Kicking off this week's news are the latest announcements from Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment. Debuting on November 25th are a mix of new releases, catalog titles and a clutch of repricings:

Making its direct-to-DVD debut is the latest from Jean Claude Van Damme In Hell and the controversial import The Legend of Suriyothai, which is "Presented by" Francis Ford Coppola. Both feature anamorphic widescreen transfers and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround tracks, and the former also includes a full screen version and a featurette. Retail is $24.95 and $29.95, respectively.

From the Columbia vault comes another installment in The Three Stooges collection, In Orbit, which features four classic episodes presented in full screen and Dolby mono. And at long last for the film's small but rabid cult, Columbia will release the teen drug drama Where the Day Takes You. Alas, it will be presented in 4:3 full screen only and Dolby 2.0 surround, and there are no extras. Retail is $24.95.

Fun for the whole family includes two new installments in the Bernstain Bears series, Adventure and Fun for Everyone and Fun Lessons to Learn, as well as the 2003 animated retelling of the classic Peter and the Wolf. All are presented in full screen with no extras, and retail is $19.95 a pop. Columbia will also issue a new collectible box set version of Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal, which includes the special edition version of the film, plus Henson's original notes, a senitype and collectible packaging. Retail is $49.95.

Rounding out Columbia's November 25th lineup are two new repricings, for the live comedy favorites Dennis Miller: Live from Washington D.C. and Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip. The new retail price is $19.95 each. Features remain the same.

Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon - 2:13pm

Just in from Image Entertainment is their November line up of new releases, which as always are an eclectic mix of cult favorites and top music releases.

Highlights include the latest from the Bacon Brothers: Live - The No Food Jokes Tour, plus Chick Corea: A Very Special Concert, Bill Wyman's Blues Odyssey: A Journey to Music's Heart, Richard Rogers: An Enchanted Evening and back from the 80's, Berlin: Intimate. Theatrical and cult releases include the chiller Biohazard (with a Fred Olen Ray commentary), reissues of Psychic Killer, House on Sorority Row and Tobe Hooper's Eaten Alive, plus a new special edition of Nightmare Sisters, featuring audio commentary by director David DeCoteau, producer John Schouweiler, and actors Brinke Stevens, Michelle Bauer and Richard Gabai, bloopers and outtakes and a still gallery. Check out the Image Entertainment site (www.image-entertainment.com) for the full rundown of titles, specs and pricing.

Get Your Freak On - 2:13pm

Rounding out today's news are some new street dates from Buena Vista Home Entertainment. The studio will release the sleeper smash of the summer, Freaky Friday, on December 16th. Just in time for the holidays, this THX-certified special edition will include a variety of extras to be announced, although there is no word on when the original Jodie Foster hit will finally make its own DVD debut.

Other new street dates include the latest Project Greenlight feature film, The Battle for Shaker Heights, which will get a December 9th release following a less-than-spectacular theatrical run this past month. And from Disney comes two new Masterpiece Editions of the classics Alice in Wonderland and Pocahontas, which will ring in the New Year on January 27th. Stay tuned for specs and pricing information.