Just saw the www.darkdreams.org site....had never visited before, and that thing is just kick ass! I have never caught the 'subliminal Argento' cameo in the cab scene in SUSPERIA!!! Amazing, it's almost too overwhelming to post there

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Apparently although advertised as widescreen, The US Artisan release of
SLEEPLESS is actually full screen and, as I suspected, does not contain a
commentary with Dario! What is wrong with these people?

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I watched both Suspiria & Opera before Christmas, & wow! There was so much missing, it's almost like the rather more well known Creepers/Phenomena thing. It was sooo great to be able to see the whole thing properly at last! Now I just need to get the rest of them! With Suspiria, is it just me, or is the score dubbed in rather too quietly in certain key scenes (e.g. the Taxi ride)? The Italian version seemed much louder. Or is it just that I've not got my player set up right, since I've only got a stereo set-up, & the English tracks are in 5.1 or something. How does your tracks compare. The stereo French & Italian ones sound great though. I might have to watch it in Italian soon, though. I think that would be a really interesting experience. I think I'm familiar enough with the film to get away with it. What a shame that Anchor Bay didn't include English subtitles...

Since it seemed to be Pete and I posting here exclusively, welcome to the I Can't Sleep Club!

That's a shame about Sleepless....I thought Dario had abandoned the Panavision/Technovision format, as his last few films have been rather flat, almost full frame shows. Stendhal looks to be framed at 1.66:1, but the lower matte doesn't even show on my monitor, and there seems to be no loss of information to the picture.

Pete! Happy New Year to you! So glad you got to see Opera and Susperia at last!
Not sure about the dialogue mix, but the music was mixed even LOUDER on the old laserdisc of Susperia! It was room shaking even at low volume! I loved it

I don't have 5.1 either, just a couple of old monitors...at least for now. The Fr/It tracks always sound lousy to me, and I usually play the 2.0 mix, or whatever is close to that. I keep meaning to watch the It. track also, as with Fulci's The Beyond, and think it would be very interesting to hear the film that way....too bad no subs

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** DAWN OF THE DEAD 3 DVD set!!: Yesterday at Fangoria's Weekend of
Horrors, Anchor Bay representative Michael Felsher confirmed for us
fanatics, the rumor of the definitive DAWN OF THE DEAD 3 disc set being
released by Anchor Bay. This 3 disc set was confirmed by Felsher yesterday
who said it would be released sometime in 2002 and the set will include all
three cuts of the film (the U.S. theatrical cut, the 139 minute director's cut
and the Dario Argento cut, ZOMBIE) -also to be included is the commentary
track from the Laserdisc and very possibly (although not yet 100%
confirmed), a commentary from the four main stars of the film. Felsher also
stated the possibiliy of working with Synapse films and including DOCUMENT
OF THE DEAD in this package! This was incredible news yesterday, DAWN OF
THE DEAD is definately a top five favorite of mine and this ultimate set has
already to me salivating. I can't wait for what will surely be another amazing
release from Anchor Bay. (thanks to Harry Warden) Great to finally see a
confirmation on what was first rumoured on GOREZONE over a year ago!

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Could that be much sweeter? Although, before I get too excited, I'd better remember that Anchor Bay's In The Future page doesn't mention DOTD. Still, if only...
However, I was pleased to see on that page that you're due The Evil Dead in a 16x9 transfer with commentarys & a DTS track. Ha ha!! For some reason we got that in the UK late last year! And it's pretty damn fine, I can tell you. Now if only they would give us an Army of Darkness DC to complete the trilogy! And do Twin of Evil. And...

I'm sure this will happen, since Anchor Bay is really into reissuing things a million times, eh?

There is also a proposed 2 dvd deluxe Night of the Living Dead on the way...info at www.georgearomero.com

Sounds like the same contents as my deluxe laserdisc, but the sound is remixed to DD 5.1(why?!?!)

In other Argento news, the January 02 issue of Video Watchdog #79 has a GREAT article, covering Cat o' Nine Tails, Susperia, Opera, and Argento - An Eye for Terror on DVD. Looks like there are some notable differences in the soundtrack for Susperia, things I hadn't caught before. You can order this at www.cinemaweb.com/videowd
Great article, in fact the whole mag is always great

You have some very heavy watching to do there!

I don't have the Bava titles, but are they from VCI Video? If so, and if they're defective, good luck getting replacements...they are not as kind as ABE was with OPERA. I have a bad BIRD W/CRYSTAL PLUMAGE, missing a channel of sound and the picture has a weird two tone ltbx'ing. I've written, emailed...no luck, no replacement,although they advertised in Vid Watchdog as replacing discs. Even they're mail address was returned undeliverable!

Enjoy those flicks, you got some great ones!!!

