So, of course, I had to be the first on my block to have the new Collector's Edition of Red Dawn.  After thoroughly viewing BOTH discs (all in the name of science, of course) I have to say that I am throroughly underwhelmed.  The supposed "added scenes" are just a few added seconds to scenes you've already seen.  (The battle when they take down the Re-Education camp runs a little longer, there's an extended shot of the tank pulling up to the gas pumps before the Picnic Basket ambush, etc.)  There are NO, repeat, NO "new" scenes.  The widescreen is nice, especially if you're viewing it on a big screen, but somehow (and someone correct me if I'm just screwed up somehow) the switch to widescreen managed to clip off all of my subtitles during the Russian/Spanish scenes.  Of course, being the good ARFCOMMER that I am, I already have them memorized, but it definitely takes away from the overall flow.

As far as the bonus disc goes, you've got a decent retrospective piece with interviews from Charlie Sheen and Lea Thompson, alongside some totally worthless deals about how they fabricated the Russian tanks for the movie (Really!??  I figured that the KGB just shipped a few over.)  and the Las Vegas, NM locals' take on having the movie filmed in their town.  (Picture rounding up the dullest of your neighbors and then paying them to say some variation of "Um, yeah, it was really exciting" for 20 minutes.)  Oh, and a piece on the "intensive military training" the actors received, which I am positive I am clinically dumber for watching.

Not trying to spoil anyone's good time, but just thought I'd throw it out there that if you already own Red Dawn on DVD, IMHO there's really no need to waste your money on this Not-so-special edition.  Maybe I expected too much, but I really don't see anything on here that's ANY better than the regular version.

YMMV

Edited for my sorry-ass grammar.  Told you I was dumber from watching that thing...

The other DVD I have is two-sided and comes with both the full-screen and letterbox versions.  I think it was just an $8.99 Best Buy special.

I read about it in Entertainment Weekly, and I was wondering the same things...

As far as wasting money though, I kinda figured that I owed them a little more coin more as a donation than a payment.

how was the sound? did they give it a good 5.1 mix?

What about sound?  Is it better?

They should have made it DTS.

Did it have the round count/body count feature?  If so, could you give us a round count and body count?

Thanks.

The sound is pretty good, although I don't know if it is a true 5.1 mix.  I've looked all over the box, and can't find anything specific.  It only mentions that Dolby Digital contains "up to 5.1 channels of discrete audio...".  If someone else knows for sure, please chime in.

The new addition does have the "Carnage Counter."  It's the one thing I didn't experiment with, as I didn't want anything to detract from the "new scenes" while I was watching.  I'll throw it in tomorrow and post a round/body count.

I bought it anyhow since I didn't have the first version of the DVD.   The extras and such may suck it sounds like, but the movie still kicks ass!

Quoted: IMHO there's really no need to waste your money

Well, that depends...What's it going for?

I was hoping they would of shown the scenes of the tank at the Mcdonalds like in the trailer. I wonder where that was supose to fit in.

Well, that depends...What's it going for?

$14.99 at Best Buy.  Trust me, I'm not going to be the one to say "Don't buy a copy of Red Dawn," I'm just saying that if you already have it on DVD, I personally don't think there's $14.99 worth of new material here.  YMMV

I was hoping they would of shown the scenes of the tank at the Mcdonalds like in the trailer. I wonder where that was supose to fit in.

I was hoping for that, too.  That's one of the most-talked about deleted scenes, so I was expecting to see that, but it's not there.  They do have the original trailer on the bonus disc, so you can see the two-second clip and get frustrated all over again about having missed it.

Now for the "carnage counter".  I just skimmed through the movie with this feature turned on.  It's mildly amusing, but somewhat distracting if you're trying to watch the movie, as it pops up just before the "event" (explosion, death, whatever) takes place.  There's no round count, just deaths and certain types of weapons and explosions.  The final count:

Soviet Forces: 81
Civilians: 22
Wolverines: 7
Grenades: 16
RPGs: 12
Explosions: 112

Ill be saving my money...

Quoted: Quoted: Ill be saving my money... +1. I never liked the movie to begin with...

You sir deserve to die a traitors death.

Quoted: Quoted: Ill be saving my money... +1. I never liked the movie to begin with...

Reported for bannination and flogging.

Kharn

Quoted: Quoted: Ill be saving my money... +1. I never liked the movie to begin with...

Blasphemy!

Quoted: Quoted: Ill be saving my money... +1. I never liked the movie to begin with...

I reported you for a COC  violation, Section 29, paragraph 2 states "one must watch several times a month the following movies, "Red DAwn":, "Heat" and "Dawn of the Dead."

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Ill be saving my money... +1. I never liked the movie to begin with... I reported you for a COC  violation, Section 29, paragraph 2 states "one must watch several times a month the following movies documentaries, "Red DAwn":, "Heat" and "Dawn of the Dead."

Kharn

Quoted: Quoted: Ill be saving my money... +1. I never liked the movie to begin with...

Did you loose your testicals in an industrial accident?

KILL ALL COMMIES Video, watch this:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK-fZglir0A&mode=related&search=

I'm disappointed that there are no deleted scenes but I do have to say that I enjoyed the Red Dawn Rising interviews.

Quoted: Quoted: Ill be saving my money... +1. I never liked the movie to begin with...

Heretic!  

I was hoping it would be a cleaned up print with better sound.

Quoted: Quoted: Ill be saving my money... +1. I never liked the movie to begin with...

No...NO...THIS CANNOT BE!!!!

Someone get the flamethrower!!!

The picture may be better, but they dropped the ball on the sound.  They should have went back and broken up the sound into 6.1 DTS.