Animagic - 10:55am

Kicking off this week in disc news is Fox Home Entertainment's lineup of May catalog titles.

First up is the Ralph Bakshi animated favorite Wizards, which will get its DVD debut on May 25th. This special edition includes a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, a Dolby 2.0 stereo remix, audio commentary by Bakshi, the featurette "Ralph Bakshi: The Wizard of Animation", a still gallery with 300 images, and theatrical trailers. Retail will be $14.95.

Up next is wave three in Fox's Martial Arts Collection, featuring five titles: Young Master, Operation Scorpio, Game of Death II, Prodigal Son and Royal Warrior. Each has been remastered in anamorphic widescreen and includes trailers for all five films in the collection. Retail will cost you $9.95 a pop, and street date is May 25th.

More laughs abound on May 25th with the DVD debut of the comedy Nora's Hair Salon, which gets a 4:3 full screen transfer, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track, and no extras outside of trailers. Retail will cost you $9.95 worth of hair rollers. And fans of the golden oldies can look forward to number 17 in Fox's Studio Classics collection, Desk Set, on May 4th. This special edition features an anamorphic widescreen transfer, a Dolby 2.0 stereo remix, new commentary by fashion designers Merrill and Neva Patterson, the featurette "Designers Inspired for New Creation by Film "Desk Set", a still gallery and theatrical trailers. Retail will be $14.95.

Rounding out Fox's May lineup are four new TV on DVD releases. Hitting shelves on May 25th will be Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete Sixth Season, which will see the usual cavalcade of audio commentaries, featurettes, outtakes and stills, plus 4:3 full screen transfers and Dolby Digital 2.0 surround tracks. Retail will be $59.95. Next up on May 11th is The X-Files 9: The Complete Ninth Season, which proved to be the curtain call for the legendary sci-fi series. This one includes 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfers and Dolby 2.0 surround tracks, plus audio commentaries, "The Making of 'The Truth'" 90-minute documentary, "The Secrets of Season 9" and "On Location" featurettes, deleted scenes, international clips, TV spots and a DVD-ROM game. Retail will be a cool $99.95. Last but not least, The Bernie Mac Show: Season 1 will make its DVD debut on May 4th, and feature 4:3 full screen transfers, Dolby 2.0 surround tracks and no extras. This four-disc set will retail for $49.95.

Jungle Fever - 10:55am

Warner Home Video has got a case of jungle fever today with the announcement of tons of Tarzan-themed fun. After years of fan anticipation and numerous petitions, on June 8th the studio will release a new 143-minute extended version of the 80's "reimagining" Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan Lord of the Apes. Remastered in 2.40 anamorphic widescreen and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, and the only extra is the theatrical trailer. Retail will list for $19.95. More Tarzan fun on the 8th includes the notorious Bo Derek "classic" Tarzan, the Ape Man, which gets a new 1.85 anamorphic transfer and Dolby Digital 5.1 remix, and will also retail for $19.95. Last but not least is The Tarzan Collection Starring Johnny Weissmuller, a four-disc set boasting three double-feature discs of Tarzan the Ape Man/Tarzan Escapes, Tarzan and His Mate/Tarzan Finds a Son, Tarzan's Secrets Treasure/Tarzan's New York Adventure and a bonus disc that includes a documentary and more. Retail for the big box will cost $59.95 coconuts.

Nine Inch Nails - 10:55am

Rounding out today's post-Oscar wrap up is two distribution newsbytes. Easily the most controversial movie of the past several years, who will be the lucky studio to pick up DVD distribution chores for Mel Gibson's surprise blockbuster The Passion of the Christ? None other that Fox Home Entertainment, who originally passed on distributing the film theatrically. While no details have yet been announced on a street date or features, expect a late summer or early fall release. Bet this one is gonna make a great stocking stuffer?

Also just signing an unusual distribution pact were metal pioneers Metallica and Paramount Home Entertainment, who will release the band's acclaimed documentary film Some Kind of Monster, which played to large and enthusiastic crowds at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. Metallica will take control of all aspects of the DVD's marketing, with Paramount set to release the set this summer. Watch this space for full specs and street date to follow soon...