By Peter M. Bracke

July 31: PARAMOUNT serves up 'ENGAGEMENT'; RHINO sets more BRADY BUNCH; new tidbits on WARNER reissues and Universal and Disney titles

TOP PICK contest delay

Due to some delays in what are contest prize will be this week (we might be able to get some signed copies of a certain disc), the contest will be postponed a day. In the meantime, congrats to Mark Cooper of Huber Heights, Ohio, who wins a copy of Fox's feature-laden edition of THE BEACH. Stay tuned for a new contest tomorrow.

"You can't handle the truth!"

Oops, sorry, wrong movie! But if you've been dying for A FEW GOOD MEN 2, then Paramount has something for you on 10/17. Alright, so it isn't really a sequel to the Rob Reiner-directed hit, but it does have some similarities you might say. The RULES OF ENGAGEMENT disc features a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 5.1 and 2.0 surround tracks, an audio commentary with Director William Friedkin, a making-of featurette and an interview gallery with the cast & crew. Retail is $29.95.

The Brady Bunch say cheese!

Speaking of paramount, when are we going to see the BRADY BUNCH movies on DVD, huh? Well, I guess if I have to wait, what could be better than THE BRADY BUNCH HOME MOVIES? Actually, I have no idea what this is, except it is from Rhino, in full frame and English 1.0 mono. Street date is 10/10 and retail is $19.95, and I'm guessing this is rare behind-the-scenes footage from the series' glory years?

New & Noteworthy Tidbits

A few announcements of interest, both good and bad. If you are a fan of the snapper case and 70's sci-fi/horror yarns, than you are in luck. Warner will be reissuing previous the MGM releases BRAINSTORM, 2010: THE YEAR WE MAKE CONTACT, LOGAN'S RUN and WESTWORLD on 8/22. Retail is $24.95, and the transfers and features are the same as previous versions.

In what is looking like the start of a trend for Universal, they are becoming quite fond of releasing separate unrated and R-rated versions of their titles. After AMERICAN PIE and AMERICAN PSYCHO, watch for an R-rated version of the controversial wrestling documentary BEYOND THE MAT, which will include identical features as the previously announced Unrated version, including the commentary. Retail is identical, $26.95 , and street date is 8/22.

Finally, in the "here we go again department," despite being informed otherwise, the new Gold Classic Collection version of A BUG'S LIFE is not anamorphic as previously stated, but is the same disc as the previously non-Gold Collection movie-only edition. If you want an anamorphic transfer, you'll have to go out and get the very nice 2-disc collector's edition. We've put in an email to Buena Vista about this, but won't hold our breath for a response...

July 28 through 30: ANCHOR BAY live chat transcript; Return to JURASSIC PARK...in pan & scan; Columbia believes in 'MIRACLE's

MGM drops BOND prices, commentary specs added

Well, I guess this might tick off some people (mainly those that just bought the last Bond set), but MGM is not only introducing a nice new low price of $26.95 each for the third and final wave of BOND COLLECTION titles, but also dropping the prices of the previous two sets as well. While the individual discs will remain at $34.95, the first wave of seven discs will now go for $157.96, not the original $199.95, while wave two with five discs (THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH will still not be included) will go for $112.96. Personally, I can understand a consumer being miffed that they just paid a lot more for these discs, in the end the only other alternative is for MGM to keep the wave three prices up at $34.95, so any lowering of prices is good for consumers, right?

Also, MGM has issued (sort of) the commentary track participants for wave three, though not every participant on every track is listed. DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER and YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE feature "Director Lewis Gilbert and the cast & crew," FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE "Director Terence Young and the cast & crew," A VIEW TO A KILL and THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS "Director John Glen and the cast & crew," while OCTOPUSSY just includes "Director John Glen." Like past Bond titles, these are spliced together audio interviews, with some screen-specific material, some not. But, if the past Bond discs are any indication, they still should contain a wealth of good information.

This week's INDIE WRAP-UP

Ahhh, time once again for all that cool "weird and unusual" stuff...

