Widescreen Special Edition of 28 Days Later

A powerful virus has transformed the world around him into a seemingly desolate wasteland, locking victims into a permanent state of murderous rage. Now, a handful of survivors must fight to stay alive, unaware that the worst is yet to come. Directed by Danny Boyle, the film stars Christopher Eccleston, Cillian Murphy, and Megan Burns.

The 28 Days Later DVD is packed with a wealth of special features, despite being a single-disc release. The most notable inclusion is the alternate ending, which was shown in theaters a couple of months into the film's run. As director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland explain in their optional commentary, this alternate ending is much bleaker than the theatrical version. Additionally, there is another alternate ending that is similar to the theatrical ending but slightly less upbeat.

The most intriguing feature, however, is the "radical" alternate ending that takes the film in an entirely different direction midway through. Although this ending was not filmed, Boyle and Garland provide a narrated storyboard sequence, which is a surprisingly engrossing 11-minute exploration of an alternative path.

Boyle and Garland's commentary track for the film itself is also highly informative, as they discuss the challenges of capturing the shots of a deserted London and their reasoning behind the choice of the theatrical ending.

The DVD also includes six deleted scenes, with Boyle and Garland's commentary ranging from "great sequence" to "a disgrace." A 24-minute documentary is included as well, which spends the first 10 minutes discussing the real-life threat of infectious diseases before recapping the film and exploring elements such as the use of digital video and the boot camp the actors had to attend.

Even the stills galleries on the DVD have commentaries, demonstrating the level of care and attention to detail that went into the special features. Overall, the 28 Days Later DVD is a true labor of love, offering a wealth of supplementary content that enhances the viewing experience for fans of the film.

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