I loved the B&W version too. definitely my preferred version.

with the critcal response to the B/W version i am not even gonna see the color version to start off with.

I bought the 2-disc set without having seen the film. I watched the b/w version and LOVED it! Great film and I can't imagine watching it in colour over b/w.

B/W definately made the film feel more claustiphobic and put it in that 50s scifi era, like I thought it was when I saw it theatrically.

Great set.

I noticed the 2 disc for $19.99 is not listed in Circuit Cities ad. How would I price match it at Best Buy then? Would they call the store up,or look on their website? I know stores usually have strict policies of 'no ad,tough luck' attitude from my experience. So I'm unsure if calling or looking on stores website would be enough to get a price adjustment.

Then again,if they want my $$,they'd have to offer the price adjustment or I'll give my $$ to another store.

julie,
i printed the CC web page with price and had very little trouble. guy asked super and it was all good.

I'll buy the single disc and turn down the color on my display. Voila...B&W version!

From Chud.com interview with Frank Darabont:

Question: Before you actually had the chance to make the movie you had wanted to make it black and white, and now you get to have that version on the DVD. What goes into making a film black and white like this - is it a simple computer thing or is it more complicated?

Answer: I always had it in mind that if this version worked, if it looked good - you can't just take the color out of every color movie - I had the hope that was going to work out. I remember that the Coen Brothers shot The Man Who Wasn't There in color. Did you know that? They decided to release it in black and white - the contract stipulated that they had to shoot the movie in color but nothing about how they had to release it. So now there is a stipulation in every studio contract that you have to release it [in color]! But I thought what they did looked so great and it gave me peace of mind about doing the movie in color knowing that nowadays with DVD if it looks right you can release a black and white version. That's a cool alternative version of the movie to do. What goes into doing that is... nowadays we're not really cutting negative anymore, we're using DI, digital intermediate, and that digital source serves as your negative and you time the movie from there. What it means is every shot in the movie is [gone over] for exposure, for contrast, etc etc. This is a process you do for color. So [the black and white version] involved going back in to the lab with my color timer and retiming the movie for the needs of a black and white image, tweaking exposure and contrast throughout. It's a technical process and not as simple as... I remember reading one knuckle-head on Aint It Cool News going, 'Well, I can just turn the color down on my TV.' Okay, Jethro, you do that. In the meantime we're going to time a new version because it's not enough to just bring the color down.

And that was a great thrill; my color timer is Keith Shaw and we've worked together in the past, on all of my films, and we were in his bay there, watching this thing in black and white, getting very very excited about it. Especially when a shot in the movie looks like The Last Picture Show. Or another shot looks a little ragged, so it looks like Night of the Living Dead. We get excited about that sort of thing.

Yeah, thats about the fifth post from someone making a ridiculous comment like, "I'll just turn the color down on my tv".


uh, duuuuuuuuuuuh...... ok.

I'm going to wait for a hi-def release, which will get released some day. I'll rent in the meantime.

I've watched the B/W version twice already. Definitely the preferred version. It hides some of the low budget CG of the tentacles and other effects. Plus i like the hightened reality of it in B/W.

I watched the B&W version last night and loved it. It was a little odd at first, since I saw it in theaters in color, but once you get wrapped up in the story it fits the tone perfectly. What a fantastic film. It actually was better the 2nd time. I plan on watching the color version with my gf this weekend.

Saw this one in the theatre and really liked it. Picked up the DVD and watched the B&W version and, well, just wow! Fantastic! It's a completely different film and the same film all at once, but the B&W version is my preferred/recommended watch. Started watching the commentary last night, which is on the color version, and it's just not the same now.

Hopefully, this movie will gain a large cult following over the years and someday, somewhere maybe they will put up the B&W at midnight showings. I'd love to see this version in the cinema (not just on the big screen TV/projector, but an actual movie theatre)! It has all the makings of a cult film... B movie production, an ending that people will always talk about and, of course, the Frank D. factor... Shawshank was a HUGE home video/rental/DVD success.

Also, this is a great release. I haven't had this much fun with a new DVD in a little while. I'd highly recommend all the special features, Darabont is so down to earth and just giddy about this picture.

This is my favorite DVD so far that I have picked up this year.