Due from Pioneer on 9/12 is BOLTNECK, a "lightning and hormones horror-comedy." I have absolutely no idea what that means! Then a week later comes RHYTHM & SMOKE, a Latin music extravaganza, and BLUE SUBMARINE NO. 6 MINASOKO - THE OCEAN FLOOR. All three discs are full frame and $24.95, with English 2.0 surround tracks except for BLUE SUBMARINE, which also features a Japanese 2.0 surround track.

Coming on 9/5 from Avalanche is ACROSS THE LINE, a thriller starring one the greatest actresses ever in the history of the known universe, Adrienne Barbeau. The pan & scan disc features a 2.0 stereo mix and no extras, and retail is $24.95.

Due from a distributor new to DVD, Caroline, comes AIR: EATING, SLEEPING, WAITING AND PLAYING. Air is a cool group out of France (who mostly recently contributed music to Sofia Coppola's THE VIRGIN SUICIDES), and the disc features videos, behind-the-scenes footage and previously unpublished graphics by Mike Mills. Retail is $24.95 and street 11/16.

Finally, from Central Park Media on 9/19 comes DEMON BEAST INVASION VOLUMES 1 & 2. The full frame disc features Japanese and English dub 2.0 stereo mixes, DVD-ROM features including the screenplay, a still gallery and graphics, and retail is $29.95. Also due that day are MAZE and THE SLAYERS COLLECTION, also full frame with Japanese and English 2.0 tracks. MAZE features a sketch gallery, screenplays, and the bonus first episode of the "Maze" TV series. SLAYERS is a 4-disc box set of all six 25-minute episodes, and includes an additional graphic novel. Retail is $29.95 for MAZE and $129.95 for the SLAYERS box.

July 27 : ANCHOR BAY live chat transcript; Return to JURASSIC PARK...in pan & scan; Columbia believes in 'MIRACLE's

Way cool SUPERMAN details

Well, I don't need to tell you to rush on over to Widescreen Review, who have all the cool specs on the upcoming SUPERMAN disc. It looks to be quite loaded, with a commentary, isolated score, new documentary and tons more. Not much to say, other than I can't wait, can you???

ANCHOR BAY live chat transcript

Home Theater Forum held yet another of their great live chats last night, this time with one of our favorites here, Anchor Bay Entertainment. This chat may have set a new record, though, with over 100 questions answered and tons of great information. So definitely check out the full transcript up now. Hats off to the HTF for another great job!

Columbia adds three October titles

It wouldn't be a day of release news without another set of Columbia announcements. I'm familiar with frequent reader complaints that Jackie Chan films always seem to get "butchered" on home video here in the states, and though I can't be positive as I'm not that familiar with this particular film, it looks like with the 10/10 bow of Chan's MIRACLES, Columbia (may) have gotten it right. The two most frequent complaints I hear about are the original language tracks being omitted, and badly edited versions of his films.

But MIRACLES includes an "extended version" of the film in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen (running 106 minutes), as well as Mandarin and Cantonese mono mixes with English, French and Spanish subtitles. Extras include an isolated music score, talent files and trailers for four Jackie epics. Retail is $24.95. There are no English dubs on the disc. (Editor's Note: Since this posting I've been informed by numerous readers that MIRACLES is still cut from the original 120 Hong Kong version to this 106 minute version. Sigh.)

Also on 10/10 comes the classic DAMN THE DEFIANT! starring Alec Guiness and directed by frequent Bond helmer Lewis Gilbert. The $24.95 disc includes full screen and anamorphic widescreen versions, an English 1.0 Dolby Digital track, a vintage advertising material gallery, talent files and four trailers. Then on the same day comes a film of an entirely different kind, LOOK WHO'S TALKING TOO. This ill-fated sequel features the voices of Bruce Willis and Roseanne Barr/Arnold/Whatever, and includes full screen and 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen versions, an English 2.0 Surround mix, talent files and trailers. Retail is $24.95.

Full frame dino-magic

Well, there isn't much release news today in terms of quantity, but here's an interesting little sales announcement that came our way and has been issued to retailers. Bringing the grand total number of announced JURASSIC PARK and LOST WORLD discs to a whopping nine separate releases, Universal will be issuing full frame versions of JURASSIC PARK and THE LOST WORLD on 10/10.

