'Day of the Dead' - High-Def Digest review

[jed]

Kenneth's review of 'Day of the Dead' is up. He says the video on this Blu-ray edition is an upgrade over the DVD, but it can’t compete with the best high-def catalog transfers. The audio is more disappointing, with two surround remixing failing to improve upon the film’s original mono track. On the bright side, all of the major extras from the flick’s most recent Divimax DVD release have been ported over, and we even get a brand new Blu-ray-exclusive "Fast Film Facts" subtitle track.

Full review here:
http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/968/...edead1985.html

[Spideybat]

I'll record this off Monsters HD.

[messin18]

I'd like to watch this again... i dunno if a double dip is in order though

[mrkiller]

Im getting 28 Weeks Later instead of this.

[Ice2Dragon]

Ive never read ANY review where someone stated "Day of the dead was better than dawn of the dead, and more action packed"

THE HELL!? YOURE JOKING!?

[runchuckrun]

I think the review is pretty accurate, concerning the PQ and AQ. It's definitely not up to the standard of Dawn of the Dead in that regard. For someone who had never seen Day of the Dead though, I would still think that the Blu-ray version is recommendable. I may be wrong, but I can't imagine a DVD version looking or sounding better.

Between the two movies, I'm hard pressed to favor one over the other. I thought Day of the Dead was very entertaining, and I really liked the Bub character. Don't forget about that over-the-top gore and special effects...

I'm glad I don't have to choose a favorite between the two!

[Ken Brown]

Originally Posted by Ice2Dragon

Ive never read ANY review where someone stated "Day of the dead was better than dawn of the dead, and more action packed"

THE HELL!? YOURE JOKING!?

And you still haven't read a review that says that. Where on earth did you see that line in my review? I think you need to read things far more carefully.

I wrote about 'Day's prioritization of its satire over its entertainment value. Directly from the review:

"'Day of the Dead' engaged my intelligence more frequently than the action-packed 'Dawn of the Dead.' Romero's elimination of attractive qualities extends to his lead characters and amplifies the inherent humanity in his intended Everyman -- Bub. That's not to say that 'Day of the Dead' is great cinema or that it trumps 'Dawn of the Dead.'"

Romero admits to as much in his commentary (concerning the prioritization between the entertainment and the satire). Notice I even went the extra step of specifically clarifying that 'Dawn' is still the better of the two in my opinion. I even gave 'Dawn' a higher film rating.

This is the third time in a week that I've had to correct your interpretation of one of our reviews after an angry post -- please read the text more carefully!

[Ice2Dragon]

Originally Posted by Ken Brown

And you still haven't read a review that says that. Where on earth did you see that line in my review? I think you need to read things far more carefully.

I wrote about 'Day's prioritization of its satire over its entertainment value:

"'Day of the Dead' engaged my intelligence more frequently than the action-packed 'Dawn of the Dead.' Romero's elimination of attractive qualities extends to his lead characters and amplifies the inherent humanity in his intended Everyman -- Bub. That's not to say that 'Day of the Dead' is great cinema or that it trumps 'Dawn of the Dead.'"

Romero admits to as much in his commentary. Notice I even went the extra step of specifically clarifying that 'Dawn' is still the better of the two in my opinion. I even gave 'Dawn' a higher film rating.

This is the third time in a week that I've had to correct your interpretation of one of our reviews after an angry post -- please read them closer!

Second time, get it right. And ive been correct on both of them. Where am I angry again..?

"engaged my intelligence more frequently than the action packed dawn of the dead"

Try writing some reviews that make sense.. and where you actually WATCH the movies.. everything I pointed out in 28 weeks later that I said WAS TRUE. Any reviewer who points out "i dont wanna reveal spoilers" did not watch the film!

And the above quote just reinforces the theory, "intelligence more frequently than the action packed", same thing.

And you didnt write the other review, peter did. he never stepped in and sent u to explain it FOR him. last I checked, he still hadn't. So unless you read minds, you tried to explain what he meant, yet he never did. Once again.. not starting things.. merely explaining.

But if youre gonna write reviews, take criticism. Thats all.

[messin18]

Originally Posted by Ice2Dragon

Ive never read ANY review where someone stated "Day of the dead was better than dawn of the dead, and more action packed"

THE HELL!? YOURE JOKING!?

Huh!? You're not reading or quoteing him correctly.

"engaged my intelligence more frequently than the action packed dawn of the dead"

Means that dawn of the dead was action packed.

[Office Ed]

Not Romero's best film, but it's still a powerful piece ( far better than Land of the Dead) and Tom Savini's effects work is amazing.

[Ken Brown]

Originally Posted by Ice2Dragon

But if youre gonna write reviews, take criticism. Thats all.

I love and welcome criticism! I only get upset when I'm misquoted and criticized for something I didn't write. I watch every movie I review and, in the case of 'Day' and 'Dawn,' have watched them dozens of times over the years. As long as I'm being read correctly, I look forward to everyone launching their rockets -- I enjoy reading the message board debates.

If you do find an error, just e-mail us directly so we can discuss. We'll change inaccuracies in a heart beat... and we can explain our wording/intent if we believe the statement is still accurate (at which point you can address the problem on the boards).

Thanks as always for posting!

[Consolcwby]

Okay, I'm new to this site and I find the PQ and AQ ratings to be extremely helpful when making BD purchases. Now, with THAT out of the way...

I am an extreme fan of Romero's Dead films. I love them ALL - and own them all on DVD (BD collecting is going to be slow) and I have to admit a certain fondness for Day. Out of all of Romero's Dead films, Day is (imho) one of the more humanistic (for the zombies) and nihilistic (for the survivors). I've usually found that people who dislike this film (and now Land) always viewed the zombified public as monsters/creatures that the 'good guys' must battle to survive. Romero's statement was that WE are the zombies - going about our daily lives oblivious to the forces arrayed around us. Night made this evident at the end, Dawn came right out and said it, so why is it that there is a disconnect with Day? Well, I think it
s because the message becomes obfuscated when we look at the 'normal
' living people in the film: 3 divisions, one being the Military (the hawks in the govt.), the scientists (the doves in the govt.), and the outcasts (the helicopter pilot, his assistant, and the lady scientist). The outcasts more or less represent political 'radicals' who are independent. The audience is meant to side with this group - BUT Bub and 'Dr. Frankenstein' are also faves. That's the problem - people are expected to be behind BOTH even though they are at odds. Interestingly enough, people who love this movie realise that every side makes valid and invalid points of argument - resulting in more 'grey' areas than the previous films. It is one of my faves - I keep getting something new out of this movie everytime I see it. I just watched it on my new BD copy, and the transfer is (imho) really really good. I'm happy, but would love to see the rest transferred to BD (I have the 3 disc set of Dawn, and will wait for something similar for BD - gotta have all versions as reference!) =D

The review was fair, but I'd still LOVE to see a more in-depth analysis - something this film sorely needs to gain better acceptance from the so-called 'fans'.

DID YOU KNOW: I hated Dawn's remake; terrible, revisionist, and corporate - exactly the OPPOSITE of what Romero was getting at. Why don't zombies move fast?... Because: "They're dead... they're... they're all messed up." (My fave quote from Night! I LOVE THAT LINE!!!) XD