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Stars: David Emge,
Ken Foree, Scott H. Reiniger, and Gaylen Ross
Writer: George A.
Romero
Director: George
A. Romero
Feature length:
127 minutes
Extras: Trailers,
TV Spots, Radio Spots, Galleries, Director’s Bio
Languages: English
DTS Digital 5.1 Theatrical Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound,
Dolby Surround Sound, and Monaural Sound
Subtitles: English
Closed Captions
Packaging: Amaray
Keep Case
Chapter Stops: 25
Sound: DTS Digital
5.1 Theatrical Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, Dolby Surround
Sound, and Monaural Sound
Year of Theatrical
Release: 1978/DVD Release: 2004
Home Video
Distributor: Anchor Bay Entertainment
MPAA Rating: Not
Rated
Reviewer: Mark A.
Rivera
With the
theatrical release of the remake of “Dawn Of The Dead” opening on March 19,
2004, Anchor Bay Entertainment has re-released the original American theatrical
version on DVD for NTSC Region One users as a part of their “Divimax Series”
of films on DVD-Video. While this is more or less a standard DVD release,
despite the “Special Edition” labeling on the front of the packaging, this
is also just the appetizer for the grander meal to come when Anchor Bay
Entertainment releases their eagerly awaited ultimate edition later this year.
One thing for certain is that if the quality of this DVD release is a teaser for
the extra special edition to come, I think Anchor Bay might have one of the best
comprehensive DVD sets of the year on their hands as well as one of the best
restorations of a genre film too.
The one thing that
hit me right away when I put this disc in the player and began to watch it was
just how great “Dawn Of The Dead” looked. I mean I was nine or ten years old
when the film first came out so I can’t judge how the film prints looked on
the big screen because I didn’t see it until my parents bought their first VCR
back in the early 1980s. Since then I’ve seen numerous VHS tapes, laserdiscs,
and DVD releases, but I never knew just how good “Dawn Of The Dead” actually
could look until I screened this DVD. Without a doubt this makes all previous
home video releases look like crap in comparison. The transfer is jaw dropping
because it is so clean and vibrant that quite honestly I never expected “Dawn
Of The Dead” to ever look so good. The proof is in the putting though so even
if you are going to wait for the grander DVD release later this year, try and
rent this out or go to a friend’s house and watch their copy because I really
think the work Anchor Bay Entertainment has done on this standard DVD release of
“Dawn Of The Dead” makes their “Divimax” system of creating high
definition transfers of films down converted for DVD-Video a true contender in
the market place. If future Anchor Bay Entertainment Divimax Series DVD releases
are as good if not better than “Dawn Of The Dead” in picture and sound
quality, I really think they could license their services out the way Lucasfilm
licenses their THX Certification program to other home video distributors. In
short this is the best looking home video release of “Dawn Of The Dead” I
have ever seen.
Of course the
clarity in some ways dates Makeup Effects Guru’s Tom Savini’s zombies, but
the comic book style of the film with the bright crimson reds and fluorescent
mall lights shines through like never before on this DVD. Anchor Bay
Entertainment’s “George A. Romero’s Dawn Of The Dead: Special Edition:
Divimax Series” presents the film in an anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) aspect
ratio with a choice of well mixed DTS Digital and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Soundtracks as well as English Dolby Surround Sound and the original two-channel
English Monaural Soundtrack. The DTS track is edgier than the Dolby Digital 5.1
Surround Soundtrack, but both are quite impressive considering the source
materials available for the new mixes. English Closed Captions for the hearing
impaired are encoded onto the DVD as an option too.
Writer and
Director George A. Romero and his wife Assistant Director Chris Romero and
Special Makeup Effects Artist Tom Savini also contribute to a feature length
audio commentary moderated by the DVD producer Perry Martin. The commentary is
quite candid and definitely new since it references films like “28 Days
Later” and the remake of “Dawn Of The Dead” so I guess it is probably
about six months old if not less. Romero is forthcoming in discussing his
proposed fourth entry in the series “Dead Reckoning” as well as the social
issues that motivate his writing and filmmaking. Tom Savini is finally able to
confirm with George Romero the existence of footage for a darker original ending
that was partially shot, but ultimately scrapped in favor of the ending that
appears on the film today. I hope whatever footage exists for this original
ending will be included on the bigger release Anchor Bay has planned for later
this year. While I have seen at least three cuts of “Dawn Of The Dead”
George A. Romero estimates in the commentary that there could be as many as ten
different versions of the film out there though none of them contain footage
that was not originally shot for the theatrical release back in 1978.
Two (1.85:1)
theatrical trailers enhanced for 16 by 9 televisions that also look remarkably
clear are provided among the other extra features along with one 57-second TV
spot and two 32-second TV spots as well as three 60-second radio spots and five
30-second radio spots. A short poster and ad gallery is also provided along with
biographical text notes with a filmography for Writer and Director George A.
Romero and information on the “Dawn Of The Dead” comic book being published
by IDW publishing. Additional information on the comic can be found by visiting www.idwpublishing.com.
Two Easter eggs
are easy to find. Just highlight the ghoul on the extra features and audio menus
to see short new video clips with Chris Romero discussing how she met her
husband (4:35) and Tom Savini playing a practical joke on his girlfriend (1:20)
respectively. The interactive menus are very well rendered and easy to navigate.
Within the insert inside the DVD keep case are liner notes about the film by
Andrew Rockoff.
“George A.
Romero’s Dawn Of The Dead: Special Edition Divimax Series” is available on
DVD-Video now at retailers on and offline from Anchor Bay Entertainment.
© Copyright 2004
By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
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