xage

Collectible and limited edition booklets that comes with EVIL DEAD Book of the Dead & Rental Only Version - Evil Dead THX release - Army of Darkness Boomstick Edition

jake_spade

I found one at a Blockbuster near my cousin's place and did not hesitate owning another one

notvandnobeer

Damn! Is this really worth that much? I used to work at Blockbuster and I remember we pulled it for sale a week after it was put out for rent. No one had even rented it, so I bought it for like $6. Another example of the lack of sense from corporate.

Cinemaddiction

Is that not a rental copy, suggesting you rented it with the intentions of "losing it"?

Besides, IIRC, all it is as a lighter version of the "Book of the Dead" edition, special feature wise, and the movie, which is still incorrectly formatted.

GuruTwo

The matted 1.85:1 transfer on Anchor Bay's "Book of the Dead" is not only director-approved, it's the only uncut release on DVD (all the unmatted versions are missing the lightning bolt animation).

jake_spade

yah, I simply followed this short steps shared by Cameron and it worked!

onebyone

I want that Evil Dead DVD so so much. I better just set aside a day to hit all the stores I can or I am just going to go insane.

Cinemaddiction

Directors approve 1:85:1 transfers for films shot in 1.33:1? I'm lost.

You think a singular copy that's been in circulation for 4 years is going to be in good enough shape to rent and "lose"?

Ya know, speaking on behalf of video rental stores, having this exact instance happen at my store, on my shift, that's a pretty shady thing to do. Granted, the associates that "allow" it are equally as backwards, it's just not fair.

joltman

Maybe you don't know, but Blockbuster's whole 'No Late Fees' stuff they've been doing basically means you don't get charged late fess up to a week after the movie is due back, and if you keep it longer than that you are automatically charged an amount and you own it. So, this isn't really shady, it goes along with their new policy.

Cinemaddiction

So, for those of you that have done this, what was the charge? Any other movie, I assume you'd be charaged MSRP for it.

onebyone

No I don't think it would be easy to find, and that is one reason I want it terribly. As to condition, I will take what I can get.

And as to it being shady, if I would tell them about it and pay all due fees should I find it one day, I'll be able to sleep nights just fine.

GuruTwo

Yeah, all the time. There are too many examples to list where a film is shot in a different aspect ratio than the one used when it's actually completed and shown theatrically. I take it you've never heard of the term "open matte". Your statement makes as much sense as saying "Directors approve black & white transfers for films shot in color? I'm lost." in regards to "The Man Who Wasn't There".

I've never been able to find a reliable source that states what the original theatrical aspect ratio of "The Evil Dead" was but it's highly unlikely that theaters would have projected it at 1.33:1 in the early 80's, it almost certainly would have been matted to 1.85:1 or at least 1.66:1.

For what it's worth, "Donnie Darko" shows the film playing theatrically at 1.85:1 and that pre-dates Anchor Bay's widescreen transfer. Had "Donnie Darko" come out a year later or the "Book of the Dead" edition a year earlier I would have assumed that they just used the widescreen Anchor Bay transfer but the timing doesn't match up. In the span of 2 or 3 years you had two different camps electing to show "The Evil Dead" in 1.85:1.

You can say all you want about "The Evil Dead" in 1.85:1 but the fact of the matter is this: it's not "incorrectly framed". You may not like it that way but Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell (who actually supervised the widescreen transfer) prefer it that way and it was most likely played theatrically that way, too.

jake_spade

I was charged $9.99 for it (a lot cheap compare to my original ebay purchase of more than $175.00)

xage

Way to go Jake! As long as there is the opportunity,GRAB IT!


Owning all Evil Dead R1 DVD Titles, THIS IS THE HARDEST TO OWN!

Cinemaddiction

..which is all I ever said, ratio bars over a Fullscreen movie. Shot in 16mm, blown up to Super 35 for screening purposes. That said, I "prefer" the Elite edition, in its intended format, which is also a proper and more appealing presentation of the movie.

xage

Im looking forward to see the result of your hunt! Best of luck dude!

GuruTwo

You'll notice that the source of the quote that claims that the MAR of "The Evil Dead" is 1.33:1 is DVDcompare, who, surprise surprise, compares DVD's and doesn't really have any track record for providing reputable information on theatrical exhibition of films released 16 years before the debut of the DVD format.

I mean, they use the term "4x3" to describe 1.33:1.

As I said before: nobody knows for sure what the original theatrical aspect ratio of "The Evil Dead" is. "The Evil Dead" companion lists 1.66:1, though it also says Frances McDormand is the wife of Ethan Coen (she's the wife of his brother Joel) and there are several other errors present.

Was "The Evil Dead" SHOT in the aspect ratio of 1.33:1? Yes. Was it shown that way? Probably not.

LeeVing

I see you found it here.

onebyone

That's the first one of those I have found on there in awhile. We will see how that works out. Last one I saw ended way too high for me.

Cinemaddiction

I stewed on this issue for a while, and ran up to a local Blockbuster to see if they had it. They did, and I rented it. I get the receipt, and while my first intentions were to return it, the receipt read "Own it 7/20/06 for just $15.00 more!".

..and if Blockbuster's giving me the green light, I guess I'll keep it after all...and the other copy at the other store I'm getting later tonight.

onebyone

I hate you I mean congrats! They are practically asking you to take it. I went to 5 different stores over the weekend, and I didn't find a one. In fact, some of them didn't have an Evil Dead dvd in the whole place. Sigh.

Cinemaddiction

Well, I rented it initially to see what was included on the DVD, keeping the whole rarity issue in the back of my mind, then when I looked at the receipt, the way it was worded, it pretty much encouraged someone to keep it and pay for it later. Why? I don't know, because with that in mind, I could walk into Blockbuster, rent all their OOP/rare discs, and never be seen from again, and they wouldn't care.

xage

Pretty much like that.. just make sure you were able to get the packaging (and inserts that comes with it)

One exclusion that comes into mind is the recalled "PG" Swampthing release with UPC: 027616851529 which includes a 4page booklet. That was recalled from all Blockbuster outlet.

Cinemaddiction

Neither one of them had the inserts, I never really expected them to after being in circulation since March of '02. The first copy I got does have the cover art, and the second, she told me to come back in a week and grab it, which is when the DVD is due, but won't be returned, lol.

lcnickell

is the disc any different than the BOTD version?

or just the sleeve, i know at least 4 stores with this Cover Art version.