disc news
THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2003
'Phone Booth,' Fox musicals; another helping of 'Pie'; new Anchor Bay June titles
Sorry, wrong number - 11:25pm

Just dial 1-800-SPEEDY. The race for the shortest theatrical-to-video window continues, with Fox Home Entertainment today announcing a July 8th DVD debut for Phone Booth, which debuted at number one at the box office only three weeks ago. This Joel Schumacher thriller will include both 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and full screen transfers, English and French 5.1 and Spanish 2.0 Dolby surround tracks, an audio commentary by Schumacher and trailers. Retail is $27.95. (And as for the new cover art, just dial 1-800-CRAPPY.)

In other Fox news, they have also announced the full specs for their August lineup of classics musicals. While the originally announced Star! has been postponed in anticipation of additional supplements, the rest of the lineup ain't too shabby. All will feature new anamorphic widescreen transfers and 5.1 Dolby remixes, trailers and additional extras. All That Jazz boasts an audio commentary by Roy Scheider, an interview with Scheider and
5 Bob Fosse clips; Hello Dolly a new retrospective and the original 1969 featurettes; and The Commitments a featurette, the "Treat Her Right" music video and a CD sampler with 4 songs. Fox will also release a single-disc version of Moulin Rouge! (same specs as the existing version, sans the second disc), Simon & Garfunkel: The Concert in Central Park and The Rose as part of this promotion, although due to a mix-up on the Fox press website, the supplement specs for The Rose were replaced by those for Moulin Rouge!, so what exactly will be included on the former are not yet available. Stay tuned, and retail for each is a mere $14.95, except Moulin Rouge!, which is $19.95.

Another slice? - 11:25pm

it only gets worse and worse. Yes, Universal Studios Home Video will once again re-release American Pie and American Pie 2, making this the third versions of the comedy hits on DVD. Just in time to promote the upcoming summer release of American Pie 3: American Wedding, on July 29th comes the Beneath the Crust editions of both Pie flicks. What's new this time? Not much. In addition to the collector's editions of each, stuck on the package will be the bonus "Beneath the Crust: The Ultimate Guide to American Pie" volumes 1 and 2, covering their respective films. The content of the actual collector's edition discs will be the same as the existing releases, and you can even buy each in two flavors: Unrated and R-rated editions in "Bellyband" or "Taco Shell" packaging. (Even Taco Bell isn't this shameless.) Retail is $26.98 apiece, but warning, buying either may cause indigestion.

In other Universal news, they have also finally announced the full specs for the upcoming June 3rd special edition re-release of Sneakers, starring Robert Redford. While there is not much on here - a new 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 2.0 Dolby surround track, an audio commentary by director Phil Alden Robinson and the trailer, retail is a mere $14.95.

Meteor shower - 11:25pm

Rounding out today's news are some new announcements from Anchor Bay Entertainment. Arriving on June 24th are another batch of sci-fi and horror cult faves. Star Crystal, The Aurora Encounter and Freeway (not the Reese Witherspoon flick) all come with new anamorphic widescreen transfers and mono mixes, plus poster reproductions and on Freeway, the original theatrical trailer. Retail is $19.95.

And for you Hercules fans, the 24th will see the release of the Hercules: The Legendary Journeys - Season One box set. This 7-disc set features all Season One episodes presented in full screen and 2.0 Dolby surround, with the seventh disc being a bonus CD-ROM with additional downloadable content, such as screensavers and the like. Retail is $89.95.

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