A Media Blasters/Shriek Show ad in the new (non subscriber issue) Special issue of Rue-Morgue Magazine (reprints issues 1-3), boasts LIZARD IN A WOMAN'S SKIN dvd coming FEB 2005!

Should I stop holding my breath now?

I hope that's true, but I'll still believe it when I see it. ;)

LIZZARD IN A WOMAN'S SKIN finally comnig to DVD= Great news! However, I really hope that MB will give it the attention it deserves. Their latest release of THE BEAST IN HEAT features no extras at all unlike their previous Euro-cult discs. I used to consider MB a guarantee when it comes to extras. Perhaps they stopped including the interviews because Kit is no longer associating with them.

Back to LIZZARD- does anybody know if it will feature any interviews? Florinda Bolkan perhaps? She did an interview for FLAVIA so probably she is still available.

I don't mean to attack MB but I still feel disapointed by their SLAUGHTER HOTEL (problems in the soundtrack) and ZOMBI 3 (gore scenes mastered from VHS) discs.

And let's hope that they'll use something more inspired for the cover artwork of LIZZARD, I think it deserves something better than a black cover with only the film title in it. Apart from that, it's not even commercial for gods shake!

I am only writting these works with the hope that MB will return to quality releases such as their disc of SEVEN BLOODSTAINED ORCHIDS.

The cover art looks GREAT! IMHO.

thats the same art from a few years back...when it was being pumped up for release. hope they come up with something else.

I vaguely remember when the announcement of this first came out, it was being offered in 2 versions, one being a Special Edition with tons of extras. Here's hoping that that the long awaited (and overdue) release was worth the wait. Regarding the cover, I'd like to see something along the lines of the UK release by VIP. Now that was some cover!

The ad lists the specs- the one theyre advertising is a 2 disc edition! (the cover is different now, but still similarly themed)-

- Orig. "Schizoid" version
- Uncut Italian version
- Original Trailer
- fulci trailer gallery
- photo gallery
- italian and english language tracks
- mini "schizoid" presskit
- exclusive documentary "shedding the skin"

by the way, i think it was on the media-blasters/shriek show website where i saw the new cover art.

It seems the Media Blasters site has a new version of the DVD cover:



Either way, it's still not listed on the site under their Feb. 22 releases (maybe they haven't updated since they ran that ad), so here's hoping it actually does come out on that day!

Some elaboration on Reginald's post:

-The new cover features a lizard die-cut.

-"Shedding the Skin" (by Kit Gavin and Mike Barones) features interviews with Florinda Bolkan, Jean Sorel, FXers Carlo Rambaldi and Franco di Girolamo, approx. 30 min.

-U.S. SCHIZOID version features 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer, "Amazing! Mind-blowing!" new 5.1 mix, restored original mono (English language)

-LIZARD uncut version from Italian home video (beta master), 1.33:1, in Italian with English subtitles

-Original trailer, full frame video

Well I hope that the documentary "Shedding the skin" is longer than the approx 30 minutes quoted. When I paper editted and directed the original it ran for just over an hour!!

I hope so too, I have really looked forward to this disc and most of all the full documentery you guys put together. To see a cut down version would just be a crime and a terrible tease on the part of Media Blasters! :angry:

The documentary sounds promising indeed.


1.But why didn't they include the full version that Kit mentioned?

2. Why is the Italian uncut version fullscreen? that's a shame! So the only widescreen version will be the censored SCHIZOID version? Seems that we'll never get the chance to watch this film properly- that is UNCUT & WIDESCREEN!

3. The cover artwork still sucks- pretty amateurish work for a company like MB. Hey guys the least you can do is learn how to use photoshop if you want to call yourselves professionals.

No offense, I just want this film to be released the way it deserves!

I'm disapponted that the uncut version is only being offered as a cropped, mastered from video, print. At least MB could have used the old French uncut ltbx version? How I wish I'd never sold my Belgian tape of that print... I think I'll wait to see if there might be a better Italian domestic DVD at some point. What a pity after all this waiting!

Yuck! It looks like The Allman Brothers Greatest hits!
Go back to the posters, fellas, please!

Cripes! This stinks, too! This looks like a bootleg. This does not look like an official release at all. Throw some more money at a designer for Pete's sake! Do a little shopping at Profondo Rosso in Rome! Buy an American one sheet! Do something! A
bad crop from a "C" card fotobusta does not a good cover make. The Locandina, and proper 2 sheet are both much better than this. Was this designed by an intern?
I don't mean to bust chops but this is a seminal Italian horror film and deserves the same or better treatment that was lavished on Zombie. They could do a few 1200 DPI scans out of one of the Fulci books and come up with a better cover than this. And that font! Good Lord <choke>!

