By Peter M. Bracke

July 21 through 23 : BOND COLLECTION 3 details from MGM; a note on TRANSFORMERS specs

MGM announces third and final BOND wave features

I don't know, I post this today with a bit of mixed feelings. While I'll be excited to have the third and final set of THE JAMES BOND COLLECTION, it will also be a bit sad. Waiting to for the next Bond announcement has become sort of an institution over the last three years, so this announcement is kinda like the end of an era. Sniff, sniff...

Anyway, the specs for round 3 have come in (except for the commentary participants, which are still TBA), and despite the lowered $26.95 price tag, these discs seem to be up to snuff with the last set for the most past. All are due individually or in a set for $149.95 on 10/17. Watch for:

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE: 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen, English and Spanish 1.0 Mono, English, French and Spanish Subtitles, and special features include an audio commentary, "Inside From Russia With Love" documentary, "Harry Saltzman: Showman" featurette, animated storyboard sequence, theatrical trailers, radio spots and a collectible booklet.

YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, English and Spanish 1.0 Mono, English, French and Spanish Subtitles, and special features include an audio commentary, "Inside You Only Live Twice" documentary, "Silhouettes: The James Bond Titles" featurette, animated storyboard sequence, theatrical trailers, radio spots and a collectible booklet.

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, English and Spanish 1.0 Mono, English, French and Spanish Subtitles, and special features include an audio commentary, "Inside Diamonds Are Forever" documentary, "Cubby Broccoli: The Man Behind Bond" featurette, deleted scenes, theatrical trailers, TV spots, radio spots and a collectible booklet.

OCTOPUSSY: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, English 2.0 Surround and Spanish 2.0 Surround, English, French and Spanish Subtitles, and special features include an audio commentary, "Inside Octopussy" documentary, "Peter Lamont: Designing Bond" featurette, storyboard sequences, "All Time High" music video by Rita Coolidge, theatrical trailers, and a collectible booklet.

A VIEW TO A KILL: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, English 5.1 Surround and Spanish 2.0 Stereo, English, French and Spanish Subtitles, and special features include an audio commentary, "Inside A View To A Kill" documentary, "The Music Of James Bond" featurette, deleted scenes, "A View To A Kill" music video by Duran Duran, theatrical trailers, TV spots and a collectible booklet.

THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS: 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, English 5.1 Surround and Spanish 2.0 Stereo, English, French and Spanish Subtitles, and special features include an audio commentary, "Inside The Living Daylights " documentary, "Ian Fleming: 007's Creator " featurette, deleted scenes, "The Living Daylights" music video by A-Ha, theatrical trailers, and a collectible booklet.

Finally, NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN will also be available on 10/17 for only $19.95 (but not as a part of the box set), and features a 2.35;1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 2.0 Surround, English, French and Spanish Subtitles and a collectible booklet. All I got to say is that I can't believe they actually named a documentary "Inside Octopussy"!

Update on TRANSFORMERS

While I know next to nothing about this title, TRANSFORMERS THE MOVIE is just one of those titles that just generates tons and tons of email. The sales announcement for the DVD due on 10/10 was a bit vague, aside from the street date, that it would be "standard' and that retail was $19.95. However, we contacted Rhino PR to find out what might be on the disc, what cut it would be and if it would be anamorphic widescreen or not.

It seems that, at least according to PR, it is still a bit up in the air. The press release will be out in about 2 weeks, and the plan is to release the domestic cut but that is not "100% certain yet," and the transfer will thus be dependent on what version is eventually released. Same goes for extras, though "there will be additional features on the disc." So, guess we'll just have to wait for another couple of weeks, and when the press release arrives I'll certainly post it. Stay tuned!

July 20 : ANCHOR BAY'S fall slate; More COLUMBIA fall titles; cult faves from RHINO on the way

ANCHOR BAY sets fall slate

After a few postponements here or there, Anchor Bay has sent out their finalized slate for August and part of September, including their usual collection of great cult classics.

Aside from the already announced SUPERGIRL on 8/8 and REPO MAN on 8/22, watch for two Werner Herzog greats, WOYZECK and the acclaimed documentary MY BEST FIEND, along with THE PRINCE & THE PAUPER on 8/15. All are anamorphic widescreen and English 1.0 Mono (FIEND and WOYZECK also feature their original German Mono track as well), and include the trailer and cast & crew bios. Retail is $29.95 each.

Due on 8/29 is EVIL DEAD 2: DEAD BY DAWN, which will come in both a collector's and a special edition tin. Features include a new 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer, 5.1 Dolby Digital mix, audio commentary by Star Bruce Campbell, director Sam Raimi, co-writer Scott Spiegel and special effect artist Greg Nicotero, "The Gore The Merrier" featurette, 3 still Galleries, cast & crew bios and the trailer. Retail is $29.95 for the Collector's Edition and $39.95 for the tin.

Also on 8/29 comes SANTA CLAUS: THE MOVIE, which is being released in separate 1.85:1 anamorphic and 4:3 releases, and both include a 5.1 Dolby Digital mix, audio commentary by director Jeannot Szwarc, "Santa Claus: The Making Of The Movie" featurette, cast & crew bios and the trailer. Retail is $24.95 for either version.

