Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn

Back when Anchor Bay held the rights to the Evil Dead films, it seemed like they released a new version every Halloween season. With so many releases out there, some of you may be wondering what versions you need to own all the special features and commentary tracks.  Well, you're in luck because here's that special feature comparison I promised from way back in one of those videos.

Evil Dead 2 Blood Red Laserdisc (1997 - Elite)

• Commentary with Sam Raimi, Scott Spiegel, Greg Nicotero and Bruce Campbell

• Evil Dead 2: Behind the Screams (30 minutes of behind the scenes video shot on set)

• Original Theatrical Trailer

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Evil Dead II DVD (2000 - Anchor Bay)

• Commentary with Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, Scott Spiegel and Greg Nicotero (same as LD)

• The Gore the Merrier Featurette (32 min)

• Original Theatrical Trailer

• Evil Dead: Hail To The King Video Game Trailer

• Still Galleries

• Talent Bios

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Evil Dead 2: The Book of Dead 2 (2005 - Anchor Bay)

• Commentary with Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, Scott Spiegel and Greg Nicotero (same as LD)

• The Gore the Merrier Featurette (32 min)
• Evil Dead 2: Behind the Screams Featurette (17 min)

• Original Theatrical Trailer

• Still Gallery

• Talent Bios

Although this release includes a featurette entitled "Behind the Screams", it is not the same content from the laserdisc release.

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Evil Dead II Blu-ray (2007 Anchor Bay)

• Commentary with Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, Scott Spiegel and Greg Nicotero (same as LD)

• The Gore the Merrier Featurette (32 min)
• Evil Dead 2: Behind the Screams Featurette (17 min)

• Original Theatrical Trailer

Although this release includes a featurette entitled "Behind the Screams", it is not the same content from the laserdisc release.

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Evil Dead 2: 25th Anniversary Blu-ray (2011 - Lions Gate)

• Commentary with Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, Scott Spiegel and Greg Nicotero (same as LD)

• Swallowed Souls: The Making of Evil Dead 2 (1 hr 38 min)
• Cabin Fever: A "Fly on the Wall" Look Behind the Scenes (30 min)
• Road To Wadesboro: Revisiting the Shooting Location (8 min)
• The Gore the Merrier Featurette (32 min)
• Evil Dead 2: Behind the Screams Featurette (17 min)

• Original Theatrical Trailer
• Still Galleries

Although this release includes a featurette entitled "Behind the Screams", it is not the same content from the laserdisc release.

Witchfinder General Blu-ray

I believe it was back in the Latest Acquisitions Video for August that I said I would go through the special features on the Witchfinder General Blu-ray and report on which titles are viewable with a Region A player. To be honest, I forgot all about it until I stumbled upon that flyer for the upcoming Vincentennial. The Odeon Entertainment release is marked Region A, B, C on the packaging, so the film is viewable, but most of the special features are in PAL, so if you won't be able to watch them on a standard Region A player.

Here is a complete listing of the special features:

Audio Commentary with Benjamin Halligan & Michael Armstrong

Theatrical Trailer

Alternate Open & Closing Credits (6 Mins)

Alternate Scenes from the Export Version

Vincent Price on Aspel & Company (10 Mins)

The Blood Beast: The Films of Michael Reeves (24 Mins)

Intrusion: Michael Reeves Short Film (10 Mins)

Intrusion Audio Commentary with Halligan & Armstrong

Bloody Crimes: Witchcraft (24 Mins)

Stills Gallery

So, what can you watch with a Region A player? Aside from the stills gallery and the feature with or without the commentary track, the Alternate Open & Closing Credits is the single special feature that you can watch. It is also the only special feature that is in HD, everything else is standard def and in PAL. Just remember, "there's lots of screaming when there's this much at stake!"

Conan Update

Why couldn't this be the cover art?

What do you know, the Conan the Destroyer Blu-ray arrived in today's mail so here's a little more information on the featurettes on the disc.

Basil Poledouris: Composing the Conan Saga (17 minutes)

Featurette / Interview with Basil Poledouris about working with John Milius on Conan the Barbarian, composing music for film in general and his work on Conan the Destroyer.