I just triple-checked this:

According to the editor and the DVD extras producer, the doc Kit Gavin provided for Media Blasters was almost exactly 30 minutes. I looked at Kit's original and the one that's to be on the disc. There is only an approximate 3-minute discrepancy, because of 3 minutes Media Blasters added to the running time. As for the approximate 30-minute discrepancy in question, there are no theories. I hate to contradict Kit, so hopefully there's a logical explanation that satisfies.

RE: uncut, full-screen: Despite efforts, apparently the Italian video master was the most presentable, uncut version of the film that was available to Media Blasters.

In case you're wondering, I work at Media Blasters now and only want to provide you with answers and information that is as accurate (and unbiased) as possible. Please don't hurt me.

Agree with evryone here. The new cover is still a far cry from eye cathcing. There is some super artwork for this title from it's original release. Even AIP's promotonal materials were terrific.
Very much a bummer about the uncut version being full screen and sourced from a video master ( groan ). I don't mind the English subs as I don't think there is a complete English track, although I must admit I'd prefer the uncut version to be in English with subs for the few brief cut parts. I'd have to check again but there may in fact be NO dialog in the cut material. Most of the leads are speaking English too, so there is no real benefit to hearing the dialog in any other language.
Having seen the censored AIP SCHIZOID print at the Brattle a few years ago, I know it's pretty much something I'd never want to watch again. I went home after the screening and watched my uncut VHS tape and noted the snips AIP made. There is nothing unique to SCHIZOID, it's just cut.
I feel a 2 disc set is only serving to set fans back a few extra scheckles without really delivering the goods to justify it. Should make a good rental though.
Can't put my finger on exactly why, but the cover without the images does evoke an Allman Brothers release.
Too bad this did not end up with MGM like most AIP titles. They might have done it ( and us ) right.

Exhuse me, but Kit's original documentery runs for about 75mins (NTSC). So, I hate to say it, but it is cut more then in half! :angry: A for the cover, that is yet another slap in the fan's face!

Apologies. Somewhere between Kit and the editor and producer here, something happened. No disrespect or implications intended. Like I said, surely there's an explanation. I just don't have it. Sorry I piped in.

No apologies needed Richard, not your fault. Well on Kit's end the documentery runs for about 75mins (NTSC), this is just another exhause from Media Blasters on not giving us the full deniro here! It's a shame as Kit has put in alot of hard work into this and to see it cut by 40 odd minutes! A film of this stature only has a limited fan base, so why not load this disc to the brim, that includes a full documentery as well!

A long running time does not a good documentary make... at least, not necessarily. I appreciate Kit Gavin's efforts, as well as the efforts of everybody else related to this project, but, in all honesty, the 90-minute long "Zombie" documentary was quite boring and very amateurishly edited (a recurring, serious problem with most MB releases). Look at Blue Underground's “featurettes”. They rarely surpass the 20 minute mark, and yet they are all consistently dynamic, in-depth, well-lit, well-edited and well-directed, and, most important of all, enjoyable.

And it really is depressing to hear that after such a long wait the best we are gonna get is an uncut version of the film from a video source (from a Beta tape, no less! Or is it from a PAL Beta-SP tape? That at least would be a little bit better). If that's the case, I will not be buying this disc. I made too many wrong decisions when it comes to MB already. And whatever they do, I do hope they properly flag the disc for 16:9 progressive displays at 24fps instead of 30.

But we should wait and see. With them, you never really know until the product is actually out on the streets.

As regards the documentary - well, the one I paper edited together from the source materials I was provided with which had been shot by two seperate camera men (Mike Barnas did the interviews, and Mark Vella did the posters and the London locations) - the narration and the interviews when paper edited together from an NTSC video cassette to PAL conversion came out at about 68 minutes. And that does not include a missing section where Florinda Bolkan spoke about the casting for the film. The documentary (which some may criticise) was an overview of the giallo - narrated by Penny Brown (one of the hippies) and also featuring interviews with Brown, Mike Kennedy (not the easiest to find), Carlo Rambaldi (who I don't think has been interviewed on DVD before!), Jean Sorel and Florinda Bolkan. There was talk about some of the more famous scenes in the film, locations and the casting, also footage of how the London locations looked today. Finding the exact street where the Hammonds have their appartment is quite a challange!