Prices and features remain the same as the widescreen Dolby versions (see the original press release for the details), as well the prices: $26.95 each, or $53.95 for the two-disc set. Note that the Limited Edition 2-pack (which includes extra goodies like soundtrack CDs and a senitype) will not be available in a pan & scan version, nor will there be full frame DTS versions available, either. Well, at least not yet!

For those contemplating picking up the full frame versions, the films were shot 1.85:1 "open matte," though some of the effects sequences were still composed for 1.85:1, so some shots may still be panned & scanned. With nine different versions now being released of only two separate movies, is this some kind of record? See today's editorial for more on my thoughts on this...

July 26 : ANNIE GET YOUR GUN rescued; Columbia sets LEGENDS OF THE FALL SE for October

'ANNIE' rescued

After having been held up in legal limbo for over 20 years, the classic ANNIE GET YOUR GUN will finally make its long, long awaited bow on 11/14 on DVD. Thankfully, out of sight doesn't mean out of mind, and Warner is prepping a really nice 50th Anniversary Edition for this release. In addition to a remastered transfer in the original 1.37:1 aspect ratio, the disc also includes an introduction by Susan Lucci(?), an audio commentary by Director George Sidney, rare performance outtakes of Judy Garland (who had to drop out of the lead role), an audio track of an alternate musical take, a photo gallery and the trailer. Retail is $24.95, and it is great to see a long-last classic get rescued on DVD!

COLUMBIA sets 'LEGENDS' and 'FAILSAFE' for October

Columbia just keeps those special edition reissues comin', and those of you who've been waiting for LEGENDS OF THE FALL for so long won't have to wait much longer. Due on 10/17, the disc features a 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer and English 5.1 mix, an audio commentary with Director Edward Zwick and Actor Brad Pitt, a making-of documentary, talent files and the trailer. Retail is $29.95, and watch for additional specs to come with the full press release soon.

Then, on 10/31 comes the original 1968 version of FAIL-SAFE, starring the late Walter Matthau and Henry Fonda. The $24.95 disc is full frame, 2.0 Mono and includes the featurette "Fail Safe Revisited." Hey, they should put this out in a double-pack with the recent George Clooney remake, don't you think? Just an idea...

July 25 : New COLUMBIA October news; WARNER announces final ANY GIVEN SUNDAY details and R.E.M. discs;

Columbia adds HIDEAWAY for October

Coming on 10/3 from Columbia is the Brett Leonard cyber-horror-thriller HIDEAWAY with Jeff Goldblum and Alicia Silverstone. The disc features anamorphic widescreen and full screen versions, English 5.1 and 2.0 surround mixes, an audio Commentary by Director Brett Leonard, a making-of featurette, alternate ending, talent files and the trailer. Retail is $24.95.

Also, the upcoming THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI disc due on the same day will also feature an audio Commentary by Peter Bogdanovich and the featurette "A Conversation with Peter Bogdanovich." Retail is $24.95 as well.

ANY GIVEN SUNDAY full specs arrive

Oliver Stone fans have quite a fall to look forward to, kicking off with the special edition of ANY GIVEN SUNDAY due on 9/1 (yes, a Friday). In addition to the 6 minutes of additional footage, the disc features the documentary "Full Contact," an LL Cool J music video, a "Movie Review Scorecard" (sounds interesting) and the usual cast bios and trailer. The transfer is 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and the soundtrack English 5.1 Dolby surround. Also, that Oliver Stone box set on the way will now not be out until the fourth quarter according to a Warner spokesperson, and if you are interested in ANY GIVEN SUNDAY you may want to wait for the box as it includes more great Stone discs and supplements that are only available in the box. Stay tuned, of course, for more...

