By Peter M. Bracke

July 16 : STAR TREK THE MOTION PICTURE news

Warp Speed ahead...

Well, it's official: I'm no longer a sci-fi convention virgin. Since about the closest I've come in the past to attending such a show was watching TREKKIES, I was quite curious as to what these sci-fi/Trek conventions are really like. So I checked out the 3-day Fantasticon convention yesterday afternoon, and was somewhat surprised I had such a good time. I thought perhaps it would be for diehards only, i.e., people might look at me funny if I wasn't dressed as a Klingon, but it was a really friendly and welcoming atmosphere. And man, does that merchandise go for a lot! Maybe I should quit DVDFILE and just set up a booth at a convention...

Anyway, I happened to spot a couple of Paramount reps in a huddle with threefolks that I think readers might be quite interested to know were there, producers David C. Fein and Michael Matessino (of Sharpline Arts) and Daren Dochterman. Given the setting and the fact STAR TREK II is now in stores, fans inevitably began asking the reps about STAR TREK THE MOTION PICTURE. Paramount told the crowd that Fein, Matessino and Dochterman are working directly with Director Robert Wise on the film itself. Any more details are sketchy, but given Sharpline Arts' past work I'm excited to see what they have in store... (Editor's Note: By the way, since this first posting, we did confirm that Foundation Imaging is on board the project to revisit the special effects. Sounds cool!)

July 14 through 16 : Database down but not out; COLUMBIA update on RUDY specs; this week's INDIE WRAPUP

Just a little good news/bad news today regarding the databases. The bad news is that they'll be offline for about a week, the good news is we got our brand-spankin' new server, and are in the process of powering up the new databases for the big switchover in a week or so. Since our current databases quite frankly suck, these new MySQL/PHP-powered ones are going to be sooooo much better. Also, all the missing recent titles and such will all be in there when the new databases go live, as well a host of cool new features like a price compare, user ratings and glitch lists. Should be cool, and hard to believe the eve of our new database-driven site is almost upon us. Yippee!

Columbia announces final RUDY specs

Just a brief note from Columbia on the final specs for that RUDY special edition due on 9/26. While a bit slimmer in my opinion than most Columbia SEs, the disc includes 3 featurettes "Rudy, The Real Story," "The Production" and "60 Seconds With Sean Astin" (hope that featurette is more than 60 seconds!) as well as an isolated score, talent files and the theatrical trailer. the disc is in 1.85:1 widescreen and English 5.1 and 2.0 surround mixes, and retail is $24.95

This week's quick Indie Wrapup

Just a short one this week...

Coming from Pioneer is a bevy of unusual titles in time for Halloween. On 10/10 comes BEST OF ROCKPALAST: ALIVE LEE'S TEN YEARS LATE and THE RICHARD STRAUSS CONCERT, both full frame with 2.0 surround soundtracks. Retail is $29.95 each. Then on 9/26 is a quartet of Artisan-licensed scary ones, including the Patrick Stewart remake of THE CANTERVILLE GHOST, GHOULIES II (ooh ahh!), THE HAUNTED and SHADOWZONE. All four are full frame only and 2.0 surround, and retail for $24.95 each.

Coming from EMI on 8/1 are a trio of new music titles, all with PCM 2.0 tracks and in full frame. Watch for THE NEW YEAR'S CONCERT 2000: RICCARDO MUTI - WIENER PHILHARMONIKER, TOOTH & NAIL VIDEOGRAPHY 1993-1998 and YEHUDI MENUHIN: THE VIOLIN OF THE CENTURY. Retail on each is $29.95.

Coming from Madacy on 8/1 are two easy-listening titles, SEA and PREDATORS 2: SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST. Both are full frame and 2.0 stereo, and retail for $24.95.

Finally, on 8/8 comes ENDLESS SUMMER REVISITED from MTI, a sequel to the landmark 60's surfing documentary ENDLESS SUMMER. The disc is full frame and 2.0 surround, and includes a still gallery with production photos, interviews with documentarians Bruce and Dana Brown and cast bios. Retail is only $19.95.

July 13 : New Columbia holiday fun; Universal and Sony Music news

Yikes, the post VSDA release news slump continues, with just a few new announcements today...

Columbia adds a holiday favorite

Due from Columbia on 9/19 is the "holiday classic" BUSTER AND CHAUNCEY'S SILENT NIGHT, featuring the vocal talents of Phil Hartman, Tom Arnold, Marie Osmond, Jim Cummings and Lea Michele. The full frame 2.0 surround disc includes Four Sing-a-Longs for "Christmas in Oberndorf," "Holiday for Thieves," "Things That I've Collected" and "Silent Night" and talent files. The disc also includes French and Portuguese language tracks and the usual Columbia bevy of subtitles in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean and Thai. Retail is $24.95.

A double dose of musical fun

Due from Sony Music on 8/8 are a couple of new music titles, including the oft-postponed BILLY JOEL LIVE AT YANKEE STADIUM. The dual-layer disc includes Dolby Digital 5.1 and PCM 2.0 stereo mixes, lyrics to all the songs and a complete discography. Retail is $24.95. Also due that day is INSIDE MTV'S TOTAL REQUEST LIVE, which is a behind-the-scenes look at MTV's popular after show, and includes celebrity appearances, bloopers, TRL Host Carson Daly and features exclusive performances by 'N SYNC, Backstreet Boys, Christina Aguilera, Limp Bizkit, 98 Degrees and Five. Extras include such insightful features as VJ Profiles, artist interview clips, an MTV studio photo tour and TRL trivia. Retail is $24.95.