Sorry if the documentary on ZOMBI 2 was "boring" - but most people seem to like it, though agreed, in spots, the editing could have been tighter. Part of the reason why Media Blasters products, that Mike and I worked on, have had less high production values than the Blue Underground releases is because we had a considerably lower budget - and were essentially a two man crew unlike BU who employ many more people. Despite being polished and professional, personally I find that the Blue Underground featurettes somewhat lacking at times, though nicely put together, people don't really say much and there are lots of clips from the films - and not much of behind the scenes stories or anecdotes. Also, sometimes it would be nice to see more people involved in the film other than just one or two.

Anyway - each to their own, everyone's method is different. Lots of people seem to have liked the long documentary on Zombi 2 - lots of time and effort went into finding all the people involved behind the scenes for that one, proving that Gino de Rossi and Gianetto di Rossi are not the same person, the elusive Fabrizio de Angelis, etc, etc. There could have been further interviews as well - with cast members - but that didn't happen for various reasons.

As for interviews on LIZARD, again well, there could have been more - I had interviews lined up with Ennio Morricone, Luigi Kuveiller and had been trying to arrange an interview with Ely Galleani as well thanks to and through all round good guy Andrea Carpentieri. Sadly this did not happen. I also contacted Silvia Monti (who didn't want to appear on camera), and wrote to Anita Strindberg again.

Though I can't speak for Media Blasters art department - I must confess I don't care much for the artwork/lettering on the cover either. I provided a good number of stills but this is what they chose to go with. Unless they change it - it looks like it will be like this. A fun idea might be to have the SCHIZOID artwork on the DVD with that version on and LIZARD artwork on the other.

Also, yes, there is another print out there for this great film (one of my favorite gialli) which is better than an Italian video - which is a French (and longer print) of the film and no doubt in the correct OAR - which was provided to a major distribuion house by the son of the French producer. I am surprised Media Blasters didn't use this rather than a full screen Italian beta tape.

Also, as they were working with MGM, according to the original pressbook - MGM had extra footage cut from the regular US print which could be attained by movie theaters in the US.

Thanks for the work on Zombi 2 Kit, and Mike....my eyes lit up each time someone new popped onscreen, and to finally see who was behind the makeup for the poster zombie was something special indeed.

I don't know the reasons for the split from MB, but they should do everything in their power to reacquire your services, imho.


Richard, would it be possible to pass the above suggestions on to John?
I'm sure he wants to do right by this title...and maybe he'll reconsider, and look into tracking down the French print mentioned above?

Heck, maybe if John is reading this, he could give us an update like he used to?
Maybe even let a true believer like myself know when I can send in my WEREWOLF WOMAN disc for a replacement?

Fingers crossed......

This is interesting, anyone know if there's the possibility of seeing this French version in a seperate r2 release any time soon? I suspect I'll still pick up the Media Blasters release no matter what, but an uncut version in a watchable version would be nice. I appreciate the thought to put the uncut version on the dvd in any form, but I never end up watching more than ten minutes when it's taken from a lowgrade tape, like the Osterman Weekend disc.

The cover art isn't great, but I don't really look at the cover past the first viewing anyway...now, if the sides of the case are hideous, I might take issue...

So the conclusion is that since the 2 versions of the movie are not definitive (the widescreen one is cut and the uncut one is not widescreen!), the only good reason to buy this is the documentary. So Media Blasters... why butchering it since it's your only strong selling point in the disc?

Just out of curiosity, what is the (time)difference between the two versions?

I second this. It has consistently been my biggest gripe about Media Blasters' releases. The source materials being used are often of an extremely high quality, but due to this simple (but consistently applied) flagging error none of them actually look as good as they should. Is there a reason why Media Blasters does this, or is it a simple mistake (in which case, I wonder why they haven't spotted and rectified it yet)?

Kit, can elaborate on the longer French version. Longer seems to indicate that it has material ( minutes? frames ? ) not found in the Italian materials used for the DVD. This would seem to invalidate the uncut status of this 'special edition'.
There has been a haunting chorus ever since word of this getting a release began many moons ago. It goes somethign like this..." I HOPE THEY DON"T SCREW THIS ONE UP! "
The tape I have is an uncut compsite and was sourced from 2 releases, one being French...so as they say, the plot thickens.
Re: the MGM connection. They were involved I take it? And according to the pressbook, MGM ( you mean AIP ? ) had extra cut footage availbale to US theaters? This sounds like a very unusual arrangement indeed. So AIP had cut stuff back in the day, and now MGM can't locate it?

