Zombi: Dawn of the Dead

In case you weren't interested in shelling out the big bucks for the four-disc ultimate edition of Romero's classic Dawn of the Dead, or just couldn't afford to, Dario Argento's re-edit is now available to be cherished and compared to Romero's original vision. Cut for European audiences and renamed Zombi (which adds to much confusion, considering the amount of times Argento would use that word and spelling), this edition of the film may not look dissimilar to the random viewer; however, for any hardcore fan of the original, this one is completely different. Using the same footage, Argento took the movie to the cutting room and removed roughly ten minutes from the running time to present the film to a Euro audience. Argento felt the oblique, American brand of humour and the social commentary on the country's obsession with consumerism would work best subdued. The biggest alteration, however, is the removal of Romero's zany soundtrack filled with light-hearted muzak, replaced by a score from Argento's favourite band: the brilliant Goblin. The music alone transforms the film into something completely new, creating a far different tone that is much more intense, unsettling and freaky. So, if you've always enjoyed the wacky shopping spree moment in the past, you might find it a little less comical with Goblin setting the mood. The audio commentary by the four main cast members is a barrel of laughs, as the gang point out everything from the continuity issues to the "horrible fashion period" of the times. Ken Foree is boisterous, taking the reins for most of it, appearing more like the pimp in The Devil's Rejects than the composed character of this film. An interesting tidbit of knowledge is also divulged when the cast blurt out how anti-violence Romero is in real life, a point that seems to get blurred just from the thought of this man's directorial track record. Plus: trailers, TV spots, gallery, Argento bio. (Anchor Bay)