From Fangoria:

At this past weekend’s Chiller Theatre convention in New Jersey, Fango got the scoop on the DAWN OF THE DEAD special edition coming from Anchor Bay Entertainment. The company has completed a new transfer of George Romero’s zombie classic, which Fango got a peek at and looks absolutely stunning; it’ll come out as a single-disc release in early 2004. Then, sometime in the spring, Anchor Bay will unleash a boxed set that looks to be a high-water mark for DVD horror releases. The set, which will contain at least three and possibly up to five discs, will showcase both the theatrical version and the longer uncut edition of DAWN, with negotiations under way to include the European ZOMBI cut as well. An audio commentary by producer Richard Rubinstein (his first, in which he addresses subjects ranging from the film’s production to his split with Romero and his thoughts on the DAWN remake) has already been completed, and plans are to record a new track with Romero and Tom Savini as well. There will also be a huge still gallery and lots of other features yet to be announced. Keep watching this site for further details.

So, the commentary on the CAV laserdisc box will be MIA? Interesting...

Damn....gotta wait until spring.... grrrrr

So the box set is just for "Dawn of the Dead", not all 3 films? I'm a bit confused by the wording in that announcement.

five discs for 1 film is a bit crazy, I don't like the way these large sets are going, Alien Quadrilogy and now this, they just want more money from us

Maybe I'm in the minority... but I'll gladly shell out more of my money for sets like these of films I really love. As long as the extra discs actually have decent content (and not just fluff to expand the MSRP), I'm on board.

if you don't like it, buy the single disc release. i don't see what the problem is.

You mean that Anchor Bay is still negotiating rights for the Argento version? I thought that this was already a done deal. I am irritated at the way Anchor Bay has raised high expectations without actually having the goods. Still, I was happy with Day Of The Dead, so, I will wait until Spring.

I think the different cuts of the films can be accomplished with seamless branching and not having them on seperate discs.

don't get me wrong, I love Dawn of The Dead just as much as anybody, but 2 discs can fit more than enough data. Possibly Anchor Bay could have 1 disc have the soundtrack which would be fine, no beef there at all. If thats the case the 3 disc set would be fine.

Yes, and hell will freeze over next Wednesday. There are too many changes involved with each cut to use seamless branching. Let it be the way a scene is edited or which music cue is used, it would be hell to make each cut on one disc using seamless branching, let alone impossible. ESPECIALLY with the Argento cut which uses alternate takes, edits out a handful of scenes, and contains more of the Goblin soundtrack.

Give me three discs for each different cut of the film. And make then in anamorphic widescreen of 1.66:1 and have kick-ass DTS-ES and Dolby Digital EX soundtracks, along with including the original mono soundtrack. Oh, and commentaries and lots and lots of special features.

Hopefully AB secures the rights to include Document of the Dead on either the fourth or fifth disc of the set.

5 discs? Im not complaining but Jesus Christ what can they have that will span five discs? Audio commentary by the caterers?

First disc: Theatrical cut (126 minutes) in 16x9/DD/DTS/commentaries/etc.
Second disc: Director's cut for Cannes (139 minutes) in 16x9/DD/DTS/commentaries/etc.
Third disc: Argento's cut (117 minutes) in 16x9/DD/whatever AB is allowed to get their hands on.

Then it's up to Anchor Bay to fit bonus materials on the fourth and possible fifth disc. I'm sure they're going to create a new documentary remebering the film (similar to the Day of the Dead DVD) that'll probably run an hour or so, they could get the rights for Document of the Dead (which is almost an hour and a half), I'm sure there's audio interviews out there, trailers, television spots, radio spots, photos, basically whatever Anchor Bay can find and/or produce. It can easily make a nice, packed four disc set. But I don't know about five...

For this one I'll no problem putting out the extra cash. Provided they make all 5 disc worth it.

I am dreading the 5.1 mixe & hope the original great sounding mono mix IS included.

