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Vampire chronicles Columbia has just issued the full specs for the teen vampire flick The Forsaken. Due on 9/25, the disc includes 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and 4:3 full screen versions, English 5.1 and English and French 2.0 surround and subtitle tracks, an audio commentary with director J.S. Cardone, deleted scenes, two making-of featurettes, filmographies and trailers. Retail goes for $24.95.
 JUNE
28
Citizen DVD Well, make more room in your bank account for the next big DVD title to hit this fall, Citizen Kane. Warner has announced the full specs, and it looks pretty dang good! A two-disc set, the film will be presented in its original 1.37;1 aspect ratio (direct from a new print of the film) and English mono track, with English Closed Captions and English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. Disc one includes two full-length audio commentaries with director and Welles biographer Peter Bogdanovich, and the second with film critic Roger Ebert, the original 1941 movie premiere newsreel, a storyboard gallery and the original theatrical trailer. Disc two includes "The Battle Over Citizen Kane" documentary, rare interviews with Orson Welles and rare footage from William Randolph Hearst's San Simeon Estate, and finally Welles' historic "The War Of The Worlds" broadcast. Pretty cool, eh? Retail is $29.95 and street date 9/25. The blackest of teen comedies Way ahead of its time, the black comedy Heathers probably came out a decade too early. But Michael Lehmann's dark teen comedy has grown in stature over the years, and now Anchor Bay is finally releasing the DVD fans have been waiting for. Arriving on 9/25, the disc features a 1.85;1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 5.1 surround track, audio commentary with director Michael Lehmann, producer Denise DiNovi and writer Daniel Waters, "Swatch Dogs And Diet Coke Heads" documentary, the original ending, talent bios and trailers. Retail is but $19.95. Tailored to fit Columbia has just announced the full specs for the John Boorman and Pierce Brosnan thriller The Tailor Of Panama, due out 9/11. The disc features a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 5.1 and English and French 2.0 surround tracks, an audio commentary with John Boorman, "The Perfect Fit: A Conversation with Pierce Brosnan and Geoffrey Rush, an alternate ending with optional commentary, filmographies, production notes and theatrical trailers. Retail is $24.95. Are you unbreakable? Anyone else missing something in their new Unbreakable DVD? We've gotten quite a few emails that the Alex Ross artwork listed on the packaging is not actually included on the disc. We've contacted Buena Vista, and all copies of the release currently out should have a double sided postcard inserted in the left sleeve. If for some reason your copy does not include it, contact the new Disney DVD Technical Support website. We'll keep you informed on any future updates, and let us know your experiences with the tech support hotline. Criterion fall titles Criterion has just sent out a little preview of their upcoming DVD titles through November. No full specs or prices just yet, but there's some real classics here, so just add those to the already crowded holiday slate and get the charge cards ready... The original version of The Vanishing, Closely Watched Trains, Shop on Main Street and Le Trou are due on 9/18; Medak's The Ruling Class and Shanghai Express arrive on 10/2; Kurosawa's influential classic Rashomon, Haxan and Hitchcock's Notorious on 10/19, and finally 11/13 will see the release of The Last Wave, That Obscure Object Of Desire, Fellini's 8 1/2 and another Hitchcock classic, Rebecca. Stay tuned for more details!
Beware the Blob! One of my favorite late-80's guilty pleasures, Columbia will release Chuck Russell's big-budget remake of The Blob on 9/11. The disc is pretty bare, with only an anamorphic widescreen transfer, English, French, Spanish and Portuguese 2.0 surround and subtitle tracks, filmographies, production notes and the trailer. Retail is $24.95.
