Evil Dead (Elite vs. AB) [Archive] - Horror Digital Forum

Andrew

07-29-2004, 03:49 AM

I think this has been discussed 1,001 times, but I'll bite.

I personally prefer Elite's print. The BOTD is cropped at 1.85 (I'm sure it's the right way, no one is debating that) and also much darker and murkier, whereas Elite's is brighter and more clear in my opinion. I could understand preferring the film to look grimy, but I got so used to the Elite disc that AB's didn't look so hot. I'm still glad I have it though, if only for the extras and packaging.

welb25

07-29-2004, 04:03 AM

I also prefer Elite's full frame disc but I am glad that I own both. If I had to pick it would be the Elite disc but both are worthwhile.

speanroc

07-29-2004, 04:34 AM

evil dead is a 1.33.1 film

welb25

07-29-2004, 04:40 AM

yes it is but it has been shown in theatres matted to widescreen aspect ratios. I guess you can argue that the Book of the Dead would be more like how it looked in a theatre but I still prefer the Elite.

Revoltor

07-29-2004, 04:47 AM

Bottomline is people, AB should've offered both versions like on the ED2 disc.

Grim

07-29-2004, 04:57 AM

I have both the Elite disc and the regular AB Widescreen DVD (It has all the features of the Book of the Dead DVD, you just need a DVD rom). I figured if I'm in a widescreen mood I can watch the AB or if I'm in the Open matte mood I can watch the Elite. It's all about personal preference.

Katatonia

07-29-2004, 05:16 AM

I have both versions of the DVD, and I too prefer the Elite version. The Anchor Bay might be Anamorphic, but it's in the incorrect original aspect ratio, and there are obviously things cut off that are noticable to fans.

RyanPC

07-29-2004, 06:36 AM

DaZD[N]KnFuZD

07-29-2004, 10:56 AM

My vote goes with the Elite version, but for the collector you should also look at picking up the Book Of The Dead version - if only for the case alone.
I love freaking people out with the case - I usually get them to close their eyes before placing it in their hands. :evil:
The shrieks and screams are satisfaction enough.
I actually have this stored in a specially made box to protect it from dust and dirty hands - the Elite DVD resides on the shelf with all the others.

evildeadfan123

07-29-2004, 11:07 AM

I used to have the Elite Collector's Edition of Evil Dead, then I sold it when AB came out with the Book Of The Dead cover, because, that was the only way I was going to be able to afford the cool book and cover by Tom Sullivan. About a little over a year ago, I was the high bidder on a mini Evil Dead poster signed by Tom Sullivan, who designed the Book of The Dead, and the Dagger, and did the Make-Up Effects. Sometimes on eBay, they will have pages, and the Book Of The Dead up for auction, but usually the book goes for a minimum of $450.00, personally by Tom Sullivan. I also have the 1st Printing of Bruce Campbell's Book, signed by Bruce Campbell, with Shop Smart on the inside.

Shannafey

07-29-2004, 01:57 PM

Because of everything said here, I never bought the AB disc and just stuck with the Elite version. If one day I find the Book of the Dead dirt cheap, I'll get it just to have as a prop!

moogong

07-29-2004, 02:09 PM

Damed

07-29-2004, 02:14 PM

I agree 100%. Elite all the way. I dont see it on the shelves anymore, it is out of print?
According to DVDAficionado, yep. Elite's Disc is OOP.

dwatts

07-29-2004, 02:18 PM

I've read a lot about the Elite disc and how good it is. However, I went with the Book of the Dead. There is some collectable packaging that basically is laughably lame. In this case though, it's really very good. I simply couldn't resist. I think the AB UK set has both versions.

RyanPC

07-29-2004, 02:23 PM

Because of everything said here, I never bought the AB disc and just stuck with the Elite version. If one day I find the Book of the Dead dirt cheap, I'll get it just to have as a prop!

I thought of buying it as a prop, too... but I've read and people have told me that after a while the book starts to stink. I'm passing it up if it means a horrid odor around my DVD collection. :D

Damed

07-29-2004, 02:24 PM

I also have the Book Of The Dead.

I know where I can still pick up a copy of the Elite Disc, but I don't think I'll double dip. For the amount I watch it, the BOTD version will suffice. You can't beat the extras in that set.

