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January 31
Fox April sweeps - 12:53pm
Just announced from Fox Home Video is a Spring wave of new and
catalog releases, including another batch of family-themed releases.
Let's start with the two new big releases, led by the recent action
flick Behind Enemy Lines due on 4/23. In addition to the
2.35;1 anamorphic widescreen transfer and DTS and Dolby Digital
5.1 surround tracks, this two-disc set comes feature loaded with
two audio commentaries, with director John Moore and editor Martin
Smith, and producers John Davis and Wick Godfrey, a behind-the-scenes
featurette, the original main title and end credit sequences and
an alternate "Take Off" montage, all with optional commentary,
3 extended scenes, and trailers. The critical hit The Deep
End debuts on 4/16, and features a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen
transfer, Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 surround tracks, audio commentary
by filmmakers David Siegel and Scott McGehee, "The Anatomy
of a Scene" Sundance Special, featurette, still gallery,
theatrical trailer,and TV spots. Finally on 4/16 comes the Martin
Lawrence comedy Black Knight. Presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic
widescreen, extras include two commentaries, with director Gil
Junger, and actor Martin Lawrence, a "Choreography"
and "Stunt Scenes" featurettes, outtake reel, and trailers.
Retail is $26.95 a pop.
Also just announced (finally!) is a 3/12 release date for a new
special edition of Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet. Presented
in a new anamorphic widescreen transfer with English Dolby Digital
5.1 and 2.0 surround tracks, extras include an audio commentary
by Luhrmann, Catherine Martin, Donald McAlpine and Craig Pearce,
a Director's Gallery, Director Of Photography Design Gallery,
an Interview Gallery, "Impact Piece," 2 music videos,
trailers, and TV spots. Retail is $19.95, and still no word on
that planned "Red Curtain Trilogy" box set of Luhrmann's
Moulin Rouge, Strictly Ballroom, and Romeo + Juliet. Stay tuned.
Next up on 5/28 comes three family titles, all presented in new
anamorphic widescreen and full screen transfers, long with trailers
and other extras as noted. The title include The Man From Snowy
River, The Pagemaster (featurette, 2 music videos,
TV spots) and Dunston Checks In (featurette.) Retail is
$19.95 each.
And last but certainly not least, we received a confirmation
from Fox PR today that the upcoming The X-Files: The Complete
Fifth Season will indeed be in anamorphic widescreen, and
that we'll be receiving a full press release very soon. Stay tuned!
MGM May classics - 12:01am
Just in from MGM is a wave of classics due to hit DVD on 5/7.
Retail is only $14.95 each, extras include trailers only, and
the titles are The Devil's Brigade (2.35:1 non-anamorphic
widescreen, mono), The Pride And The Passion (1.66:1 non-anamorphic
widescreen, mono), The Vikings (2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen,
mono), the 1968 version of The Hound Of The Baskervilles
(1.66:1 non-anamorphic widescreen, mono, featurette), Khartoum
(2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, stereo) and I Want To Live!
(1.66:1 non-anamorphic widescreen, mono, featurette.) MGM will
also release three two-disc 2-packs on 5/7: The Great Escape/Run
Silent, Run Deep, The Alamo/The Kentuckian, and A
Bridge Too Far/Paths Of Glory. Retail is only $19.95 each.
Columbia classics - 12:01am
Speaking of classics, or sorta-classics, Columbia has announced
two new catalog releases due on 4/23. One of Robin Williams's
few box office disappointments, The Survivors isn't getting
the deluxe treatment on DVD. Specs include anamorphic widescreen
and full screen transfers, English, French and Spanish mono tracks,
and bonus trailers. Columbia will also release another Goldie
Hawn comedy gem to go along with Cactus Flower (see announcement
below), Butterflies Are Free. The film is presented in
anamorphic widescreen and full screen, with English and French
mono tracks, and no extras. Retail is $19.95 each.
January 29 - 30
I'm with The Band - 8:04pm
Just in from MGM is a 5/7 release date for the classic Martin
Scorsese documentary The Last Waltz. This special edition
includes a new 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, two audio
commentaries with producer Robbie Robertson, and director Martin
Scorsese and performers, "Revisiting The Last Waltz"
featurette with Robertson and Scorsese, and trailers. Retail is
$24.95.
The truth is out there... - 8:04pm
Well, after their announcement of those ten pan & scan reissues,
Fox has now announced a 5/14 release date for The X-Files:
The Complete Fifth Season, and the specs might again disappoint.
