disc news
SUNDAY, JUNE 13, 2004
'Laws of Attraction'; 'Purple Rain' 20th anniversary; four-disc 'Dawn of the Dead'

Body Chemistry - 2:50pm

It is going to be "Love, Laughter...and Lawsuits!" when the Pierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore romantic comedy The Laws of Attraction hits DVD on August 24th. Coming from New Line Home Entertainment, the release will include anamorphic widescreen and full screen transfers, a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track, deleted scenes, alternated ending, theatrical trailers and PC enhanced extras in including a script-to-screen viewer. Retail will list for $27.95.

Let's Go Crazy - 2:50pm

Has it really been twenty years!? Yes, kids, that guy with the once unpronounceable symbol for a moniker is now old enough to be your father, or even grandfather. But his name is still Prince, and he is funky! And to prove it, Warner Home Video will release the two-disc Purple Rain: 20th Anniversary Edition on August 24th.

Remastered at last in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, extras include a new audio commentary with director Albert Magnoli, producer Robert Cavallo and cinematographer Donald E. Thorin, three new featurettes (on the Minneapolis music scene and Prince's career prior to Purple Rain, a second on the making of the movie, and a third on Prince's fans, his legacy and impact on pop culture), no less than seven music videos (four from Prince, two from the Time and even the immortal "Sex Shooter" from Apollonia 6), 1984 MTV premiere party footage, and theatrical trailers for all three of Prince's Warner movies. Retail will be $26.95.

And if you just can't get enough of His Royal Shortness, Warner will also release two other, rather horrrendous Prince flicks, Under the Cherry Moon and the Purple Rain "sequel" Graffiti Bridge, on the 24th. Each is remastered in anamorphic widescreen and Dolby Digital 5.1, and extras include four music videos on each plus theatrical trailers. Retail? $19.95 a pop.

Flesheaters from Hell - 2:50pm

When there is no more room in hell, the dead shall walk the earth. And, apparently, there are so many of them that only four discs could contain it. Yes, Anchor Bay Entertainment is unleashing a new Collector's Edition of George Romero's classic Dawn of the Dead on September 7th, and this four disc set (yes, four discs) just may be one of the most extensive ever created.

So, what are you gonna get? How about the film's theatrical cut, a new extended cut and the European "Zombie" Cut (each gets their own disc), presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 and DTS 5.1 surround tracks on the theatrical cut, Dolby 5.1 and 2.0 for the Euro cut, and Dolby mono only for the extended version, plus audio commentary with Romero, his wife Chris, makeup legend Tom Savini and moderator Perry Martin on the theatrical cut, producer Richard P. Rubinstein and Martin on the extended cut, and stars David Emge, Ken Foree, Scott H. Reiniger and Gaylen Ross on the Euro cut. Disc Four features the new 75-minute "The Dead Will Walk" documentary (featuring interviews with all of the above plus Claudio and Dario Argento, Pat and Tony Buba, Zilla Clinton, Michael Gornick, Claudio Simonetti and more), the original "Document of the Dead" documentary by Roy Frumkes, on-set home movie footage and a Monroeville Mall tour hosted by Romero. Other extras include five still galleries with domestic and international advertising, poster, lobby card and marketing materials, filmographies, a comic book preview, a Monroeville TV commercial, and theatrical trailers, TV and radio spots from around the world. Retail for this puppy will be $49.95.

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