Conan: The Making of a Comic Legend (14 minutes)

The title to this featurette is rather similar to that of Conan: The Rise of a Fantasy Legend, so I was wondering if this might be the same featurette with a different title. This is not the case. Comic Legend is an interview with Roy Thomas (creator of Marvel Comics' Conan the Barbarian series) and Gerry Conway (Marvel Comics writer). They talk about the history of Conan and Marvel Comics and their experiences while writing the story for Conan the Destroyer.

Conan: The Rise of a Fantasy Legend is available on the UK blu-ray of Conan the Barbarian.

When the Oceans Drank Atlantis

The two Arnold Schwarzenegger Conan movies have recently been released on blu-ray; so it's time for another special features comparison.

Both the single release and the Complete Quest release of Conan the Barbarian contained all the same special features, which were:

Commentary with director John Milius and Arnold Schwarzenegger

Conan Unchained: The Making of Conan (53 minutes)

Deleted Scenes (6 minutes)

Special Effects Split Screen Comparison (2 minutes)

The Conan Archives Still Gallery (12 minutes)

2 Theatrical Trailers (4 minutes)

In addition to all the special features listed above, the two disc Conan the Barbarian: Definitive Edition Steelbook, released in the UK, had a few more extras that weren't on the Region 1 release.

Conan: The Rise of a Fantasy Legend (18 minutes)

A featurette covering the creation of Conan by Robert E Howard, the comic books and the making of Conan the Barbarian.

Well, I guess there's only this one extra. The packaging lists a "brand new documentary about fantasy films," but I can't find it anywhere on the discs.

The blu-ray retains all the special features from the previous Region 1 releases (Conan: The Rise of a Fantasy Legend is not included) and two new extras.

Art of Steel: Sword Makers and Masters (14 minutes)

A featurette on Albion Swords and the making of the Atlantean Sword and Conan's Father's Sword.

Conan: From the Vault (10 minutes)

Vintage interviews with Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Earl Jones, Sandahl Bergman and John Milius.

The UK blu-ray has all the special features from the US release, the Fantasy Legend featurette  and is Region B locked.

While not a great movie, Conan the Destroyer hasn't gotten any love here in the United States. Both releases (this one and the Complete Quest) only have a single theatrical trailer.

The blu-ray continues the tradition and ports over the same theatrical trailer.

However, all is not lost. The above pictured release is from Hong Kong, is Region A and contains some nice special features. Well, my copy hasn't arrived yet, but they sound nice anyway. If anyone is interested, I ordered my copy at YesAsia.com.

Commentary with Director Richard Fleisher

Commentary with Olivia d'Abo and Tracey Walter

Basil Poledouris: Composing the Conan Saga

Conan: The Making of a Comic Book Legend

Original Theatrical Trailer

Raiders of the Lost Ark

You may have noticed that we did a little redecorating around here in honor of the upcoming 30th Anniversary of one my favorite films, Raiders of the Lost Ark.  To kick off the month long celebration of Indiana Jones (and especially Raiders) related posts, let's try to roundup all the special features that have been released over the years.

The very first release of Raiders of the Lost Ark on CED, VHS, Betamax and Laserdisc all contained one special feature that, to this day, has never been released again. Although not pertaining to Raiders, this is the only place you will find the the Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom teaser trailer which plays before the movie starts. It has sadly been missing on all subsequent releases.

Great Movie Stunts & The Making of Raiders of the Lost Ark is another title that is mysteriously missing from both DVD releases of the Indiana Jones Trilogy.  Released on CED, VHS and Laserdisc (was there a Beta release?), this title includes two 50 minute documentaries about the making of Raiders, one is an Emmy award winning program, while the other is narrated by Harrison Ford himself.

From the back cover of the Laserdisc...

Raiders of the Lost Ark has been called "the movie Hollywood was born to make." As thrilling as its story is the discovery of the techniques, effects and daredevil stunts that went into its creation. This disc contains two made-for-television specials: The Making of Raiders of the Lost Ark and Great Movie Stunts: Raiders of the Lost Ark. Narrated by Raiders star Harrison Ford, the Stunts episode demonstrates how major action sequences were designed and executed. The Making of Raiders of the Lost Ark captures the cast and crew as they tackle the many problems created by an adventure spectacular of this magnitude.

These documentaries are well worth tracking down and should not have been excluded from the DVDs.

