DVDFile

We reported the Déjà vu standard DVD specs last week, but we also wanted to alert you to a 24 April release date for its Blu-ray Disc edition from Buena Vista. No word yet as to full specs (although they’re likely to be the same as the DVD); all we know for sure is that it will have a widescreen 2.35:1 1080p transfer. We’ll keep you updated. Retail is $34.99.












Frank Miller fans will be happy to hear that Sin City is coming to Blu-ray Disc later this year from Buena Vista. No firm release date has been set, but consider this an announcement of an upcoming announcement. We’ll let you know when we know more.















After releasing each season on DVD chronologically, Paramount has officially announced that on 22 May, they’ll release MacGyver: The Complete Series in a giant box set. No word yet as to whether there are any new bonuses specific to this box set. There’s a rumor that Paramount might be including a few MacGyver made-for-TV movies in the set, but that has yet to be confirmed. Those of you who have waited for the big prize as far as MacGyver goes, this one’s for you. A retail price has yet to be announced. Stay tuned.








The Hilary Swank hit Freedom Writers is coming to DVD on 17 April from Paramount. Also starring Patrick Dempsey (Grey’s Anatomy), the film will arrive on DVD with an anamorphic widescreen transfer, a Dolby Digital 5.1 track, some deleted scenes, a handful of featurettes, a stills gallery, and trailers. Retail is $24.95.














Two new Universal box sets are coming. On 12 June, we’ll get John Wayne: The Screen Legend Collection. The set will include Hellfighters, Reap the Wild Wind, Rooster Cogburn, The Spoilers, and The War Wagon.
















Also on 12 June, Universal releases James Stewart: The Screen Legend Collection.  It will feature The Glenn Miller Story, Next Time We Love, Shenandoah, Thunder Bay, and You Gotta Stay Happy. No word yet on bonuses. Each will retail for $26.98.















Here are some new titles from Criterion. The hard-to-find Jean-Pierre Melville classic Army of Shadows gets a 2-disc edition with a commentary, interviews, and a few excerpts from archival television programs; it will retail for $39.95 on 15 May.















Shohei Imamura’s Vengeance Is Mine doesn’t get the double-disc treatment, but it will feature some interviews and trailers; retail will be $29.95 on 15 May.

















Ugetsu director Kenji Mizoguchi’s Sansho the Bailiff’s 2-disc edition will have a commentary, some interviews, and an expansive book including the story the film based upon and a handful of essays from scholars; the SRP will be $39.95 on 22 May.















And finally, Carol Reed’s The Third Man will get an upgrade from Criterion’s already released version; this 2-disc edition will come with a new 1.33:1 transfer, a new commentary, a ton of featurettes, archival footage, and Joseph Cotton’s alternate opening voice-over narration. It’ll carry an SRP of $39.95 on 22 May.














BBC Video is preparing a 24 April release for Planet Earth: The Complete Collection, the staggeringly panoramic documentary that brings some of Earth’s most elusive creatures right into your living room. Filmed entirely in HD over the course of 2,000 days with 40 cameramen, this epic from the makers of Blue Planet: Seas of Life will be a one-of-a-kind HD home viewing experience.











On that same day, you can also expect a simultaneous Blu-ray Disc release.  Retail for each will be $99.98.

















HBO is preparing a 12 June release for Deadwood: The Complete Third Season. This exceptionally popular HBO series featuring the meanest potty-mouths in the West will arrive on DVD with 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfers, Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 mixes, a handful of commentary tracks, a few featurettes, and a stills gallery. Retail is $99.98.







MGM is prepping a 27 March release for The Addams Family: Volume 2. Following last year’s popular volume one release, this follow-up will include 21 crazy episodes from the series in its original full frame video and mono audio, a few audio commentaries from Addams Family historian Steven Cox, Thing, and Cousin Itt (seriously), a trivia track on one episode, and a featurette. Retail is a ghoulish $29.98.













Heath Ledger followed his Oscar-nominated turn in Brokeback Mountain with a performance in the gritty drug-addiction tale Candy, which is getting a DVD release from ThinkFilm on 27 March. The film will have an anamorphic transfer, a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix, a commentary by writer/director Luke Davies, two featurettes entitled The Making of Candy and Writing on the Wall: Candy’s Poem in Motion, and a few trailers. Retail is $27.98.












Cult TV favorite MXC has a new season coming to DVD. Magnolia Home Entertainment’s MXC – Most Extreme Elimination Challenge: Season Two is poised to hit shelves on 17 April. This goofball reinterpretation of Japanese hit Takeshi’s Castle is arguably the best stoner show in the world. In addition to the episodes, we’ll get three audio commentaries and two featurettes. Retail is $34.98. Get it on!













Warner Bros. has announced a 12 June release date for Welcome Back, Kotter: The Complete First Season, one of the most beloved TV shows of the 1970s that has yet to make it onto DVD. The series catapulted John Travolta to super-stardom; it has a fan base unlike most other ‘70s sitcoms and should have a huge impact on the TV-on-DVD market. This set will come with full frame transfers and mono mixes, some screen tests, and a retrospective featurette. Retail is $29.99.

Warner is preparing another in their Signature line; Katherine Hepburn: The Signature Collection is hitting DVD shelves on 29 May. The set will include: The Corn Is Green, Dragon Seed, Morning Glory, Sylvia Scarlett (really one of her better pictures), Undercurrent, and Without Love. Each film will also be available separately, but what’s the fun in that? We’ll keep you updated on technical specs, bonus features, and retail prices when we know more.