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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

( aka "Monster Flick" opr "Night of Anubis" or Night of the Flesh Eaters")

directed by George A. Romero
U.S.A. 1968

In 1968, a small group of friends in the business of making commercials and industrial shorts wanted to try their hands at “real” movie-making. Given the recent explosion of the exploitation and horror film market, led in the USA by godfather of gore, Herschel Gordon Lewis, it was decided that a horror film stood the best chance of being seen and maybe even making some money. George Romero and John Russo came up with an idea, and the group scraped together just over $100,000 and got started. With money tight, they used local talent, friends, and even investors in the film as actors. One of the investors was a butcher who provided the blood n’ guts for the operation. No one could have guessed that from these humble beginnings would emerge what is, arguably, the greatest of American horror films. A movie who’s negative was once stored in the basement of a Pittsburgh ad agency, now resides in the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry.

Excerpt from Brook Kennon's review found HERE

Posters (Click to ENLARGE)

Theatrical release - October 1st, 1968 - USA

Reviews                                                                                                       More Reviews                                                                                           DVD Reviews

 

 Comparison:

Optimum Home Ent. - Region 'B' - Blu-ray vs. Fox - Region 1 - NTSC (black and white) vs. Fox - Region 1 - NTSC (colorized) Elite (Millennium Edition)- Region 1 - NTSC vs. Elite (Special Collector's Edition) Region 0 - NTSC

Big thanks to Ole of DVDBasen for the Elite Millennium Screen Caps!

1) Optimum Home Entertainment - Region 'B' Blu-ray LEFT

2) (Fox (black and white + colorized)- Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Elite -Millennium Edition - Region 1 - NTSC THIRD

4) Elite Special Collectors Edition - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT

 

Box Covers

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

Distribution

Optimum Home Entertainment

Region 'B'  - Blu-ray

Fox Home Entertainment

Region 1  - NTSC

Elite Entertainment

Region 1  - NTSC

Elite Entertainment

Region 0  - NTSC

Runtime 1:36:52 1:36:48 (NTSC) 1:36:24 (NTSC) 1:36:48 (NTSC)
Video

1.33:1

Feature: 17.09 Gig, MPEG4 AVC

1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio

Average Bitrate: 5.47 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

1.37:1 Original Aspect Ratio

Average Bitrate:7.31 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

1.37:1 Original Aspect Ratio

Average Bitrate: 5.47
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate:

Fox 

Bitrate:

Elite Millennium

Bitrate:

Elite Collectors

 

Bitrate: Optimum (Blu-ray)

 

NO BITRATE GRAPH FOR Blu-ray YET!

 

Audio English (DTS HD Master Audio Mono 2.0), Dolby Digital 2.0 English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono), English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English DTS English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
THX Certified

English (Dolby Digital 2.0 mono))
THX Certified

Subtitles None Color version has close-captioned. None None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Optimum Home Entertainment

 

1.33:1

Feature: 17.09 Gig, MPEG4 AVC

1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Edition Details:
One For the Fire: The Legacy of the Night of the Living Dead (1:23:55)

Blu-ray Release Date: September 29th, 2008
Standard Blu-ray case

Chapters 16

Release Information:
Studio: Fox Home Entertainment

Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Commentary by Mike Nelson
• Both a Black and White (original) and colorized versions of the film
• Theatrical trailers
Separated at Death - parody of current stars likeness to Horror film characters (pictures are on gravestones - click through)

DVD Release Date: September 7th, 2004
Keep Case

Chapters 16


 

Release Information:
Studio: Elite Entertainment

Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen (Standard) - 1.37:1

Edition Details:
• Commentary with Romero, John Russo, Karl Hardman and Marilyn Eastman.
• Commentary with Bill Hinzman, Judith O'Dea, Keith Wayne, Kyra Schon, Russell Streiner and Vince Survinski.
• Original Script / Threatment.
• Scrapbooks of Marilyn Eastman and Vince Survinski.
• Night of the Living Bread (8:25).
Sound interview with Duane Jones (16:21).
• Interview with Judith Ridley (10:39).
• Beginnings: The Latent Image / Hardman Eastman Studios (Text).
Scenes from Romeo's "lost" "There's Always Vanilla" (5:09).
• Poster/lobbycards from "There's Always Vanilla".
• Trailer (1:47).
• TV spot (0:56).
• THX Optimizer.