Finally on 8/29 comes STRAPLESS and Michael Canton-Jones underrated SCANDAL, and while both only feature the trailer, they are in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. Retail is $29.95 each.

Coming a week earlier on 8/22 is HALLOWEEN 5: THE REVENGE OF MICHAEL MYERS (didn't he already take his revenge in parts 1, 2, 3 and 4?), which will also be available in standard and limited edition tin versions for $29.95 and $39.95 respectively. Each disc features a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, 5.1 Dolby Digital mix, introduction by stars Danielle Harris and Ellie Cornell, "Inside Halloween 5" documentary featuring interviews with the cast & crew and a deleted scene, cast bios and the trailer.

Then on 9/19 comes the reissue of HELLRAISER, complete with 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, 5.1 Dolby Digital mix, audio commentary with Director Clive Barker and star Ashley Laurence, "Resurrection" making-of featurette, cast bios and the trailer. Retail is $29.95.

More COLUMBIA fall titles

Three new good ones have been announced by Columbia for a 9/19 bow, perhaps the most exciting of which is THE LADY FROM SHANGAI. This Orson Welles' classic has been long awaited by fans, myself included, and will get a remastered 1.33:1 transfer (its original theatrical aspect ratio) and an English 1.0 Mono mix, with a still gallery and the trailer. Retail is $24.95.

Also due on 9/19 is ME MYSELF I (not to be confused with Fox's ME MYSELF & IRENE), which features a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 5.1 Surround track, a commentary with Director Pip Karmel, talent files and the trailer. Then finally comes THE COLOR OF PARADISE, in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, French 2.0 Surround and English, French and Spanish subtitles, talent files and the trailer. Both of the above are $29.95 each.

New batch of cult favorites from RHINO

Another round of interesting announcements from Rhino, who always have something unusual on tap for DVD. Due on 10/10 is their first batch of $9.95 titles, including DEATHROW GAMESHOW, KIDNAPPING THE PRESIDENT, SEXTETTE and BLOOD MANIA, though I'm not sure what kind of quality you're going to get for that price. All are full frame and 2.0 stereo, with no additional features.

Also due on 10/10 are TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE and a special edition of mod classic QUADROPHENIA. The former is full frame and 2.0 stereo and includes a still gallery, while the latter is widescreen with "special features to be announced." Retail is $19.95 and $24.95, respectively.

July 19 : Preview of more upcoming COLUMBIA reissues; horror holiday fun from ELITE

Home Theater Forum live chat transcript with FOX now up

The Home Theater Forum had another great live chat last night with 20th Century Fox's Peter Staddon, which lasted over three hours and was filled with lots of great news. So check out the full transcript now up!

A little preview of upcoming COLUMBIA reissues

While just about all the studios have reissued an old movie-only DVD title or two in a new special edition, no one has committed to it as extensively as Columbia has. Of course, when you have menus as ugly as those early Columbia titles did, can you blame them? Anyway, doing a post-VSDA follow-up on what future Columbia reissues to expect, if you were thinking of picking up MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING, GROUNDHOG DAY, BOYZ IN THE HOOD, MATILDA or A FEW GOOD MEN, you may want to wait a bit. Along with the "aren't we getting impatient waiting for them" titles GLORY and IN THE LINE OF FIRE, look for new special edition reissues of all these titles in the coming months from Columbia. Stay tuned for full specs on these when the announcements arrive.

More Halloween chills from ELITE

If you thought only the major studios were gearing up for another round of Halloween DVD treats, there is plenty more coming from independent distributors as well. Elite Entertainment has three new horror cult faves on the way. Coming on 8/29 is another of those great 80's "chemical spill turns townspeople into freaky monsters" classics, MUTANT. The disc features a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 1.0 Mono mix and the trailer. Then on 9/19 comes the Jess Franco version of JACK THE RIPPER, starring Klaus Kinski, and featuring a 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 1.0 Mono mix, a still gallery with rare lobby cards and artwork, and the trailer. Finally, on 10/19 comes THE HOUSE ON SORORITY ROW, and I probably don't need to tell you what this one is about! The disc is also 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, English 1.0 Mono and includes the trailer. Retail is $29.95 each.

July 18 : X-MEN Director BRYAN SINGER talks DVD; Paramount Halloween preview; a note on ANATOMY OF A MURDER aspect ratio

X-MEN Helmer Bryan Singer talks DVD

Our little multimedia guru Michael Cidoni has reported in again this week with his latest great video interview, a chat with X-MEN Director Bryan Singer. Now that you've seen the film (and given the mega-box office it raked in this weekend, you probably have), it is already time to start thinking about the DVD, huh? Michael got to sit down with Singer and talk about X-MEN and also some of the cool stuff they have in store for the DVD. It looks like they could get an 8-disc set out of this one, and they even hired videographer to document the entire production which bodes well for lots and lots of behind-the-scenes footage. Fox also provided some cool "B roll footage" that Mike put in there, and Singer also talks about his appreciation for DVD, as well as his mixed feelings about those audio commentary tracks.

