By Peter M. Bracke

August 3 through 6: New Warner, Columbia, Fox, MGM, Paramount and Woo news

Since there will be no release news until Monday due to the site relaunch being prepped this weekend, today sees an extra-large update. Enjoy!

MGM snaps up rights to 11 more Allen films

I guess MGM must really like Woody Allen, as they've just announced they've added another 11 of his films to their vast library. Given the fact that they struck new anamorphic transfers for all but one of the titles in their recent Woody Allen Collection set, this may be a good thing! interestingly, under the agreement MGM has acquired "worldwide distribution rights in perpetuity in all media" to the 11 titles, which include Alice, A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy, Another Woman, Broadway Danny Rose, Crimes And Misdemeanors, Hannah and Her Sisters, Purple Rose OF Cairo, Radio Days, September, Shadows And Fog and Zelig.

While some have complained that MGM did not include any extras on their recent Allen discs, the fact of the matter is that Allen has publicly stated he has no desire to contribute supplements for his film, so it looks like these above titles will probably end up being bare bones Woody as well. Though there is no official DVD street dates for any of these titles, stay tuned, I'm sure we'll be hearing more about them soon...

A double dose of John Woo

With the Criterion editions of John Woo's Hard Boiled and The Killer now out of print, WinStar (aka Fox Lorber) announced a while back that they obtained the rights to these major cult favorites, and have now set a street date of 10/3 for their own new special editions of these titles. Featuring non-anamorphic widescreen transfers and the original Cantonese language tracks as well as English dubs, each disc also features a newly-recorded John Woo commentary new to these DVDs. Retail is $29.95 each, and their will also be a two-pack called The John Woo Collection for $49.95 (same features as the individual discs.)

News on Fox's October titles

Some final specs and new announcements have come in for more Fox fall titles, including the Edward Burns Collection. Available individually or as a set, both Brothers McMullen and She's The One feature anamorphic widescreen and full frame transfers and audio commentaries with Burns. The former includes an English 2.0 stereo mix, while She's The One is in English 5.1 and French 2.0 surround, and also includes a making-of feature and a Tom Petty music video fro the title song. There is also the Edward Burns Collection, which features both discs plus a disc of No Looking Back exclusive to the set, which is in full frame and 2.0 stereo. Retail is $29.95 for each individual disc and $69.95 for the set.

Then on 10/31 comes yet another Natalie Portman film with the world "where" in it, Where The Heart Is. The $34.95 disc features a 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer and English and French 5.1 tracks, as well as trailers, TV spots and the "That's The Beat Of A Heart" music video by the Warren Brothers. Can't wait...not!

Columbia starts the 'Timecode' ticking

An interesting all-digital filmmaking experiment, Columbia will be bringing Mike Figgis' Timecode to DVD on 10/10. The disc includes an both the theatrical cut and the full-length unrated "Version 1," an 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer and English 5.1 and 2.0 surround mixes for the theatrical and version 1 editions respectively. The disc also features a host of extras including an audio commentary by Mike Figgis, a "Mike Figgis interactive video diary," extensive DVD-ROM features (rather unusual for Columbia) including Figgis' shooting score, a look at the "Red Mullet" and more production info. Retail is $24.95.

Columbia has also released the full specs for that Legends Of The Fall special edition due on 10/17. In addition to the audio commentary with Director Edward Zwick and star Brad Pitt, there is an additional commentary with Cinematographer John Toll and Production Designer Lilly Kilvert, three deleted scenes with optional commentary, the original EPK featurette and an additional production design featurette, a full 5.1 isolated Music Score "with Highlights," talent files, liner notes and the trailers. All this can be yours for only $29.95.

Paramount gets 'Nutty' this October

In addition to Rules Of Engagement and Friday The 13th Parts 3 and 4, Paramount will also be releasing the original Jerry Lewis version of The Nutty Professor on 10/17. The disc features a new 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer and new English 5.1 mix, along with a "Paramount In The 50's" retrospective. Retail is $29.95.

Also, I made a mistake in last week's post on those two Friday The 13th films. Both are in mono only, not stereo, and sorry about the error!

Warner visits 'South Park' yet again

Finally, some Warner news. Final specs have arrived for a special edition of the wrestling comedy Ready To Rumble due on 9/19. The disc features an audio commentary with Director Brian Robbins, a making of featurette, the Bif Naked music video for their remake of Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It," an interview gallery with WCF stars, production notes and the trailer. Retail is $24.95.

Then, on 10/31 comes a new special edition double feature of Horton Hears A Who and How The Grinch Stole Christmas. This new disc features the original full frame transfer, plus an audio commentary by Animators Phil Roman and June Foray, "Songs in the Key of Grinch" interviews with the composer and vocalist, the Turner Network's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" special, and pencil sketches and drawings. The old version will be deleted, and retail for this new version is only $19.95.

Warner will also be releasing more holiday fun on 10/31 with one of my favorites, A Year Without A Santa Claus. This collection includes "A Year Without a Santa Claus," "Rudolph's Shiny New Year," and "Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey." The disc is full frame and mono, and retails for $19.95.

