By Peter M. Bracke

An eternity in the making

At long last, what was supposed to be one of the earliest Columbia releases (as promoted in their 1997 DVD catalog) is now finally being released on DVD. 10/23 will see the debut of From Here To Eternity, complete with supplementary materials. The disc is presented in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio with an English mono track, along with an audio commentary by Tim Zinnemann and Alvin Sargent, the "The Making of `From Here to Eternity'" and "Excerpts from Fred Zinnemann - As I See It" featurettes, talent files, production notes and theatrical trailers. Retail is $27.95.

The return of Mikey Myers

Anchor bay has just announced a new batch of October titles due 10/9, led by... Michael Myers. Just in time for Halloween (both the holiday and The Homecoming) is a new special edition of Halloween 4: The Return Of The Michael Myers. Two editions will be released. The standard edition features a new 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 5.1 and 2.0 surround tracks, English Closed Captions, a new 17-minute featurette "Halloween 4 Final Cut," the theatrical trailer and a poster replica. Retail is $24.95. A special limited edition tin will also be released, though the only difference according to the press materials is a 4-page collectible booklet (just 4 pages?) and the packaging, yet retail is $39.95. Strange.

Also coming on 10/9 is the uncut 123-minute version of 1983's Bad Boys, starring Sean Penn. The disc features a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English mono track and Closed Captions, an audio commentary with director Rick Rosenthal, and the trailer. Other titles include more 80's faves, all with coming anamorphic widescreen transfers, trailers and poster replicas: Circus Of Horrors (with still gallery and talent bios), Judd Nelson in From The Hip, Jon Cryer in Hiding Out, and the thriller Timerider (with audio commentary by Director William Dear and new Dolby Digital 5.1 track). Retail is $19.95 each. Finally, Anchor Bay will also release a special edition of Christopher Lee's Theatre Of Death, featuring a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English mono mix, "Sinister Theatrics" 11 minute interview with Christopher Lee, still gallery, the trailer and TV and radio spots. Retail is $24.95.

Early edition

Though a huge bomb in the theaters, Buena Vista has just announced a new collector's edition of the musical Newsies. No specs yet, just the box art, a retail price of $29.95 and street date 11/13. Buena Vista also has just added Pearl Harbor as a December release on their website, though no exact specs yet. But I'm sure details on that one will be coming soon...and I betcha can't wait?

Codeword: Swordfish

Warner has just issued the full press releases for both Swordfish, the John Travolta sorta summer hit, and one of Steven Spielberg's lesser known but for some best films, Empire Of The Sun. Both releases have the full specs, so check 'em out.

"I coulda been a contenda..."

Columbia has finally announced the specs for the years-in-the-waiting On the Waterfront special edition due 10/23. The disc features a 1.33:1 full screen transfer, English and French mono tracks, audio commentary with critic and author Richard Schnickel and Elia Kazan biographer Jeff Young, a new featurette, Elia Kazan interview, a video photo gallery, production notes, filmographies and trailers. Retail is $27.95.

Jolly green giant

This year's biggest box office hit so far, DreamWorks' has announced a 11/2 street date for the monster hit Shrek. This two disc set features tons of extras (nearly 11 hours worth, according to the press release.)

Included are 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and full screen transfers, Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 tracks, deleted and extended scenes, extended ending, a a behind-The-Scenes, "International Dubbing" and "The Tech of "Shrek" featurettes, "DWK - This Way To Play" 12 interactive games, "Shrek" X-box game playing hints, "Shrek's Music Room" including The Baha Men music video, the making of The Baha Men music video and Smash Mouth's "I'm A Believer" music video, "Technical Goofs" outtakes, storyboard pitch of deleted scenes, "Still Shots" showing viewers the progression of several characters' looks throughout the design process, production notes and trailers and promos. On the DVD-ROM end, the Shrek features are even more cutting-edge, a first-ever "U-Dub-It" Shrek's Revoice Studio" that allows users to dub their own voice in place of any of the characters and twelve additional DVD-ROM games.

In an interesting move, Shrek will have no list price on DVD... only a MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) of $19.95

Animal attraction

Just announced from Columbia are the specs for The Animal, starring Rob Schneider. This decidedly low-rent comedy (David Manning's pick of the year) gets the high-class treatment on DVD, complete with an anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 5.1 and English and French 2.0 surround tracks, English and French subtitles, two audio commentaries with Rob Schneider and director Luke Greenfield, "Badger Delivery" deleted scenes, the original making-of featurette, "Comedy Central's Reel Comedy" special, production notes, filmographies and the trailer. Retail is $24.95 and street date 10/30.

