DVD-Compare - Dawn Of The Dead (page 1)

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Dawn of the Dead
Astro Ultimate Final Cut Germany RC2
Laser Paradise Red Edition "Argento Cut" Germany RC2
Anchor Bay Theatrical Cut US RC1
Anchor Bay Original Director's Cut US RC1
Anchor Bay Ultimate Edition "Theatrical Version" US RC1
Anchor Bay Ultimate Edition "Extended Version" US RC1
Anchor Bay Ultimate Edition "European Version" US RC1

Both PAL transfers are very hazy (esp. the Laser Paradise transfer, pic#4), overcontrasted (pic#2) with a green-blueish hue and washed out colors (Astro pic#8 and pic#9, Laser Paradise pic#5) which trouble the old "Director's Cut" from Anchor Bay as well (pic#2, pic#8, pic#9). The Astro Transfer and the old "Director's Cut" from Anchor Bay are incorrectly flagged and produce combing effects with a WEAVE deinterlacer (Astro pic#1, Anchor Bay pic#2). The latter suffers from color noise (pic#9) and oversaturation. The Laser Paradise disc features the "Argento Cut" in open matte, which is said to have been editor Dario Argento's choice of format. The anamorphic Ultimate Editions from Anchor Bay sport the best transfers with solid marks in picture definition, coloring, framing and contrast balance. They are somewhat darker than the other transfers (pic#7, pic#8) with precise shadow delineation. The "European Version" (i.e. Argento Cut) changes in brightness (brighter, pic#7, pic#8, pic#9, darker, pic#1, pic#5) and framing (wide: pic#7, pic#8; narrow: pic#1, pic#3). The Theatrical and the "Extended Version" (aka "Director's Cut" which is wrong; Romero preferred the "Theatrical Version") have a reddish tone in some scenes (pic#2, pic#3, pic#4). They are almost identical in terms of picture quality, the theatrical cut was censored (cigarette, pic#6). Beware of the Astro UFC, which is the longest cut of all, carelessly tailored from 5 to 6 different versions, all in bad shape.

transfer ranking:
Anchor Bay Ultimate Edition US RC1 (best: "Theatrical Version")
Anchor Bay Theatrical Cut US RC1
Anchor Bay Original Director's Cut US RC1
Astro Ultimate Final Cut Germany RC2
Laser Paradise Red Edition "Argento Cut" Germany RC2

Zombie - Dawn of the Dead - Astro Ultimate Final Cut Germany - RC2 (PAL)

Combing effects possibly due to incorrect progressive flag (only in 'force weave' setting)