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Review of the restored, 83 minute version:
Lionsgate has made good on its promise to supply uncut versions of this film to those who bought the truncated version, and if you were among the latter, I urge you to contact them immediately and get a proper copy of this film. It's that good. Seriously, the beauty of this film cannot be overstated, though if you're of a literal turn of mind, you might not appreciate it since, on the surface, it's a story about a lot of Irish people going to a party, talking about music and some of them drinking too much.
But those with patience will see how this film is about the interior life, and particularly about the lives of women and the things which move them. Down to the smallest detail, this film gives shape and weight to the lives of the women around whom the story revolves; the carefully preserved family mementos, the Bible and rosary, the delicate lace curtains all speak volumes about who they are, and what memories they keep locked away.
The quality of the DVD is quite good now that it's been restored to its proper running time. I was particularly pleased at being able to see so much of the detail of the costumes and sets which were much less clear in tape or broadcast versions, particularly as the details are just wonderful, thought out to the last bit of lace or delicate brooch. To be blunt, I am so very happy to have this (whole) on DVD at long last that I could sing!
The only fudge factor here is the cover, with Anjelica Huston's head superimposed (badly) on someone else's body (Her hed is pastede on, yay) Given that the original release had a lovely cover, I have to wonder what the people at Lionsgate were thinking when they okayed this one. It's a minor quibble, and under the circumstances, not something I'm going to subtract a star for (maybe half a one, if that was possible, which it's not) but it deserved mention.
In short, I think Lionsgate has give us a quality product at last, and thanks to some serious complaining by those of us who love this film dearly. Yes, I recommend it, now that it's been restored.
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One-star review of the truncated, 75 minute travesty:
I have been waiting for a DVD release of "The Dead" almost since the day I first discovered the film at a tiny video rental store. I fell immediately in love with the film and bought a copy for myself because I wanted to be able to watch it whenever I chose.
Time passed. Even more time passed. DVDs which were just appearing on the horizon when I first saw this film eclipsed VHS but there was no sign of a release. I managed to burn the movie to DVD, a hectic and not-terribly satisfactory solution. When I discovered a PAL version was available I ordered it since I had a multi-standard DVD player.
Why am I telling you all this? Because I want you to understand how I felt when I found that Lionsgate was finally releasing "The Dead" to DVD in this country. I was overjoyed, I pre-ordered it, and I waited anxiously for it to arrive.
And then I watched it and nearly wept. It's not bad enough that the beautiful cover of the original film has been replaced by hideous cover art with no real connection to the film, save the image of Anjelica Huston, but to find that an 83-minute film has been chopped down to 75 minutes, and utterly without regard for the continuity was enough to make me furious, and determined to keep anyone else from buying this travesty.
Fortunately Lionsgate has apparently discovered that their truncated version of the real thing was not being well-received (What were they thinking??) and has issued a recall. Information is here: http://www.seanax.com/2009/11/05/total-recall-lionsgate-recalls-the-dead/ They are taking the position that it was an accident. My thinking is that an accident is not sending the DVD out in the case, or sending defective one, or sending ones with the wrong film. Cutting a film to pieces is not an accident, it is a deliberate act. I see from the information on IMDb that in Spain, the release is 79 minutes.
It's not as if this is as long as say, "Fanny and Alexander"'s original version, or another "Lawrence of Arabia." This is 83 minutes we're talking about. If you don't have an attention span that long you won't like this film anyway, no matter how much they cut out of it. This is a film that is short and perfect, and it should not be interfered with in any way.
So if you were one of the unfortunates who bought a copy, please go to the URL I've just posted and get yourself a copy of the real (we hope) film before they say "Oh no, too late!" or do something else boneheaded to it. And pass the word. Lovers of this film have waited far too long to be jerked around like this.
Lionsgate has made good on its promise to supply uncut versions of this film to those who bought the truncated version, and if you were among the latter, I urge you to contact them immediately and get a proper copy of this film. It's that good. Seriously, the beauty of this film cannot be overstated, though if you're of a literal turn of mind, you might not appreciate it since, on the surface, it's a story about a lot of Irish people going to a party, talking about music and some of them drinking too much.
But those with patience will see how this film is about the interior life, and particularly about the lives of women and the things which move them. Down to the smallest detail, this film gives shape and weight to the lives of the women around whom the story revolves; the carefully preserved family mementos, the Bible and rosary, the delicate lace curtains all speak volumes about who they are, and what memories they keep locked away.
The quality of the DVD is quite good now that it's been restored to its proper running time. I was particularly pleased at being able to see so much of the detail of the costumes and sets which were much less clear in tape or broadcast versions, particularly as the details are just wonderful, thought out to the last bit of lace or delicate brooch. To be blunt, I am so very happy to have this (whole) on DVD at long last that I could sing!
The only fudge factor here is the cover, with Anjelica Huston's head superimposed (badly) on someone else's body (Her hed is pastede on, yay) Given that the original release had a lovely cover, I have to wonder what the people at Lionsgate were thinking when they okayed this one. It's a minor quibble, and under the circumstances, not something I'm going to subtract a star for (maybe half a one, if that was possible, which it's not) but it deserved mention.
In short, I think Lionsgate has give us a quality product at last, and thanks to some serious complaining by those of us who love this film dearly. Yes, I recommend it, now that it's been restored.
---------------------
One-star review of the truncated, 75 minute travesty:
I have been waiting for a DVD release of "The Dead" almost since the day I first discovered the film at a tiny video rental store. I fell immediately in love with the film and bought a copy for myself because I wanted to be able to watch it whenever I chose.
Time passed. Even more time passed. DVDs which were just appearing on the horizon when I first saw this film eclipsed VHS but there was no sign of a release. I managed to burn the movie to DVD, a hectic and not-terribly satisfactory solution. When I discovered a PAL version was available I ordered it since I had a multi-standard DVD player.
Why am I telling you all this? Because I want you to understand how I felt when I found that Lionsgate was finally releasing "The Dead" to DVD in this country. I was overjoyed, I pre-ordered it, and I waited anxiously for it to arrive.
And then I watched it and nearly wept. It's not bad enough that the beautiful cover of the original film has been replaced by hideous cover art with no real connection to the film, save the image of Anjelica Huston, but to find that an 83-minute film has been chopped down to 75 minutes, and utterly without regard for the continuity was enough to make me furious, and determined to keep anyone else from buying this travesty.
Fortunately Lionsgate has apparently discovered that their truncated version of the real thing was not being well-received (What were they thinking??) and has issued a recall. Information is here: http://www.seanax.com/2009/11/05/total-recall-lionsgate-recalls-the-dead/ They are taking the position that it was an accident. My thinking is that an accident is not sending the DVD out in the case, or sending defective one, or sending ones with the wrong film. Cutting a film to pieces is not an accident, it is a deliberate act. I see from the information on IMDb that in Spain, the release is 79 minutes.
It's not as if this is as long as say, "Fanny and Alexander"'s original version, or another "Lawrence of Arabia." This is 83 minutes we're talking about. If you don't have an attention span that long you won't like this film anyway, no matter how much they cut out of it. This is a film that is short and perfect, and it should not be interfered with in any way.
So if you were one of the unfortunates who bought a copy, please go to the URL I've just posted and get yourself a copy of the real (we hope) film before they say "Oh no, too late!" or do something else boneheaded to it. And pass the word. Lovers of this film have waited far too long to be jerked around like this.
