Definite Edition of a DVD...

[Guest Karnage]

Some movies like the Evil Dead series gets tons of releases (Limited, Bootleg, etc.). So which versions of movies that had multiple different dvd releases is the definitive one?

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

The one which they market as the "definitive" release for $25...

[Guest MDH257]

Better yet, what are the definitive versions of the Evil Dead movies?

[Guest CoreyLazarus416]

I think most DVD releases of the Evil Dead trilogy are essentially the same, with different packaging and/or one different commentary track here and there...

[Guest evenflowDDT]

The Elite Entertainment Evil Dead is about $10 cheaper than Anchor Bay's release, and I think the only difference is the Anchor Bay one has one extra commentary or featurette...

[Guest razazteca]

the recent Evil Dead release had "realistic skin" cover not sure what the difference is between this one and the Limited Edition Tin Release from a few years ago.

 

what is the deal with the LOTR 4 DVD release, is it fluff or good extras?

[Guest Madmartigan21]

The Evil Dead

Elite Entertainment / 1983 / 85 Minutes / Not Rated

Street date: N/A

 

DISC FEATURES

 

Specifications

- DVD-Video

- Single-Layer Disc

- Region 1

 

Aspect Ratio(s):

- N/A

 

Dolby Digital Formats:

- None

 

DTS Formats:

- None

 

PCM Formats:

- None

 

Subtitles/Captions:

- None

 

Standard Features:

- Interactive menus

- Scene access

 

Supplements:

- None

 

InterActual DVD-ROM Features:

- None

 

List Price

- N/A (Discontinued)

 

 

 

 

The Evil Dead: Special Edition

Anchor Bay Home Entertainment / 1983 / 85 Minutes / Rated NC-17

Street date: March 5, 2002

DISC FEATURES

 

Specifications

- DVD-Video

- Dual-Layer Disc

- Region 1

 

Aspect Ratio(s):

- 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen

 

 

Dolby Digital Formats:

- English 5.1 Surround EX

- English 2.0 Surround

- French 5.1 Surround

- French 2.0 Surround

 

DTS Formats:

- English 6.1 ES

 

PCM Formats:

- None

 

Subtitles/Captions:

- English Closed Captions

 

Standard Features:

- Interactive Menus

- Scene Access

 

Supplements:

- Screen-specific audio commentary with director Sam Raimi and producer Rob Tapert

- Screen-specific audio commentary with actor Bruce Campbell

- Behind-the-scenes footage

- Still gallery

- Talent files

- Theatrical trailer

- TV spots

 

InterActual DVD-ROM Features:

- None

 

List Price:

- $19.95

 

 

 

The Evil Dead - Book of the Dead: Limited Edition

Anchor Bay Home Entertainment / 1983 / 85 Minutes / Rated NC-17

Street date: March 5, 2002

 

DISC FEATURES

 

Specifications

- DVD-Video

- Dual-Layer Disc

- Region 1

 

Aspect Ratio(s):

- 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen

 

 

Dolby Digital Formats:

- English 5.1 Surround EX

- English 2.0 Surround

- French 5.1 Surround

- French 2.0 Surround

 

DTS Formats:

- English 6.1 ES

 

PCM Formats:

- None

 

Subtitles/Captions:

- English Closed Captions

 

Standard Features:

- Interactive Menus

- Scene Access

 

Supplements:

- Screen-specific audio commentary with director Sam Raimi and producer Rob Tapert

- Screen-specific audio commentary with actor Bruce Campbell

- "FanAnalysis(with Bruce Campbell)" (exclusive feature to this release)and "Discovering Evil Dead" featurettes

- Behind-the-scenes footage

- Still gallery

- Talent files

- Theatrical trailer

- TV spots

 

InterActual DVD-ROM Features:

- None

 

The Book Of The Dead version includes nifty latex "book" packaging custom designed by artist Tom Sullivan, as well as another 26 pages of conceptual art and text, and more...

 

List Price:

- $49.95

 

 

There have been a few other editons, but these were the ones listed at

DVDFILE.COM

[Guest CoreyLazarus416]

See, I'd get the Book Of The Dead version, but the NC-17 rating makes me wait another year...

[Guest evenflowDDT]

I'd get the Book of the Dead version if it wasn't so damned expensive. I'm sure Elite put out a special edition though as well as a bare-bones version, and that their special edition is still in print. Hmmmm....

 

EDIT: I knew it! From Elite Entertainment's website

 

- New digitally remastered transfer personally supervised by director Sam Raimi

- Newly remixed Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack

- Newly remixed 2.0 Stereo Soundtrack

- Audio Commentary Track featuring director Sam Raimi and producer Robert Tapert

- Additional Commentary Track featuring star Bruce Campbell

- Still photo gallery including 150 still photos

- Approximately 20 minutes of alternate takes & behind-the-scenes footage

- Theatrical Trailer

- Animated Menu Screen

- Full color insert featuring liner notes by Bruce Campbell

 

The "Book of the Dead" version has the featurettes, more trailers/TV spots, and more audio options, but Elite's version is only $15. Depending on how "good" and how much replay value the featurettes have, I'd say Elite's disc is the best, unless there's some huge print quality difference between the two.