MGM November slate

MGM has just announced their lineup of November catalog titles, highlighted by more Midnite Movies, Chuck Norris and classic 80's dramas. Arriving on 11/6 are the 1992 version of Of Mice And Men, Alan Rudolph's cult favorite Choose Me, Gregory's Girl and Dominick And Eugene. All are in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen with English 2.0 stereo tracks and English, French and Spanish subtitles. Extras include the trailer, and retail is $19.95.

Action fans will also have a lot to look forward to on 11/20, with six new titles. The Dogs Of War, Gang Related, the 1990 remake of Lord Of The Flies and three Chuck Norris classics An Eye For An Eye, Lone Wolf McQuade and Invasion U.S.A. are presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, except An Eye For An Eye (full frame only) and Gang Related (2.35:1) with English 2.0 stereo tracks (McQuade is mono only) and English, French and Spanish subtitles. Extras include the trailer, and retail is $14.95 each.

Finally, on 11/20 comes another batch of exploitation gems, all a part of MGM's Midnite Movies series. The only extras are the theatrical trailers, but with a cheap retail price of $14.95 a pop, who's complaining? Strange Invaders, The People That Time Forgot, The Angry Red Planet, Morons From Outer Space, I Bury The Living, At The Earth's Core, War Gods of the Deep and Empire Of The Ants are all in anamorphic widescreen (except I Bury the Living and the Angry Red Planet, which are full frame only) and English mono, with French and Spanish subtitles and English Closed Captions.

Digital doggie

Fans of dog movies, mark off 9/18 on your calendars. Warner has just announced the full specs for See Spot Run, starring David Arquette and a dog (though it is often hard to tell them apart.) The disc features a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English and French 5.1 surround tracks, English, French and Spanish subtitles, audio commentary with director John Whitesell, "As Long As You're Loving Me" music video by Vitamin C, "Spot's Silly Dog Tricks," filmographies and the theatrical trailer. Retail is $24.95.

Wrapped in plastic

The wait has been forever, but Artisan is finally set to release the first season of Twin Peaks on DVD, streeting 12/4. The set includes the entire first season aside form the pilot (which remains caught in a rights quagmire), a full frame presentation, new Dolby Digital and DTS tracks (a first for a television release in Region 1), audio commentary by David Lynch, multiple making-of features, promo spots and more to be announced. Full details are expected to be released to retail next week, and no list price is yet available. Stay tuned...

No 'Conan' in Region 1?

Hey Conan fans, here's some good news/bad news that might bum you out. First, the good news. MGM has announced a new special edition of Conan the Destroyer, complete with new anamorphic transfer, documentary and other extras. The bad news? It is only available in Region 2.

In one of those odd licensing arrangements I can never quite figure out, MGM controls the rights to Conan's second big-screen adventure overseas, while Universal retains the rights here in the States. Unfortunately, a Universal spokesperson confirmed that they have no plans as of now to release a new version of Conan the Destroyer on these shores,

Too bad, as this new Region 2 version looks pretty sweet, complete with new box art. Sigh... maybe someday. (And extra special thanks to composer Basil Poledouris and staff for the news and box art image.)

Say what?

To help prime the pump for the new remastered version of the classic Monty Python & The Holy Grail, due to hit theaters this fall, Columbia has just announced a 10/23 street date for Terry Gilliam's Jabberwocky. The disc includes full screen and anamorphic widescreen transfers, a new English 5.1 surround mix and the original mono track, and a host of extras including an audio commentary with director Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin, sketch to screen comparisons, two still galleries with production photos and poster concepts, and the theatrical trailer. Retail is $24.95

Out of Town

New Line has just announced the specs for the upcoming DVD of one of the most notorious Hollywood disasters in recent memory, Town & Country. Predictably, the DVD doesn't include much: 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and full screen transfers, English 5.1 and 2.0 surround racks, filmographies and the trailer. Retail is $24.95 and street date 10/23. Remind me to be out of town the weekend this one shows up...

Furries and plushies

Attention fans of big, furry talking animals. Fox has just the DVD for you on 10/23, Dr. Dolittle 2, the sequel to the original Eddie Murphy blockbuster. The disc includes a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 5.1 and English and French 2.0 surround tracks, English and Spanish subtitles, an audio commentary with director Steve Carr, two extended scenes with optional commentary, the HBO Special "A Kid's Guide to Grizzlies," the "Making Movie Magic with Rhythm & Hughes" and "Wild on the Set" featurettes, two music videos, five storyboard comparisons, trailers and TV spots. Retail is $29.95.

Bridges to Babylon

Well, Babylon 5 fans, the announcement you've been waiting for is finally here. Sort of. Warner has just issued a 12/4 street date for the first (and only?) Babylon 5 release to hit DVD. Though thematically in order, the episodes "The Gathering" and "In The Beginning" are the first season and fifth season pilots, respectively, with the former featuring a revamped cut as seen on TNT. No other information is yet available about the releases, including aspect ratio, sound formats or extras, though the retail price will be $19.95. A spokesperson for Warner stated there are no further details on the disc, and this is the only Babylon 5 release scheduled for 2001. Watch for further details to arrive soon..