WARNER REPRISE announcements

AA few new Warner music video announcements just came in, and I only wish other major labels (like, ahem, Universal Music) would start releasing more back catalog product on DVD as well. Anyway, watch for four R.E.M. videos to debut on 8/22 (see the press announcement), PARALLEL, POP SCREEN, TOURFILM and THIS FILM IS ON. The first is a mixture of behind-the-scenes documentary vignettes interspersed with clips from the "Monster" and "Automatic For The People" albums, while TOURFILM is a live video of the "Green" tour. Both POP SCREEN and THIS FILM IS ON are compilations of videos from the the bands early years and the "Out Of Time" eras, respectively. Each disc is full frame (some clips are non-anamorphic widescreen), 2.0 stereo and $24.95, except for POP SCREEN which is $19.95.

Then on 9/5 comes MINISTRY: TAPES OF WRATH, which features 10 Ministry and Revolting Cocks (no, I'm not kidding) videos, including many never-before-seen. The $24.95 disc is full frame and 2.0 stereo. Sounds like a barrel of laughs!

NEW HORIZONS changes name, adds more cult faves

Perhaps better known as the home video giant that Roger Corman built, New Horizons has now changed its name to New Concorde, though why I am not sure! Anyway, they have 7 new titles on the way of some interesting "smaller" films. Due on 9/26 is BRAIN DEAD, JACKSON COUNTY JAIL, LOVE LETTERS with Jamie Lee Curtis and VELOCITY, starring none other than Jack Nicholson (never heard of it, though.) Then on 10/24 comes SAINT JACK, SUBURBIA from Director Penelope Spheeris and David Cronbenberg's RABID. All are full frame and $19.95, and of course feature that wonderful booklet on Roger Corman! Still, some good titles in here, and having RABID should be cool though I just hope the transfer is decent!

More on FINAL DESTINATION

Just a quickie on yesterday's post on FINAL DESTINATION...the press release came our way late in the day (and special thanks to CS), so check it out for the full text on the cool New Line disc...

July 24 : New TOP PICK contest; New Line releases FINAL DESTINATION specs; USA wakes DEAD special edition; more possible TREK news?

This Week's TOP PICK Contest

Time once again for this week's contest, and our Top Pick for the week is Fox's very nice new disc of Leonardo DiCaprio in THE BEACH. Featuring a great 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer and 5.1 Dolby Digital mix, the disc also includes an audio commentary, deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes footage. Click over to the box on your right to enter and win.

And congrats goes out to Kenny Danner of Norman, Oklahoma, who won last week's contest and a copy of Paramount's ANGELA'S ASHES!

New Line books your FINAL DESTINATION

Despite the recent spate of less-than-stellar "teen kill pics" glutting multiplexes, every once in a while one comes along that is actually good or at least a lot of fun. New Line's FINAL DESTINATION took an interesting premise and good word of mouth and did well at the box office this past spring, and watch for the DVD due 9/26 and check out the full press release.

Anyway, this Platinum Series edition includes a 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer, English 5.1 and 2.0 Surround tracks, two audio commentary tracks, one with filmmakers James Wong, Glen Morgan, James Coblentz and Jeffrey Reddick, the second with actors Devon Sawa, Kerr Smith, Chad E. Donella and Kristen Cloke, "A Look At Test Screenings" and "Premonitions" featurettes, deleted scenes and the alternate ending with optional commentary, an isolated score, the completely screenplay with scene access, the trailer, production notes and cast bios. And all this can be yours for only $24.95!

USA wakes up a 'DEAD' special edition

Unfortunately ignored in theaters, Keith Gordon's quiet but ultimately rewarding WAKING THE DEAD will be getting the special edition treatment from USA on 9/26, so it will be a good opportunity to check out the film if you missed it in theaters. The disc features an anamorphic transfer, English 5.1 and 2.0 surround mixes, an audio commentary with Gordon, deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes featurette and trailers. Retail is $24.95, so give it a look.

More TREK talk...?

Well, the buzz seems to be continuing to heat up on the anticipated STAR TREK THE MOTION PICTURE project. TrekWeb.com has posted what they claim is insider info on some of the additions that will be made to film, including a breakdown with images of some of the sequences that will be altered in the film. Hmmm, looks like it could be very cool, so check it out and see for yourself.