DAWN OF THE DEAD - The Ultimate Edition DVD

[blkrider]

It's still worth seeing, though I don't know if I would buy it as a stand-alone disc.  
I thought I would like it a lot more than I did.....it doesn't have some of the stuff that drags down the US version, but it also doesn't have a lot of the best things about the movie.  

What's interesting is on the Rubenstein commentary he says that they were originally going to have the European cut in England, but the censor wanted to make too many cuts.  So they tried the Romero cut and the censor didn't want to cut that version nearly as much, since Romero's story development made the violence seem less "senseless."  It's weird how they look at context a lot more in the UK than they do here, though they have a lot more trouble with children being involved in violent scenes, even if they are child zombies.

[Chris K.]

A friend of mine said it best about the Argento cut: when you watch it, you know it's a George Romero film, but it plays more like a Dario Argento film. And that's not bad, either considering Argento's track record. At least it doesn't come across as a bad hack-job re-edit, their is some care taken to the European Version.

As for the Theatrical Cut, call me a prude but it's my least favorite due to the removal of certain sequences that should have stayed in (i.e., the scene of Roger getting fuel at the police headquaters and having a run-in with the looters disguised as police). I always liked the Extended Cannes Cut, which had more development in the characters and story, as well as having better pacing.

[The Burgomaster]

Chris K wrote:

"it's my least favorite due to the removal of certain sequences that should have stayed in (i.e., the scene of Roger getting fuel at the police headquaters and having a run-in with the looters disguised as police). I always liked the Extended Cannes Cut, which had more development in the characters and story, as well as having better pacing."


I didn't like the run in with the looters (other than the fact that Joe Pilato was in it!) and I'm glad it was cut.

I did enjoy seeing the additional character development, plus the extra TV and radio broadcast footage showing how the country was dealing with the epidemic.  However, overall, it slows the movie down a bit, so I think Romero made a good decision to cut it.

Plus, the music in the theatrical release is the best.

The theatrical cut is still my favorite, but the extended version is a close 2nd.  The European cut is a distant 3rd.

[jimmyd]

wait. i can see it now...

when there's no more room in the trash the dvd's (dead video discs) SHALL WALK THE EARTH!!!!!!! DDDAAA DDDDAAAAHHHH DA DAHHHHH!!!! (cue musac)

[Dreggen]

Quick question.  During the Heli' refueling scene Stephen wiffs a hammer swing at a zombie.  Was that planned or just something spontanious?  My friends and I laughed at that for a good 10 minutes when I set it on repeat.