Sad news it sounds like though....what is it with bands that can't stay together, and don't get along? this is very common in the rock world it seems....

Anyway, just heard rumours about Mr Argento's next film. Could be set in Venice (definitely potential in that), with Asia starring as a policewoman. That's not just speculation, although it's a long way off being a sure thing. I guess we'll see...

1 yr. anniversary, and still going strong...the greatest thread at MM.com! Congrats Pete!

Anyway, thought you might be vaguely interested in this brief interview with Mr Argento on the BBC Films website.

Do you think anyone else reads this one, or just groans when I Can't Sleep pops up?

Hope this is available on Monday for me, although I won't be able to get it for awhile...$$$

As for my Italian horror collection, I'm looking forward to adding the Anchor Bay release of The Church to it soon. I think it comes out next Tuesday. I also read that A.B. will be releasing Two Evil Eyes sometime this summer.

Released DVDS missing from my Argento collection are Tenebre and Phantom of the Opera. I'm not sure about getting Phantom though.

I wish someone would release Soavi's Cemetary Man. I haven't seen it, but I've heard nothing but good things. And while we're at it, why hasn't Four Flies on Grey Velvet seen a release? For shame, for shame.

NP: Morricone RMX

Mmm, The Church is a pretty good one. Not perfect but there's plenty to like in it. AB are also releasing Soavi's Stagefright next week too. I think I'll probably pick up both of them sometime...

I'm glad to have Tenebre in my collection, but the rumour is that AB are going to rerelease it sometime with 16x9 enhancement, & maybe trying to get the missing footage that was apparently too damaged in the print used for the current release (or something, I'm not too sure, really). As for Phantom, it's the only Argento I don't own. I guess I'll get it eventually (apparently there's to be a new UK DVD with Argento commentary later this year, so I'm plenty happy to hold out for that). It's not very good, but not entirely without interest - quite amusing in parts (the rat collecting mobile thingy made me laugh so much!).
Mmmm, Cemetary Man/Dellamorte Dellamore is a pretty fine film. I have it on VHS, & am thinking about buying the Italian DVD. I guess that'd be no use for you, though, unless you can play R2 PAL.
As for Four Flies, apparently Paramount have the rights to it, & are just sitting on them - not licensing them to let AB, VCI or someone do a release. Hopefully they may think about it eventually, but I'm not going to be holding my breath. And there doesn't seem to be a DVD of it anywhere, which is quite sad, even though the film isn't without it's flaws.

Oh, & I just got some amazing news today: Dead by Dawn, the Edinburgh horror film festival held at the end of March is going to be showing Nonhosonno/Sleepless!!!! It'll be only the second UK screening, & it's right here where I live. I'm going to be getting me a ticket for that pretty pretty damn pronto, methinks!

What's interesting about The Church so far is the use of music. It uses a much more ambient score during the suspense scenes than Argento would have, and the movie relies more on loud sound effects. The effect is pretty creepy.

Have been sick lately, but just wanted to share this bit from SAE:

AMO NON AMO
by Goblin

Italian re-issue of the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack! Music composed and arranged by Goblin.
Contains 6 previously unreleased tracks, including: "Amo Non Amo", "Maniera", "Both-Two", "Funky Top" and much more!!

Any new Goblin is good Goblin to me

Quick notes....haven't seen the Church for years, but don't recall being impressed by it...time to see it again, for sure I found the AB DVD in stores last week, but with the disturbing rash of ltd. ed cds, won't be able to get it until.....oh,how about 2007?
The score is a mish mash, and the Glass piece is a new arr.(if I recall) of FLOE from his GLASSWORKS album.
Tenebrae was missing about 6-10 seconds of footage that was damaged, so I hope they can find it and do that on disc, yet again! Look for that very cool Book of the Dead encased new edition of EVIL DEAD very soon as well....I think I'll boycott AB discs until they release the edition which comes with the director, and/or composer, coming to your house to screen the film and offer live commentary.
Speaking of DEAD....the new DOTDead album is a real mixed bag, beware. If you've seen the film a million times as I have, the old album is nice, sounds great, but the new tracks are taken from music/effects tracks, with drops in volume, all the sound efx, and some REALLY nasty edits....I'm really torn(open?apart?)on this one, and will share some more thoughts later

NP FOTR

I only have three little giallo related things here for ya today....well, four actually...

First, I think it's a riot that Asia Argento landed a gig in the new film XXX...she's interviewed, accompanied by a sadly tasteful photo spread in this month's FHM, Stuff, one of those mags, can't remember which....