Then, coming from Universal Music is only their second DVD release, and once again it is...a Shania Twain video! Despite the fact they have hundreds if not thousands of wonderfully diverse musical acts and videos in their library, they decide yet again to go with Shania. No offense to her, but after waiting years for Universal Music to release anything on DVD, can't we get at least something different out of them? Anyway, on 12/7 comes SHANIA TWAIN LIVE, featuring nearly 2 hours of all of Shania's hits, as well as backstage footage and a discography. The disc is full frame and Dolby Digital 5.1, and retails for $24.95.

July 12 : New USA announcements; tidbits on MARY POPPINS and MY DOG SKIP

New USA late summer announcements

A couple of new USA announcements for two rather little-seen films, Angelica Huston's AGNES BROWNE and Sigourney Weaver and Julianne Moore in MAP OF THE WORLD. Both are anamorphic widescreen, in 2.0 Surround and 2.0 Stereo respectively, and feature the trailers, production notes and cast & crew bios. Street is 8/22 and price is $24.95 each.

A couple of tidbits...

Just a couple of quick bits on two recent releases in stores now. First, while still not anamorphic, the recent Gold Classic Collection reissue of MARY POPPINS from Disney includes a number of features not on the first release. This original version had no extras (not even a trailer) and the entire 2-hour plus film crammed on a single-layer disc. This new reissue, however, features a making-of featurette, "Hollywood Goes To A Movie Premiere" footage, a trivia game and the trailer. Price remains at $29.95.

Also, Warner's MY DOG SKIP, which debuts today, boasts a full-length audio commentary on the box, but in truth the audio interview with Frankie Muniz and Mathilde DeCagney only lasts a little over 30 minutes, and then the participants even announce the commentary is over! (However, there still is a true full-length commentary by the director still on the disc.) Perhaps this "mini-commentary" would have been better labeled as an "audio interview," but in any case be warned if you were thinking of picking up the disc and this specific commentary was part of the reason for your purchase.

July 11 : New COLUMBIA September updates, two ELVIS concerts from WARNER MUSIC; and Hen's Tooth does PRIVATE EYES

New COLUMBIA September title updates

Just a few of new updates from Columbia for today. Due on 9/12 is another Columbia reissue, of the teen witch thriller THE CRAFT. The $24.95 disc includes a 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer and 5.1 Dolby Digital mix, an audio commentary by Director Andrew Fleming, "Conjuring The Craft" featurette, deleted scenes with optional Director's commentary, the original making-of featurette, an isolated music score, the trailer and talent files. Whew!

Then on 9/19 comes a movie I thought I would hate but ended up really liking, Sandra Bullock in 28 DAYS. The disc includes a 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer and 5.1 Dolby Digital mix, an audio commentary by Director Betty Thomas, Producer Jenno Topping, Editor Peter Teschner and Composer Richard Gibbs, an HBO Making of Featurette, Santa Cruz Soap Opera: The Lost Episodes (some very funny fake soap opera footage shot for the film), three character testimonials (not sure what this is), "The Guitar Guy's Lost Songs," an isolated music score and finally notes on "How to Make a Gum Wrapper Chain." The disc retails for $24.95

Coming on 9/5 will be the next volume of THREE STOOGES episodes, which includes SPOOK LOUDER, MUMMY'S DUMMIES, SHIVERING SHERLOCKS, THE GHOST TALKS, HOKUS POKUS and FRIGHT NIGHT. The $24.95 disc is full frame, mono and in its original glorious black and white.

Also, the upcoming WINGS OF DESIRE disc also due on 9/5 will include an audio commentary from Director Wim Wenders. Great movie, hope it is a great disc!

A little hip shake

Coming from Warner Music on 8/1 are a couple of new ELVIS concert films, ELVIS: ONE NIGHT WITH YOU and ELVIS: THE '68 COMEBACK SPECIAL. Both are full frame and feature the original mono mix as well as new 5.1 mixes. There are also some brief biography notes, and each disc retails for $24.95.

A little Don Knotts action

Here's an interesting one. Coming on 10/10 from Hen's Tooth Video is the Don Knotts and Tim Conway comedy-thriller PRIVATE EYES, in a special edition no less. The full frame and mono disc also includes an audio commentary with Director Lang Elliott, a still gallery of production photos and the theatrical trailer. Retail is $29.95, and don't ask me how this one ended up coming out through Hen's Tooth, but is coming nonetheless!

July 10 : VSDA wrap-up; new TOP PICK contest

Well, with my return from the VSDA, needless to say there is no release news today because it is all in my VSDA report. While not a tremendously exciting, there are some good tidbits in there, so check out Part 2 of the report (or go to the Index if you want to read the whole thing) to find out what cool announcements there were. Hope you enjoy it!

This Week's TOP PICK Contest

Time once again for this week's contest, and our Top Pick for the week is another bit of a cheat, with two Top Picks. First is, no big surprise, JAWS (and we'll let the winner pick whether they want the DTS or Dolby Digital version) as well as a copy of STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN signed by Ricardo Montalblan himself. Click over to the box on your right to enter and win, and congrats goes out to Paul Trava of Medford, New York, who won last week's contest and a copy of Dimension's SCREAM 3 special edition.