Damed

07-29-2004, 02:26 PM

I thought of buying it as a prop, too... but I've read and people have told me that after a while the book starts to stink. I'm passing it up if it means a horrid odor around my DVD collection. :D

Actually, I found that the BOTD version stunk really bad when it was new. A new rubber smell.

After a few days it went away though. It's been fine ever since.

dwatts

07-29-2004, 02:50 PM

Yeah, mine is fine too. Another Internet rumor bites the dust :D

Katatonia

07-29-2004, 03:08 PM

I thought of buying it as a prop, too... but I've read and people have told me that after a while the book starts to stink. I'm passing it up if it means a horrid odor around my DVD collection. :D

Starts to stink? The damn thing has always stunk like model glue. I keep it in a ziplock bag to keep the odor away.

Damed

07-29-2004, 03:09 PM

Starts to stink? The damn thing has always stunk like model glue. I keep it in a ziplock bag to keep the odor away.

Yep. Mine did for about a week, now it's fine.

Katatonia

07-29-2004, 03:11 PM

Yep. Mine did for about a week, now it's fine.

Mine might not be as strong of a smell as when it was brand new, but it still reeks of a model glue odor.

Deus Ex Machina

07-29-2004, 03:52 PM

According to DVDAficionado, yep. Elite's Disc is OOP.

That's the reason I was asking...I have a chance to pick up the Elite disc brand new for a decent price (I already have the BotD).

I also heard that the photo gallery is different on the Elite disc. True?

Ash

07-29-2004, 04:11 PM

I prefer the Elite version for the picture.

Deus Ex Machina

07-29-2004, 05:27 PM

Just ordered my Elite version

Latency

07-29-2004, 06:16 PM

I have the BOTD disc and AB's Full Frame release. It's all personal preference but the BOTD anamorphic transfer really looks good on my parents HDTV. It all depends on what equiptment you have I guess.

BTW, How come no one talks about AB's Full Frame disc ?. The image quality is actually quite nice (give for some grain), and it's darker than both Elite and BOTD discs (some critical scenes anyways). I actually prefer the darker transfer because you cannot see the matting of the moon at all.

This is the disc I actually prefer for overall video transfer (lighting/color/contrast):

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0002I8VWE.01-A25UEPKZCB0F3D.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

betterdan

07-29-2004, 06:21 PM

I have the Book of the Dead and AB's old version. I kinda like the old full screen AB one also Latency.

Oh and ryan I thought you told me you liked the smell of old rubbers. Hmmm

Latency

07-29-2004, 06:24 PM

Hrrrm, if I had the Elite disc I could do an Evil Dead BOTD vs AB (Full Frame) vs Elite screen capture thread and end all of these threads :).

betterdan

07-29-2004, 06:26 PM

Do it. DO IT!

Latency

07-29-2004, 06:32 PM

Too bad the Elite disc is out of print ..... and too bad I can't really justify buying it for the sole purpose of creating a comparison thread :). Maybe someone can take some screen captures for me with some time stamps ? Then I could create the same captures with the BOTD and old AB disc and compare the three ......

Andrew

07-29-2004, 07:14 PM

I'm almost positive the AB fullframe disc and the Elite disc have the exact same transfer. I'm not sure why you thought they looked different.

welb25

07-29-2004, 07:28 PM

I have always heard that the old AB disc and the Elite disc have the same transfer also.

Big Bobby D

07-29-2004, 07:29 PM

Well, I hate the way A.B. put a widescreen version of the film out. Other than that one problem I love my Book Of The Dead dvd edition.
:blabla: :banana:

Latency

07-29-2004, 07:31 PM

I'm almost positive the AB fullframe disc and the Elite disc have the exact same transfer. I'm not sure why you thought they looked different.

I've never actually seen the Elite disc. I just heard the picture was bright, and the old AB Disc is far from bright, it's a pretty dark transfer actually. I just assumed they were both different .....

Big Bobby D

07-29-2004, 07:35 PM

Yeah, I liked the Elite version because you couldn't see all of the bad moon mattings and some of the bad effects. And I do believe the still galleries on the A.B. version and Elite are a tad different. And yes, that book did stink, but I haven't really noticed it (but then again I don't go around sniffin' rubber books) And where's my Within The Woods short? ( I know, we'll never see it on dvd...)
:blabla: :banana:

Werner Von Wallenrod

07-29-2004, 11:14 PM

I skipped a few replies, so maybe somebody already pointed this out, but Anchor Bay UK includes Evil Dead both matted and full frame in their Evil Dead box set.