A new batch of MGM titles has just come in, hitting stores on 10/2. The biggest is undoubtedly The Terminator special edition, complete with a newly remastered 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer and Dolby Digital Surround EX mix (as well as the original mono in English, French and Spanish) as well as a host of extras. Goodies include "Other Voices" and "The Terminator: A Retrospective" documentaries, "Terminated" deleted scenes with optional James Cameron audio commentary, theatrical trailers, TV spots and DVD-ROM features including script-to-screen and original storyboards. Retail is $26.95, complete with "holographic" cover. Also arriving on 10/2 is a special edition of Fiddler On The Roof. Presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and 5.1 Dolby surround, the disc also features a new introduction by Norman Jewison, an audio commentary with Jewison and star Topol, the "Norman Jewison: Filmmaker" documentary, never-before-available "Any Day Now" deleted song, the "Tevye's Dream" sequence in full color with Jewison commentary; "Stories of Sholom Aleichem" read by Norman Jewison, a historical background with Norman Jewison commentary, a storyboard-to-film comparison and trailers. Retail is only $19.95. Along with those two gems, 10/2 will also see another host of MGM movie-only releases. For once, all are in anamorphic widescreen and include trailers: American Ninja, Brannigan, Dennis Hopper's Colors, Heart Of Dixie, Matt Dillion and Andrew McCarthy in Kansas (for the first time in widescreen on video), Judd Nelson in Making The Grade, Not Without My Daughter (also includes a featurette), Running Scared (with additional outtakes) and She-Devil. Retail is $14.95 each. Also coming on 10/2 for $19.95 is a movie-only edition of RoboCop, with a new anamorphic widescreen transfer of the theatrical cut and English 5.1 Dolby Digital surround track, as well as the trailer and French and Spanish 2.0 surround and subtitle options. A special edition will be announced at a future date. Stay tuned... Then on 10/16 comes another round of blaxploitation entries, including Across 110th Street, Bucktown, Cornbread Earl & Me, Five On The Black Hand Side and Hell Up In Harlem. All are in anamorphic widescreen (expect Five On The Black Hand Side, which is non-anamorphic only) with trailers, and retail is $14.95 each
Columbia has just announced some new street dates and two new titles suitable for the entire family. First up on on 8/7 is the next installment in the Dragon Tales series, Let's Share! Let's Play! The disc is presented in full frame and English and Spanish 2.0 stereo, and includes five adventures: "Questral's Magic Pop-Up Book," "Much Ado About Nodinga," "Quibblin Siblings," "The Fury Is Out On This One" and "Four Little Pigs." Extras include three Dragon Tales sing-alongs, and retail is $19;95. Then arriving on 10/2 is the latest 3 Ninjas adventure, 3 Ninjas: High Noon At Mega Mountain. The film stars Hulk Hogan and Loni Anderson (!) and features 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and full screen transfers, English, French and Spanish 2.0 surround and subtitle tracks, an interactive game and trailers. Retail is $24.95. Some upcoming Columbia street dates just announced feature titles I've never heard of, including Formula One 2000 on 8/28 and Dead Sexy and White River on 10/2. Stay tuned for specs...
Willow arrives Man, they just keep on a-comin'! Another big request title has just been announced, Ron Howard's fantasy Willow. Lucasfilm and 20th Century Fox has just issued the full press release, and it looks like a mighty fine disc. New documentary, effects featurette and more. Check out the release for the full specs.
A little menu preview today for some upcoming Fox titles and MGM titles. Just click to check out menus for Fox's The Fury, Phantom Of The Paradise and Buffy The Vampire Slayer (the movie, not the television series), Columbia's 13 Ghosts, as well as a few from MGM's new Silence Of the Lambs special edition. Lookin' good! Return of the Apes After a short moratorium, and just in time to tie in with the big-budget remake hitting theaters in July, Fox will reissue the Planet Of the Apes box set on 8/21. Unfortunately, this is the exact same non-anamorphic set as last time; five films (Planet Of The Apes, Beneath The Planet Of The Apes, Conquest Of The Planet Of The Apes, Escape From The Planet Of The Apes and Battle For The Planet Of The Apes) along with a bonus sixth disc featuring the television special Behind the Planet Of The Apes. But with Image releasing their own two-disc set of Behind the Planet Of the Apes along with plenty of extra goodies, and the fact that there are anamorphic versions of these films available on DVD overseas, it is quite disappointing Fox isn't doing anything new this time around. Retail is $89.95 for the box set and $24.95 for Planet Of The Apes (none of the other films will be made available separately.)
"I think it would be fun to run a newspaper..." Well, another of the big ones is on the way. The Warner has just announced 9/25 retail date for what many have called The Greatest Motion Picture Ever Made, Orson Welles' masterpiece Citizen Kane. No features, pricing or box art is yet up. However, Warner has already revealed that this will be brand-new print of the film, and I'm sure this release will be quite exciting. Stay tuned for details. Due to be released on 10/2 is an epic of, um, a different kind, Dolph Lundgren as He-Man in Masters Of The Universe. This disc features an anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 5.1 surround track, filmographies and the trailer. Retail is $19.95.
Columbia has just announced specs for two upcoming titles. First off is the William Castle gem 13 Ghosts. The disc includes a 1.85;1 anamorphic widescreen transfer in "Illusion-O," where you "use the special 'Ghost Viewers' to see the spirits in glorious 'ectoplasmic color!'" Sounds cool! Also included are English and Spanish mono tracks and English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles, "The Making Of Illusion-O" featurette, original theatrical introduction from William Castle, trailers and production notes. Retail is $24.95 and street date 9/11. Then on 11/6 comes a special edition of The Remains Of The Day. This one is quite feature-loaded, with an anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 5.1 and 2.0 surround tracks as well as French, Spanish and Portuguese 2.0 surround and subtitle tracks, an audio commentary with director James Ivory, producer Ismail Merchant and actor Emma Thompson, "The Remains Of The Day: Filmmaker's Journey" documentary, "Blind Loyalty, Hollow Honor, England's Fatal Flaw" featurette, deleted scenes, filmographies, production notes and trailers. Retail is $27.95. Counting down Can't wait until The Phantom Menace hits DVD on 8/116? Nervously watching the clock as the seconds tick by? Well, you're not alone. Check out the Prequel Countdown page, a real-time Phantom Menace DVD countdown clock. Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock...
New Line has just announced the full specs for their next Infinifilm release, Ted Demme's drug epic Blow. The set streets on 9/11, and includes a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 5.1 surround track, English Closed Captions, an audio commentary with director Ted Demme and the real-life George Jung, deleted scenes with optional commentary, two new documentaries "Lost Paradise: Cocaine's Impact On Colombia" and "Addiction: Body And Soul," a George Jung interview, a "Fact and Trivia" subtitle track, production diary, outtake reel, the Nikka Costa music video "Push and Pull," cast and crew filmographies, the film's theatrical and teaser trailer, and for DVD-ROM-enabled users, the film's complete screenplay with scene access and the theatrical website. Retail is $26.95. Status Report With so many long-awaited titles being released on DVD lately, the ol' Status Report top ten most-requested list is seeing a lot of movement these days. With The Godfather dropping off the list, David Lean's WWI epic Doctor Zhivago takes its place. Fans should be seeing this one on DVD in the coming year, fully restored. Also updated is Steven Spielberg's E.T., which is getting a theatrical re-release in 2002. Spielberg was recently quoted in the New York Times talking about the eventual DVD release, which he says will include a DTS track. Since Spielberg loves to put DTS tracks on his discs (Close Encounters, Saving Private Ryan, Jurassic Park) can Warner's A.I. be far behind? Finally, the Star Wars and Indiana Jones entries have been updated with info from last week's Q&A with Lucasfilm's VP of Marketing Jim Ward. Terminated Hey, Terminator fans. That new special edition DVD release of James Cameron's original sci-fi benchmark is just around the corner. MGM has just launched a new website just for upcoming DVD, and though information is scarce, it does have a new trailer just for the DVD. Check it out.
Anchor bay has just announced another wave of August titles, and as usual is filled with great cult classics. All arrive on 8/21 and are presented in anamorphic widescreen. Elvira Mistress Of The Dark includes English 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby Digital tracks, a Cassandra Peterson bio, trailers and a 4-page collector's booklet; Richard Franklin's monkey-on-the-loose thriller Link includes a 2.0 surround track and the trailer; Schlock will feature an English mono track and the first-ever audio commentary with wrier and director John Landis and make-up artist Rick Baker; and Vamp includes an English mono track and, an audio commentary with co-writer and director Richard Wenk and actors Chris Makepeace, Dedee Pfeiffer and Gedde Watanabe, the "Dracula Bites The Big Apple" featurette, rare rehearsal footage, a blooper reel, still gallery, trailers and TV spots. All of the above retail for $24.95. Also arriving on 8/21 are two versions of The Wicker Man. The standard edition includes the U.S. version of the film in Dolby 5.1 and 2.0 surround, along with an interview gallery with Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee and Ingrid Pitt, Director Robin Hardy, Producer Peter Snell, Writer Anthony Shaffer, Editor Eric Boyd-Perkins, Art Director Seamus Flannery, Assistant Director Jake Wright, U.S. Distributor John Simon, and Filmmaker Roger Corman, theatrical trailers, TV spots, a poster replica and filmographies. A Limited Edition wooden box (50,000 copies only) will also be released for $39.95, and include both the American version along with a second DVD featuring the European cut. Finally, Anchor Bay will also release William Lustig's highly controversial slasher flick Maniac will be released with tons of goodies: an audio commentary with Lustig, effects artist Tom Savini, editor Lorenzo Marinelli, and Joe Spinell's assistant Luke Walter."The Joe Spinell Story" featurette, radio interviews, the "Gallery Of Outrage," a poster gallery, trailers and TV spots, and a collector's booklet. Both editions feature Dolby Digital ES and DTS ES Discreet (!) audio tracks, and additional English, French and Italian 2.0 surround tracks and a Spanish subtitle track. Retail is $29.95, and a limited edition with a soundtrack CD will also be released for $39.95.
 JUNE
22 - 24
Deju vu One of the only genuine indie hits in recent memory, Christopher Nolan's dark suspense drama Memento was both a critical and commercial smash and one of the few films that actually made me think in the past year. Coming on DVD from Columbia TriStar on 9/4, the disc is somewhat disappointing in terms of supplements. The disc features an 2.35;1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 5.1 and 2.0 surround tracks, talent files, the trailer and the complete Memento website accessible via DVD-ROM. Retail is $24.95. The list is life Fresh from its successful run on ABC, Buena Vista has announced a 8/28 street date for the acclaimed miniseries Anne Frank. This two-disc set features the complete 240-minute program in full frame and English 2.0 surround, Also included is a featurette and promos. Retail is $29.95. Street date change Just a note for fans of Akira. As if you haven't waited long enough, Pioneer has just announced that the special edition has been postponed to 9/25. Features remain the same, while the Limited Edition Tin will still street on 7/24 as announced.
Warner has just announced a slew of new fall titles, with a little bit for everyone. Leading the pack is the recent Sylvester Stallone "racing drama" Driven. The disc features a 2.35;1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English and French Dolby 5.1 surround tracks, English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles, an audio commentary with director Renny Harlan, all-new making-of documentary and the theatrical trailer. Retail is $24.95 and street date 9/18. (Also, note that the Exit Wounds DVD is now due 8/31, and is no longer 9/18.) For you thrill seekers Warner has two more IMAX classics. Both are presented in 1.44:1 and English Dolby Digital 5.1, with Fires of Kuwait arriving on 8/28 and including a making-of documentary, while Destiny In Space crash lands on 10/2 and includes a featurette and IMAX trailers. Retail is $19.95 each. For the kids, Warner has a new Scooby-Doo collection on tap for 10/9, Scooby-Doo And The Cyber Chase. Then disc is presented in full frame and English 2.0 surround, along with a "Virtual Detective" interactive game, Scooby Juxebox and all-new Scooby-Doo music video. Retail is $24.95. Making its debut a week later on 10/16 is Grandma Got Run Over by A Reindeer. Presented in full frame and 2.0 stereo, the disc also includes a costume gallery, "Grandma's Guessing Game" and character bios. Retail is also $19.95. Finally, on 8/28 comes three new A Film By Ken Burns documentaries on influential historical features. All three titles - Frank Lloyd Wright, Thomas Jefferson and Lewis And Clark - are presented in full frame and 2.0 stereo and include "Making History" and "A Conversation With Ken Burns" interviews, while Frank Lloyd Wright includes a Charlie Rose interview with Burns and producer Lynn Novick, and Lewis And Clark also boasts a Charlie Rose interview and an additional making-of featurette. Retail is $29.95 for each disc. Finally, HBO has two new releases hitting shelves on 10/30. Breast Men and Barbarians At The Gate are both presented in full frame and English 2.0 surround,d, with English, French and Spanish subtitles. While there are no extras, retail is only $14.95. Also, HBO has announced the full specs for the release of the acclaimed baseball drama 61*. The disc will include an audio commentary with producer Billy Crystal, an hour-long "The Making of 61*" documentary and historical information on the real Micky Mantle and Roger Maris. The disc is presented in anamorphic widescreen and Dolby 5.1, and retail is $19.95.
Just a note on the new specs for that special edition of An American Werewolf In London due 9/18 from Universal. There was some confusion between the marketing materials and the press release regarding the audio commentary with Griffen Dunne and David Naughton. The press release is a bit confusing, but Universal did confirm that the audio commentary will be on the disc, and there will also be separate Internet live chat with the two stars. Sorry for any confusion! Paramount chillers Speaking of Halloween horror favorites, Paramount will serve up five genre favorites on 9/25. Tales From the Darkside: The Movie features an 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 5.1 and 2.0 surround tracks and the theatrical trailer. Pet Sematary Two, which gets my vote as one of the worst horror sequels ever made, is also presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen with 5.1 and 2.0 surround tracks and the trailer. For you Jason fans, Paramount will continue their yearly trend and release Friday The 13th Part V: A New Beginning and Friday The 13th Part VI: Jason Lives. Both feature 1.85;1 anamorphic widescreen transfers, though in a startling break from tradition, we get Dolby 2.0 surround tracks instead of mono this time, and trailers. Finally, watch for When Worlds Collide in its original 1.37:1 full frame aspect ratio and English mono track, along with a trailer. Retail for all of the above is $29.95 a pop.
Street date alert Columbia TriStar has just announced street dates for a number of anticipated titles. On 9/18 comes Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles - The Tesca Campaign and the import Living It Up (La Grand Vida), while the recent teen vampire flick The Forsaken and the Heath Ledger action drama A Knight's Tale arrive a week later on 9/25. Watch for specs to be announced soon... Criterion Dreyer box set On 8/21, the criterion Collection will release a special box set of the works of Carl Theodor Dreyer. The set features four discs: Day of Wrath contains additional footage, interviews with Actors Lisbeth Movin and Preben Lerdorff Rye and a still gallery; Ordet includes an interview with Acress Brigitte Federspiel conducted by Torben Skodt Jensen and a still gallery; Gertrud features interviews with Actors Baard Owe and Axel Strobye, archival footage of Dreyer from the production, and a still gallery; while Carl Th. Dreyer - My Metier includes extra interview footage, archival material and an extensive essay by Dreyer Scholar Edvin Kau/. Retail for the set is $79.95, and all the titles are presented in their original aspect ratios with French and Danish mono tracks. Home Vision will also release two Roger Vadim and Brigitte Bardot collaborations, The Night Heaven Fell and Plucking The Daisy on 8/7. Both are presented in 2.35;1 anamorphic widescreen and French mono, and extras include theatrical trailers and a Bardot filmography. Retail is $32.95 each. More on Phantom Menace Just a few updates since the news early yesterday morning on Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Fox has released the list price ($29.95 US, $41.95 Canada) and their own press release. Also, check out the back cover art, and we were able to get a short Q&A with Lucasfilm's Jim Ward on the DVD release and fan's questions, which you can check out here.