Second, THE guilty pleasure zombie flick to end all hit DVD, and I couldn't resist but to pick one up....Bruno Mattei's HELL OF THE LIVING DEAD aka Night Of The Zombies is a true test of a gut-munching aficianado's mettle.....it's overlong at 101mins., padded to hell and back with stock footage, and scored with Goblin stock cues from Zombi, Buried Alive and Contamination! However, sitting through endless scenes of pelicans diving into streams is rewarded with some cool zombie attacks, and a nice nihilistic ending. Anchor Bay's DVD looks and sounds great, but this is really a test of how much you love pasta land gut munchers....

Third, I'm finally getting to go to a Fangoria Weekend of Horrors! Pasadena, in two weeks, can't freaking wait....get to meet two of my heroes, Tom Savini and George Romero...what the hell I can have them sign though is beyond me, and I don't even want to think about what sort of dumbass thing I'll probably say.....

Fourth, there is a new four pack of giallo's from Anchor Bay, all titles I didn't recognize(except I think Solamente Nero is in there) for $40....anyone know of this? Is it a good deal for this price, or are these four stinkers? Can I be anymore vague? If anyone cares, and knows about this, info is greatly appreciated....

Okay: Asia in XXX! Weeheeee! I think it's great news, & I'm really looking forward to seeing it. Maybe it might help get awareness of Dario's next film if she is indeed going to be in it, etc.

Hell of the Living Dead/Zombie Creeping Flesh: an absolute hoot, but it's great to hear that Goblin score. I love that guy going around taunting all the Zombies, challenging them to eat him. I'm also a big fan of Zombi 3, which Mattei took over directing from Fulci. It's technically really terrible, but one of the most pure fun & entertaining really bad films I've ever seen. Pretty cool score by Stefano Mainetti too.

Fangoria weekend: Cool-ass, man! I'm feeling pretty jealous, that sounds pretty awesome. I do have Frightfest coming up later this month, though. I'll definitely be going to some, but quite how much has yet to be decided - feeling a bit low on cash.

Giallo box set: From what I've heard over at Horror View, they're all actually pretty good films, & with decent picture/audio quality. I've not seen any of them myself yet, but I'll have to pick this one up pretty soon.

My very first thought about Asia in XXX was the same thing you said....hopefully this will help get papa more work, and awareness of his films.....

The documentary on Hell-Living Dead is fun also, noting that crazy actor who taunts the zombies(this bit was improvised) as being a real trooper, and covering the Goblin score....they say it was all paid for, but it still bugs me

Good to know there are now precisely 2 of us who are Zombie 3 fans....it's insane fun, and never dull, unlike some others, so what the hell! I watch it regularly, and enjoy Manetti's score as well.

The Fango weekend is the first type of this thing I'm able to attend, so it is going to be great...hope I can bring back some nice souvenirs

And on a similarly related horror note, whatever you do, WATCH Dog Soldiers! Caught it last night(grazie Mark H!!!), via tape from the Sci Fi Channel, and this film is just suburb, one of the best werewolf films in years. Even in an edited down version, there is gore a plenty, just a hell of a ride....

But now to another topic:

Do any of you guys know what happened to Anchor Bay's supposed release of 2 Evil Eyes? It was listed as a future release once upon a time, though now it seems to have disappeared. I've never seen the film, but I hear the Argento half is the only watchable one.

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Originally posted by Al:
Thumbs up for the Asia appearance in XXX.

But now to another topic:

Do any of you guys know what happened to Anchor Bay's supposed release of 2 Evil Eyes? It was listed as a future release once upon a time, though now it seems to have disappeared. I've never seen the film, but I hear the Argento half is the only watchable one.

(By the way, I finally caught Cemetary Man on video, and was completely baffled by the ending.)

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Hey Al! Welcome back!

I had no idea Due Occhi Diabolichi was coming to DVD at all
Hopefully it will still happen...maybe Pete knows? It is a watchable film, both segments IMO. The Donaggio score is a great one - sad and mysterious strings/chorus for the Romero episode, full on suspense and action for synths/orchestra and chorus for Argento's part, including a couple cues that sound quite Goblin-ish. The whole thing is worth watching on these merits alone, and the Romero episode does build some nice suspense...and it's always good to see Adrienne Barbeau in a genre flick. Just don't expect trademark Romero gore in this one...it's more along the lines of his recent BRUISER, more psychological and studied filmmaking.

The Argento piece is terrific, one of the last great things he directed before his current slide into mediocrity(I can't believe I STILL haven't caught up to Sleepless yet!!!!). It reminds me of TENEBRAE in parts, as far as style goes.

As for Cemetary Man.....I like the ending,don't really understand it either, but it makes sense somehow, in a weird-foreign non-verbal sense...almost as if to say, oh I get it! but being unable to explain it.
Like all great art, it just is

Ciao,
Sean

PS...the only part of Cemetary Man I don't care much for is the cheap sounding De Sica score...if only Edgar Froese had gone through with scoring it THAT would have been terrific!!!

