Sith?

Don't get too excited; I'm sure the film will be released on DVD in the fall, but that's not what this bit of news is all about. On Tuesday, May 3rd, Sony Classical will release John Williams' orchestral score for the last Star Wars saga, Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith. Why, you may ask, am I reporting the release of a score CD on a site dedicated to DVD? Admittedly, I am an orchestral score fan, a collector, I very much enjoy John Williams' work, and I can't wait to lay my hands on the CD; but, that's not why. The score CD will include a 70-minute long bonus DVD with sixteen newly produced "music videos" set to Williams' scores, derived from all six Star Wars films, and presented in the saga's chronological order. (I fear spoilers for Episode III.) Ian McDiarmid (Senator Palpatine) will introduce each segment. The audio will be presented in Dolby Digital 5.1, but I cannot determine if it will be an EX mix or if the video will be widescreen and anamorphic.

By the way, the graphic for this news item was culled from an image of the newly released one-sheet for Episode III. For those so inclined, you may purchase it at the official Star Wars website by clicking here.

High Hughes

Warner Home Video will release The Aviator as a 2-disc set on 5/24 for an SRP of $29.95. The presentation will be in anamorphic video and Dolby Digital 5.1. Supplements are expected to include a commentary by director Martin Scorsese, a History Channel documentary, deleted scenes, a panel discussion with Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese, and Terry Moore (Hughes' widow), and a photo gallery. Be careful, the disc will also be released in a pan & scan version and we wouldn't want you to make a serious mistake.

Essential Steve

Warner Home Video has also announced that it will release The Essential Steve McQueen Collection on May 31st; the six-disc set will carry an SRP of $68.92. Included will be: Bullitt Special Edition; The Cincinnati Kid; The Getaway Deluxe Edition; Never So Few; Papillon; and, Tom Horn. Expected supplements will include documentaries, featurettes, commentaries, and trailers.