Spy Kids redux

Remember that Spy Kids special edition extended cut rumored to be in the works? Defying most conventional wisdom, Buena Vista has announced on the Spy Kids website that this extended cut, featuring scenes with newly-completed special effects and approved by director Robert Rodriquez, will get a limited theatrical re-release starting this Wednesday, August 8th in select markets. No word yet on when a DVD of this longer cut will surface, though the standard movie-only edition of the previous theatrical cut streets on 9/18. So if you're a really big Spy Kids fan, you may want to wait a bit before rushing out to spend your hard-earned cash on the movie only edition...

Street date alert

Finally, rounding out today's news is a street date alert for the recent John Singleton drama Baby Boy. Columbia will release the DVD on 11/6, and stay tuned for specs...

The Age of the SuperBit

From the "What took ya so long" department, just announced from Columbia is the Martin Scorsese romantic drama The Age Of Innocence, arriving on 11/6. The disc features a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 5.1 and 2.0 surround tracks, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean and Thai subtitles, production notes, filmographies and theatrical trailers. Retail is $24.95.

Columbia has also issued the full press release for their new SuperBit DVD line, so check out the release for the full specs, er, rather. lack of them...

Willy Wonka gets chopped

In one of the true head scratchers in recent years, we just received our final product for review of Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory, and get this: it is pan & scan only. Though announced as including anamorphic widescreen and full screen versions, the widescreen version is nowhere to be found. (And, to add insult to injury, the trailer is in widescreen!) According to Warner, no separate widescreen release is planned at this time, and this move by the studio to eschew widescreen only underlines what could be an unfortunate new trend...pan & scan only on "family" titles. All the more puzzling is the inclusion of supplements on Willy Wonka obviously geared towards the children who grew up on Wonka but are now adults - a new documentary and commentary will all five grown-up Wonka children. I'm sure all those old DVD copies of Wonka many of us sold in anticipation of the new, thought-to-be-widescreen version will be worth a lot of money on eBay now. So, here's a tip for you: don't buy the new version and cancel your orders in protest, and we'll try to get some contact info to let Warner know how you feel. We will be doing a review of Wonka real soon, and rest assured it won't be pretty...

Final Fantasy first specs; more Streisand

Though it tanked at the box office, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within should make a great DVD. Already announced for a 10/23 arrival (a mere three months after its theatrical release), Columbia has delivered the box art as well as some preliminary specs: multiple audio commentaries, an interactive documentary, alternate opening sequence, a film deconstruction, outtakes and a music video. Expect more to be announced shortly.

Also, Columbia has posted a 11/6 street date for the Barbra Streisand drama The Prince Of Tides. No specs are yet available, but stay tuned...

Paramount October titles

Paramount has just announced their next wave of DVD releases, all due on 10/23. To be honest, this seems like a rather weak lineup of box office duds, but then everyone has their favorites? The one the classic in the bunch is Woody Allen's Play It Again, Sam, presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen with English and French mono tracks and no extras at all. The Butcher's Wife (yes, that Demi Moore stinker) comes complete with a 1.85;1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 5.1, 2.0 and French mono tracks, and the trailer. He Said, She Said is also presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic and with English 5.1, 2.0 and French mono tracks, along with an audio commentary with directors Ken Kwapis and Marisa Silver and the trailer. Retail is $29.95 for each of the above.

Finally, Paramount offers up more TV fun this fall, too. The Rugrats: Decade In Diapers includes The Rugrats pilot episode, a featurette, clip gallery, two music videos and "The Pickles family Photo Album." The disc is presented in full screen and 5.1 surround, and retail is $19.95. Also watch for Star Trek: The Original Series Volume 35 (featuring episode #69 "That Which Survives" and episode #70 "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield") and Volume 36 (episodes #71 "Whom Gods Destroy" and episode #72 "The Mark Of Gideon".) As with all the Trek collections, this one is presented in full screen and 5.1 surround, Retail is $19.95 a pop.

Play it again, Woody

Speaking of Woody Allen, MGM has just announced a 11/6 release date for volume three of The Woody Allen Collection, complete with the titles most Allen fans have really been waiting for. Hannah and Her Sisters, A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy, Radio Days, Broadway Danny Rose, The Purple Rose of Cairo and Zelig are all included in the box, which retails for $99.95, or are available separately for $19.95 a piece. As is usual with Allen titles, each is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen with mono tracks, and the only extras are the trailers.

Do you dare stare into the eyes of unrelenting terror?

Just announced from Warner is the Jennifer Lopez romantic thriller Angel Eyes, due on 10/16. Though not a big box office hit the film has its moments, and the disc is quite feature loaded. Presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen with English and French 5.1 surround tracks, extras include an audio commentary with director Luis Mandoki, a making-of featurette, filmographies and the trailer. Retail is $24.95.

Attack of the killer SuperBits

Columbia has just announced some retail info on their inaugural wave of SuperBit titles. The first five releases - Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Johnny Mnemonic, The Fifth Element, Air Force One and Desperado - will debut on 10/9 with a retail price of $27.95. Each release features an anamorphic widescreen transfer of the film, English Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 surround tracks. Extras are purposely nil and the DTS tracks are indeed only half bit rate (kinda odd for a line of "SuperBit" titles, but whatever.) It will be interesting to see how well these sell, and we'll be looking forward to getting our hands on 'em for review. Stay tuned!

Also, Columbia has just announced a 10/30 street date for the Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor comedy See No Evil, Hear No Evil. The disc features anamorphic widescreen and full screen versions, English, French and Spanish 2.0 surround tracks and theatrical trailers. Retail is $24.95.

And finally, a quickie Street Date Alert for some other upcoming Columbia titles. Watch for Cirque du Soleil: Journey Of Man on 10'/9, Peep Show and a Les Miserables and Riverdance: Live From New York two-pack on 10/16, The Road Home on 10/30, and The Blue And The Gray on 11/6. Watch for the full specs soon.

AUGUST 2

"S" is for "Swordfish"

While not the huge hit Warner probably hoped it would be, at least this summer's Swordfish helped John "Revolta" Travolta (partially) erase the bad memories left by Battlefield Earth. Warner has just announced a 10/30 street date for the DVD, which is chock full of extras. A 2.35;1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English and French 5.1 surround racks, an audio commentary with director Dominic Sena, deleted scenes and three alternate endings, "The Making of Swordfish" documentary and "The Effects in Focus: The Flying Bus" featurette, DVD-ROM extras, production notes, filmographies and trailers round out the goodies. Retail is $24.95.

"Green" is for "Gross"

Fox has just announced a 10/16 delivery for the wonderful Tom Green family comedy Freddy Got Fingered. The disc features both the R-rated and 3-minute(!) PG-rated versions, a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 5.1 and 2.0 surround tracks, audio commentary with Tom Green, Harland Williams, Marisa Coughlan and Rip Torn, and "audience laugh track," MTV excerpts, eight deleted scenes with optional Tom Green commentary, a making-of featurette, the theatrical trailer and four TV spots. Retail is $29.95.

Fox will also release the documentary The Life And Times Of Hank Greenberg on 10/16. Presented in full frame with English 2.0 surround and English, Spanish and Yiddish subtitles, the disc also includes a wealth of extras including audio commentary with director Aviva Kempner, additional interviews, a Greenberg biography and stat sheet, photo gallery and the theatrical trailer. Retail is $29.95.

"Z" is for "Zorro"

To go along with its new two-disc status, Columbia has set a new price for the upcoming Mask Of Zorro special edition, upped from $24.95 to $27.95. All the groovy features remain the same, and street date is 9/25.

AUGUST 1

'Empire' specs, 'Sopranos' art

Warner has updated the full specs and box art on their web site for Steven Spielberg's Empire Of The Sun, due out on DVD on 11/6. In addition to the anamorphic widescreen transfer, the disc will also include the "China Odyssey" documentary that appeared on the previous laserdisc release as well as the film's theatrical trailer. (Some have asked about the running time for the film, and Warner lists the runtime as 154 minutes.) Retail is $24.95.

Warner and HBO have also announced a 11/6 street date, specs and box art for The Sopranos, The Complete Second Season. The five-disc set includes 13 full-length episodes in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen and 5.1 Dolby surround, along with a wealth of extra goodies, including audio commentaries for each episode with directors Tim Van Patten, Henry J. Bronchtein, Allen Coulter and John Patterson, interviews with the cast and creators, and the featurette "The Real Deal" examining the factual aspects of the series. Retail is $99.95.

Buffy?

With the top ten most requested list constantly shuffling lately given all the big fourth quarter releases, time once again to update the Status Report. Our first new update is a big request title, Buffy The Vampire Slayer. While Fox is releasing the 1992 feature film on which the television series is based this September, we all know the series actually improved upon the film and is what Buffy fans are really craving. While Fox remains noncommittal on a date, episode collections have already been released overseas. What's the holdup here? Check out the status report update to find out.

Also, an update of sorts on Legend. Though there is no new real news on the two-disc set we're all waiting (and waiting) for, we did receive some menu shots from the old release before it was postponed. Though these won't be the menus on the final release, hopefully it will whet your appetite for the set whenever it does decide to finally show up. Watch for more new updates to the top ten real soon...