My heart really sinks when I hear of this - I had looked forward to a widescreen, uncut version of this great film and now it sounds like we won't get either! But maybe, just maybe there is hope, and we should just wait and see until the disc hits the stores before giving up.

Anyway, this sounds like a prime title for a European company like X-Rated, Raro or Anchor Bay UK! Even if the Media Blasters release doesn't work out I'm sure the film will turn up in good form sooner or later. Until then, I'm happy I held onto my UK pre-cert tape, it almost sounds like it's the best deal at the moment, cut though it is...

Maybe it boils down to how interesting the 70 minutes really were.
I'd much rather watch a tight 30 minute featurette, with motion and stills to cover video or audio drop outs than to watch an excrutiatingly boring additional 40 minutes. Extra time almost never means extra quality -in fact the reverse is almost always true. In the case of LIZARD IN A WOMAN'S SKIN, I haven't seen either and I'm not passing judgement on Kit in any way, but I have seen some of the "documentaries" that have graced previous MB product (releases such as this), and they have been morbidly dull. A few snips here and there, a zoom on a poster there, and footage from the film to round it out tend to make for a more enjoyable viewing experience. A series of uninterrupted, non-intercut, bouncy camerawork interviews with caterers, stylists and extras who don't recall anything about the production of the film for which they're being interviewed might be better served as Easter Eggs, than as time extending visuals in the body of a featurette. You'll get a lot more food at Hometown Buffet, but I'd still rather eat at Lawry's.
Anybody agree?

Perhaps it's this one? http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...=music&n=507846


After it was mentioned I had to go and check it out over at Amazon, because it got me thinking it looked like one too. Or maybe it was just the suggestion that prompted it?

Anyway, sorry to get off topic. I've been, like everyone else out here, looking forward to this release for sometime now. Although the cover artwork is an upset, it's a bit more disappointing to me about the cropped "uncut" Italian version vs. the anamorphic "cut" English version. Why couldn't it be the other way around for God's sake? Well, everything accept the chopped up version of it, of course. Very disapponiting indeed. I was really sorry to hear about Kit's Docu getting cut down also. It's a loss for all of us. Although I do still look forward to it's release, I'm not as excited as I was.

Dean

Well, that's exactly what I was trying to say in my above post (see top of page). I take it you are referring mostly to the extras on the 2-disc, 25th Anniversary Edition of "Zombi", and in that case I couldn't agree more. Quality over quantity. Simple, yet very difficult to achieve, it seems. That particular featurette suffered from plenty of bad choices, from awkward camera set-ups and poor framing (why, for example, have your interviewees standing in the back of their garden, looking uncomfortable, and in the type of setting where external noises interfere with what they are saying? Others were overexposed or underexposed, slightly out of focus, etc). And the editing, both visually and content-wise, needs to be polished a lot. I'm not talking about flashy jumpcuts or anything like that, just plain visual rhythm basics. I repeat, however, that I greatly appreciate Kit’s efforts in locating these people, a task which I’m sure is anything but easy, and the good side of all this audiovisual amateurism is that we get to see people we always read about the way they are in a real setting, as visually embarrassing as that sometimes may be for the person being interviewed. But I can’t help to point out how badly this company needs to get a hold of real producers, cameramen and sound guys.

In any case, what's most important is the film and the way it's presented. A good, uncut, correctly framed and correctly flagged transfer above all. But in this case, unfortunately, it looks like we are not getting that, either.

Hopefully, we are all making much ado about nothing here and with some luck we will all be proven wrong.

Oh noooo!! I seem to have bad luck with my video to DVD upgrades. First I swapped my US tape of Slaughter Hotel before I read there is some nudity in the tape not found in the MB’s DVD. And now as I just have swapped my Belgian Lizard tape I read this…

Anyways, the Belgian PAL tape under the title le Venin de la Peur on Hollywood Vidéo is a nice ws-print (around 1.85:1) and according to my notes runs 95.15. You can find the cover art here:

http://www.vhs-survivors.com/page/detail.php?id_liste=960

If all of this speculation is accurate, then I am glad I don't have this on pre-order. I think I'll sit back and wait to read the reviews after it has been released.

Unfortunately, I fear the worst given Media Blaster's past performances. I'd hoped for a recall on Slaughter Hotel. When none was forthcoming I admit to being angry but forgiving.

I'll wait to reserve judgement on "Lizard..." but hold no great anticipation of anything other than what I've read so far in this forum.

Whether or not MB is a long term success or failure is left for history to decide. But I, for one, grow weary of spending hard earned money on inferior products.

