disc news
THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2003
'28 Days Later,' 'Wrong Turn'; 'Texas Chainsaw' reissue; Lion's Gate horrors
Car trouble - 5:13pm

They should have just called Triple-A...on October 14th, Fox Home Entertainment will release last spring's slasher shocker Wrong Turn. Although not much of a box office hit, this one quickly earned a cult following and will likely find a bigger audience on DVD. This special edition includes an anamorphic widescreen transfer and a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track, audio commentary by director Rob Schmidt and the cast, 4 deleted scenes, 3 featurettes, a still gallery and trailers. Retail is $27.95.

Even more gory thrills can be had a week later on October 21st when Fox unleashes the British zombie sleeper 28 Days Later. Available in separate anamorphic widescreen and full screen flavors both with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround tracks, extras include audio commentary with director danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland, not one but three alternate endings, deleted Scenes, the "Pure Rage" featurette, two still galleries, storyboards, a music video and theatrical and teaser trailers. Retail is also $27.95.

High school confidential - 5:13pm

School's back in session...so run, don't walk, to your closest video store. On September 2nd, Lions Gate Home Entertainment will release one of the worst shows ever to be aired on national television, Saved by the Bell: Volume 1 - Seasons 1 & 2. This five-disc tsunami will feature 750 minutes of hilarious antics, all in 4:3 full screen and Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo. Extras will include audio commentaries but participants have yet to be announced. Retail is $49.95.

As if Saved by the Bell isn't scary enough, Lion's Gate will also release a nice lineup of spooky (and not-so-spooky) movies on October 14th: Cronos, The Eye, The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer (aka a "prequel" to the Stephen King TV miniseries Rose Red), The Hard Word, Defiance and Sweet Sixteen (the 2003 direct-to-video version, not the little-seen 1981 slasher flick). Each is presented in anamorphic widescreen except for the full frame Ellen Rimbauer, and all include trailers. Other extras on Cronos include an audio commentary with Guillermo del Toro, the "Director's Perspective" featurette, a del Toro short film and a still gallery, and on The Eye, a featurette and additional TV spots. Retail is $24.95 a pop.

The 'Saw is family - 5:13pm

Speaking of ghoulish thrills, on October 14th Pioneer Entertainment will re-release the grand guignol classic that made vegetarianism mighty enticing - prepare yourself for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: 30th Anniversary Edition. However, features look the same as the previous special edition Pioneer released a few years back - 1.66:1 non-anamorphic widescreen transfer, audio commentary by director Tobe Hooper, director of photography Daniel Pearl and actor Gunnar Hansen, deleted and alternate footage, a blooper reel, still gallery and trailers. Retail is $19.95.

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