Search - Dawn of the Dead [Widescreen] on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Graphic Violence, Not For Children, Adult Humor, Profanity, Sexual Situations, Gore Movie Release: 2004 DVD Release: 10/26/2004 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English, French, Spanish Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 41 mins Studio: Universal Studios Total Copies: 2 Genres: Horror, Creature Film See Also: Dawn of the Dead [Fullscreen], Dawn of the Dead [Widescreen] [Unrated Director's Cut], Dawn of the Dead [Fullscreen] [Unrated Director's Cut], Dawn of the Dead [UMD for PSP], Dawn of the Dead [HD DVD], El Dawn of the Dead [Spanish Packaging], Dawn of the Dead [Blu-ray], Dawn of the Dead [Widescreen]

The feature-film debut of director Zack Snyder, Dawn of the Dead is a modern retelling of George Romero's 1978 horror classic, which was actually the second film in a trilogy that began with Night of the Living Dead and concluded with Day of the Dead. Sarah Polley and Ving Rhames star as two of the last remaining people on an earth that has been ravaged by flesh-eating zombies. After escaping to a shopping mall with a handful of other survivors, they decide that they only way to truly elude the approaching throng of undead is to somehow make their way to an island that is supposedly zombie-free. Jake Weber and Mekhi Phifer also star. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

Sarah Polley - Ana
Ving Rhames - Kenneth
Jake Weber - Michael
Mekhi Phifer - Andre
Ty Burrell - Steve

For those who thought director Zack Snyder's remake of George A. Romero's zombie classic packed an impressive punch in theaters, Universal Home Video's DVD release provides even more bloody fun by offering some impressive bonus materials that actually serve to enhance the viewing experience. Lovingly presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, this release of Dawn of the Dead looks fantastic. Not only does the presentation feature colors that are as bold as they are vivid, but it also offers great skin tones, shows little to no signs of edge enhancement, and delivers pitch-black darkness in the nighttime scenes. Dawn of the Dead is a very high-contrast film, and Universal has done a terrific job in faithfully preserving its visual presentation on the small screen. The Dolby Digital 5.1 surround mix likewise does an effective job in keeping viewers ill at ease by means of punchy music cues and eerie directional effects. Even with such a hearty visual presentation, the reason most viewers will be purchasing this disc is for the generous bonus materials -- and they're not likely to be disappointed. Unlike the sometimes superfluous extras on most over-bloated special edition DVDs, Dawn of the Dead offers some bonus materials that truly draw the viewer in to the experience of the film. "The Lost Tape" of gun store owner Andy (Bruce Bohne) offers a videotaped document of the one of the more appealing but justifiably underdeveloped characters in the film, while "Special Report: Zombie Invasion" offers a faux newscast which covers the epidemic from the first reports to the moment when broadcast television gives way to the Emergency Broadcast System. If the 12-plus minutes of deleted scenes aren't necessarily the "pulse-pounding scenes too terrifying for the final theatrical release!" that the packaging promises, they do offer a few nice scares and some great character development in addition to showing, through the optional commentary, that Snyder has a keen eye for pacing. Clocking in at just over 20 minutes, "Surviving the Dawn: Dare to Face Your Fears" offers a nice peek behind the scenes to view the production process, interviews with the cast and crew, and a look at composer Tyler Bates and his orchestra as they score the film. A commentary track by Snyder and producer Eric Newman is also involving and entertaining, showcasing not only the director's dedication to the project and sense of humor, but also his love for the original film. The two interact playfully throughout the lively track, making light of the typical horror logic presented at some points of the film. DVD-ROM materials are also accessible. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide