The Crazies

[robman795]

Is anyone else looking forward to this release? It comes out in 3 weeks.

http://www.blue-underground.com/images/trailers/crazieslarge.jpg

[hell ya!]

April 22nd can't come soon enough, i can't wait to see it. :banana: :banana:

[ekent]

I have the VHS version of this and frankly, its utter crap IMO. Being a Romero completist, I may go ahead and pick it up anyway.

[NickyDoyle]

Absolutly!:glasses:

[Lone Wolf]

I have it on preorder.:)

[SaviniFan]

I remember seeing this quite a few years ago and thinking it was alright. I'll most likely pick it up. Pretty cool cover art btw.

[KillerCannabis]

It's not my favorite Romero flick, but since I'm such a completist, I know its going to make its way into my collection sooner or later. More than likely on the day it comes out.

[sinister]

Yup, really looking forward to it... hadn't seen it for over 10 years so dug out my crappy old VHS copy to see what it was like before deciding whether to order the DVD.

Have to say it was even better than i remember, classic 70's atmosphere and so obviously directed by Romero... definitely recommended. :)

[thrashard76]

Yep, I'm planning on ordering this and Two Evil Eyes and have them both delivered the same day for an awesome double feature. ;)

[Zodiac-Mindwarp]

The Crazies is not my favorite old Romero movie, but I do like it pretty well and I am looking forward to getting it when it comes out.

[Eddie Quist]

I'm totally looking forward to it.

A Romero commentary and a Lynn Lowry interview... Does it get any better? :banana:

[shift]

Hell yea. Can't wait. Picked it up for 13 BuckZ! :D

[Upsyndrome]

Hell yeah, I've been waiting for this to be released on DVD! I love that movie...some genuinely creepy scenes and a great atmosphere. Who can forget the old broad with the sewing needle? :nervous:

[creamstick]

Lots of nods to The Crazies in 28 Days Later.

[shift]

Just wondering if anyone here got it on dvd from the new release?

If so how was the transfer on it?

BTW.. I pre-ordered from dvdplanet and they claim its on back order... auh shit! DvDPlantet = :bs: :lol:

[Mortis]

Check the Two Evil Eyes thread. There are some comments about the transfer of The Crazies.

http://www.horrordvds.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10093

[shift]

Mortis,

Thanks! Seems like that both Two Evil Eye's and The Crazies were excellent Xfers :D

[Zodiac-Mindwarp]

Thanks for the tip Mortis.

[John]

I plan to look around for this later today. if none of the stores have it, I will order it and Two Evil Eyes from Deep Discount DVD. DDD is a bit cheaper than Best Buy, but I want my greedy little hands on these discs ASAP!!! :D

[marioscido]

I recieved my copies of "Two Evil Eyes" and the "The Crazies" on Wednesday the 30th. I watched "The Crazies" last night. I had seen it once only, 15 years ago or something. Anyway, it's a wonderfully spirited film, halfway between "Night" and "Dawn" .... The dvd release of "The Crazies" at this time in history is quite apropos, considering our present context.

[Paff]

Watched it on DVD last night. Exceptional transfer, though the sound can be tinny and harsh at times.

It's a great movie, and while it's not George's best, it definitely falls into the "good Romero" group with the Dead trilogy, Creepshow, and Martin. (as opposed to some of his weaker films like his half of Two Evil Eyes or The Dark Half).

In a lot of ways, you can see it as a bridge between Night and Dawn of the Dead. Definitely worth it...I'm gonna give the commentary a listen real soon.

[Mortis]

I've been wanting this movie for a while now.

It was filmed in the town of Evans City, which is where the cemetery in the original NotLD is at.

[Grim]

Yeah I thought this movie was pretty good, definitely not Romero's best, but far from his worst. I saw alot of elements in this that Romero would later explore to bigger extent in Dawn of the Dead.

[dwatts]

Well, I just around to watching this film.

Once again, we have Blue Underground making the most of a poor film. I know a lot of people think Blue Underground is the best thing since sliced bread, but while I’m not going to argue they do great transfers and extras, the material they have to work with is thin.

The Crazies is just plain boring. The sound on this DVD is screeching at times, with no low-end at all. This is accentuated by characters that spend most of the time shouting at each other. Unable to overcome a low budget, this one just doesn’t get to stand up.

Yes, it looks great for what it is. But honestly, the Crazies is a desperate company (BU) trying to prove how good they are without any quality material. My advice is to rent this one if possible. It’s not worth a purchase.

[hell ya!]