I think I'd also heard that a different company were now supposed to be releasing it in the US, but I may have imagined that. I'll look into it.

Trauma has just been released on PAL/R2 DVD in the UK, uncut. I'm hearing pretty decent things about it, although it's stereo only. My VHS opy will do me for now, but I may be tempted to upgrade to the Italian version due in a couple of months. No word yet on the specs, but I hope in vain for a 5.1/DTS English track, plus maybe the extra 7 mins that's on the Japanese version.

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"FOUR FLIES Has, as you have no doubt guessed, been tied up in a very complex legal wrangle foir many years and is, as at present, not available for release anywhere...
This was actually something that cropped up during a Paramount discussion earlier this year. I spoke to Paramount around 7 years ago about FOUR FLIES and was told they didn't own it. I very much doubt we'll see this film on DVD any time soon."

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"Last year I conducted a poll on hometheaterforum and many of the movies that rated well on that poll are now out on DVD or are on the schedule for later this year or next year. Most of the time there isn't (or hasn't been) money, staffing or time to get bonus features onto them. But they are coming... even Four Flies on Grey Velvet, if it's feeling lucky."

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In news, apparently we can look forward to some new issues of various Simonetti stuff soon, including Demons & a couple of others I couldn't remember. I can't seem to log onto the site that's got more details of these at the moment, but I'll stick some info when I cn get it!

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Originally posted by OHMSS76 (albeit ages ago!):
On a related note, Italian horror fans should look into Lamberto Bava's A BLADE IN THE DARK for a good chuckle...

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Finally got round to checking this one out. It's my favourite Bava Jr film yet (although I've not seen either of the Demons as yet!), despite (or because of) some pretty blatent borrowings. A great cameo by Michele Soavi, & I just adore the maniacal laugh of the killer! It's so infectious, every time I hear it I have to join in! A neat bit of entertainment, thanks for the recommendation.

I've been watching a bit of Bava Sr recently - just how flippin' good is Kill, Baby...Kill!!!! It's broke my brain, but in the best possible way. I adore that film. And Black Sabbath is sensational. I really want to get Lisa & the Devil now, I keep hearing so much good stuff about that one - it sounds right up my street!

Keeping the Goblin playing,
Pete

The neverending thread (or Never Dead, which is what they humorously called PHANTASM in Austrailia) lives on again!

And I STILL TO THIS FLIPPIN DAY have not seen I Can't Sleep!!!!

Must buy DVD, but never any money left over from cd rampages for Argento buddy

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Hi gang,

Hold on to your hats...I was holding back on all this for the next update but one or two of these titbits have snuck out online so I thought seeing as it's xmas I'd give all you SGMer's the full lowdown on exactly what's coming your way...

As many of you will know SGM have been working closely with Dragon Films on some forthcoming releases, mainly the Dario Argento ones...first up in January is their new 'Suspiria' three DVD set (to which we supplied a gorgeous Italian print and filmed a brand new giallo style music video), also out then is the new three disc 'Dance of the Demons' DVD set which will contain both Demons 1 & 2 and a disc full of new extra material!

More excellent Argento special editions will follow soon after which we (SGM) have been busy helping with also...including 'Tenebre' and 'Profondo Rosso' (which we will be filming another blood soaked music video for soon) and we've just supplied Dragon with a print of (wait for it)... 'Four Flies on Grey Velvet' which will not only be getting it's worldwide DVD debut but will be yet another special edition release.

The team here at SGM also put together an extensive interview with Dario that Dragon filmed last week over in Rome that will appear soon also.

So now you know...spread the good word...we're very excited about these releases, especially as Vertigo/SGM's first music video is about to hit the streets (and at last folk can cringe at my dubious talents)...but please do make sure to credit SGM when spreading the word (as I know my announcement of 'Four Flies' will no doubt explode online amongst Argento's fans!)

Stay tuned to SGM for more details of other 'hot' titles coming your way in the New Year!

Merry Xmas!
Alan www.sexgoremutants.co.uk

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I'm intrigued and frustrated by this news, which I didn't know about. Demons, Tenebrae, Susperia....I'm VERY happy with the AB releases of these, and don't want to have to rebuy again! Demons 2 especially, a film I really dislike....a total ripoff of the first film, Videodrome,etc,ad nauseum....and that damn demon baby puppet sequence! Ack!

The news of Four Flies IS cause celebre....I've always wanted to see a good print of this unusual film, and any chance to eyeball Mimsy Farmer makes me happy

Whadda you think Pete? Good or bad news? I mean, if they did such a good job the first time, why redo it? Argento has said about all he has to say on these films, and aside from a few missing seconds of Tenebrae, all these titles turned out great!