[Guest Ravenbomb]

Evil Dead has more DVD versions than any other movie I've seen. I'll go with the Book of the Dead being the Definitive one, being that it's the one I've got.

 

I'm going with Untitled being the Difinitive DVD of Almost Famous and the 2 Disc one being the definitive DVD of AKIRA

[Guest evenflowDDT]

Evil Dead has more DVD versions than any other movie I've seen. I'll go with the Book of the Dead being the Definitive one, being that it's the one I've got.

How are the featurettes on the "Book of the Dead" edition? Because if they are any good I'll take back what I just said and save up for that.

 

Don't forget the gazillion versions of Night of the Living Dead! I think the best version of that is Elite's "Millennium Edition".

 

I don't know why I'm such an Elite Entertainment mark, I mean I don't even own any of their discs

[Guest Madmartigan21]

Evil Dead has more DVD versions than any other movie I've seen. I'll go with the Book of the Dead being the Definitive one, being that it's the one I've got.

It's hard to argue with THAT logic.

 

Again from DVDFILE.COM

 

Supplements: What Goodies Are There?

 

Since this is the umpteenth release of The Evil Dead on DVD, I've pretty much given up trying to keep track of them all... has any other horror save perhaps Halloween been released and re-released this many times!? Both Anchor Bay and Elite released their own versions of The Evil Dead on disc a few years back, the Anchor Bay edition being movie-only and the Elite special edition including some great goodies like two commentaries, outtakes, stills, and the trailer.

 

Now Anchor Bay is re-releasing the film in two new DVD editions (the previous versions have been discontinued), the "standard" special edition for $19.95, and the limited "Book Of The Dead" for a cool $49.95 list price. Both editions include the same transfer and some, but not all, of the same supplements, as well as a nice 24-page booklet with production notes by Anchor Bay's Michael Felsher. The Book Of The Dead version, however, includes nifty latex "book" packaging custom designed by artist Tom Sullivan, as well as another 26 pages of conceptual art and text, and more...

 

Let's start with the two screen-specific audio commentaries ported over from the previous Elite DVD and laserdisc releases, the first with director Sam Raimi and producer Rob Tapert, and the second with star Bruce Campbell. These guys are quite the characters, and thankfully anything but dull. Campbell especially is full of passion and energy for the film that made him perhaps the biggest B-movie star in the world, and I can honestly say these are two of the better commentary tracks I've heard (and baby, I've heard some bad ones!) Since the commentaries are separate, it is kinda fun to here about the film from two perspectives, behind the camera and in front of it. It's clear they are two very different jobs, and oh-so-refreshing to find filmmakers and actors who celebrate their past, not denigrate it now that they've moved on to bigger things.

 

Up next is an 18-minute collection of behind-the-scenes footage and outtakes that is often hysterical. I must admit to feeling really sorry for the actors here...how do you cackle, wail and moan for take after take and not feel like an idiot? For once, these outtakes don't make the process of filmmaking seem like oh-so-much fun, but real hard work. Owners of the previous Elite DVD will probably already be familiar with these, and they are presented in full frame and mono.

 

New to this DVD release, and only available on the Book Of The Dead edition, are two new featurettes. Bruce Campbell's FanAnalysis is a highly entertaining and surprisingly well-shot 26 minutes, and just might be worth the price of admission alone for you Campbell cultists. Reminding me a bit of that Star Trek documentary Trekkies, Campbell is an engaging host as he takes us on a tour of life as a B-movie legend, complete with rabid fans, weird convention shenanigans, and the quiet life at home away from the spotlight. While some of these folks are, well, pretty freaky, like most fan documentaries this one takes great pains to remind us that however loopy it all may appear, the fans are ultimately just good-natured and harmless in the end. A must see.

 

Also new is Discovering Evil Dead, a 13-minute piece on the beginnings of the Evil Dead phenomenon. Acquired by Palace Pictures back in 1983, founders Stephen Woolley and Nik Powell reminisce about the opposition they initially received to the film, its eventual cult status, and the attempts by the British government to censor the film. Also adding some insight is Bill Warren, author of The Evil Dead Companion, and though short, this is a fun look back and adds some much-needed perspective along with the commentaries.

 

Rounding out the extras are some promotional bits, including the film's theatrical trailer in full frame and mono, four TV spots, Talent Files, and a still gallery with 200 behind-the-scenes, publicity, make-up, and ad materials, some complete with funny captions. (Also watch out for two easter eggs only on the Book Of The Dead edition...they're worth finding!) And last but not least, no, the famed Within The Woods short film has not been included on either version due to various legalities to complicated to explain. Yes, this is a loss, but don't let this otherwise fine new version of The Evil Dead pass you by...