I really enjoyed The Crazies. It was a little slow but it held my attention and i thought overall it was a great flick. I'm glad that BU put this one out. :banana:

[MapleBob]

I think one thing about the Crazies that might have trouble translating to today is the era it came from. You had the assassination sixties just ended with at least three major assassinations, the two Kennedy brothers and Dr. King. You had the hippie death cults, like Manson. You had unrest about Vietnam and a the government looked like it totally forgot how to run and win wars.

I think if you remember the '70's then the Crazies is enjoyable nostalgia but if you don't have any sense of that time then you'll be less likely to enjoy it.

I enjoy the movie but its not one I plan on owning unless I decide to become a Romero completist.

[tyuun]

I liked both of these movies; the Crazies more so than Two Evil Eyes. I didn't even know the Crazies was coming out I just saw it in Suncoast I think it was last week and bought it. After first veiwing I wasn't thrilled but after watching it a bunch of times I started to really like this movie. Two Evil Eyes I only wached once, so I better not say this way I don't eat my words later. But I can say I enjoyed it.

[Jeffrey Dahmer]

I really like this movie. I don't have it on pre-order or anything, but there is chance I'll buy it... It's not on my priority list however. So many things have came out in the last few weeks that I want to buy.

[Ash28M]

Originally posted by dwatts
Well, I just around to watching this film.

The Crazies is just plain boring. The sound on this DVD is screeching at times, with no low-end at all. This is accentuated by characters that spend most of the time shouting at each other. Unable to overcome a low budget, this one just doesn’t get to stand up.

I'm going to have to agree with dwatts on this one. I really tried to like this movie but just couldn't get my self to enjoy it. It lacked any kind of suspense or excitement for me. I may have totally missed what Romero was trying to get across in this film, but upon first viewing it just didn't do much for me.

[tyuun]

I didn't love it at first either but after watching a few times it really started to grown on me. I ended up really liking it.

[The Chaostar]

The Crazis very interesting.it has a social commentary (something that Romero never forgets to add in his films), some disturbing images, not "sick-but-cool" but really fucked up (the killer-grandma scene) and has a pace of it's own, mostly influenced by european film making. I think it is one of Romero's best films. And I couldn't care less about BU - I haven't bought their dvd and don't think I wiil, due to the lack of english subtitles.

[tyuun]

Actually I think Blue Underground is quite good although I also wish they had subtitles, otherwise the do a very good job.

[dwatts]

It's been nearly three years but..............

I just watched this one. I guess I'll never truly understand the love some people have for this film. Sure it's Romero, but boy, what a snoozefest. I did try again, but it just does nothing for me. Bad film, with virtually no entertainment value.
:(

[17thJuggalo]

Ah man, I love this film. Just the atmosphere that the film has, and how it holds up today. Not to mention the action and gore was quite good as well. Maybe I'm biased because Romero is my favorite director.....

[dwatts]

What gore? The box text makes a note of the gore, but on viewing it, there isn't any - as in none. Just a few bits of sponge thrown at people to create a bullet wound. :D

[X-human]

I really liked Richard France as the doctor, that's what sold the movie for me. Lynn Lowry is a huge plus as well. Everything else is decent enough but this is hardly a lost masterpiece.

[Darga]

It's been nearly three years but..............

I just watched this one. I guess I'll never truly understand the love some people have for this film. Sure it's Romero, but boy, what a snoozefest. I did try again, but it just does nothing for me. Bad film, with virtually no entertainment value.
:(

I remember liking it when I saw it on TV as a teenager (probably bolstered by the fact that it was Romero), and I was psyched when the DVD was coming out.

Then I got it and watched it and couldn't really remember what was so great about it. It has almost landed in my "to sell" pile a couple o' times now. I am a BLASPHEMER!

[allmessedup]

This one has never really done it for me either. Too slow-paced, and it's one of the few times where the low budget really shows. A lot of Romero's earlier stuff looked great despite low budgets, but not here. I thought the acting wasn't so hot either. I rewatched this when it played TCM last fall, and it didn't change my impression of it.

[Erick H.]

Certainly not everybodies cup of tea,but I've always liked it.The whole martial law angle (and peoples reaction to it) always seemed pretty plausable.Some scenes from it (like Lynn Lowry's last bit) have always stuck with me.

[Mortis]

I liked the movie before, but I like it even more after reading the one Romero book.

[Hellbilly]

The Crazies never did much for me as well. I remember renting it on tape back in the days and I was on a diet the same time getting rid off some extra fat. I had my first meal in three days (salad with lemon juice dressing sprinkled with black pepper) and popped in The Crazies.
Just like the salad, the movie didn't deliver. It was good for what it was but left me kinda ... empty.
In other words, The Crazies never ended up on my rewatch list plus I quit my diet shorty after :o

[RyanPC]

The complete opposite for me: I rented The Crazies on VHS a couple of years back and didn't care for it. The pace was slow and I actually fell asleep twice before I gave up and stopped watching the movie. Then I felt like watching it again so I bought the DVD and ended up loving it. Listening to the commentary helped as well. Plus, Lynn Lowry was amazing in this movie. Her death scene is one of my favorites! :D

[shithead]

Liked it the first time i watched it, and still do.

