A day in the life - 11:57am

Here's a cool one...did you catch last year's most unique and original series premiere, the "real time" adventure show 24? (You should have!) In what is another sure sign that the studios are embracing TV programming on DVD, even something as recent as only a few months old, Fox has just announced a 9/17 street date for 24: 1, a box set of the entire first season. Presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen and 5.1 surround extras include commentary on select episodes, 2 featurettes, episode details, hidden surprises, and more to be announced. Retail is $59.95.

On 9/17 Fox will also release something called Big Shot: Confessions of a Campus Bookie. Presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen and English 2.0 Dolby Surround, extras include an audio commentary with Benny Silman commentary, a "NCAA Sport Wagering Awareness" video, "The Real Bookie: Benny Tells His Story" featurette, and TV spots. Retail is Fox's typical high "rental price" of $34.95.

Southern death cult - 12:01am

Once again, Anchor Bay delivers yet another cult classic in a spiffy new edition, a title that most other studios would likely just throw out there with a trailer and that would be that. Full specs have come in for the 9/24 release of Near Dark, Kathryn Bigelow's cult fave about southern vampires on the run. This two-disc set sports a new THX-certified anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 5.1 Dolby Digital and DTS remixes, an audio commentary by Bigelow, new 47-minute documentary featuring all-new cast and crew interviews, a deleted scene with optional commentary, storyboard, behind-the-scenes and ad material still galleries, trailers, and the complete screenplay. Retail is $29.95.

Future noir - 12:01am

It's funny that so much is made these days of "revisionist filmmaking" and the mad, mad, mad rush to redo and reissue today's modern favorites. But before there was a Blade Runner, a Star Wars or an E.T., there was Fritz Lang's Metropolis, easily one of the most re-released and reissued films in history. (Just how many soundtracks has this film gotten, anyway?) But if Kino International has their way, we may just finally see the definitive version of this sci-fi classic this summer. Hitting theaters this July in select markets is a newly-restored 147-minute version of the film, complete with newly-discovered footage and a new score by composer Gottfried Huppertz with a 65-piece orchestra.

With the film making the rounds this year, the DVD won't be out until 2003. Kino has not yet announced what plans they have for the DVD, but check out the official website for details on the restoration, the trailer, and more...