 

Parting Thoughts

 

A true horror classic, here's yet another edition of The Evil Dead on DVD, but hopefully the definitive one? The transfer is unfortunately disappointing, but the packaging and extras are really fun. Though the $49.95 list price is a bit steep fro the Book Of the Dead collectible version, you do get a few extras not on the straight SE, but you'll save about $30 bucks. So unless you are a total diehard, I'd go with the standard edition, or better yet, find the old Elite version which has a better transfer but retains most of the extras.

[Guest NoCalMike]

I was going to get the Book of the dead edition because it was SUPPOSED to have the one feature that none of the previous releases had that I have been DYING TO SEE, which was the featurette, "within the woods" but they couldn't get the rights to it or something.

[Guest C.H.U.D.]

I have both the Anchor Bay "Book of the Dead" edition and the Elite "Collector's Edition" (signed by Bruce Campbell baby), and personally I like the Anchor Bay version better. It has the new Campbell documentary, I think the audio and picture transfer is better, plus it's in widescreen for the first time ever and it looks sweet.

 

Plus, the cover is very cool.

[Guest Kagato Otaku]

I've seen "The Book of the Dead" go for $29.95 at most places I loiter. And that's not the on-sale price either.

 

Haven't picked it up due to me not caring about it as much as its sequels, but the features look very nice.

[Guest Dmann2000]

I'd get the Book of the Dead version if it wasn't so damned expensive. I'm sure Elite put out a special edition though as well as a bare-bones version, and that their special edition is still in print. Hmmmm....

This is why I'm a member of Sam's Club, got it for 23.48

[Guest El Satanico]

I have the Elite version of Evil Dead and it's a good release.

 

I have the Evil Dead II that came in a tin case, but i think there's only one version of EDII still in print.

 

I believe the hard to find 2 disc limited edition ofArmy of Darkness is the best version. However the Bootleg edition is probably a good version as well.

 

 

There's only two good versions of Night of the Living Dead and both are made by Elite Entertainment.

[Guest Karnage]

What about the 30th Anniversary Edition of NOTL?

[Guest razazteca]

anybody out there like Martial Arts movies besides me? Any opinions on Tia Seng releases vs Dimension Films releases?

 

Iron Monkey release by Media Asia 1999 or the recent release that was in theaters in USA?

[Guest El Satanico]

the 30th Anniversary DVD of NOTLD Is a piece of shit and I'm sure C.H.U.D. will back that up.

 

They recorded a brand new soundtrack for the movie and taped brand new scenes(which stick out horribly). Then they put both into the actual movie and not as a seperate audio track and "deleted scenes".

[Guest razazteca]

you want really pisses me off is that Dimension Films releases of Jet Li movies, have name changes. As in the case with My Father Was A Hero was changed to Enforcer or something lame like it.

[Guest Karnage]

I really hate how Disney has all these martial arts movie releases that are edited and contain no Original Language Track. Ditto for Fox and their Bruce Lee movies.

I also dislike all those bargain bin companies(Front Row Entertainment, Madacy, Brentwood) releasing all these crappy versions of different martial arts films.

[Guest evenflowDDT]

I have both the Anchor Bay "Book of the Dead" edition and the Elite "Collector's Edition" (signed by Bruce Campbell baby), and personally I like the Anchor Bay version better. It has the new Campbell documentary, I think the audio and picture transfer is better, plus it's in widescreen for the first time ever and it looks sweet.

Evil Dead was filmed in widescreen? That's a shock.

 

Anyway, I agree that bargain bin company releases are crap, particularly the way they mistreat the martial arts films. I wish Hong Kong Legends set up shop on this side of the pond, or SOMEONE else who would respect these films, since most of them are public domain anyway, anyone can put out as good or bad a release as they want.

[Guest C.H.U.D.]

the 30th Anniversary DVD of NOTLD Is a piece of shit and I'm sure C.H.U.D. will back that up.

 

They recorded a brand new soundtrack for the movie and taped brand new scenes(which stick out horribly). Then they put both into the actual movie and not as a seperate audio track and "deleted scenes".

Yeah, the NOTLD "new edition" was a pretty retarded idea. The 2 disc limited edition from from Anchor Bay contains the crappy "new" version, plus the untouched original version. The transfer on the original is decent, but the Millennium Edition from Elite is the best overall disc, since it has the best audio/picture transfer and the best extras.

[Guest evenflowDDT]

I don't even get what the point of the 30th Anniversary butchering of NOTLD was. Did they think it would bring in some new fans or something?

[Guest Lethargic]

I don't even get what the point of the 30th Anniversary butchering of NOTLD was. Did they think it would bring in some new fans or something?

Russo's reason is that it was yet another attempt at getting the copyright issues fixed. The real reason is because he's a friggin retard that should be shot. That movie made me want to slit my wrists.

[Guest C.H.U.D.]

Another reason they made it was a pathetic attempt to cash in on the popularity of the Star Wars "Special Edition" where Lucas went and added in new footage and effects.

 

It doesn't really work when doing the same thing to a B&W zombie movie.