Beautiful Beast - 11:41am

Although it failed to have the box office impact the original did, Buena Vista Home Entertainment has high hopes for the prequel The Young Black Stallion when it hits DVD on December 21st. Boasting THX certified anamorphic widescreen and full screen versions on the same disc and a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track, extras include a much-touted, exclusive-to-DVD 20-minute short film that allows you to "discover for the first time ever the backstory of what happened before The Young Black Stallion," plus the "Taming the Stallions," "Finding Biana," "Shooting in Namibia" and "Building the Casbah" featurettes, a "Big Black Horse" read-along and theatrical trailers, expect a list price of $29.95.

Also just announced from Buena Vista are two new "double-dips," both arriving just in time for the holidays on November 2nd. Watch for a new Collector's Edition of Bridget Jones's Diary, and a new three-disc set of the mega-hit Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. What new will be on these reissues? Details have yet to be announced, but stay tuned...

Center Ring - 11:41am

The human punching bag known as Rocky Balboa is back in The Rocky Anthology, next another Rocky box set from MGM Home Entertainment designed to piggy-back off of the success of the new reality series The Contender. Already released before on DVD, this new six-disc set will hit stores on December 14th and boasts remastered anamorphic widescreen transfers and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround tracks for all five flicks (the first flick also gets a DTS track), plus new audio commentaries on all five films, and a sixth disc with deleted footage, the A&E's Biography episode "Sylvester Stallone: The Rocky Road to the Top," theatrical trailers and more to be announced. Retail will list for $62.95.

Also just announced from MGM are two recent limited release theatrical titles making their DVD debuts on November 9th: the "sexy thriller" Lost Junction, starring Neve "Where the hell did she go?" Campbell, and The Saddest Music in the World, toplined by Isabella Rossellini. Each includes an anamorphic widescreen transfer, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track and theatrical trailers. There is no set list price, only an MAP of $19.95 each.

Fox in a Box - 11:41am

Still haven't had your fill of TV on DVD announcements? Then Fox Home Entertainment has another batch for your viewing pleasure this holiday season.

First up on November 23rd is the long-awaited debut of the charming and cheesy Star Wars Animated Adventures double features: Droids, Ewoks and Caravan of Courage/The Battle for Endor. Each boasts remastered 4:3 full screen presentations and Dolby tracks (configurations not specified) and no announced extras. Retail will list for $16.95 a pop. Sadly, the epic Star Wars Christmas Special remains unreleased. Dammit.

Next up is Lost in Space: Season 2 Volume 2, due on November 30th. Again presented in 4:3 full screen and Dolby Digital mono, extras include original 1966 interviews, plus a still gallery. List price will go for $39.95.

Also due for release on November 16th is the direct-to-TV National Lampoon's Holiday Reunion, which answers the question, "Whatever happened to Judge Reinhold and Penelope Ann Miller?" Featuring both anamorphic widescreen and full screen transfers and a Dolby Digital 2.0 surround track, there are no extras. MSRP will be $19.95.

Finally, what would Fox TV on DVD announcement be without more Buffy? Hitting stores on November 16th is Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete Seventh Season. The immortal show's last season will get 4:3 full screen transfers and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround tracks, plus audio commentaries on seven episodes, the featurettes "Season 7 Overview," "Buffy: It's Always Been About the Fans," "Buffy: Full Circle," "Buffy 101: Studying the Slayer," "Generation S" and "The Last Sundown," an outtake reel, wrap party footage, an easter egg and ROM "Willow's Demon Guide." Expect a bloody good list price of $59.95.