Carnival of Souls (in color) - with Mike Nelson

[Chopper]

just picked this up yesterday for only 8 big ones. i'm not a big fan of old classic black and white horror films being colored but they actually did a real good job with this one. and Mike Nelson from MST 3K fame serves up his usually funny tidbits and anecdotes about the films history on his commentary track.

[nobody]

The other colorized movies from Legend/Off-Color Films featuring Mike Nelson commentary are great as well. They just released "House on Haunted Hill"- I haven't seen it yet, but it should be in my mailbox on Monday.

[Chopper]

cool i'll have to check those out thanks.

[kriegerg69]

....period.

Especially movies like CARNIVAL OF SOULS, HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL (how DARE they!), and NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD.

[nobody]

The colorization of these films isn't what I buy them for. I buy them for the Mike Nelson commentary. I have no trouble sitting through black and white films.

I don't mind any of these films being colorized, btw. I don't consider them high art by any means. Adding color to old classics, like "The Great Dictator" or "Citizen Cane" would irritate me, though.

[peter johnson]

I think we can still find the Contrast button on the controls somewhere can't we?
If we see a great deal on a colorized King Kong, for instance, we can buy it & fiddle the contrast control until all the color is gone & bingo:  You now have a great deal on the original film!!
peter johnson/denny crane

[ToyMan]

well, i'm not sure they did this on all the discs, but the "night of the living dead" release had both the black and white and colorized versions on it, so i don't see any reason for emotional outbursts.

[peter johnson]

Well, I think the "emotional outburst" thang comes from the fact that certain directors CHOSE to shoot in Black and White, as opposed to any number of possible Colour processes available at any given times in history.
Colour film for movies has been available since 1924.
There are reasons -- not all of them economic -- that some directors choose not to shoot in colour, and I think we, as viewers, should respect that.
So, to "colorize" a black and white film that wasn't really meant to be that -- eg. King Kong -- is an abomination and disrespectful.
peter johnson/denny crane

[Flangepart]

I'm with nobody....no, realy!
I'll look for this cause of mike. Any form of MST3K, i'll take. Look what he did for "Reefer madness"!



Post Edited (08-22-05 17:44)

[ToyMan]

i dunno, i think colorizing these films, while also presenting the original version on the disc is the best possible thing, seeing as a younger audience simply isn't going to want to watch black and white if they can get something else in color, and who knows what that could lead to? they could get interested in other older films, and learn to love black and white films.

say what you will, but it's the same as the current asian horror remake craze here in america. people could just as easily see the originals, but they're too damned lazy or stubborn to read the subtitles, and aren't interested enough to take a step off the beaten path in order to understand some of the cultural nuances.

[Fearless Freep]

My kids watch B&W movies....

[Just Plain Horse]

The "Reefer Madness" disc is the only one I've seen so far...

I have to say, although the colorizing effect was a little disorientating at times, seeing orange and purple smoke made it every bit worthwhile. Also hearing someone reasonably competent talk about/ over a "reefer movie" has a special "rareness" to it.

Curiously, the "Reeferman Song" (I have no idea what it's called) was the most entertaining thing on the disc; "Do you know that reefer man?"

[ToyMan]

congrats, but i'm thinking they're in the minority.

[nobody]

These people you're talking about, who are too "lazy and stubborn to read subtitles" or who have no ability to watch black-and-white movies wouldn't understand when they're taking a "step off the beaten path." Colorizing classics does them no real good. These people see moving images on the magic box and that's all that matters to them. They'd get nothing else from the experience.

[Amanda]

I agree with you about people being too damn lazy to bother with subtitles.  I totally enjoy subtitled movies, originals to remakes, etc.  If my husband and I hear of a new horror movie "from Japan", we automatically try to find the original and watch that first.