Silent Noize

08-03-2004, 03:46 AM

Elite vs. Anchor Bay editions. (http://www.mhvf.net/forum/scifihorror/posts/124229160.html) Screenshot comparisons included.

RyanPC

08-03-2004, 04:04 AM

Elite vs. Anchor Bay editions. (http://www.mhvf.net/forum/scifihorror/posts/124229160.html) Screenshot comparisons included.

Isn't it funny how the original Anchor Bay release is better than the THX widescreen version from 2002?

That said, I think the Elite version looks the best, while the 1999 AB looks a tad bit bright in comparison. The 2002 AB is too dark, IMO.

Silent Noize

08-03-2004, 04:12 AM

Isn't it funny how the original Anchor Bay release is better than the THX widescreen version from 2002?

That said, I think the Elite version looks the best, while the 1999 AB looks a tad bit bright in comparison. The 2002 AB is too dark, IMO.

yeah. I only own the Book of the Dead edition. But after i saw those pics i was really shocked that the Book of the dead is WAY to dark and it looses alot of the picture due to the widescreen. I think i may get a copy of the Elite dics now.

fcalderon

08-03-2004, 04:40 AM

Wait, guys, I don't understand ... There's an Elite disc in 1.33:1 available on several sites. Check here for example:

http://www.dvdpacific.com/item.asp?ID=42286

Isn't it the one you're looking for ?

:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

Hugs,
Franco

RyanPC

08-03-2004, 04:50 AM

Deus Ex Machina

08-03-2004, 04:57 AM

also 16mm is basically 1.33:1 which is of course fullscreen

zombi3

08-03-2004, 02:07 PM

I'm happy with my Elite version. I almost got the BOTD version, until they decided to shitcan Within the Woods.

Deus Ex Machina

08-03-2004, 02:13 PM

I'm happy with my Elite version. I almost got the BOTD version, until they decided to shitcan Within the Woods.

If you can get it for a decent price the FANalysis is a pretty good doc.

The Black Death

08-04-2004, 10:21 AM

I have the elite full screen and the book of the dead version signed by bruce campbell as Ash :D

evildeadfan123

08-04-2004, 11:14 AM

I would die for a copy of Book Of the Dead, signed by Bruce Campbell. I have the 1st Edition book of If Chins Could Kill...Confessions of A B Movie Actor, signed by Bruce Campbell. This is the Hardcover edition, with about 12,500 copies in the 1st printing.

Mortis

08-04-2004, 11:25 AM

I have a Book of the Dead signed (and drawn in) by Tom Sullivan and all three ladies from Evil Dead, but I haven't met Bruce again yet for him to sign it.

Deus Ex Machina

08-16-2004, 04:50 PM

So I finally got my disc....

now, I know there's an easter egg on this (albeit a small crappy egg) but how do I get it?

Silent Noize

08-16-2004, 06:14 PM

So I finally got my disc....

now, I know there's an easter egg on this (albeit a small crappy egg) but how do I get it?
From the main menu, go to "Extras". Highlight "Trailer" and press left. Press enter to view a minute-long make-up effects test.

From the second page in the "Extras" section, highlight "Fanalysis" and press left. Press enter to view a Q&A session held following a Halloween 2001 screening of the film in Hollywood.

Morg

08-17-2004, 02:06 PM

OK, I've been convinced. I currently have the BOTD, and yesterday I purchased the Elite version for $12.98, I beleive. There's nothing worse than going through life thinking, "I shoulda bought it while I could, I shoulda..." plus I wanted a full screen version of this film anyway.

Deus Ex Machina

08-17-2004, 03:07 PM

From the main menu, go to "Extras". Highlight "Trailer" and press left. Press enter to view a minute-long make-up effects test.

From the second page in the "Extras" section, highlight "Fanalysis" and press left. Press enter to view a Q&A session held following a Halloween 2001 screening of the film in Hollywood.

......I mean the Elite disc...

sammaeal

08-17-2004, 11:08 PM

Because of everything said here, I never bought the AB disc and just stuck with the Elite version. If one day I find the Book of the Dead dirt cheap, I'll get it just to have as a prop!

Amazon has several copies for under $20 here
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/offer-listing/B00005RYLE/ref=dp_pb_a//002-5891320-4829604?condition=all (http://)