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It's a bird, it's a plane, it's...

Here's a new one. We've gotten plenty of press releases before, even goodie bags with lots of toys, but never have we got an actual DVD with the announcement. Until now. Fox Home Entertainment has announced the full specs for the upcoming July 29th release of the superhero hit Daredevil, and along with the rather unique "newspaper" press release (complete with tabloid headlines containing all the specs), we got the complete set, too. (Read our review for the full scoop). As for the details, it will be released in separate 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and full screen versions, each with Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround tracks, audio commentary with director Mark Steven Johnson and producer Gary Foster, a trivia fact track, an enhanced viewing version with making-of vignettes, and a whole second disc with even more extras: the "Behind Hells Kitchen" and "The Men Without Fear" documentaries, four additional featurettes, screen tests, multi-angle effects comparisons and dailies, a still gallery, three music videos and trailers. Retail is $26.95, and it is indeed a great set.

Not to be overshadowed by all the Daredevil hype is Steven Soderbergh's underrated remake of the sci-fi classic Solaris, which will also debut on the 29th. Presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, extras include what is sure to be a great audio commentary with Soderbergh and producer James Cameron, the HBO First Look special and Soderbergh's own "Making Of Solaris" documentary, a "screenplay still gallery" and trailers. Retail is $26.95.

In other Fox news, The Simpsons: The Complete Third Season will finally debut on August 29th. Each episode is presented in their original 4:3 full screen aspect ratio with English Dolby Digital 5.1 surround remixes, and this four-disc set contains a bevy of extras: audio commentaries with series creator Matt Groening and various collaborators on every episode, a "pop-up" on each disc ("When Flanders Failed," "Flaming Moe's," "Radio Bart" and "Colonel Homer"), storyboards and conceptual sketches for select episodes, a Simpsons character poster, an 11-song jukebox feature, audio outtakes and a table read for "Treehouse of Horror II," and even a "Baby Translator." Retail is $49.95.

Last but not least is a lineup of modern musical classics sure to make fans trip the light fantastic. August 19th will see the long-awaited DVD release of Bob Fosse's All That Jazz, which features a remastered 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer and an English 2.0 Dolby surround track, plus a screen-specific audio commentary by Roy Scheider, additional new interviews, a film clip montage and the theatrical trailer. Retail is a mere $14.95. Also included in this musical promotion are first-ever DVD releases of The Rose, Hello Dolly, Star!, a new reissue of The Commitments and Simon & Garfunkel Concert in Central Park. All are newly remastered and retail for a cheap $14.95. Watch this space for more...

To the moon - 10:20pm

Just in from Warner Home Video is yet another batch of summer announcements. Coming this July are a variety of family and much-beloved classics: July 1st sees the first-ever DVD releases of The Crimson Pirate, Knights of the Roundtable, Master of Ballantrae, Scaramouche and Start the Revolution Without Me, and on July 8th comes Born to Be Wild, The Boy Who Could Fly, Curly Sue, Little Giants, Spencer's Mountain and The Story of Seabiscuit. All are presented in their original theatrical aspect ratios and anamorphically encoded if applicable, and include Dolby Digital 2.0 surround tracks (except Crimson Pirate, Master of Ballantrae, Scaramouche and Spencer's Mountain, which are in mono). Extras include trailers only. Retail is $19.95 each.

Last but not least in July is Friends: The Complete Fourth Season and The Best of Friends: Season 3, both on July 15th. Retail is $19.95 for The Best Of Friends set, and $69.96 for the Friends box. Stay tuned for specs.

Hell's bells - 10:20pm

Rounding out today's news is some news from Anchor Bay Entertainment. Yep, apparently 1,234 different versions wasn't enough - on August 5th, Anchor Bay will release a 25th Anniversary Edition of the John Carpenter classic Halloween. At least this time it looks like it might actually be worth buying again, with the much-beloved audio commentary that appeared on the old Criterion laserdisc, an hour-long version of the recent AMC Backstory TV special, which included never-before-seen production footage, and more to be announced. Stay tuned for the full details and retail price.

Also just announced is the double feature fans of killer santas have been waiting for ever since they first bought their DVD player: Silent Night, Deadly Night and Silent Night, Deadly Night 2. This two-for-one disc will include both flicks plus extras, and will hit stores on October 7th. Sounds like a great stocking stuffer....

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