When Lucasfilm decided to release the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles onto VHS in 1999, they also re-released the Indiana Jones Trilogy in matching packing and a few special features. Aside from trailers for the re-release of the movies and the Young Indy tapes, there was a ten minute behind the scenes featurette called Raiders of the Lost Ark: A Look Inside and featured interviews with George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford. While the interviews don't reveal anything new to the Indiana Jones fan, this is the only place you'll find it.

In 2003, we finally saw the first release of the Indiana Jones Trilogy on DVD. This four disc set featured an entire disc of bonus material (pictured above). While not Raiders exclusive, it does offer one lengthy documentary, a few featurettes and some trailers.

 

Indiana Jones: Making the Trilogy 

(127 minutes, 51 minutes on Raiders)

The Lucasfilm Archives were raided to give you unprecedented access into the making of the Indiana Jones Trilogy. Join the cast and crew of the three Indiana Jones films on an epic movie-making adventure including all-new interviews from Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Harrison Ford, Frank Marshall, Karen Allen, Kate Capshaw and more. Go on set and experience firsthand the rough-and-tumble world of creating the Indiana Jones films. Illustrated with never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage, outtakes, screen tests, production drawings and photographs, Making the Trilogy is your first-class ticket behind the scenes of movie-making history. 

(Text from the booklet)

The rest of the disc is devoted to four featurettes, The Stunts of Indiana Jones (11 minutes), The Sound of Indiana Jones (13 minutes), The Music of Indiana Jones (12 minutes) and The Light and Magic of Indiana Jones (12 minutes).

This was also the first time that any of the trailers were available on home video, aside from the teasers for Temple of Doom (mentioned above) and The Last Crusade.  The teaser, theatrical and re-release trailers for Raiders are included.

If you purchased the DVDs and Best Buy, and were at the store early enough, you had the chance to score a fifth bonus disc entitled Raiders of the Lost Ark: Classic Featurette. This 10 minute video feels like a trailer for the Great Movie Stunts & The Making of Raiders of the Lost Ark documentaries as they are made by the same people, although this featurette does include some material that I don't remember seeing before.

The Indiana Jones Trilogy was re-released again in 2008 when the trilogy became a quadrilogy. This new special edition contained a few special features that weren't on the previous version.  

Raiders of the Lost Ark: An Introduction (8 minutes) a new introduction features interviews with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.

The Melting Face (9 minutes) a behind the scenes look at how the melting of Toht's face was achieved for the film's finale.

Storyboards: The Well of Souls (4 minutes) a storyboard to film comparison showing the storyboards on the top of the screen while the scene from the film plays below.

The disc also includes four photo galleries: Illustrations & Props, Production Photographs & Portraits, Effects/ILM and Marketing.

Unfortunately, that's all of the officially released special features for Raiders of the Lost Ark. Perhaps, when the blu-ray set is released, we'll be treated to something like the upcoming Star Wars set; but I doubt it. Indiana Jones always seems to come in with significantly less love than Lucas' other franchise, but that's a topic for another day...

Highlander: The Special Features

"From the dawn of time we came, moving silently down through the centuries.  Living many secret lives, struggling to reach the time of the Gathering, when the few who remain will battle to the last.  No one has ever known we were among you... until now."  And so movie history was made twenty-five years ago when Sir Sean Connery read this prologue at the beginning of 1986's Highlander.  Has it really been twenty-five years already?  In honour Highlander's 25th Anniversary in March, let's take a look at the special features from all the releases that grace the collection here at Cinema Raiders...

Highlander: 10th Anniversary Director's Cut

Deluxe Wide-Screen Collector's Edition Laserdisc

• Audio commentary with director Russell Mulcahy and producers Peter Davis and William Panzer.

• Original Theatrical Trailer

• Hundreds of behind-the-scenes photos, production and publicity stills

• Photos from scenes left on the editing room floor

• Still frame slide show highlighting the evolution of the film from scripting to casting and on through production notes and letters, script revisions, reviews and publicity articles.

• Virtual 3D photograph of the katana sword.
 

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Highlander: 10th Anniversary Director's Cut

Deluxe Collector's Edition DVD

The DVD was released shortly after the laserdisc and retained some of the special features.  Missing were the still images from the deleted scenes and the virtual 3D katana.  The commentary used on the DVD was the same from the laserdisc edition.