Then, on 11/7 comes two more South Park specials, both full frame and 2.0 stereo. Christmas In South Park includes "Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics," "Merry Christmas Charlie Manson," "Chinpoko Mon," and the BBC documentary, "Goin' Down to South Park," while The Chef Experience features "Chef Aid," "Succubus," and "Rainforest Schmainforest," "Chef Aid: Behind the Menu" and the music video for "Chef's Chocolate Salty Balls." Retail is $19.95 each.

Last but not least, on 12/5 comes the William Wyler classic Friendly Persuasion. The $24.95 disc includes an anamorphic widescreen transfer, a "Wide Wide World" featurette, production notes and the trailer.

August 2 : MGM's October slate; Columbia pumps more "Metal'; Another batch of Image releases

Get set for another dose of "Metal"

Since I t didn't spend much time in theaters, perhaps Heavy Metal 2000 will find its audience on home video. Due on 10/17 from Columbia TriStar, the DVD features a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 5.1 and 2.0 surround mixes, and plenty of supplements, including the "Julie Strain: Super Goddess" featurette, a "Voice Talents" featurette, an isolated music score, animation tests, five animatic comparisons, a photo gallery, production notes and 2 theatrical trailers. Retail is $24.95.

MGM's October slate

With the third and final wave of Bond Collection titles due on 10/17, MGM's October slate is a little low on other catalog titles, though there are a couple of goodies on the way. First up on 10/3 is a new MGM issue of Luc Besson's La Femme Nikita, which alas looks to have little more than the previous Pioneer release. The transfer is 2.35:1 non-anamorphic widescreen with French and English dub 5.1 soundtracks, and the trailer. Retail is $19.95.

Due on 10/17 (aside from the Bond movies, of course) is the latest from the Hughes Brothers of Menace II Society fame, the controversial American Pimp (great title!), which is anamorphic widescreen and English 5.1 and includes the trailer, then on 10/31 comes the teen comedy Deal Of A Lifetime which I've never even heard of. Both are $19.95. Finally, on the same day comes Bonnie Hunt's directorial debut Return To Me, featuring anamorphic and full frame versions, an English 5.1 track and English, French and Spanish subtitles, an audio commentary with Hunt and the trailer. Retail is $24.95.

Image's October lineup

Not to be outdone, Image has issued their next mega-batch of titles, and as usual there is quite an assortment, with a little something for everyone. Upcoming releases include The Artist (aka Prince) Rave Un2 the Year 2000 (in Dolby Digital and DTS), Blobermouth, a Herschell Gordon Lewis Blood Trilogy triple-pack, a special edition of Body Beneath, a Charlie Chaplin box set, Dementia, a DTS and Dolby digital reissue of the Paris Concert, Road Movie and Robot Monster. Check out the Image site for the full update.

August 1 : More Paramount fall specs; Criterion's October titles; Troma's 'UNSPEAKABLE'

More Paramount fall titles

The final specs and some new September and October announcements have come in from Paramount, and hold on to yourselves, SNOW DAY is finally here! I know, I know, you need to catch your breath. Due on 10/3, the disc features a 1.85:! anamorphic transfer, 5.1 and 2.0 surround mixes, an audio commentary with Director Chris Koch and writers Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi, the "Snow Day Scoop" making-of featurette, a cast and crew interview gallery, and the trailer. Also on 10/3 is ROSEMARY'S BABY, which in addition to the new interviews with Director Roman Polanski, Producer Robert Evans and Production Designer Richard Sylbert, features the 23-minute making-of featurette produced for the film's original theatrical run. Both discs are $29.95 each.

Paramount also has a couple of new direct-to-video releases, including a surprise to me, Demi Moore's PASSION OF MIND. I don't recall this even playing theatrically, but in any case the disc is due on 9/19, and sports an anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 5.1 and 2.0 surround mixes, and the trailer. Also direct-to-video is David Arquette in the comedy RPM. The disc is full frame and 2.0 stereo, yet includes the "theatrical trailer," a trivia game and cast bios. Retail for both of these titles is $29.95.

Finally, the final specs for Paramount's 9/19 horror slate of THE DEAD ZONE and PET SEMATARY have come in. Both feature anamorphic transfers and 2.0 surround and 5.1 surround mixes, respectively (ZONE also includes the original mono track), and the trailers. Retail for all three is $29.95 each.

Criterion's September title specs

The final specs have come in for Criterion's September titles, including some great cult stuff. Due on 9/19 is the original 1958 version of THE BLOB, featuring an anamorphic 1.66:1 widescreen transfer, a 1.0 mono mix, a audio commentaries by historian Bruce Eder and a second track with producer, director, and actor Robert ("Tony") Fields, and the theatrical trailer. Retail is $39.95. Then comes KWAIDAN in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and with the original Japanese 1.0 mono track, and the trailer. Finally is Brian De Palma's SISTERS, which while lacking in any special features, does feature a new 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, and an English 2.0 mono.

TROMA dares to say the 'Unspeakable'

Promoted as being "in the vein of 'Henry Portrait Of A Serial Killer," Troma is unleashing UNSPEAKABLE on 8/15. Featuring a full frame transfer and 2.0 surround track, along with an audio commentary by director Chad Ferrin, an interview with Ferrin by Troma's Lloyd Kaufman, and the early short film version of "Unspeakable." Retail is $24.95 and street is 8/15.