The Mist Spreads to DVD

Well, looks like I know what I'm asking for when my birthday rolls around in April. I try not to buy too many discs these days, but if people buy them for me, I'm not going to complain.

I feel bad for missing out on this. Hmph.

Commence anticipation!

I hope they include the B&W version in the High Def release. I guess I could just turn down the color slider on my TV, though. Either way.

Best horror film in years.

Can I have a Blu-ray version, please?

I might need to wait a bit before watching the film itself again and filling myself with unyielding despair (thinking about it even now is kind of unsettling), but that second disc is getting scrutinized on Day One. I didn't anticipate this fantastic film getting so much love on DVD; desaturate me surprised!!

(And so glad I wasn't otherwise forced to make a "mist opportunity" joke)

I was all ready to just buy the single disc version until I read the thing about the B&W version. That sounds like a treat.

No foolin'.
It's a done deal for me.

I pretty much never spring for CEs, but I just might spring for this one. Damn, that's a fine set.

Well, I'm going broke on 3/25. Between this and Battlestar Galactica Season 3 (with both hopefully available in hi-def), that should do it for my spare income.

Reading about the B&W version gave me an erection. I can't wait.

I'm surprised the B&W version is generating this much excitement. I mean, it's certainly not a deterrent- I'm still gonna buy the thing- but I'm much more excited for the deleted scenes.

That's UNLESS it's some kind of modified B&W print (with film scratches, or maybe a modified score or something) that's not just an exact reproduction of the film with the color removed.

I have a feeling it'll make the "dodgy in spots" CGI look better (ie: smooth out some of the compositing). Too bad it won't include old school stop-motion and puppet effects in place of the CGI as well. Imagine a Harryhausen-ish "It Came From Beneath the Sea" tentacle coming through those garage doors. And THERAMIN music!

A B&W version.

Must. Have.

(must. clean. pants.)

I don't know that this is the kind of movie I'd want to own, but I am curious to hear the Darabont commentary. It had such an unexpected bite coming from him that I'd love to hear his thoughts.

Goddamn, that sounds like a great release. B&W? I've cut down on DVD purchases severely in the past few months, but this is a definite buy.

I regret not seeing this in the theaters. But this release sounds like a keeper. (I thought that bundling a B&W version on DVD would be a great idea for a Batman film, but whatever...)

Well, a good deal of Begins is practically sepia-toned. Isn't that enough, Pop Zeus?

(I actually think a B&W Batman would be mighty interesting on film; we know that it can work in comics, after all)

Take it from experience: Anyone looking to try the B&W Batman experiment, Mask of the Phantasm's your movie.

I really hope The Mist truly finds its audience on DVD. It deserves way more love than the mainstream gave it in theaters.

Harry at AICN linked a YouTube clip* of Darabont introducing the B&W version, saying it's ultimately his preferred version. In the YouTube comments, Harry aka "Headgeek" says...

Any confirmation on this?

*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-64pR2ARecY

Anyone who has tried to create a black and white photo in Photoshop by simply changing the image mode to "grayscale" can attest that it's not that simple. A lot of tones get muddled together and evened out. Black and white Photography is/was a whole different set of tricks, albeit one that can be simulated through the right processes.

I missed this in theaters as well, sadly, and as interested as I was in the concept of the film, a Black and White version seems so much more intriguing.

He had me at "Hi, this is Frank..."

He mentions DI (Digital Intermediates) and The Man Who Wasn't There, so I'm betting this is gonna look sweet. I never doubted for a second.

I didn't want to get my hopes up too much (and still won't, as I'll hold my opinion until after I've seen it), but that is exactly what I wanted to hear. I thought it would be pretty damn silly to go through the trouble of desaturating the image without taking a bit longer to make it look like what I can only imagine someone as talented and film-savvy as Darabont would have in mind.

I'm sold.

I'm completely sold on the black and white version as well. Even Stephen King himself envisioned it as black and white (this is from the notes from "The Mist" in Skeleton Crew):

"... you're supposed to see this in black-and-white, with your arm around your girl's shoulders (or your guy's), and a big speaker stuck in the window. You guys make up the second feature."

This is awesome - I'm glad it's coming out on DVD so fast since I missed it in the theaters. I know the experience won't be the same, but better to see it than not.

It's bound to be a better experience than the one I had in the theater, where it seemed that maybe me and two other people were actually enjoying the movie and not talking shit about it the whole way through. I can't wait to pick it up to watch it distraction free.

Two-Disc Cover Art

WARNING: Yucky Pete Hammond quote in the link.

That's HORRIBLE. What the fuck is that outside, a mushroom cloud? A city on fire? God, I hope not...

I know what they were going for, but those fonts are very DTV looking. Instead of spoooooky, they got a shittier comic sans.

For a movie about Mist, the cover sure lacks of it. I can see this as being used as the single disc cover, they should have just used the Struzan poster for the 2 disc.

Word. I'll be either making my own, or hunting down a replacement to print out if that's the final one.

It's tough for me to express why I dislike that cover... as some people here haven't seen the film yet...

and...

(highlight for spoilers)
...the damn cover is a goddamn spoiler! With a cheeseball quote talking about the very ending they're partially spoiling. Hey Weinsteins. How's about a man and a woman riding horseback on a beach looking at a wrecked Statue Of Liberty? Sheesh.
(end spoilers)

I actually dig the theatrical poster. Moody, mysterious, strangely beautiful, but doesn't spell anything out for you. The Struzan "scared face" poster is good, but it doesn't really capture my feelings about this film or suggest its imagery. I'd prefer it for the disc art or some insert booklet.

Also, the art they are using for the DVD seems a little too touched up to emphasize that the guy and gal have great asses. It ain't quite as dishonest as the Cronos poster with the sexy lady using the device. But sexy asses (or sexiness of any kind) is not even remotely what you absorb from that flick.

I'm really surprised that the Struzan artwork isn't being used for the 2-disc. Darabont's had his art on both Shawshank and Green Mile DVD, it's really disappointing.

Is this coming in Blu-Ray?

Can't wait for this one, brother. I wonder how it will hold up to multiple viewings but that first-time experience of seeing it was just incredible. I look forward to this black and white version as well.

The single disc gets that lovely theatrical poster for cover art. Crap.

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articl...how=all&sort=a (scroll down)

Fuckin' figures. Same thing with the I Am Legend DVD.

Any DVD reviews of this bad boy surface yet?

I still haven't seen this movie, but even I want to buy that DVD since the B&W feature sounds so damn cool.

Ah ha. I shoulda checked first over at Fangoria, where they have a rave review!

http://fangoria.com/ghastly_review.php

Just got in a copy for the contest and can't believe it has a snap case (pet peeve of mine).

Damn, I entered to win on here...sure hope I do...anybody know what it takes? Any inside track? I gots to have this DVD, but now that I've entered the contest, I don't wanna buy it in case I win it for free!

Fuck that.

Just follow the entry instructions. All I have is one copy and so far have close to 400 entries.

I was surprised to see that this is the number-one file on the Pirate Bay's top 100 right now. Why couldn't these people have paid for a ticket, dammit?

The movie's gradually making the rounds around Europe (slowly), although for some bizarre reason it hasn't hit the UK yet.