito's Way SE (which in my opinion was not worth teh double-dip.)

[THX1378]

I would hope that Cronenberg and/or King would do a commentary track for the film, or at least do some interviews. For years this was Cronenberg's most underrated, but most mainstream work that he had ever done.

[King Crimson]

Sucks, I just bought the other edition a few weeks ago.

Oh well, it was only $6.00.

[Fletch F. Fletch]

The specs are up:

Paramount Home Entertainment has revealed the extras for their upcoming Dead Zone: Collector's Edition. Look for featurettes "Memories from 'The Dead Zone'", "The Look of 'The Dead Zone'", "Visions from 'The Dead Zone'" and "The Politics of 'The Dead Zone.'" All include new interviews with director David Cronenberg, actress Brooke Adams, cinematographer Mark Irwin, editor Ronald Sanders and King biographer Douglas E. Winter.

[jesus the mexican boi]

The specs are up:

"The Politics of 'The Dead Zone.'"

How eerily prescient was Gregg Stillson? A populist faux-"common man" with a messiah complex -- "The missiles are flying, gentlemen. Hallelujah, hallelujah." This extra ought to prove interesting.

[hearthesilence]

Too bad voters didn't wise up until AFTER the #$%(@&%@#(&%@ 2004 election. (Approval: 33-37%, Disapproval: 56-63%, Unsure: 5-7%, looking at various polls conducted the past two weeks.) Way to go, America.

[oldsheperd]

Did you see the sly reference to the Dead Zone on the Daily Show yesterday. Showed a video of Bush shaking hands with the PM of Iraq and Bush flashing through all these images. It was pretty good.

[exte]

What about a commentary from Cronenberg?

[Cold Bishop]

Did you see the sly reference to the Dead Zone on the Daily Show yesterday. Showed a video of Bush shaking hands with the PM of Iraq and Bush flashing through all these images. It was pretty good.

Not only that... but John Stewart even called George Bush a "Scanner" afterwards (I got a feeling after watching the show the last few years, that its on of John's- or some other prominen writer on the show - favorite.)

[Gordon]

DVD Beaver comparison of old and new R1.

Some unexpected, though slight differences in the new transfer. The key to this wonderful film's success is Walken - his is one of the great performances in the genre, I feel. Though, I would have greatly appreciated a Cronenberg commentary, I am still satisfied by this release.

[The Invunche]

Based on the captures I prefer the old release.

[Floyd]

That DVD cover is truly an eyesore. Wow, that is terrible.

[Mr Sausage]

Based on the captures I prefer the old release.

The new SE is soft and lacking a lot of the detail present in the earlier release. For example, in the shot where Walken is in a coma you can see the individual ribs of the tube running across his shoulder in the screenshot for the original DVD, but it becomes a blurry white mess in the rerelease.

[Greathinker]

The old transfer does seem to be better-- it's sharper and has a cooler tone that is probably more appropriate for the film. Does anyone know if Cronenberg was involved at all in this new transfer?

[The Invunche]

For example, in the shot where Walken is in a coma you can see the individual ribs of the tube running across his shoulder in the screenshot for the original DVD, but it becomes a blurry white mess in the rerelease.

Yes, that's an excellent example.

Not that I was thinking about double dipping before, but now I'm most certainly not gonna do it.

[davebert]

Odd that the Beaver actually votes in favor of the SE on all counts in the actual comparison. If there are just a few featurettes, I think I can just imagine in my head what they're going to say. Lack of a commentary is a major miss on this, given Cronenberg's excellent track record.

[exte]

Blasphemy! There's no Cronenberg or (Cronenberg & King) commentary!