Well, finally, it is here. As I sit typing this (bleary-eyed at 5am), it is hard to believe that what we've all longed for ever since we picked up our first DVD players has finally arrived. Lucasfilm has just delivered at least most of the specs on the first Star Wars film ever to grace a DVD, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. This is the first official information for the press issued by Lucasfilm, along with the box cover artwork (click on the image for an enlargement.)
That is the entirety of the released text. Retail price is $29.95, and the Fox press release has also been issued. Well, I will let you, dear readers, digest these features and see what you think. But I will say that it is quite a relief that this title has finally, officially been announced. And for those of you counting down, just remember, only 120 days until October 16th... Just say Pikachu! While I suppose it can't compare to Phantom Menace, Pikachu fanatics brace yourselves! On 8/21, Warner will release Pokemon 3: The Movie. Though it seems the Pokemon fad is fading (judging by the box office tally for this one), the included "Sneak Peek Japanese Trailer For Pokemon 4" threatens another one. Anyway, the disc is presented in full frame with English and French 5.1 surround racks, a "What The Filmmakers Say" audio commentary, making-off featurette, "To Know The Unknown" music video, "Little Known Unown" trivia, and the trailer. Retail is $24.95.
Wow, that was fast. Still in first-run theaters and about to cross the magical $200 million mark, Universal Studios Home Video has just announced a 10/2 release date for The Mummy Returns. The disc is predictably feature-loaded, with commentary, deleted scenes and outtakes, featurettes and footage of the spring 2002 spin-off release The Scorpion King. Universal will be releasing separate pan & scan and widescreen editions (all in preparation for next year's "Ultimate Edition," I'm sure!) for $26.95 a pop, only $4 more than the VHS editions. Check out the press release for the full details. Also "purring onto home video" from Universal is the box-office disappointment Josie And The Pussycats. Featuring Dolby Digital and DTS tracks, music videos, commentary, a "backstage pass" and more, the DVD touches down on 8/14, and check out the press release for the full details as well. Rainbow warrior Restoring 80's action icon Steven Seagal to the top spot at the box office for the first time in years was last winter's Exit Wounds, costarring rapper DMX. Though the cinematic merits of the film were debatable, at least it delivered the goods for action fans. Warner will release a special edition of the film on 9/18, complete with anamorphic widescreen transfer, English and French 5.1 surround tracks, English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles, a documentary and additional featurette, DMX music video, and the theatrical trailer. Retail is $26.95.
From the "Help! I'm desperate for news today!" department comes word on a facelift of sorts for upcoming Paramount DVD titles. Starting with titles such as The Gift, Paramount will relocate their "Widescreen Collection" banner to the top of the box instead of the bottom. (I know, I know, the excitement is excruciating. Calm yourselves.) But why the change by Paramount now, after nearly three years of DVD releases with bottom banners? Beats me. However, I just gotta ask, since just about all Paramount DVD releases are in widescreen, why is there a "Widescreen Collection" at all? Street date alert Also just announced from Warner and its subsidiaries New Line and HBO are retail dates for three new titles, all due on 9/11. HBO will release the Emma Thompson cancer drama Wit and Billy Crystal's ode to baseball *61, while New Line will deliver their second proper Infinifilm title, Ted Demme's Blow. Also coming on 9/11 is the cult classic 13 Ghosts from Columbia TriStar. Watch for full specs on all these titles soon... |
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MGM
October titles
Kickin'
Some
menus for your viewing pleasure...
Two
from Columbia
Smack
Daddy
Anchor
Bay August titles
A
need for speed
'Werewolf'
correction
Yummy
Mummy
It's
all in the placement