E.T phones home - 12:02am

Well, I suppose you wouldn't think of the Cannes Film Festival s exactly a hotbed for big DVD announcements. But while the stars party hard in France and the fest is still all about movies, movies, movies, DVD is boasting a far bigger presence there this year than in seasons past. One of the big events at the festival this year is the Cinema DVD Show, which attempts to better integrate digital technology and the format into the show. Some of the activities include a panel discussion with top filmmakers on the impact of DVD, the inclusion of the format in the annual awards categories, and a "DVD Lounge" that showcases technology and top titles throughout the week-long event.

Already, some big news has come from the show, with no less than Steven Spielberg himself reportedly blabbing some details of the forthcoming E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial Ultimate Edition, which will arrive in stores on 10/22. This planned three-disc set will include both the original 1982 theatrical release version and the 2002 20th Anniversary Edition, each on their own separate discs, plus a third disc of extras. The supplements will include hours of additional materials (some which may be familiar to the recent NBC television special that aired in March) including a number of featurettes, all-new interviews with the cast, crew, and Spielberg, outtakes, deleted scenes not included in the new version, making-of material on the new special effects, rare archival footage, excerpts from the fabled E.T. Anniversary premiere with John Williams leading a 100-piece orchestra, and Williams' complete score isolated on the DVD.

Since there's always plenty of unsubstantiated rumors floating around about every DVD these days, normally we wouldn't bother posting this kind of thing. But while Universal would not respond for this posting, we did get a confirmation from Spielberg's longtime publicist Marvin Levy and Amblin Entertainment, as well as an indication that a press release would be coming soon from Universal with the full details. So as always, stay tuned!

More Buena Vista fall titles - 12:02am

Just in from Buena Vista Home Entertainment are a number of new street dates and announcements for many big fall DVD titles. Arriving on 8/13 is the recent Nicole Kidman drama Birthday Girl and The Accidental Spy followed by Jet Li in The Master and Shiner on 8/20, and , the recent box office smash The Rookie on 8/27.

Coming in September is another big wave of titles, including the Josh Hartnett sex comedy 40 Days and 40 Nights on 9/17, followed by Stolen Summer, The Wrong Guy, Legend of the Swordsman, the first film in the Matt Damon and Ben Affleck-funded Project Greenlight, and long-awaited special editions of The Beatles' A Hard Day's Night and a new two-disc set of Il Postino. Stay tuned for full specs.

Last but not least, on 9/14 Buena Vista will be dropping the retail prices of a huge spate of catalog titles. Dropping to $19.95 are Legend 2, Iron Monkey, On the Line, New Port South, Serendipity and Texas Rangers.

Dropping to $14.95 are Gun Shy, Blackjack, Cool Runnings, The Rocketeer, My Favorite Martian, Mr. Magoo, the Three Musketeers, Life Size, Mumford, Judge Dredd, Thousand Acres, Metro, Eddie, Miami Rhapsody, Good Morning Vietnam, G.I. Jane, and What About Bob?