There is some controversy among X-philes about when the show began
to be shot in the HDTV-friendly 1.78:1 widescreen aspect ratio
- some say the fifth season, others the sixth, when the show moved
from Vancouver to Los Angeles. In any case, specs state full frame
only, along with English and French 2.0 surround tracks and English
and Spanish subtitles. Extras include the usual audio commentaries,
"The Truth About Season Five" featurette, special effects
clips, and more. Retail is $149.95. Click
here for more info.
Harry Potter arrives... - 6:12pm
In what is becoming an interesting day for announcements (see
Top Stories),
we now have an announcement of... an announcement. Warner Home
Video has just sent a mini-press release heralding the pending
announcement of the Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone
DVD. This event is only accessible to members of the press and
retail via the WHV (Warner Direct) website and will take place
on 2/5 at 9am and 12pm PST. But we'll be there and report back
the news ASAP, so stay tuned!
January 28
The champ - 6:12pm
Yikes, that was fast! Not quite the big hit Sony was probably
expecting, just announced for a 4/23 DVD release is the Michael
Mann's biopic Ali. Also announced is a 4/30 release date
for Not Another Teen Movie. Disc specs have not been announced,
but retail is $27.95 each. Stay tuned for more details...
In other Columbia news, arriving on 4/23 is the comedy classic
Cactus Flower, featuring Goldie Hawn's Academy Award-winning
performance. The disc is a bare bones release, featuring a 1.85:1
anamorphic widescreen and full screen transfers, an English mono
track, and trailers. Retail is $19.95.
Fox goes pan & scan- 1:38pm
Remember those three Fox titles announced a week or so ago -
Cast Away, Independence Day and The Abyss -
that were to be repriced single-disc versions of the previous
feature-loaded, two-disc special editions? Well, there's now a
new little wrinkle to the story. Arriving on 5/7, these reprices
will now be joined by seven additional titles - Men of Honor,
Anna and the King, Big Momma’s House, Edward
Scissorhands, Entrapment, Lake Placid and Predator.
The catch? These are actually new pan & scan versions, and
a nod to the growing demand by many consumers who "don't
like those black bars." According to a recent Video Store
article, according to Fox senior VP of marketing Peter Staddon,
these releases are "a reflection that the mass market demographic
doesn't want those black bars." The titles are all priced
at $19.95, and the small thanks and praise department, the widescreen
releases with all the features are staying at the market (at the
higher list price, however) and Fox is not abandoning widescreen.
Since this a sure topic for an upcoming editorial here, I'll
stay away from the soap box for now. However, I have to ask, just
how many versions do we really need of Predator!? This is now
the third domestic release of the Schwarznegger hit, with
a fourth on the way (that special edition that Staddon said wasn't
being worked on a few months...go figure.) Is the demand so great
for Predator that we need a pan & scan version? Ah, well,
watch for an editorial soon...
January 27
Where nothing is as it seems... - 12:35pm
With possible Oscar nominations on the way, David Lynch's acclaimed
dark drama Mulholland Drive will arrive on DVD on 4/9.
While lacking in supplements, the disc features a 1.85:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer, English Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround
tracks, production notes, filmographies, and the trailer. Retail
is $24.95.
"Lifetime" with guns - 12:35pm
Though it didn't make much of an impression at the U.S. box office
(it was a much bigger hit in its native UK) Buena Vista has set
a 4/9 release for a special edition of the "female Lock,
Stock & Two Smoking Barrels" High Heels and Low Lifes.
The disc features a 1.85;1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English
5.1 Dolby Digital surround track, audio commentary with director
Mel Smith, a making of featurette, an "Action Overload"
music montage, and trailers. Retail is $29.95.
Hitting DVD a week later on 4/16 is the box office dud Texas
Rangers. The disc features an anamorphic widescreen transfer,
Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track, the "Behind The Badge"
and original making-of featurettes, a storyboard comparison, still
gallery, and the trailer. Retail is $29.95.
January 25 - 26
Chance encounter - 11:34am
Hitting DVD on 4/9 from Buena Vista is the romantic comedy Serendipity,
starring John Cusack and Pearl Harbor's Kate Beckinsdale. The
disc comes quite feature loaded, including a 1.85:1 anamorphic
widescreen transfer, English Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track,
English and French subtitles, audio commentary with director Peter
Chelsom, "On The Set" featurette, a director's production
diary; deleted scenes with commentary, still gallery with storyboard
comparison, and the trailer. Retail is $29.95.
O-spot - 11:34am
Just announced from USA are the final specs for the Orgazmo
two-disc special edition, arriving on 4/23. Sporting a new anamorphic
widescreen transfer and Dolby Digital 2.0 surround track, the
extras are plentiful and include no less than three audio commentary
tracks - "Drunken" audio commentary with director Trey
Parker, a cast and crew commentary, and the "Wild" audio
commentary with adult industry cameos, the all-new "The Book
Orgazmo" documentary, the original EPK, additional behind-the-scenes
footage, an outtake reel, Dragon Con footage, photo gallery, and
trailers including the original 16mm trailer. Retail is $29.95.