I am also hesitant about 'sprucing' yp the picture alittle too much. I saw the old remastered version of the Cannes Cut when AB released Elitse transfer on video & it looked terrible to my eyes. The main reason was all the FX now looked fake,including the infamous exploding head sequence. You could tell it was a dummy standing their,then explosives set off blowing the head to bits. Meanwhile back on the better slightly grainy releases. The FX was disgustingly great gory stuff that made you gasp in surprise & amazment.


I hate how The Evil Dead looks in it's remastered form as well. Since they sucked all the shadows,atmosphere & just plain experiance of the film out & the result was overlite sequences,overexposed FX shots,which look terribly fake & all tension is gone.

I think these companies should remember that grain is not evil. So don't take all of it away. Blue Undergrounds release of Dead & Buried is a great example. Or even AB's Hills Have Eyes release. Thank god,they still have their rough raw intended look. Otherwise the films would just lose any & all impact they once had.

I guess that rumor of Zombi being a BestBuy exclusive might not be true after all. I highly doubt AB will go through the trouble of getting the rights to it just to include it for "free' Unless the contract states something like that.

This could easily take up 5 disc.
D1-Theatrical Cut w/DTS, Commentary (over 2hrs)
D2-Director's Cut w/DTS, Commentary (over 2hrs)
D3-New AB Supplements
D4-Document Of The Dead
D5-Zombi (maybe with Argento commentary )

Would Argento commentary on a film he didn't even direct really be drool-worthy? His commentaries on films he actually did direct aren't very special, so I can't imagine drooling over listening to him talk about someone else's film for almost 2 hours.

A 10- or 15-minute interview should be more than enough to hear all of Argento's thoughts on Dawn and his edit of it.

DJ

I've really been interested in seeing that. I'm really hoping that it would be included in the big Dawn of the Dead set. If it isn't, I'll finally give in and track it down (I seem to recall seeing it availible on DVD on sometime back. From the UK I think)

Don May Jr.'s company, Synapse, released it to DVD a few years ago in the states. I think it's still in print (along with Dario Argento's World of Horror, which they also released), but it'll be hard to find in stores. Your best bet would to be go online and buy it.

His interviews on the docu accompanying the Region 2 edition of "Sleepless" is disturbing. Argento comes across IMO as somewhat of a deranged loon, mind you I love his films, but the interview footage (including how and why he filmed a love scene featuring his daughter) did more damage to his reputation than his films.

(Sigh) sounds like AB is adding a lot of filler just to beef up the number of discs....

An audio commentary by Richard Rubenstein?! Does anyone really care what he has to say?

Document of the Dead is overhyped and overrated. The title implies it, but it isn't a documentary on the making of Dawn of the Dead... it does contain a segment on the set of Dawn, but it also includes segments on Martin and 1 or 2 more Romero films. (It has been a while since I last watched it)

I'm glad that AB is at least being upfront and honest about having 2 releases. (not surprising now that Bill Lustig is gone) And that they will have separate discs for each version.

It sounds like they really might do a respectable job with this release.

I am most definitely looking forward to this release. Hate having to wait until spring, but I'll wait. I just hope they definitely come up with enough stuff to fill all those discs.

I wish that they would take the approach that Paramount is with "Once Upon a Time in the West" - put together a commentary track from directors, writers, etc. that were influenced by or are fans of the film. I haven't heard Richard Rubenstein speak, but as far as a 'selling point', having a group or edited commentary from some famous names would help push the disc. Anything would be better than putting Roger Avary alone at the microphone again.

The guy who was partnered with Romero during his most productive years, then had a mysterious falling out with him, and eventually decided against Romero's wishes to sell the right to DotD for a remake?

Um, yeah, I'm curious as to what Rubenstein has to say!

BTW, I bet that if the box set is 5-disks one of the will be a CD of the Goblin score.

Let it be called

Dawn of the Dead. BOOMSTICK EDITION

that would be great, cause then I could sell my LP copy of the soundtrack.