Video of the damned - 12:00am

Last fall's surprise horror blockbuster, the creepy thriller The Ring will finally make its DVD debut on March 4 from DreamWorks Home Entertainment. Given the film's $125 million-plus domestic gross, it's a bit surprising this is such a feature-starved release: the film is presented in anamorphic widescreen with Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround tracks, and includes the featurette "The Mystery of the Ring," production notes, filmographies and trailers for both the Japanese original and the US remake. Retail is $26.95. (Editor's Note: See the January 22nd update for the full press release for The Ring.)

Perhaps the best news of all for Ring-ites is that DreamWorks will also release the Japanese original Ringu on the same day, although specs have not yet been announced. Stay tuned...

Stupid human tricks - 12:00am

Just in from Paramount Home Entertainment are street dates for a number of new release, catalog and television titles. Fans of stupid people doing stupid things, mark March 25th down on your calendars: Jackass The Movie will hit stores in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen and full screen versions, each featuring Dolby Digital 5.1 surround tracks. Extras include two audio commentaries by director Jeff Tremaine, director of photography Dimitry Elyashkevich and star   Johnny Knoxville, a second cast commentary, MTV's "Making of Jackass: The Movie," 27 Minutes of additional footage, outtakes, a music video, 2 still galleries, filmographies and the trailer. Retail is $29.95.

Fans of that other stupid jackass Tom Green will also have a lot to look forward to on the 25th, with The Tom Green Subway Monkey Hour. (Seriously, that's what it's called.) This one is presented in full screen and Dolby 2.0 surround, with bonus footage, a still gallery and a Green biography. Retail is $19.95.

Up next is the thriller Hostage Negotiator, also due in stores on the 25th. This one comes with an anamorphic widescreen transfer, English and French 5.1 Dolby surround tracks, and the trailer. Retail is $29.95.

Rounding out Paramount's March 25th lineup is the long-awaited CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - The Complete First Season. This six-disc set features all the first season episodes plus extras including the featurette "People Lie... But The Evidence Never Does," the "Who Are You?" music video, and filmographies. No technical specs are yet available (watch this space), and retail is $79.95.

Last but not least is Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Season 2, which will arrive on April 1st. All episodes are presented in their original 4:3 full screen aspect ratio and remixed in Dolby 5.1 surround, and extras include five featurettes. Retail is $139.95.

Buena Vista Movie Showcase - 12:00am

Recognizing the huge opportunity to mine catalog gold with the mainstream success of DVD, Buena Vista Home Entertainment will continue their Movie Showcase collection throughout 2003 with another slew of new titles. Releases through June have already been announced, but coming up in the second half of 2003:

July: The Advocate, Woody Allen's Don’t Drink the Water, The Minion, A Month By The Lake, Lie Down With Dogs, My Left Foot, Queen Margot, Guilty As Sin, Renaissance Man and Tuesdays With Morrie

August: An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn, Camp Nowhere, Crossing The Bridge, The Cemetery Club, Dead Tired, French Twist, Rowing With The Wind, Royal Deceit, The Wedding Gift, Slam Dunk Ernest The Minion and Tower of Terror

September: The Big One, Children of the Revolution, Fatherhood, Feast of July, Funny Bones, Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag, It’s Pat: The Movie, Mouth to Mouth, Rage in Harlem and Shades of Fear

October: Angie, Bad Company, Before and After, Consenting Adults, Dennis Quaid in D.O.A., The Doctor, Deceived, Firebirds, Holy Matrimony and Jack,

November: Air Up There, Jefferson in Paris, Money For Nothing, Shoot To Kill and Shadow Conspiracy

December: Blame it on the Bellboy, Country, Hello Again and In The Army Now