DVD Release Date: March 12, 2002

Keep Case

Chapters 12

Release Information:
Studio: Elite Entertainment

Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen (Standard) - 1.37:1

Edition Details:
• Commentary by director George A. Romero and co-writer John A. Russo
• Commentary by cast members Karl Hardman, Marilyn Eastman, Judith O'Dea
• Theatrical trailer

• Night of the Living Bread (8:25).
• S. William Hinzman, Keith Wayne, Kyra Schon, producer Russell Streiner and production director Vincent D. Survinski

 

DVD Release Date: May 18, 1999

Keep (Polygram) Case

Chapters 31

 

 

 

Comments: NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Optimum Blu-ray - October 08': Firstly, this Blu-ray is coded for region 'B' and will only play on Blu-ray machines supporting that region (Africa, Southwest Asia, Europe (except Russia), Oceania and their dependencies.)

This new Optimum looks pretty good - reaching about as high as it can for the pragmatic film's debut in 1080P. Detail is one of the most noticeable improvements (blows away all over SD-DVDs) but I was especially keen on the contrast being a full notch more pure (the Millennium Edition looks a little green). It may also be marginally brighter and grayscale has more depth. Overall it is a full leap better than the old Elite SCE in my opinion. Unlike other reviewers I saw no edge-enhancement 'halo'ing'.

Audio-wise we have a DTS HD Master Audio Mono 2.0 to compliment a Dolby Digital 2.0. I MUCH prefer this to a fake 5.1 Surround option. It maintains the limited production 'feel' with, often, muffled dialogue and flat sound presentation... but its is very clean as if you are hearing it in the theater for the first time.

Extras: Only one supplement - that, by the way, is in PAL. I believe the 83 minute One For the Fire The Legacy of the Night of the Living Dead is the same documentary on the Diary of the Dead. It doesn't have the enjoyable commentaries on previous SDs.

Akin to what we advised about The Shawshank Redemption - this is slated for a Region 'A' Blu-ray release (if you are capable of playing that Blu-ray region) with more supplements. If the transfer is significantly different - we will add to this comparison. For those in Region 'B' it probably won't get much better than this. The film tends to come to life a heck of a lot more in high-definition.     

***

 

ON THE SD-DVDs: The colorization is damn impressive (I would put it on a par with Carnival of Souls ... maybe a notch below, also by 'Off Color Films'), but the sharpness is easy in the Elite camp. Personally, I prefer the Elite Special Edition a shade more than the Elite Millennium Edition (contrast) - but, of course, it is negligible. As we have stated, DVDBeaver does not condone or recommend films that have been manipulated by colorization. Just as we do not recommend censored films, non-original audio or aspect ratio manipulated films. Colorization can look silly at times, attempting to give texture where there often is none. So why buy the Fox edition? Fans of Mystery Science Theater 3000 will know Mike Nelson and his commentary on the Fox edition may sate a hunger for his brand of sarcasm. No, it is not the definitive edition for image, but 'Off Color' probably knew that before they started their process. This is for fans of Mike Nelson and die-hard fans of the film - after all you get both an original and color versions. As with my Carnival of Souls viewing, the color can bring a new dimension to the film, almost like an initial screening. I don't think the film loses any of its genre-ific strength and the color results are intriguing.

Gary W. Tooze

 



Blu-ray Extra

 

 

DVD Menus

(Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT -. Elite -Millennium Edition - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE -. Elite Special Collectors Edition - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)


   

 


Screen Captures

 

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

Blu-ray Sample

 

 

Colorization Sample

 

1) Optimum Home Entertainment - Region 'B' Blu-ray TOP

2) (Fox (black and white)- Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Fox (colorized)- Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Elite -Millennium Edition - Region 1 - NTSC FOURTH

5) Elite Special Collectors Edition - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM

 



1) Optimum Home Entertainment - Region 'B' Blu-ray TOP

2) (Fox (black and white)- Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Fox (colorized)- Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Elite -Millennium Edition - Region 1 - NTSC FOURTH

5) Elite Special Collectors Edition - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM

 


1) Optimum Home Entertainment - Region 'B' Blu-ray TOP

2) (Fox (black and white)- Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Fox (colorized)- Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Elite -Millennium Edition - Region 1 - NTSC FOURTH

5) Elite Special Collectors Edition - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM

 


1) Optimum Home Entertainment - Region 'B' Blu-ray TOP

2) (Fox (black and white)- Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Fox (colorized)- Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Elite -Millennium Edition - Region 1 - NTSC FOURTH

5) Elite Special Collectors Edition - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM

 


More Blu-ray captures

 


Hit Counter


Report Card:

 

Image:

Optimum Home Entertainment Region 'B'  - Blu-ray

Sound:

Optimum Home Entertainment Region 'B'  - Blu-ray

Extras: Elite Millennium
Menu: -
Box Covers

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

Distribution

Optimum Home Entertainment

Region 'B'  - Blu-ray

Fox Home Entertainment

Region 1  - NTSC

Elite Entertainment

Region 1  - NTSC

Elite Entertainment

Region 0  - NTSC




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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