disc news
MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2003
'Texas Chainsaw' redux; more Chaplin; 'Kung Fu' first season
Fresh Meat - 2:19pm

The buzz is back. After grossing over $80 million at the fall box office, the unstoppable Leatherface returns in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which will be getting not one but two new DVD releases on March 30th - "One Massacre. Two Executions!" - courtesy of New Line Home Entertainment.

Both the single-disc and two-disc Platinum Series editions feature a 1.85;1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, DTS and Dolby Digital EX soundtracks, the Motograter "Suffocate" music video, the original theatrical trailer and 7 TV spots. But the real deal for fans will be the two-disc set, which comes housed in a collectible and removable metal plaque cover, three audio commentaries with director Marcus Nispel, producer Michael Bay and cast and crew to be announced, the full-length "Making the Film" and "Gein: The Ghoul of Plainfield" documentaries, deleted scenes including an alternate opening and ending, cast screen tests, multiple still galleries including concept art and crime scene photos, and a ROM script viewer. Retail is $27.95 for the single-disc, and $39.95 for the Platinum Series edition.

More Chaplin - 2:19pm

Just in from MK2 is the announcement of The Chaplin Collection Volume 2, featuring another great lineup of Chaplin classics. This boxed set includes The Chaplin Revue a 1959 recut compilation of the silent comedies "A Dog's Life," "Shoulder Arms" and "The Pilgrim," including Chaplin-added music, narration, and connecting material), Circus, City Lights, The Kid, A King In New York/A Woman of Paris and Monsieur Verdoux, all newly remastered in their 1.33:1 full screen aspect ratios and remixed in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround. Each will also be available as a two-disc set, complete with extras: never-before-seen, behind-the-scenes footage, exclusive family home movie material, and commentaries (participants to be announced). The box set also includes the new two-hour documentary Charlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin, directed by Richard Schickel and narrated by filmmaker Sydney Pollack, and chock full of new interviews with Woody Allen, Richard Attenborough, Johnny Depp, Robert Downey Jr, Milos Forman, Andrew Sarris, Marcel Marceau, and Martin Scorsese. Street date for these new titles is March 2nd, and each retails for $29.95 each, or $99.95 for the box set. (Monsieur Verdoux will retail for $24.95.)

Chop Socky - 2:19pm

Rounding out today's news is the arrival of another TV classic on DVD, Kung Fu: the Complete First Season. Warner Home Video will debut this cult classic on March 16th in a three-disc set. Surprisingly for an old 70's TV show, all sixteen episodes, including the pilot, are presented in remastered 1.78;1 anamorphic widescreen and Dolby mono, plus the new "From Grasshopper to Caine: Creating Kung Fu" and "The Tao of Kwai Chang Caine: Production and Beyond" featurettes and episode synopses. Retail will be a kickin' $39.95.

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