The Wicker Man (1973) Yet Another Release coming 12/19/06

[Escapay]

Should've figured they'd do this, and I would have not bothered picking up the recent single-disc re-release.


(had to do print-screen and paste in paint since davisdvd disables right-clicking)

DavisDVD is reporting that Anchor Bay's releasing the film for the fourth time, though it's pretty much their original Limited Edition (in coffin box) release, but with the R2 commentary:

Disc 1:
-1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
-US Theatrical Cut (88 minutes) - Dolby Digital 5.1 and Mono Track
-"The Wicker Man Enigma" documentary (35 minutes)
-Theatrical Trailer
-TV and Radio Spots
-Talen Bios

Disc 2:
-1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
-European Theatrical Cut (99 minutes) - Mono Track
-"New" Audio Commentary with Robin Hardy, Christopher Lee, and Edward Woodward, moderated by Mark Kermode (European Theatrical Cut)

SRP $19.99

So, what's missing from the R2 version?

-"Making of Commentary Film" (16 minutes)
-"Burnt Offerings: The Cult of the Wicker Man" (50 minutes)
-Soundtrack CD

No mention of the 1973 interview with Christopher Lee and Robin Hardy. It's easily accessible as an Easter Egg in the R1 version, but is a regular bonus feature in the R2 version.

Escapay

[so it goes]

This is very, very lame. Four months later and they are already putting out another edition. I'll buy it becuase I have only seen the short cut, but I won't be happy about it. Seriously, a cheap and unfair move on their part. A good way to really piss off a consumer. Is this the quickest double (quadruple) dip ever?

[2099net]

You forget as well Escapay, the soundtrack CD has been OOP for decades. I'm truely happy to have this on the UK re-release. The music is (as you probably know) hauntingly beautiful.

[slave2moonlight]

Lately, my interest has really been peaked about this movie. It sounds really interesting. Looking forward to seeing it eventually. I finally got to see George Romero's "The Crazies" on TCM this weekend, though I was hoping it'd be better.

[littlefuzzy]

I've got this one, and I don't see a reason to double dip...

[Lazario]

This is actually really sad because Anchor Bay decided that The Evil Dead only needed 2 releases, which they gave it (was there 3 or just 2?). And their last version of the movie was not definitive. Not even close. The movie deserved a full-blown 2-disc edition with more than just the admittedly very cool Bruce Campbell Fanalysis documentary, which was maybe 19% about The Evil Dead. Dawn of the Dead got a 75 or so minute documentary. The Evil Dead could at least score a 40-something minute documentary like The Hills Have Eyes did.

Hopefully the upcoming remake will see that a new DVD release, with the original fullscreen version of the movie (which I seriously prefer - the color difference is important!), will not be far away...

[2099net]

This is actually really sad because Anchor Bay decided that The Evil Dead only needed 2 releases, which they gave it (was there 3 or just 2?). And their last version of the movie was not definitive. Not even close. The movie deserved a full-blown 2-disc edition with more than just the admittedly very cool Bruce Campbell Fanalysis documentary, which was maybe 19% about The Evil Dead. Dawn of the Dead got a 75 or so minute documentary. The Evil Dead could at least score a 40-something minute documentary like The Hills Have Eyes did.

Don't give up hope, the UK "Evil Dead Trilogy" from Anchor Bay UK has, in effect, a 2 disc Evil Dead. In addition to the "Book of the Dead" disc, you get a bonus disc of:

The Evil Dead 1.33:1 Full Screen Unmatted Version
Featurette - The Living Love the Dead
Featurette - Dead Good Marketing
Featurette - Bruce Campbell: Geek or God?
The Incredibly Strange Film Show excerpts (edited for contractual reasons)
Antihero - An Evil Dead Inspired Music Video

You can read a review here: http://www.insomniacmania.com/dvd_revie ... t.php?id=2

[Lazario]

American DVD companies must really hate America!!! I am pissed.