With the big X-sequel X-Men 2 due to hit theaters next spring, Fox Home Entertainment will prime the pump on February 11th with the long-awaited new X-Men Collector's Edition, a 2-disc re-release of the original Bryan Singer blockbuster. Presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen only with Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround tracks, the extras are plentiful. Disc one features a new Singer introduction to the 96-minute theatrical version of the film (a long-planned new cut has been scrapped), deleted scenes, and an audio commentary by Singer (and other participants TBA). Disc two features another intro from Singer, the featurettes "The Making Of X-Men: Part 1 (Origin Of The X-Men)", "Part 2 (The Uncanny Suspects)", "Part 3 (X-Factor)", "Part 4 (Shooting X-Men)" and "Part 5 (Remembering The X-Men)," and a gaggle of promo items including 3 trailers, 13 TV spots, 11 Internet interstitials, an "X-Men 2" teaser trailer and a short "Behind the Scenes of X-Men 2" preview. Expect even more features by the time the full press release arrives, and retail is $26.95.

Next up is good news for Jennifer Aniston fans, as everyone's favorite Friend finally made a good movie! Arriving on January 7th from Fox Home Entertainment, the acclaimed slice-of-life drama The Good Girl comes complete with plenty of extras. Containing both anamorphic widescreen and full screen transfers and English and French 5.1 Dolby surround tracks, extras include audio commentary by director Miguel Arteta, writer Mike White and Aniston, 9 deleted scenes and an alternate ending with optional commentary, and the trailer. Retail is $27.95.

Also just announced from Fox is the recent Robin Williams thriller One Hour Photo, making its DVD debut on January 28th. This one comes in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen with English and French Dolby Digital 5.1 surround tracks, and plenty of extras: an audio commentary by director Mark Romanek and Williams, a "Charlie Rose Show" interview with the star, the Cinemax making-of and Sundance "Anatomy Of A Scene" specials, and the theatrical trailer. Retail is also $27.95.

Rounding out this latest batch of Fox announcements is M*A*S*H: The Complete Third Season, due to hit shelves on February 18th. This three-disc set includes all the third season episodes presented in full frame and English mono, and with or without the laugh track. There are no extras, and retail is $39.95 for the set.

Street date alert - 12:01am

On again, off again... About a Boy is fast becoming the little DVD that could. After two dates and as many postponements, Universal Studios Home Video has given the Hugh Grant charmer a new January 7th street date. Sources say legal issues revolving around the use of the song "Killing Me Softly" held up the release, and the removal of the previously-announced "Killing Me Softly" sing-along karaoke feature. But there are plenty of other features to make up for the omission, including a new screen-specific audio commentary with directors Chris and Paul Weitz deleted scenes with optional commentary, both the "Silent Sigh" and "Something To Talk About" music videos by Badly Drawn Boy, an "English to English" dictionary, the complete "Santa's Super Sleigh" lyrics, trailers and ROM extras including a link to exclusive content. Separate anamorphic widescreen and pan & scan versions will be made available, and retail is $26.95.

More Kurosawa - 12:01am

Home Vision Entertainment, one of the leading distributors of foreign and classic films on DVD, announced at the 38th Chicago International Film Festival Critic's Choice on October 10th that they will be releasing Akira Kurosawa's classic Ikiru in 2003. Roger Ebert hosted a screening of the acclaimed drama at the festival, and remarked "I first saw Ikiru in 1960 or 1961... Over the years I have seen Ikiru every five years or so, and each time it has moved me, and made me think."

Criterion has not yet announced any definitive specs or a street date for the release, but based on their past Kurosawa DVD releases, this should be another winner. Watch this space in the coming weeks for more...