Missed it at the theater. Just got the color version from Netflix and LOVED it. I just ran out and bought the 2-disc version. Unfortunately I got it at Walmart before I realized there were exclusives but I'm OK with it.

I was originally going to hold out for a domestic or import Blu-Ray, but I couldn't wait to see the B&W version. Plus, there's no guarantee the B&W version will be on future HD editions.

Going to probably watch the B&W version very soon now, and I usually don't do two viewings of a film so close together.

Yeah, I know that's what he said. Sounds like a great way to get people to buy the more expensive version. Besides, I can't tell the difference.

I didn't want to see this movie at all, but hearing such good things from everyone here and elsewhere in addition to the fact that the 2 Disc has a B&W version on it, I may just have to pick this one up.

I was reminded today why I stopped going to Circuit City.

I went to one of the few CC still open in the Chicago suburbs, with a printout of their web price in my pocket. They only had about 4 copies of the regular version and ZERO of the 2-disc. I couldn't find anybody to ask if they could check the inventory on the computer... so I just left. Went down to the street to Best Buy where they had plenty of 1 and 2 discs and one 2 diwsc with the book let. I grabbed it, took it up front with my CC web page print out and walked out of BB playing $19.99 plus tax. I already own Skeleton Crew, but I figured it would be cool to have this paperback too... PLUS, the whole package was shrinkwraped so that means... NO STICKERS ON THE SLIPCOVER!!!! YAY!!!

I really enjoyed THE MIST when I read it a few years ago. The whole time I kept thinking, "this would make a cool movie." When it was announced that it was being made, I was ecstatic. Then it came and went from the theater and I missed it.

I'm hoping to watch it this weekend. I'll probably start with the color version first since that is the way I would have seen it in the theater. Plus, if the B&W is as good as everyone here says, I don't want to dislike the color version by seeing it second.

I picked it up at Best Buy today(er,now yesterday) for $19.99 with CC web print out. I did go to CC the other day and they didn't have either version of the film at all! I think I'll just skip CC from now on. Its not worth going to lately and hasn't for quite some time.

I found a copy with the book and bought it. That version was all out at the BB near my house(which I went to before CC). So it was just random luck,that I found a copy as I almost picked up the basic 2 disc version.

I also already own Skeleton Crew. But what the hell,it's free and in good condition. And I got a good price on the set. So I might as well get as much as I can from it!


I almost had a problem at the register though. The cashier looked at the web page print out description and said "It doesn't say widescreen on the dvd,but the ad does". And I was confused and said "It's only available in widescreen" and showed her the back of the dvd which lists it. She then said "Oh" and changed the price.


I'll try to watch the B&W version sometime soon hopefully. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out that way. I don't buy that many current movies on dvd. And the very few I do,I usually go for the 1 disc version to save money since most of the extras are nothing special for the higher price(for example,I told my little brother to buy 1 disc I Am Legend if he picks it up sometime). But this one does seem like it's worth it,and the slightly higher price is worth paying.

Where's the 5-disc version. Disc 1 color. Disc 2 B&W. Disc 3 3-D. Disc 4 Chromakey. Disc 5 Ansel Adams "In Thah Zone" version.

The exclusive BB book version was long gone when I tried to get one yesterday. You snooze, you lose .

I picked this up at Best Buy earlier this week, I missed the book exclusive...but that's fine as I have my dog eared version from high school.
I was hoping that there would be an alternate version ending, as the ending was powerful...way different than the book....but at the same time screwed with my head for a few days.

I also decided to get the 2-disc set. With the Weinstein Co. and HD, you never know what's going to happen. They may just give us the color version, whenever the hell that will be. If the BD does show up fully loaded, then someone I know will get a free dvd version.

Am I the only person who didnt know there were monsters in the movie until the stupid DVD ads started coming out?

I Would have to say i am extreamly pleased with the release of this dvd. I Thought the movie itself was great and adding a b/w version in tone that made the film even more enjoyable to watch and a commentary that really was drained in knowledge. I havent gotten to the special features yet besides the b/w but im shure ill enjoy them as well. I got the free book from best buy also the day it came out

'drained' in knowledge? as in lacking? i think you mean 'drenched'