Night of the Living Dead

Today I went to every single store that sells DVDs in my area. I went to Best Buy, Suncoast Video, Sam Goody, the Wall, even *shudder* Circuit City; and not one was carrying Anchor Bay's "Night of the Living Dead: 30th Anniversary" disc, due out this week (pushed back from last week).

Has the disc been pushed back again? I have yet to see a review on the net, or anyone who even claims to have the disc.

-Sean

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I picked it up today and was only able to watch the "30th Anniversary Edition." One word:

Horrible.

First of all, the film opens completely different. One of the most eerie film openings of all time is replaced for two idiots loading up a coffin. The scene continues to the graveyard where the coffin is to be buried. The acting is horrible. After this scene, when the corpse springs out of the coffin (and is the man who goes on to kill Johnny) the film cuts to Johnny and Helen, already at the graveyard. The distinction between the new footage and the old footage is painfully obvious.

Tons of scenes are cut out and, unless you've seen the original cut of the film, its extremely difficult to follow what is going on in the film. To top it off, the film ends with a completely ambigious storyline, following a preacher (whoever the actor is; he sucks big time) and his brush with the living dead. This tacks on about 10 minutes to the film, which in turn takes out 10 minutes of the original film.

It's just one huge confusing mess. Even the new score is incredibly chessey. Not only that, but they mix in the old score to the film with the new score, making it even more ambigious as the entire music for the film changes.

What a way to destroy a horror classic.

-Sean

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I really want Night of the Living Dead, but I'm not sure which version to get. I'm sure I've read the new 30th Anniversary edition has both the new version AND the old version on it, can someone please confirm this for me?

From the sounds of it, I may end up going for the Elite version anyway...

It does have both versions on it; but neither have the original score in its entirity. The second title on the disc is called the '98 version because of the new score.

-Sean

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YIKES! So which disc should one buy if he/she wants the DEFINITIVE version of this film with the best transfer possible?

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Save even more $ on DVDs! Use Ebates!: www.ebates.com/index.jhtml?referrer=CarlC

It has the best transfer possible, and the 30th Anniversary Edition is something fans would probably like to see, but my only quip is that the film is not available with its original score.

Some might like the new edition, but I just feel it is so poorly done. It's not like the Star Wars Special Edition, where Lucas re-inserted scenes he cut and expanded on some scenes with additional special effects; the entire film is re-cut with an entirely ambigious story thrown in.

I haven't seen the Elite Edition, but if it has the original score, that would be my DVD of choice as this disc set really only contains information on the new edition, a commentary about it, featurette about it, etc.

I'll suck it up, though, and deal with the new soundtrack, however I don't plan on watching the 30th Anniversary edition anytime soon. The emphasis on this disc is the 30th Anniversary Edition, not the original.

-Sean

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[Bugg]

The transfer on the Elite DVD version is fantastic, I remember when the LD first came out a few years ago, and how stunned I was at the awesome clearity of the image, After years of horrid VHS copies and battered prints being shown on TV, I could not believe that it would ever look this good. To this date I still feel that Elites S.E. LD of NOTLD is the single greatest laserdisc ever produced, While the dvd has a very slightly improved image over the LD, It lacks many of the Laserdiscs extras, however it still has 2 running commentaries,a short film parody Night of the Living Bread,and several trailers, along with some T.V. commercials made by latent Image,The Duke Beer ad is a classic

I refuse to even look at this new special edition.

Go out right now and Buy the Elite version!!!

"Go out right now and Buy the Elite version!!!"

Thanks, Bugg.... I did!

`Carl


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Visit C.H.U.D.
Cinematic Happenings Under Development
www.chud.com
carl@chud.com
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[Sid]

Elite is the best and only way to go. If there is a horror film you want, and there is an Elite version. Don't ask questions, get the Elite version. Elite is the Criterion of horror films.

I am very happy with the Elite version. But I did have one problem with it...

Even though it's not obvious, it is a double sided disc. Both sides contain the same material. BUT... the unlabeled side is the only one that will work in my Panasonic A310. Weird, eh?