I asked for a screener but haven't gotten it yet. With this type of title it usually takes me a couple weeks after the release date to get it but I will post a review once it arrives.
This is a newly remastered print with a new audio commentary. I haven't had a chance to do a comparison yet though. Also, the new version is presented in 16:9 widescreen.
If I'm not mistaken, MARTIN was shot in 16mm and is in Academy aspect ratio. I know it had a limited theatrical release at the time and may have been matted somewhat for that, but isn't the preferred ratio 1.33:1 or 1.37:1?
If this new DVD is widescreen, what ratio is it in? Sounds like it may be a case of faux widescreen. I'm interested in hearing a review of this new disc and the extras and will probably pick it up, but if they've matted the film unnecessarily, I'm glad I held on to the old Anchor Bay release.
I think Romero said the AR was indeed 1:33:1 on the AB commentary...but don't hold me to that because Knightriders was also presented in this ratio and it was released two years after Dawn Of The Dead which as far as I know had an AR of 1:85.....why would he go back to a 1:33:1 AR in 1981?
He didn't. Knightriders is 1.85:1 on the Anchor Bay DVD. And, yes, Romero explains on the AB disc of Martin that he prefers that film to be seen in Academy. It's a shame that the new disc is apparently in widescreen if Romero didn't supervise/approve it.
I eagerly await any reviews of this, as my Anchor bay copy got stolen a while back. This is the one disc I've not been able to replace to my satisfaction as the AB disc has been out of print for a long time. This is my last hope as I was going to get the R2 Arrow release, as it's 1.33 but doesn't have the Romero/Savini commentary.
The funny thing is that some were unhappy with the 4:3 transfer on the first one. The film was shown widescreen in theaters, ala Kubrick, so some didn't buy the AB release. Perhaps they'll buy this one now.
Poor ol' Lions Gate. They usually release open matte but with this they think they are doing the right thing when it turns out to be the wrong thing.
Question about the framing. In the screen shot people are chopped out of the picture. Was this how it looked in theaters or did it sort of Pan and scan up and down?
Arrow 4:3 version it is then (cheap in the UK at £6.99 ). As for the commentary track, is it definitely different from the old AB track, as I remember Savini and Romero in that.