View Full Version : Evil Dead - BOTD and Elite
KeyserSoze
03-03-2002, 11:44
has there been a proper side by side comparison between the 2 yet ?
is the pic on BOTD really that bad ?
I have both dvds and the picture on BOTD is beter but the extras
aren't all that
I've seen a side-by-side picture comparison of the Elite and the new Anchor Bay version and the Elite version is better looking than the Anchor Bay.
Originally posted by Paul490
I've seen a side-by-side picture comparison of the Elite and the new Anchor Bay version and the Elite version is better looking than the Anchor Bay.
which set of pictures that was released a few days ago wasn't a fair comparison because the anchor bay pictures were bigger (due to the way they were captured) than the elite versions. Also they were compressed JPEG images (which would have decreased picture quality)
Another set was releases with rescaled AB pictures but it seems the JPEG images were rescaled which would mean that an image which has already lost details from being made into a JPEG would have lost further details during rescaling and again when resaved.
Jimmyboy
12-03-2002, 01:53
Most reviews seem to suggest that both AB & Elite transfers have their strenghs and weeknesses, but the Elite tends to edge it due to being in oar.
One thing for sure though is that the 5.1 on the AB is a mile better than the Elite.
Can somebody help me out with the OAR question?
My understanding is that the film was only ever shown in what people seem to be referring to as OAR (Academy 4:3) at the films premier, and was never shown on a cinema screen again in this ratio - is this correct? I seem to remember reading that the film was shot on 4:3 film stock to save money, but that Raimi always intended to show the film in widescreen and so the images are framed with this in mind. If this is correct then surely the OAR is not 4:3 ?
Scott
Michael Brooke
15-03-2002, 14:22
When it comes to low-budget films, this is a real can of worms!
The film was shot in 16mm, which by definition gives an OAR of 4:3, as that’s the shape of the picture negative area.
The real question is whether Raimi intended <U>at the time of shooting</U> to crop it to 1.85:1 – and that I simply don’t know. As it was a semi-amateur production, it’s by no means obvious that this was planned in advance – Frank Henenlotter’s similarly tiny-budget <I>Basket Case</I> was shot in 4:3 because Henenlotter had no idea that it would be cropped when shown in most cinemas!
SithLordSi
22-03-2002, 16:03
Well, having watched both recently (the new Anchor Bay release in 1.85:1 and the Elite release in 1.33:1), I have to say I much prefer the framing of the un-matted version. In the matted version, there are excrutiating scenes where the principal actors' chins are cropped off, when surely it should be the tops of their heads that are missing slightly. In another scene, when Cheryl is trying to get back into the cabin but the keys on top of the door frame are jammed in the door, the cropping makes it hard to see why the keys are stuck, exactly. When Linda and Shelly are playing the 'guess the card' game, the cards aren't clearly visible anymore, almost killing the joke. When Cheryl is sketching the clock, the framing of the clock itself looks really cramped. When Ash is in the basement, a floating box of band-aids is no longer visible - they even make reference to this on the commentary track as being one of their favourite 'in-jokes'. Generally, the actors either seem too high in the frame or too low, suggesting that it was not filmed with matting in mind. The picture quality seems better on the Elite also - the new Anchor Bay may have slightly more detail (being from the original 16mm neg), but the colours are way-off in parts, looking either muted or over-saturated in equal measures. Also, a couple of shots look slightly out-of-focus - not so on the Elite. However, the sound mix is better on the Anchor Bay, but I never had a problem with the Elite's mix to be honest.
So, if you want the 'extra' extras ('Fanalysis' doc, 'Discovering Evil Dead' doc, extra photos), the better sound mix but don't mind putting up with cramped shot composition, get the Anchor Bay (the Book of the Dead packaging is great, but the disc is a pain in the backside to remove without scratching it). If you want only the essential extras (the commentary tracks, trailer and out-takes), a decent audio mix and the (probable) original aspect ratio, get the Elite.
KeyserSoze
23-03-2002, 21:39
im getting the Elite now, dont care how good the packaging on BOTD is.
but then ........ oh god i dont know what i want, maybe ill buy both.
John Walker
02-04-2002, 00:05
I have both too and although the Elite's picture might be better in places, I'd say generally that the BOTD is worth the hassle, especially if you've got a Widescreen TV.