• Audio commentary with director Russell Mulcahy and producers Peter Davis and William Panzer

• Original Theatrical Trailer

• Hundreds of behind-the-scenes photos, production and publicity stills

• Still frame slide show highlighting the evolution of the film from scripting to casting and on through production notes and letters, script revisions, reviews and publicity articles.

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Highlander: The Immortal Edition DVD

In 2002, Anchor Bay released this two disc special edition that came in a nice metal slipcase; although disc two is only a CD which features "Princes of the Universe", "One Year of Love" and "Friends Will Be Friends" performed by Queen.  As far as I know, this is the edition with the most special features to be released in the United States.  The audio commentary on the Immortal Edition has been recycled from the laserdisc once again.

• Audio commentary with director Russell Mulcahy and producers Peter Davis and William Panzer
• 2 Theatrical Trailers
• Who Wants To Live Forever - Queen Music Video (4 minutes)
• A Kind of Magic - Queen Music Video (4 minutes)
• Princes of the Universe - Queen Music Video (4 minutes)
• Poster and Still Gallery
• Queen Still Gallery

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Highlander: The Immortal Edition DVD (UK)

Four years later in 2006, Optimum Home Entertainment released a two disc steelbook of Highlander for the European market.  This Immortal Edition is far superior to the US release.  Not only do we have a brand new audio commentary, but also a three part making of documentary; something that is sorely lacking on all US releases.

Disc One

• New audio commentary with director Russell Mulcahy.

Disc Two

• The Making of Highlander Documentary

     Part 1: A Legend is Born (29:13) with Gregory Widen (scriptwriter)

     and Peter Bellwood (co-scriptwriter)

     Part 2: The Visual Style (40:03) with Gerry Fisher (director of

     photography) and Allan Cameron (set decorator)

     Part 3: A Strong Woman (15:55) with Roxanne Hart

• Christopher Lambert Interview (8:32)

• Original Theatrical Trailer

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Highlander Blu-ray

Lionsgate released their Highlander blu-ray late in 2010 and it's sorely lacking in the special features department.  In true Highlander Home Video tradition, this release recycles the 2006 commentary from the UK Immortal Edition steelbook.

• Audio commentary with director Russell Mulcahy

• Deleted Scenes

The Deleted Scenes are going to catch the interest of Highlander fans. It should be noted that calling them "Deleted Scenes" is rather misleading. When viewing them, you will be shown this message: "Whilst creating the HD Master, it was noticed that there were five scenes that were either longer or edited differently to the scenes in the final HIGHLANDER version. As we didn't have the audio for these scenes, we could not include them in the film. We therefore laid music under these scenes and made them available as Deleted Scenes on the Blu-ray."

These are not the deleted scenes that all Highlander fans have read about and were shown still images of on 10th Anniversary Laserdisc.  What you actually get are four scenes with a total running time of 6:14. You get an alternate cut of the wrestling match at the beginning of the film, an extended scene of Connor and Rachael talking just prior/after the WWII flashback, an extended section of the rooftop fight between Connor and Kurgan and finally an extended version of Connor and Brenda talking on the hilltop at the end of the film. As mentioned above, music is laid under these scenes, but it's not from Highlander. The music used here, and on the menu, is actually from John Debney's score for Cutthroat Island.

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As a special feature for this special features comparison, let's take a look at another recent blu-ray release set in the countryside of Scotland (not sure if it's the highlands or not). 

Rob Roy Blu-ray

The good folks over at MGM/UA and 20th Century Fox have released the excellent Rob Roy starring Liam Neeson, Jessica Lange, Tim Roth and John Hurt to blu-ray, but they forgot the special features.  The DVD from 1997 at least had the theatrical trailer - it was even included on the laserdisc.  To add insult to injury, they slapped the disc into one of those damned hippie cases (eco-case).  Come to think of it, Lionsgate put the Highlander blu-ray in one too.  Look for more hatred of the hippie case in an upcoming article in our Raging Rant series.

Apocalypse Now: Full Disclosure

"Saigon... Shit. I'm still only in Saigon."

On October 19, 2010, Paramount Pictures and Lionsgate Entertainment released the three disc blu-ray collection of Apocalypse Now.  We know how stunning the blu-ray image is and we are all excited that this is the first time the movie has been released in the original aspect ratio of 2.35:1. But what about the special features?  I don't know how many times I've "upgraded" my copy of a movie only to find that some of the extras are missing on the new release and am forced to keep my old copy laying around.  How does Apocalypse Now: Full Disclosure compare with the previous DVD releases?  Well, let's find out.

