Dawn of the Dead: Ultimate Edition

Allow yourself to fantasise for a moment. You are locked-up in a mall. Everything you want is yours for the taking. The only catch is that the world is being overrun by flesh-eating zombies. Damn! Revered as a true horror classic, Romero's sequel to Night of the Living Dead demands respect for both its apt social commentaries and distinctive cinematography. It's not surprising then that Anchor Bay was able to collect an overwhelming amount of material for this four-disc collection. Italian filmmaker Dario Argento's sober edit of the film is one of three versions included, chopping down dialogue and replacing most of the campy audio tracks with original music from Goblin. The extended version, often confused as a "director's cut," is actually the rushed first edit of the film created for the Cannes film festival. The well-known U.S. theatrical release is also included in the set. Unique commentary accompanies each version of the film, including an informative but dryly moderated presentation involving Romero, Tom Savini (special effects) and Chris Romero (assistant director). The most amusing commentary comes from actors David Emge, Ken Foree, Scott H. Reiniger and Gaylen Ross as they exhibit their off-screen chemistry through candid reminiscing on their filming experiences. The Ultimate Edition is literally crammed with extras. An out of date commercial for the Monroeville Mall, two extremely detailed bios on Romero and Argento, a tour of the Monroeville Mall lead by Ken Foree, loads of TV and radio spots and various trailers are all featured. The set also comes with a preview for the Dawn of the Dead graphic novel, which will seemingly follow Romero's U.S. version precisely. As if this wasn't enough, two feature-length documentaries are included. "The Dead Will Walk," a thorough exploration of the making and relevance of the film, offers many recent interviews from the cast and crew. "Document of the Dead," filmed during production, analyses Romero's writing and directing methods. Addicts of independent cinema will especially enjoy learning of the obstacles faced in making and distributing Dawn of the Dead. With so much to offer, the Ultimate Edition is an intense experience. This one is a definite must have for hardcore Romero fans. Plus: poster and advertising galleries, photo gallery, memorabilia gallery, production stills, more. (Anchor Bay, www.anchorbayentertainment.com)