Speaking of Orgazmo, we've got more cool images from the upcoming
DVD courtesy of the disc's production team. Check out our growing
Orgazmo
gallery for more menu shots and screen captures from the
upcoming documentary, and watch for more soon!
Terrible twosome - 12:03am
Be afraid, be very afraid. If you thought you'd seen the last
of that dynamic duo Mary-Kate and Ashley on DVD, think
again! On 5/21, Warner release another terrifying trio of the
little vixen's best work, the epics Billboard Dad, It
Takes Two, and Switching Goals. Each disc features
a 4:3 Full Frame transfer, English Dolby Digital 2.0 surround
track, a "Fashion Close-up," cast info, and promos for
other Mary-Kate and Ashley DVDs and products. Retail is $19.95.
Also arriving from Warner this spring are two new special interest
and IMAX titles. 4/30 sees the debut of Hyperspace, a journey
into state-of-the-art computer graphics, presented in full frame
and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, along with 30 minutes of never-before-seen
footage, a still gallery, and Encyclopedia of Space Facts. On
the IMAX front is Cosmic Voyage, presented in 4:3 IMAX
dimensions and Dolby Digital 5.1, with a featurette and trailers.
Retail is $19.95 each.
January 24
Dance Hall Days - 12:01am
Though Fox still hasn't announced any details on that long-awaited
Red Curtain Trilogy box set, a collection of three of Baz Luhrmann's
latest films - Moulin Rouge, Romeo + Juliet and Strictly Ballroom
- Buena Vista has announced the full specs for their own Strictly
Ballroom standalone release. (Though Fox is distributing the
Red Curtain box set, Strictly Ballroom is a Buena Vista title,
and the 3-pack will be a joint release between the two studios.)
The standalone version includes a new 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen
transfer, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track, French and Spanish
subtitles, a new audio commentary with director Baz Luhrmann "and
others" still TBA, the "Samba To Slow Fox Dancing"
featurette, a "3-D gallery," a deleted scene hidden
as an easter egg, and trailers. Retail is $29.95 and street date
3/19.
Random notes - 12:01am
Some new and noteworthy news tidbits for ya all, and let's start
with the bad news first. If you have preordered Paramount's Vampire
In Brooklyn due out next Tuesday, you may want to hold off.
The Dolby Digital 5.1 track has been mixed incorrectly, and the
front right channel has been swapped with the left surround, making
for quite the interesting sonic experience. Paramount is aware
of the defect, and we hope to get word shortly on what any potential
solution might be. See our review
for more on the problem, and stay tuned.
In other mistakes, a couple of upcoming Columbia titles due this
coming Tuesday have mislabeled packaging. Note that the DTS track
has been dropped from the Groundhog Day special edition
(see our review
for more) despite what the packaging states, and the actual English
mixes on the disc are Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 surround only,
not DTS. Also, the Tuesday release of Funny Lady (see review)
does not contain a full frame version as listed, only the 2.35;1
anamorphic widescreen version. Columbia has indicated to us that
the packaging will be corrected on future pressings of these titles.
Lastly, in better news, if you're a fan of the Stargate SG-1
cable series you're in luck. MGM has announced via their sci-fi
newsletter that the second season of the show will be released
on DVD in September 2002. Stay tuned for specs...
Three from Columbia - 12:01am
Just announced from Columbia are a trio of new April releases.
Leading the pack is Woody Allen's Husbands And Wives on
4/16, presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and full screen,
with Allen's customary mono track and no extras aside from the
trailer. Next up on 4/16 is the Ray Harryhausen classic The
3 Worlds Of Gulliver, presented in full frame with English,
French and Spanish mono tracks, the trailer, and three featurettes,
"This Is Dynamation," "The Harryhausen Chronicles,"
and "The 3 Worlds Of Gulliver." Arriving a couple of
weeks earlier on 4/2 is the Gene Hackman western Bite The Bullet,
also with anamorphic widescreen and full screen transfers, English
and French mono tracks, but no extras, not even the trailer. Retail
is $24.95 each.
Last but not least, just announced from Columbia are a new batch
of price drops on eight popular DVD titles. Starting 4/2, the
following will all be reduced to $19.95: Cat Ballou, Ghosts
Of Mars, Girlfight, Joe Dirt, Stand By Me
(Special Edition), Steel Magnolias, Tootsie, and
Tailor Of Panama.
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