My take: Dawn of the Dead (1978)

HD Goofnut · 07-03-2009, 09:22 PM

Title: Dawn of the Dead (1978)
BD-50 Dual-Layer Disc
Video: 1080p/AVC MPEG-4
Audio: 5.1 Linear PCM
Aspect Ratio: 1:85:1
Subtitles: English
Run time: 127 minutes
Studio: Starz Home Entertainment
Rating: Unrated

My take: (the breakdown)

Dawn of the Dead is often referred to as one of the best zombie movies after Night of the Living Dead and if we are talking about just zombie movies I will agree to that. The story focuses on four people: 2 Philadelphia SWAT members, 1 reporter, and the reporter's girlfriend. To escape the zombie onslaught they decide to hold up in an abandoned shopping mall. This will always be a horror classic for film so if you haven't seen it I suggest you see it. For a 31 year old movie it is decent, but I can't recommend more than a rental unless you're a zombie or Romero fan.

The video is about what you would expect from a movie from 1978. It is generally soft, washed out, and has some dirt speckles. However, fine detail on actor closeups is extremely well done and flesh tones (yes even the zombies) tend to be accurate. There are quite a few unresolved blacks during the darker scenes, but grain or noise doesn't get out of control. This is probably the best this movie is ever going to look on home video period.

The audio fails to impress across the board. The only plus to this PCM track is that dialogue is clear and understandable. However, every time there is a gunshot, and there's a lot, they sound like wimpy little toy pop guns. The LFE channel might as well have been on vacation because I forgot my sub was even there. There's hardly nothing going on in the surrounds except for maybe some distant zombie moaning. Again like the video this is probably the best it's going to get.

We get a weak supplemental package with this Blu-ray release. We get some making of features that add up to about an hour and a half or so, a 14 minute feature on other films by Romero, and a 12 minute tour of the mall. All of these features are unfortunately presented in 480.

Movie: 7.5/10
VQ: 6.5/10
AQ: 5/10
Supplements: 2/10
Final word: Purchase for fans

As always thanks for reading folks.

sigill · 07-04-2009, 06:07 AM

Thanks for the review Goofnut. I thought this movie was good when i watched it on DVD but the average picture and sound doesn't sound like it warrants an upgrade to BD.

tvine2000 · 07-04-2009, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sigill

Thanks for the review Goofnut. I thought this movie was good when i watched it on DVD but the average picture and sound doesn't sound like it warrants an upgrade to BD.

but as goofnut pointed out some older titles are not going to get better on blu-ray.the studios aren't going to restore every film.and sometimes they can't do much anyways, hell iv'e heard of some lost footage found in somebody basement in film cans in crap condition.
i think any new format down the road after blu-ray will have this issue to contend with,what title makes it to hd and what doesn't.

sigill · 07-04-2009, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvine2000

but as goofnut pointed out some older titles are not going to get better on blu-ray.the studios aren't going to restore every film.and sometimes they can't do much anyways, hell iv'e heard of some lost footage found in somebody basement in film cans in crap condition.
i think any new format down the road after blu-ray will have this issue to contend with,what title makes it to hd and what doesn't.

No doubt some films source material is terrible. Texas chainsaw massacre was an example of this, there wasn't a lot they can do with it. But on the flip side if they can't be bothered to restore or remaster the picture then i am not going to pay 3 times more for a substandard product.

**kamspy** · 07-04-2009, 12:10 PM

Where's the Zombi 2 review?

Everyone knows that's the best zombie movie. It has the best single scene in the history of cinematography. Everything since that epic clash of zombie and shark is just fluff.

07-03-2009, 09:22 PM	#1
HD Goofnut HDF Official Reviewer Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Mississippi, U.S.A. Your resident Dune, Star Wars, and war film expert Age: 27 Posts: 6,761	My take: Dawn of the Dead (1978) Title: Dawn of the Dead (1978) BD-50 Dual-Layer Disc Video: 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 Audio: 5.1 Linear PCM Aspect Ratio: 1:85:1 Subtitles: English Run time: 127 minutes Studio: Starz Home Entertainment Rating: Unrated My take: (the breakdown) Dawn of the Dead is often referred to as one of the best zombie movies after Night of the Living Dead and if we are talking about just zombie movies I will agree to that. The story focuses on four people: 2 Philadelphia SWAT members, 1 reporter, and the reporter's girlfriend. To escape the zombie onslaught they decide to hold up in an abandoned shopping mall. This will always be a horror classic for film so if you haven't seen it I suggest you see it. For a 31 year old movie it is decent, but I can't recommend more than a rental unless you're a zombie or Romero fan. The video is about what you would expect from a movie from 1978. It is generally soft, washed out, and has some dirt speckles. However, fine detail on actor closeups is extremely well done and flesh tones (yes even the zombies) tend to be accurate. There are quite a few unresolved blacks during the darker scenes, but grain or noise doesn't get out of control. This is probably the best this movie is ever going to look on home video period. The audio fails to impress across the board. The only plus to this PCM track is that dialogue is clear and understandable. However, every time there is a gunshot, and there's a lot, they sound like wimpy little toy pop guns. The LFE channel might as well have been on vacation because I forgot my sub was even there. There's hardly nothing going on in the surrounds except for maybe some distant zombie moaning. Again like the video this is probably the best it's going to get. We get a weak supplemental package with this Blu-ray release. We get some making of features that add up to about an hour and a half or so, a 14 minute feature on other films by Romero, and a 12 minute tour of the mall. All of these features are unfortunately presented in 480. Movie: 7.5/10 VQ: 6.5/10 AQ: 5/10 Supplements: 2/10 Final word: Purchase for fans As always thanks for reading folks. __________________ Official High Def Forum Reviewer Have a review request? Send it to me. Display: Sanyo DP46848 46" 1080p LCD A/V Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR606 7.1 HD Receiver: DirecTV HR21-100 HD DVR Speakers: Onkyo SKS-HT540 7.1 System Players: LG BH200, Toshiba HD-A20 & A2, Sony 40 GB PS3, Magnavox NB500MG9 156~199~My Movie Collection~Latest Bought: Death Race & The International Latest Review: *Role Models*

07-04-2009, 06:07 AM	#2
sigill High Def fan Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: United kingdom-Manchester Age: 30 Posts: 2,507	Thanks for the review Goofnut. I thought this movie was good when i watched it on DVD but the average picture and sound doesn't sound like it warrants an upgrade to BD. __________________ Panasonic 37" LCD 720p/1080i Sony BDP-S350 Sony BDP-S300 Toshiba XDE-500 DVD player Onkyo TX-SR606 7.1 AVR KEF1005.2 speakers Latest HD movies bought - Coraline - American Gangster - Moonraker 97 Blu-rays

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07-04-2009, 12:10 PM	#5
kamspy Esteban Moderatoro Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cincinnati,OH Good Posts: 12 Posts: 12,873	Where's the Zombi 2 review? Everyone knows that's the best zombie movie. It has the best single scene in the history of cinematography. Everything since that epic clash of zombie and shark is just fluff.