MovieChat Forums > Paura nella città dei morti viventi (1983) Discussion > UK Arrow DVD

UK Arrow DVD

posted 15 years ago by radioactive_ape2001
16 replies | jump to latest

The two disc Arrow release and the Blue Underground US version are brought out simultaneously in a couple of days and thankfully due to good old Play.com, i have received my pre-order two days early!
I just want to say that the UK releaase is literally flawless. It's possibly an even better package overall than the Shriek Show Zombi 2 disc set. Not only do you get four interchangable sleeves and a double sided poster, along with postcards and an incredibly insightful 16 page booklet...all before you even get to the discs themselves, but once you shove those lovely DVD's in your player the fun really starts.
Any issues that were there in previous releases (which is why it is just about the only Fulci film i've never bought on DVD, and those who have bought any other releases will know exactly what I mean) are disregarded immediately. The non-anamorphic print of the UK VIPCO release is gone, the grainy fog scenes from the US Anchor Bay issue are gone, and any of the flaws such as bleeding, spots on the image and watermarks as on various European editions, are gone too. What we are left with is a transfer which makes the Anchor Bay version of The Beyond look lacklustre!!! It really is that good. Also we have the full uncut edition which whilst not the first time in the UK, is still worth mentioning. The 5.1 surround mix is fantastic too and whilst not up to standards of today's blockbusters, it still sounds damn impressive.
Found on disc one also are trailers and not one but two commentaries. One is the Catriona MacColl/Jay Slater one found on the VIPCO release prior to this and the other being a newly recorded one with Giovanni Lombardo Radice (John Morghan to his friends and enemies!).

Now, onto disc two, and we are confronted with well over an hour of interviews, galleries and much much more. I can't go into too much detail about this because I haven't watched it all yet and am viewing it as I write but surfice to say it's top notch stuff.

All in all this is a beautifully packaged set and is highly recommended to any Fulci enthusiast, and I have heard that the Blue Underground version, although is an identical transfer, does not have anywhere near as many extras or as nicely presented as this UK release. For once us Brits have got the better edition so hats off to Arrow for coming out top again. You managed it with House By The Cemetery last year too. So what's for 2011 Arrow???

[–] calumrw 15 years ago

Thanks for the kind words - but just to stress we actually produced three hours of new extra features for the UK Arrow release, including a brand new 50 minute documentary on the life and works of Giovanni Lombardo Radice. In addition to all this is the new commentary track with Radice. So you've got hours to get through and hope you enjoy them!

[–] Nakrophile 15 years ago

It feels so strange upgrading to a R2...

Excellent release. Only watched/listened to the Katriona McColl commentary track so far, but it looks utterly packed with excellent things. Can't wait to dive in properly!

Yippee-ki-yay - *sound of lift beeping*

[–] OllyBishop 15 years ago

i must say it's an amazing dvd. the interview with fulci's daughter was awesome. you guys have definitely bested the US release.

i'm a little confused how different companies do dvds for the same films. is it just because of regions or territories?
surely your version would go down a storm in the states or are you not allowed to distribute it there?

[–] calumrw 15 years ago

Hey, thanks for all the kind comments. Although the costs were split between Blue Underground and Arrow each company agreed to do their own edition. If people in the States wish to own the Arrow edition, which is region free, it is easy enough to import it.

As an aside, if you think City was good, wait until you see what Arrow does with The Beyond!

[–] straus1969 11 years ago

got the blu ray version and the features are fantastic loved city of the living dead or as one of my friends called it THE SWINGIN VICAR does arrow have the rights to zombie creeping flesh yes ?

[–] metalion_sos 15 years ago

The Blu-Ray looks so tempting, and I don't even have a BR player yet.

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www.last.fm/user/metalion_sos

[–] richwicz 15 years ago

I got Arrow's 2-DVD set too, very nice indeed! I'm tempted to buy Blue Underground's Blu-ray release as well because, unlike Arrow, they haven't put all the extras from their Blu-ray release onto their DVD release.The Arrow release looks amazing especially when I remember the first way I watched City of the Living Dead on the old Intervision (Inter-Light) pre-cert video cassette which had the drill scene totally removed by the censors.

[–] OliverGbyrne 15 years ago

Just got mine today at HMV and all I can say is it looks Am-Azing!!! From the very good looking packaging to the tons of extras included. For once a Blu-ray comes out in Europe that would make our friends in the U.S Jealous.
I am about to watch it now,I will give my full opinion once I'm done...

[–] radioactive_ape2001 15 years ago

A week later and i just thought i'd check on my thread. Good to see so many comments and i was going to mention that there was over three hours of extras rather than just the hour i assumed was on disc two.
Was also going to point out the huge benefit of it being region ) so even if you guys live in America you can still play it.

Along with Shameless, Arrow are definitely my favourite company in the UK right now releasing DVD's.

[–] OliverGbyrne 15 years ago

It definitely a very good blue ray , I didn't expect a audio commentary I was surprised by it.The quality is very good for a film of this age.The film still is a bit of a WTF?!but in my opinion its part of its charm...but I still despise the ending,if only they didn't add the scream it would have been a normal ending...I wonder if they are going to release "The beyond" soon ...

[–] zombizombizombi 15 years ago

I have the blue underground blu ray and it looks and sounds amazing who knows maybe I will get the arrow blu ray to they both are quit different in terms of extras!!

I'm not a lady I'm an anthropologist

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Maximinion 13 years ago

Yeah, I was going to say.....Newly recorded?.....

I listened to the commentary with Catriona and Jay (or Jason; I must've misheard Catriona addressing him and/or misread the name 'print' on the menu) yesterday and they were saying these movies were 20 years old. I thought, "don't you mean to say 30 years old?"

During what year/(what decade for that matter, haha!) did those two record this commentary?

[–] Falconeer 11 years ago

About the Arrow dvd for "City of the Living Dead," is it true that it includes the Italian audio? The English dubbing really brings the movie down, and I have always wanted to see this in Italian. i saw the Italian trailer and the voices sound great.

"IMdB; where 14 year olds can act like jaded 40 year old critics...'

[–] madjono 11 years ago

i also bought the arrow version at comic con recently here in london and its fantastic. a mate in the usa is sending me the blood edition of the film from blue underground? anyway im wondering which of these is the most intact with regards to being uncut or are they both exactly the same?

thanks

[–] hatr 11 years ago

I got the Cult
Cinema blu ray in Australia, very impressive selection of extras.