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DVD Review HTF DVD REVIEW: "28 Days Later" (with screenshots) (1 Viewer)

Walter Kittel

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Dec 28, 1998
Messages
9,770
The amber tone very much replicates the theatrical presentation. Based upon the screen shots in the review, the transfer appears to be faithful to the film. Nice to see the film getting some decent extras; being a fan of apocalyptic films this is an easy purchase for me, and the extras don't hurt.

Regarding the overall film appearence, I'm expecting this film to look better in a Home Theater environment simply due to the smaller screen sizes, and the accompanied reduction in blockiness and size of digital artifacts when compared to a viewing upon a much larger theatrical screen.

- Walter.
 

Blu

Screenwriter
Joined
Oct 6, 2001
Messages
1,360
I'm happy to see this movie is getting a good release with good extras.
(on a personal note I am excited to see another feature that was shot with a Canon XL1 as that is what a few fellow filmmakers and I are using, it is very inspiring)

I missed out on seeing this movie in theaters but have read quite a bit about it in indie magazines and am looking forward to it!

Very good review!
 

Adam Tyner

Screenwriter
Joined
Sep 29, 2000
Messages
1,410
I know you said you didn't see it theatrically, but it's worth noting that the haloing was present when I saw the movie on the big screen.
 

Joshua Moran

Supporting Actor
Joined
Apr 11, 2000
Messages
502
My guess is the 3rd ending is after the credits. There was a new ending attached to the film in theaters here 28 Days after t released.
 

ChrisBEA

Screenwriter
Joined
Jul 19, 2003
Messages
1,657
I LOVED this movie in the theater!
Great review, I will be there on release day!.
The description sounds very much like I remember from the big screen.
 

Malcolm R

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2002
Messages
25,139
Real Name
Malcolm


I liked the film and will buy the DVD. Probably the best thriller released this year.
 

Justin_S

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2001
Messages
3,581
Nice review. I've been awaiting this DVD ever since I saw the film theatrically. While not the best horror film of the year, it comes damn close, and in a year with several satisfying horror releases, it was one of the most satisfying.
 

Rob Lutter

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2000
Messages
4,523
I didn't think of this film so much as a horror film as I did an excellent science-fiction film.

One question... since the movie was filmed in PAL, does this DVD suffer from PAL->NTSC slowdown? (25FPS->24)
 

Simon Basso

Stunt Coordinator
Joined
May 7, 2001
Messages
125
I'm curious about the way this was transferred to ntsc as well. The film has two sequences shot on film rather than DV; some Super-8 inserts and standard 35mm was used for the ending.

I understand that the UK R2 dvd was entirely mastered from a film print, rather than a digital source, so I have avoided the UK dvd to avoid PAL speed-up. Can anyone confirm that the R1 dvd has been created anew rather than a conversion of the PAL master?
 

Kenneth Cummings

Supporting Actor
Joined
Aug 7, 2001
Messages
852
I will be picking this one up. Since it similar to Omega Man (which I also picked up and liked), I will probably get a idea of how this bleak world full of zombies. Great review.
 

Dan Rudolph

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2002
Messages
4,042
Simon brigns up a good point. It's unlikely this was "filmed" at PAL-speed as it was made for theatrical release. Theaters in Europe project 24fps, same as here. Shooting 25 would have forced 4% slowdown in the theaters.
 

Brian Kidd

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2000
Messages
2,555
Actually, the halos were present on the film prints and not just the dvd. They came from using such a low-resolution video stock. I'm pretty sure this was filmed on non HiDef-DV. Anyone who hasn't seen this, please don't let the less-than-stellar image quality deter you. This is a fantastic little film!
 

Matt Pelham

Screenwriter
Joined
Mar 13, 2002
Messages
1,711
Right, the print I saw in theaters was absolutely terrible. Massive Edge Enahcement, graininess, terrible resolution with hardly any detail, etc.

The movie was good, but I would'nt purchase it unless they shot the whole thing over with standard 35mm film. And I don't see how this abominable PQ contribues to the film in any way. It's not "documentary style", it's "terrible digital looking style".
 

Simon Basso

Stunt Coordinator
Joined
May 7, 2001
Messages
125
I read that Fox confirmed it when the UK dvd was released. I pass on only what I read, which is why I included the proviso. It seems plausible, given that it's not an entirely digital feature.
 

Adam_Reiter

Second Unit
Joined
Oct 7, 2001
Messages
461
Malcom, as for Spoiler #1: True, however, they did not know that until the very end.

and Spoiler #2. Its easier to say "zombies" over and over, and its also easier for people to relate to. This is the only reason I chose to use "zombies". Although they do bite.
 

ChuckSolo

Screenwriter
Joined
Jun 26, 2003
Messages
1,160
Excellent review Adam. I saw this the weekend it came out and loved it. The film is indeed intended to be "grainy" as it was when I saw it in the theater. While not quite a "zombie" movie (the infected are still alive), it is still well into that genre as the feel of the movie is the same as that of a bonified "zombie" flick. This is a definate must for a "living dead" movie collector/affectionado. It will surely go into my collection.
 

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