The first DVD release of the Theatrical Cut of Apocalypse Now was released by Paramount back in 1999.  It contained an anamorphic widescreen transfer of the film in 1.85:1.

Special Features

Theatrical Trailer

Excerpts from the Theatrical Program

Destruction of the Kurtz Compound
with commentary by Francis Ford Coppola

A few years later in 2001, Francis Ford Coppola released Apocalypse Now: Redux adding an additional 48 minutes of footage cut from the theatrical release.  This release contained an anamorphic widescreen print in 1.85:1.

Special Features

Apocalypse Now: Redux Trailer

 

The third release came in 2006 with Apocalypse Now: The Complete Dossier.  This two disc set contained both versions of the movie in an 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen print.

Special Features - Disc One
Audio Commentary with Francis Ford Coppola
The Hollow Men (16:55)
Monkey Sampan Scene (3:00)
Additional Scenes
     1. Saigon Streetlife
     2. Military Intelligence Escorts 
     3. Intelligence Briefing Extension 1
     4. Intelligence Briefing Extension 2
     5. Willard Meets the PBR Crew
     6.  Letter from Mrs. Kurtz
     7.  Booby Trap
     8.  Do Lung Bridge "... That Road is Open"
     9.  The Photojournalist
     10. Colby
     11. The Tiger Cages
     12.  Special Forces Knife
A/V Club
     Birth of 5.1 Sound (5:47)
     Ghost Helicopter Flyover (3:50)
     The Synthesizer Soundtrack by Bob Moog
     Technical FAQ

Special Features - Disc Two
The Post Production of Apocalypse Now
     A Million Feet of Film: The Editing of Apocalypse Now (17:54)
     The Music of Apocalypse Now (14:43)
     Heard Any Good Movies Lately? The Sound Design (15:19)
     The Final Mix (3:07)
PBR Streetgang (4:10)
Apocalypse Then and Now (3:40)
The Color Palette of Apocalypse Now (4:05)

2007 saw the long awaited release of Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse on DVD.

Special Features
Audio Commentary with Eleanor and Francis Ford Coppola

Which brings us to the latest release.  This three disc blu-ray collection features both the Theatrical and Redux cuts of the film and is presented in the original 2.35:1 aspect ratio.  How do the special features compare?  Is it missing anything?

The Full Disclosure contains all of the above special features (including Hearts of Darkness in HD) except for the Apocalypse Now: Redux Trailer and the Technical FAQ.  A 48 page booklet and a few new special features are also included.  Here is a complete listing of all the special features.

Special Features - Disc One

Audio Commentary with Francis Ford Coppola
(This is the same commentary from the Complete Dossier)

Special Features - Disc Two

Interview with John Milius (new)

A Conversation with Martin Sheen and Francis Ford Coppola (new)

Fred Roos: Casting Apocalypse Now (new)

Heart of Darkness Radio Show with Orson Welles (new)

The Hollow Men

Monkey Sampan Scene

Additional Scenes (all from the Complete Dossier are included)

Destruction of the Kurtz Compound
     with Commentary by Francis Ford Coppola

Birth of 5.1 Sound

Ghost Helicopter Flyover

The Synthesizer Soundtrack by Bob Moog

A Million Feet of Film: The Editing of Apocalypse Now
The Music of Apocalypse Now

Heard Any Good Movies Lately? The Sound Design
The Final Mix
Apocalypse Then and Now
2001 Cannes Film Festival: Francis Ford Coppola (new)
PBR Streetgang
The Color Palette of Apocalypse Now

Special Features - Disc Three
Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse (HD)
    Audio Commentary with Eleanor and Francis Ford Coppola
John Milius Script Excerpt with Notes by Francis Ford Coppola
Storyboard Collection
Photo Archive
     Unit Photography
     Mary Ellen Mark Photography
Marketing Archive
     1979 Theatrical Trailer
     1979 Radio Spots
     1979 Theatrical Program
     Lobby Cards & Press Kit Photos
     Poster Gallery

You're still here?  Apocalypse Now is a great movie.  That's all I have to say about that.