With the exception of a breathtaking opening sequence, a cool credit sequence effectively utilizing the Johnny Cash song "When the Man Comes Around", the action packed finale, and a very able Sigourney-esque Sarah Polley, 2004's remake of 1978's classic is only passable. However, it is still worth seeing. Before you check that out when it comes to DVD in late October, I give you my highest advisory to go back to the gory, satirical original.
Now available from Anchor Bay in a much deserved "Ultimate Edition," Dawn of the Dead can be viewed in three different versions for your choosing:
+The first is the U.S. Theatrical Version. It runs 127 minutes and is unrated.
+The second is the Extended Version. It is often called the director's cut, which is untrue. This version was created to play at Cannes and runs 139 minutes.
+The third is the European Version, which clocks in at 118 minutes. It skips several scenes seen in the previous versions and favors several scene extensions. It contains additional music from composer Goblin.
+In addition, the fourth disc features 2 feature length documentaries: The Dead Will Walk and Document of the Dead. The regular DVD supplements - including commentaries, marketing galleries, and minidocs - are also in abundance.
Fun fact: Gaylen Ross plays the main female character in the original. Sarah Polley shows a stunning resemblance to her in the new one, but the biggest homage in the modern day Dawn is that one of the stores in the mall is named Gaylen Ross. It actually sounds a lot like a department store you might visit.
(Yes, there are now two DVD's of the month: one a new release of a catelog film, one a release of a recent theatrical release. This month's other DVD recommendation will be announced in less than two weeks. And no! It is not a certain potential awards juggernaut, great romance with equal parts thriller, sci-fi, drama, comedy and fantasy thrown in.)
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