Shriek Show may be a double entendre after all.

As regards "interviewing people in their backyard" - I assume you are refering to Gianetto and Mirella Sforza de Rossi. They actually chose that they wanted to be interviewed outside in their backyard. They had a tree in their garden they had dubbed their "zombie tree" hence they wanted to be interviewed next to it.

Only 6 people were interviewed for LIZARD - there could have been more.

I am sure that when the documentary comes out there will be moans that it is presented as a documentary (with narration by Penny Brown) rather than a feauturette, and that it covers old ground explaining the background to the giallo, etc. This was meant as an introduction to people who had bought the film and were interested in getting into this branch of film - not everybody is as knowledgable as some claim to be.

I like to think the 70 minutes were interesting - and I spend 80 plus hours paper editing the piece together. I approached it as professionally as I could given the footage and the equipment I had available (as well as the time) I had at my disposition. It certainly is better edited than earlier Shriek Show releases in the early part of 2001-3. All I can say is I tried.

More not always mean better - but personally I find it more fun to see the people in front of and behind the camera today about these films. I should much rather see a number of faces than just one or none at all. I always felt DVD was was the ne plus ultra when it came to conserving film history and memories (especially as these films are getting older and people are dying). This may in some cases be the last chance to hear or see someone speak before their memories are lost forever. Also being a die hard enthusiast of these films for the most part the more someone has to say (as long as it's informative, honest and interesting) makes for a better experience. You can't really expect to cram 6 people's memories of a film into 20 minutes, intrespliced with footage from the film, and expect to hear anything worth while.

Again, had Mike and I had time and budgets like Blue Underground, together with a larger crew, and more enthusiasm backing the work we did in locating the people - well, things might have been different. People however seemed determined to spit venom (and still do) whenever possible, despite the fact, in some cases a lot of time care passion and enthusiasm has been spent trying to locate people and through limited resources products were meant to get better.

By all this bad mouthing and griping, you realise, Media Blasters are less and less likely to put effort into the extras if all that happens is complaint after complaint about the extras. I understand the complaints about the incorrect framing, etc (and I too was disappointed by the sound glitch in SLAUGHTER HOTEL, etc) - but all this bemoaning the extras before even seeing them means that any future releases are likely to have LESS on them rather than more. Shame, as Media Blasters have some really good films coming up, with people I am in contact with, and should have liked to have persuaded MB to use my services to speak to and interview. Nearly the entire cast in fact of a highly regarded cult movie, but by this continual complaining, that seems unlikely to happen.

And no, I'm not going to tell you what the film is. Not to be elusive, but some things are not to be posted on public forums before being made official. I hope and trust tht is respected!

I am solidly with Kit on this issue. Featurettes and behind the scenes stuff are all icing on the cake, the main course being the film itself. I am all for griping about how the FILM itself is treated, even prior to it's release. But harping on extras seems to me to be misplaced energy.
I love any extra I can lay my eyes on...if it's not terribly interesting, no one will force me to watch it again! For the record, the idea of the documantary approach to the presentation sounds really good and it will be my primary reason for renting it.
As for the difference between the two versions SS will release, timewise it's probably 60-90 seconds and involves two sequences in the film ( one rather notroious, both gory ). There is nothing unique to SCHIZOID, it's just cut down.

Actually, in the Euro Horror Forum at Horrordvds.com , J.S. has said that he wanted to reply here, but he's been unable to register with Mobius. He also answers some of the questions raised here about the French print and other Lizard-related things.

...Not trying to cause any trouble or flaming here, BTW; just sharing what I read elsewhere because I figured most people reading here would be interested.

FTR, I dug the Zombi 2 doc, and I agree I'd much rather have a slightly "amateurishly" shot interview than a bunch of clips from the film padding out the running time (a pet peeve of mine - I just watched the movie 5 minutes ago; I don't need to see a five minute rehash). But I don't think I could really say either company does better docs in general. It comes down to a case by case basis.My Webpage

You've got to be kidding me -- John wrote us, and we responded. And we gave him an account, as we do everyone who writes us and requests an account, per the note about user registrations stickied at the top of every forum. Anyone expecting me to be at my computer every waking moment to read and answer email is going to be gravely disappointed.

I think we'll take a break from LIZARD and Media Blasters discussions for a while -- this has crossed the point of being unreasonable. John's feedback is linked above anyway, so there's really nothing more to say on the subject that already hasn't been raised. If I'm wrong about that, please email me and we'll reconsider closing this.