~ John
loujareth
04-04-2002, 22:53
My hubby came home with R2 The Evil Dead Anchor Bay disc from Woolies and I'm not sure which version this is. Is it the new version you are mentioning here or a totally different, it has a gate fold inner case but has no mention of being called the BOTD.
Whats puzzling me the most is he payed £7.99 for it, is that a standars price now as it seems remarkably cheap.
Louise
Originally posted by loujareth
My hubby came home with R2 The Evil Dead Anchor Bay disc from Woolies and I'm not sure which version this is. Is it the new version you are mentioning here or a totally different, it has a gate fold inner case but has no mention of being called the BOTD.
Whats puzzling me the most is he payed £7.99 for it, is that a standars price now as it seems remarkably cheap.
Louise
Thats not the new BOTD version, it's the older Anchor Bay release that doesn't have all the extras the BOTD has. It normally sold for less than £10 now.
John Walker
05-04-2002, 00:43
It's a pretty decent DVD though! Bruce Campbell's commentary is one of the most entertaining of all time!
You'd recognise the BOTD version though: It's an exact replica of the "Book Of The Dead" from the film (hence the name) in smelly foam and rubber! It's pretty scary looking! :)
~ John
KeyserSoze get the Book Of The Dead as well as the Elite - my BOTD arrived on Saturday and it's a great package..... well worth it IMHO - it's a real oddity :nuts:
UOOceania
09-04-2002, 12:46
Is the BOTD the last release we will see of Evil Dead?
I think not somehow. Imagine if they get Within the Woods
again and decide to release yet another version?
I would'nt be at all suprised.
I wouldn't be at all $uprised....(!)
<center>Now who's laughing!?!
http://www.aingarth.screaming.net/simp/ash.gif</center>
John Walker
09-04-2002, 15:10
Who's laughing now!?!?!? Muhahahha!!!
Erm, not quite. The release of Within the Woods is apparently quite impossible as there were far too many people who worked on it that needs the rights cleared.
Anchor Bay have promised that this will be their last release of Evil Dead... so I doubt they'd risk ******* everyone off.
Of course, there are OTHER ways of getting Within the Woods ;)
~ John
Here's a comparison of the BOTD and Elite pictures:
http://members.aol.com/jcw2001/badash.jpg
BOTD is on the RIGHT.
The book of the dead is freaky. Saw it in Our Price while me mate was buying some CDs and I couldn't put it down. The material is weird!! Couldn't help touching the ear at the back...
KeyserSoze
09-04-2002, 19:24
John Walker, there is only one pic in your post :)
Clipper-
09-04-2002, 19:28
Ok the official DVDTimes review of the R1 Book of the Dead is here
http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/index.cgi?page=Review&id=746&story=2998
This was done as a side by side comparison as I own both the Book of the Dead and the Elite edition (call me dumb)
John Walker
10-04-2002, 15:15
John Walker, there is only one pic in your post
The picture is split in two you moron!!
The right hand side is BOTD the left hand side is Elite.
http://members.aol.com/jcw2001/badash.jpg
See?
~ J
UOOceania
10-04-2002, 15:18
I just thought there was a shadow on Ash's face :brickwall :p
KeyserSoze
11-04-2002, 00:54
HAHA !!! :clap:
i didnt even see it, im colour blind, thats my excuse ;)
SithLordSi
11-04-2002, 14:28
May I point out the comparison I offered earlier in the thread. Surely the cropping issues I pointed out should be MORE than enough reason to get the Elite version. Has nobody even read my post? :(
Originally posted by Clipper-
Ok the official DVDTimes review of the R1 Book of the Dead is here
http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/index.cgi?page=Review&id=746&story=2998
This was done as a side by side comparison as I own both the Book of the Dead and the Elite edition (call me dumb)
Well done Clipper -
You've now convinced me I need yet another version of this movie :nuts:
(oh yeah, anyone know the best place to buy the Elite version!;) )
John Walker
11-04-2002, 15:01
At least everyone spotted it in the end! :)
SithLordSi : Yeah man, everyone read your post! It was very informative and showed the pros and cons of both. Now they've made their own mind's up.
~ John
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