The 2-Disc Blu-ray package! The DVD!

The most definitive book on this movie ever written. (There are things here that even I didn't know ~ Jb) Product Description (Amazon Editorial Review:) The Return of the Living Dead film series has become one of the most successful zombie movie franchises of all time, gaining cult status across the world and inspiring movies such as 28 Days Later, Shaun of the Dead, and Zombieland. For the first time in 25 years, the cast and crew of all five films in this franchise reveal the stories behind the movies, offering their own opinions and details about life on the sets of some of the most fraught productions in cinema history. Supported by dozens of cast and crew members, The Complete History of the Return of the Living Dead features hundreds of previously unreleased behind-the-scenes photographs and exclusive artwork. This eye-catching, comprehensive book is the ultimate celebration of The Return of the Living Dead franchise and all those who contributed to its creation.

THE DVD FORMAT The DVD jacket indicates that its version of widescreen is 16:9 (or 1.78:1) and 1.85:1. Indeed, the film was originally composed in 1.85:1, a standard theatrical ratio. Is there a compromise here? Upon close examination I find that there is not. The DVD is absolutely faithful to the original composition. What it refers to as 16:9 is accomplished by adding a few raster lines of black to top and bottom, making it fit the DVD and HDTV formats without altering the theatrical framing. What you see is what I composed. I applaud MGM! ~~ JB

THE DVD EDITION & PRICE (a few notes) Some reviewers of the DVD have complained that this special edition doesn't include a lot of the features one sees on mainstream movie DVDs. Things like production bloopers, out takes, stills, commentary by the actors, perhaps even by the cinematographer. Why were these excluded in our DVD? Cost... theirs and ours. MGM went to the expense of producing the extra features for this DVD because of the campaign and the sense that this film might just have a sufficient following to justify it. Frankly, I thought they'd raise the price to make up for their increased expenses, but they didn't and I pat them on the back for finding an economic balance that allowed the additions while holding the line on the retail price. So, if someone you know starts moaning about those missing features, remind him or her that it only retails for $14.95 and actually sells for well under $12! (Click here or above). Is that a bargain, or what?!

Film quality on the DVD Several of the reviews I've read refer to certain scenes in the movie that show graininess or softness. For those who may be interested, let me identify one probable source. One review referred to a shot in the cemetary. The one in question is the POV tracking shot through the gravestones after the crematory released the toxic smoke into the atmosphere and the rain drove the poison into the soil of the graves. I believe this was an optical, in which a greater amount of visible rain was overlaid on the original scene photographed. Opticals, which are composites of the original picture and an overlay of an effect or a title, is at least one generation away from the original and introduces grain to an otherwise clean picture. Today, it would be done digitally (budget allowing) and the original visual information would not be compromised. Most reviews that point out these few granular moments conclude that the DVD is mostly a clean print, and I agree. I might have preferred a slight modification in color balance or density here or there but this is a fine representation of what I shot and preserves it in an excellent medium. ~~ JB

And, what about the soundtrack album? Here are the tracks: 1. Surfin' Dead - The Cramps 2. Partytime (Zombie Version) - 45 Grave 3. Nothing For You - TSOL 4. Eyes Without A Face - The Flesheaters 5. Burn The Flames - Roky Erickson 6. Dead Beat Dance - The Damned 7. Take A Walk - Tall Boys 8. Love Under Will - The Jet Black Berries 9. Tonight (We'll Make Love Until We Die) - SSQ 10. Trash's Theme - SSQ For your copy use this link: The Soundtrack Album

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