Check out the roughly 3-minute clip for the full interview here, and watch for more clips every couple of weeks or so. (Yeah, okay, it says "This Week's BUZZ CLIP," but hey, we'll try to think of something better soon...)

Scary stuff from PARAMOUNT this fall

Since I'm a big horror movie fan like many of you, I always look forward to the fall not only because Halloween comes at the end of every October, but because there is always a fresh round of new horror movies coming out on DVD. In addition to the such great stuff as Universal's CLASSIC MONSTER COLLECTION, Fox's OMEN COLLECTION and THE FLY double features, Paramount also has some pretty scary movies on tap for September and October.

You probably already remember the announcements from the VSDA report for ROSEMARY'S BABY, THE DEAD ZONE and PET SEMATARY for 9/17. All are 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and include English 2.0 Surround and French Mono tracks (BABY and DEAD ZONE also include English 5.1 mixes) and the trailers, and ROSEMARY'S BABY includes new interviews with Roman Polanski, Producer Bob Evans and other members of the crew. I saw a bit of this at the VSDA and it was pretty interesting stuff, and it will be great to finally have this classic on DVD.

Then, fans of Jason Voorhees should be heartened to hear that FRIDAY THE 13TH PART III and FRIDAY THE 13TH: THE FINAL CHAPTER will arrive in their first-ever widescreen editions on 10/10, just in time for the theatrical bow of New Line's JASON X (or as it is becoming known as lately, JASON GOES TO SPACECAMP). Both discs feature the trailers and 2.0 Stereo tracks, and while PART III won't be in the ArriVision 3-D process used theatrically, it was the only FRIDAY film shot in 2.35:1 so it should be interesting to see it in widescreen. All of the above titles retail for $29.95.

ANATOMY OF A MURDER aspect ratio update

There's been quite a bit of email on Columbia's recent release of the James Stewart classic ANATOMY OF A MURDER. While the disc is full frame and originally announced as widescreen, many have written that the original theatrical aspect ratio is everything from 1.66:1 to 2.35:1. After putting an inquiry in to Columbia, the word we received was that the film was matted to 1.85:1 for some theatrical showings but Columbia decided to go with a full frame, open matte transfer only. No reason was given, but since this is an Oscar-nominated film and too long (over 2 1/2) hours) to allow two aspect ratios to fit on a single dual-layer disc, I would have hoped Columbia would have chosen to release an anamorphic widescreen version instead. In any event, the disc is full frame only, so let the buyer beware...

July 17 : Columbia unleashes first CHARLIE'S ANGELS episodes; Next studio day announced; New TOP PICK contest; WARNER and NEW LINE release news

CHARLIE'S ANGELS comes to DVD

Alright! Now this is the kind of announcement I like to see! Coming on 10/3 from Columbia (just in time for the big-screen movie version, of course) is the first 2-episode collection of CHARLIE'S ANGELS on DVD! Woo-hoo! The disc is full frame and and 1.0 mono, includes the featurette "Angels Forever" and the episodes "To Kill An Angel" and "Night Of The Stranger." It also includes the ultra-campy teaser trailer for the upcoming Sony remake. Yeaaaah.

DAVE'S VIDEO sets next STUDIO DAY for November

Just a quickie, we got a message from Dave's Video today that the next Studio Day event has been scheduled for 11/11, from 10am to 1pm. So mark those calendars, and watch for more details as this much-revered event in the DVD world draws nearer!

This Week's TOP PICK Contest

Time once again for this week's contest, and our Top Pick for the week is Paramount's very nice new disc of the overlooked ANGELA'S ASHES. Featuring a very good 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer and 5.1 Dolby Digital mix, the disc also includes two commentaries with Director Alan Parker and Author Frank McCourt, as well as 40-minutes of interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. Click over to the box on your right to enter and win.

And congrats goes out to Steve Gierman of Oak Lawn, Illinois and Mike Kaye of Massena, New York, who won last week's contest and a copy of Paramount's STAR TREK II and Universal's JAWS special edition, respectively!

Warner and Creative Design set three more box sets

Guess these Warner mega-boxes must be selling, because licensor Creative Design has announced a 9/5 date for three more collector's sets, BULLITT, DIRTY HARRY and THE DIRTY DOZEN. Each box features the same disc currently available, along with the original theatrical one-sheet movie poster, a "Senitype" (i.e., image from the movie) a 35mm film clip; 8 original lobby card reproduction and an exclusive collection of 6 original black and white photograph stills from the movie. Retail for each box is $79.95, and all are available concurrently with the standard box-less edition.

NEW LINE dishes up SEVEN two-disc set

Speaking of box cover art and box sets, so to speak, of course we're all (im)patiently awaiting New Line's upcoming Platinum Edition reissue of David Fincher's SEVEN. This two-disc set should be loaded with goodies, and it looks like New Line is going with the way-cool artwork used on the previous Criterion Collection laserdisc. This image came from the little booklet inside New Line's recent BOILER ROOM release, and only whets my appetite even more for this disc! Tap tap...tap tap tap...tap tap...