[jefff]

Just got the DVD, as it is the only Romero film I still hadnt seen and I've been wanting to watch it for a long time. I loved it. It had that great early Romero feel to it, and lots of great acting from the Romero regulars (Richard France, Richard Liberty etc.). Also, as Bill Lustig mentioned in the commentary, it moves along at a very quick pace thanks to Romero's urgent editing and to me, that adds a lot to the overall vibe of the film, and defenately keeps it in line with the theme. And of course we also get some truly awesome scenes (The old lady with the knitting needle anyone?). Another thing I agree with Lustig about it the fact that it really does feel real, thanks to the documentary style filming and the way everything is presented, which makes it seem all the more frightening. The subject matter is still very relevant today, much like other Romero films, which makes it all the more interesting to view now, over 30 years later.

[MrKateB]

I think it's pretty great...In some ways, it almost works as a pre-NOTLD story...

[dwatts]

Strange, because obviously this came after NOTLD, but NOTLD is off the radar a better effort. Even the performances were better in it, rather than the hammy ones we get in Crazies.

The sound on the BU disc isn't up for much either, really thin.

[ekent]

I still think it is pretty bad, but the video looks amazing and the commentary is fun. A well made disc.

[MrKateB]

yeah, Crazies came after, but I meant the story, that's all...:)

And yes, the performances are better in NOTLD.

[dwatts]

I guess better sound elements don't exist now, which is a pity. Even the old sub-woofer could do anything to add depth to the sound. Not helped by the soldiers dialog being muffled in gas masks for half the film. Well, unless they were in a building with an infra red lamp At least the hippies wouldn't have been affected.....:D

[fattyjoe37]

Just watched this for the first time. Although I don't agree with all of the hate above, I did think it was disappointing. A great concept let down by low budget, some bad editing, and a screenplay that doesn't get all it can from the material. The movie would've been much more interesting if we had seen the characters before the military showed up and saw the town become infected. I think this month's remake has plenty of opportunities to outdo the original.

[killit]

Just watched this for the first time. Although I don't agree with all of the hate above, I did think it was disappointing. A great concept let down by low budget, some bad editing, and a screenplay that doesn't get all it can from the material. The movie would've been much more interesting if we had seen the characters before the military showed up and saw the town become infected. I think this month's remake has plenty of opportunities to outdo the original.

Yeah, my main thing is the new one looks great, and the old one has always been intriguing; I have the old one sitting on my virtual shelf right now, should I play it? Or should I wait for the remake, torn. I like to be surprised, but it seems like most of these remakes through in enough new material to make it interesting

[fattyjoe37]

Yeah, my main thing is the new one looks great, and the old one has always been intriguing; I have the old one sitting on my virtual shelf right now, should I play it? Or should I wait for the remake, torn. I like to be surprised, but it seems like most of these remakes through in enough new material to make it interesting

I always say see the original first.

[Mutilated Prey]

Alright, well after watching this for the first time ever it's good to know I myself am not "crazy" after reading everyone's thoughts. This may be one of the first movies where I actually like the remake better. The original is entertaining to a degree, but the flow is kinda weird and seems very dated. Some of the blood shots are terribly fake (bright red paint), sure I can get over that, but there are other shots where it looks better from a color perspective so I really don't understand why that aspect couldn't remain constant.

I agree with the sound issues too - you can barely understand anyone with a mask on and every time the General and others are speaking in their little headquarters it sounds like there is old tube tv warming up or over heating in the background. The picture looks fantastic though on this Blu.

[buck135]

Alright, well after watching this for the first time ever it's good to know I myself am not "crazy" after reading everyone's thoughts. This may be one of the first movies where I actually like the remake better. The original is entertaining to a degree, but the flow is kinda weird and seems very dated. Some of the blood shots are terribly fake (bright red paint), sure I can get over that, but there are other shots where it looks better from a color perspective so I really don't understand why that aspect couldn't remain constant.

I agree with the sound issues too - you can barely understand anyone with a mask on and every time the General and others are speaking in their little headquarters it sounds like there is old tube tv warming up or over heating in the background. The picture looks fantastic though on this Blu.

I may be a Romero apologist, but I still favor the original to the remake. The wife and I saw the remake in the theater and were both disappointed. Then again I don't consider the original worthy of a remake, now Martin on the other hand...