directed by Danny Boyle
UK / USA/ Netherlands 2002

Every generation gets the zombies it deserves, and in an age of free-floating fury and fear of uncontainable new diseases, the walking not-quite-dead are infected with a rapidly transmitted blood disorder that turns victims into homicidal horrors. It begins in a primate research lab, where guerilla animal-activists intend to rescue the simian victims of sadistic scientists. But the apes aren't grateful: They erupt from their cages in a blur of slashing fangs and gore. Twenty-eight days later, bike messenger Jim (Cillian Murphy) awakes from a coma in an empty, vandalized hospital. The London streets are eerily deserted, old newspaper headlines scream "Evacuation!", and everywhere the evidence of panic and desperation litters the pavements. When Jim finds life, it's a nest of the infected camped out in an otherwise abandoned church; only the timely intervention of healthy survivors Selena (Naomie Harris) and Mark (Noah Huntley) saves him. The rules of the grim new world are simple: Arm yourself, avoid the infected and don't think about the future. Selena and Jim later join forces with genial taxi driver Frank (Brendan Gleeson) and his teenage daughter, Hannah (Megan Burns), who've been hiding out in their high-rise apartment building since the chaos started. Lured by a staticky radio transmission loop that promises shelter and a cure for infection, they load Frank's cab with scavenged supplies and begin a perilous trek north towards Manchester. Directed by Danny Boyle and written by novelist Alex Garland (The Beach), this unrelenting horror tale's paranoid genius lies in equating free-floating wrath and physical sickness; the infected aren't literally dead, but their frenzied rage has burned away every human impulse and left only rampaging flesh.

Excerpt from TV Guide located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: November 1, 2002 - UK

Reviews    More Reviews  DVD Reviews

DVD Comparison:

20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC vs.  20th Century Fox (UK) - Region 2 - PAL

Big thanks to Ole Kofoed and Gregory Meshman for the Screen Caps!

(20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs.  - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers

 

Distribution

20th Century Fox

Region 1  - NTSC

20th Century Fox (UK)
Region 2 - PAL
Runtime 1:52:56 (NTSC slowdown) 1:48:24
Video

1.85:1 Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 6.13 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

1.85:1 Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.91 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

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

Bitrate:

Region 1

 

Bitrate:

 

Region 2

 

Audio English Dolby Digital 5.1, DUB: French DD 2.0, DUB: Spanish DD 2.0.

English Dolby Digital 5.1

Subtitles English, Spanish or none. English for the Hearing Impaired, Swedish or none.
Features Release Information:
Studio: 20th Century Fox

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1

Edition Details:
• Commentary by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland.
• Alternative Ending with optional commentary (2:28).
• Radical Alternative Ending Storyboard with commentary (11:22).
• Pure Rage - The Making of 28 Days Later (24:21).
• 7 Deleted Scenes with optional commentary.
• Production Gallery with commentary (18:23).
• Polaroid Gallery with commentary (4:14).
• Jacknife Lee Music Video.
• Teaser.
• Trailer.

DVD Release Date: October 21, 2003

Chapters 32

Release Information:
Studio: 20th Century Fox (UK)

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1

Edition Details:
• Commentary by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland.
• Alternative Ending with optional commentary (2:28).
• Radical Alternative Ending Storyboard with commentary (11:22).
• Pure Rage - The Making of 28 Days Later (24:21).
• 7 Deleted Scenes with optional commentary.
• Production Gallery with commentary (18:23).
• Polaroid Gallery with commentary (4:14).
• Jacknife Lee Music Video.
• Teaser.
• Trailer.

DVD Release Date: May 19, 2003

Chapters 32

Comments: I don't see much, if any, differences in image quality between these two editions. Certainly if there is, it is negligible. R2 might be slightly sharper. I see a bit of edge enhancement in both. Neither appear cropped, colors are the same in both. Both also have the exact same extras. The only difference is that the Region 1 offers a French and Spanish 2.0 audio DUB that the Region 2 doesn't and different subtitle options. There is a slight alteration in the alternate ending clips ( see below). "28 Days Later" were shot entirely on Canon XL-1s (in Pal running on 25fps) and so the NTSC should be slightly slower than normal screening. Other than that, get it where it is cheapest.

 - Gary Tooze.

 





DVD Menus

(
20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs.  - 20th Century Fox - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)


 


 

Screen Captures

(20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)


 

 


(20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

 


 

(20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

 


(20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

 


 

(20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

 


 

(20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

 

 


 

(Alternative Ending - 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

 

NOTE:  The R1 has a (non-anamorphic) widescreen alternative ending as shown only in North-American theaters after the movie, while the R2 only has the preproduction open matte.

 

Hit Counter


Report Card:

 

Image:

Tie ( possibly R2 is sharper)

Sound:

Region 1 for the optional DUBs

Extras: tie
Menu: tie

DVD Box Covers

 

Distribution

20th Century Fox

Region 1  - NTSC

20th Century Fox (UK)
Region 2 - PAL




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DONATIONS Keep DVDBeaver alive:

Mail cheques, money orders, cash to:    or CLICK PayPal logo to donate!

Gary Tooze

Many Thanks...