Re-Animator (Millennium Edition)
DVD Australia : Horror : 1.85 (Anamorphic) : AC3 5.1, DTS 5.1, AC3 2.0 mono : Rated R : DVD-9 : NTSC : 1985 : 86 mins
The Film
This is a seminal horror film from the 80's. To date the best adaption of a H. P. Lovecraft story, this is a wild and adventurous little film. Shot on a low budget with mostly unknown actors, and a first time director and producer, Re-Animator gets by on smart writing, clever special effects, and sheer audacity. This ranks along side the original Evil Dead for guts and glory film making - what the best 80's horror was all about. Herbert West brings the dead back to life, but they aren't always as grateful as you'd expect.
The DVD
This is how it's meant to be done. A 2 disk set exploding with goodies. First, disk one has a new print, spit-shined by the THX process. You have never seen it look so good. This is accompanied by a DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround mix, as well as the original 2 channel mono track. Then you get two commentaries, the first with Brian Yuzna (Producer), the second with Stuart Gordon (co-writer/director) and the main cast. To top it all off, an isolated 5.1 mix of the music track. And this is just disk one. Disk two kicks of with a deleted scene and 16 extended scenes. These add a little more character, as well as an entire sub-plot regarding Dr. Hill's power of mind control (which explains some of the strange shots left in the film). There are a series of extended interviews and discussions with the producer and director, the writer, and the composer. These are low key affairs, shot over a coffee, but have respectable running times and divulge a lot of behind the scenes information. Patience is a virtue in this case. Finally it rounds off with the usual trailer, photo gallery and bios. This is what DVD is meant to be.
Note to Australian distributors - this was out in the states for over 12 months before anyone picked it up here, and then it was released at an outrageous price. I got mine for less than half on import long before the local release.
Film : 4.5 / 5 DVD : 4.5 / 5
A follow up. This year (2008), Starz Home Entertainment pickup the local distribution rights to Re-Animator for the Anchor Bay edition. While it contains effectively the same package as the Millennium Edition, including the same basic print (although PAL this time), audio tracks, commentaries and extras, it also bundles a new, 70 minute documentary "Re-Animator Resurrectus". Every living member of the cast and many of the crew participate to recall the making of this landmark horror film.
Even if you have the Millennium Edition, it is worth digging this one out of the budget bin, just for the new doco.
Film : 4.5 / 5 DVD : 5 / 5
The Film
This is a seminal horror film from the 80's. To date the best adaption of a H. P. Lovecraft story, this is a wild and adventurous little film. Shot on a low budget with mostly unknown actors, and a first time director and producer, Re-Animator gets by on smart writing, clever special effects, and sheer audacity. This ranks along side the original Evil Dead for guts and glory film making - what the best 80's horror was all about. Herbert West brings the dead back to life, but they aren't always as grateful as you'd expect.
The DVD
This is how it's meant to be done. A 2 disk set exploding with goodies. First, disk one has a new print, spit-shined by the THX process. You have never seen it look so good. This is accompanied by a DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround mix, as well as the original 2 channel mono track. Then you get two commentaries, the first with Brian Yuzna (Producer), the second with Stuart Gordon (co-writer/director) and the main cast. To top it all off, an isolated 5.1 mix of the music track. And this is just disk one. Disk two kicks of with a deleted scene and 16 extended scenes. These add a little more character, as well as an entire sub-plot regarding Dr. Hill's power of mind control (which explains some of the strange shots left in the film). There are a series of extended interviews and discussions with the producer and director, the writer, and the composer. These are low key affairs, shot over a coffee, but have respectable running times and divulge a lot of behind the scenes information. Patience is a virtue in this case. Finally it rounds off with the usual trailer, photo gallery and bios. This is what DVD is meant to be.
Note to Australian distributors - this was out in the states for over 12 months before anyone picked it up here, and then it was released at an outrageous price. I got mine for less than half on import long before the local release.
Film : 4.5 / 5 DVD : 4.5 / 5
A follow up. This year (2008), Starz Home Entertainment pickup the local distribution rights to Re-Animator for the Anchor Bay edition. While it contains effectively the same package as the Millennium Edition, including the same basic print (although PAL this time), audio tracks, commentaries and extras, it also bundles a new, 70 minute documentary "Re-Animator Resurrectus". Every living member of the cast and many of the crew participate to recall the making of this landmark horror film.
Even if you have the Millennium Edition, it is worth digging this one out of the budget bin, just for the new doco.
Film : 4.5 / 5 DVD : 5 / 5
posted by Gunslinger at 17:08
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