By Peter M. Bracke

APRIL 22 and 23: Quick update on anamorphic status for MGM's APRIL slate

Just a quick weekend update on the anamorphic status of the MGM titles due on Tuesday. Though we'll be doing reviews for these as soon as we can get 'em done in the next few days, we've received review copies today and aside from the day & date release of FLAWLESS, none are anamorphic except for (yeah!) BLUE VELVET. Sigh, SHOWGIRLS would have been nice, but at least they got one of the catalog titles out in anamorphic, so thank goodness for small favors, huh? Please MGM, start presenting your valued catalog titles (which you paid multiple millions for) with better care in the future, okay?

APRIL 21: This week's INDIE ROUNDUP

Lots of new independent stuff coming to DVD in the months ahead, so let's get to it...

After the late June due date for KEN BURN'S BASEBALL, PBS Home Entertainment will be releasing four more new DVD titles. Look for the documentary LIFE BEYOND EARTH, as well as three separate 4-disc sets for THE DEMOCRATS and THE REPUBLICANS and the terrific miniseries STEPHEN HAWKING'S UNIVERSE. The single disc is $29.95, while the DEMOCRATS/REPUBLICANS sets are $79.95, while the STEPHEN HAWKINGS set is $59.95. All are full frame and 2.0.

Next up from Trimark is six new discs. And while it hasn't even aired on TV yet, Trimark has already set a 7/25 date for THE 70'S. The disc is $24.95, full frame and 2.0 stereo. Then on 6/27 comes BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE and FLYPAPER, followed by Bill Pullman in SPY GAMES on 7/11, and VOLUME 1 and VOLUME 2 of THE ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP on 7/18. All of the above are $24.95.

Coming from newcomer BSF Entertainment on 4/25 is a 190-minute program called BIG BEAR, which I'm not at all familiar with. The disc is full frame, 2.0 and retails for $39.95.

Next up on 8/8 from Cerebellum are three $19.95 titles, SHAKESPEARE TRAGEDIES set one TITUS/ROMEO/HAMLET and set two OTHELLO/MACBETH/KING LEAR and the next volume in their FRENCH instructional series. All are full frame and 2.0 stereo.

Due on 7/11 from First Run is FRIGHTENED WOMAN and my vote for title of the week, I AM FRIGID...WHY? Both are full frame, while the former is $29.95 and includes a trailer and the latter is $24.95. So, really, why am I frigid?

Then on 6/27 watch for three new $19.95 titles from Leo Films, including James Earl Jones in DREAM RIDER, as well as the simply titled EYE and SHARK. All are 4:3 open matte transfers, 2.0 surround and include a trailer.

Finally, coming from MTI are three new dramas, DIVIDED WE STAND on 5/23, JOHNNY B on 6/13, and TRIPFALL on 6/27. I'm not sure what these are about, but they are full frame, 2.0 surround and include a trailer.

Coming next week

New Warner and Columbia July and August titles...

APRIL 20: WARNER news; New PIONEER spring titles; tidbit on WALKING WITH DINOSAURS

WARNER Home Theater Forum live chat transcript

The folks at Warner DVD paid a visit to the Home Theater Forum earlier this week for a live chat with readers, and spent about an hour answering all kinds of DVD-related questions. There was some good information in there, so check out the full transcript which is up now at HTF. Looking forward to SUPERMAN!

New PIONEER July titles

Coming on 7/4 are some more Pioneer anime and special interest titles. Watch for COWBOY BEBOP SESSION 4, NAZCA: ETERNAL POWER, OUTLAW STAR VOLUME 1, PLEASE SAVE MY EARTH, and two more POKEMON episodes, OUR HERO MEOWOTH and THE FINAL BADGE. Each of the above is full frame, 2.0 stereo and have no extra features. Retail is $29.95 each except the Pokemons, which are $24.95.

BLOOD SIMPLE to come to a theater near you

A few weeks back we put up a post with a reader report on a recent festival screening of a new "extended cut" of the Coen Brother's modern film noir BLOOD SIMPLE. Since then we've gotten a fair share of email asking about a DVD release of this new Coens-approved cut, and we've received word from Universal theatrical that a limited run of the new cut will be shown this summer starting in early July.

Since this will not be getting a wide rerelease, I'd expect a DVD in the fall, but there is still no set date for a DVD, though one is "planned." Stay tuned!

More on WALKING WITH DINOSAURS

Yesterday, I posted a brief bit on one of the differences between the US and UK airings of Fox's new WALKING WITH DINOSAURS. A reader, Timothy B., let us know that the DVD does not include the Avery Brooks commentary that was done for the U.S. airings of the documentary, but rather features the original British narration. But in addition, there are actually many additional changes, and Randy Salas of the Minneapolis Star Tribune has written a very good article on the subject, so definitely check it out for the full scoop on the differences between the airings.

APRIL 19: LIBERTY HEIGHTS details; tidbits on JAWS, JURASSIC and WALKING WITH DINOSAURS

Full specs arrive for LIBERTY HEIGHTS

The full specs have come in for Warner's 6/20 bow of the overlooked LIBERTY HEIGHTS. The $24.95 disc features a 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer, English 5.1 mix and deleted scenes with an introduction by Director Barry Levinson, a music-only track with the 1950's music songs, and the usual cast bios and trailer. If you missed this one in theaters, it is worth checking out when it arrives on DVD.

Brief notes on DTS, JAWS and JURASSIC PARK

Given all the growing anticipation for the next big Spielberg titles, information has come from Universal that as with all upcoming Amblin/Spielberg titles, the upcoming JAWS and JURASSIC PARK discs will both feature DTS tracks. However, whether they are on the same disc as the 5.1 Dolby Digital tracks, or even arrive day & date , remains to be seen. But, according to Universal, there will be DTS versions of these titles. Stay tuned...

WWF Debuts two more titles in April

Coming on 4/25 are two more WWF wrestling extravaganzas. Watch for THE ROCK: THE PEOPLE'S CHAMP and SUMMERSLAM 1999, both of which are full frame and 2.0, and SUMMERSLAM also features three commentaries on the match from Steve Austin, Mick Foley & Triple Hi. Retail is $24.95 each.

APRIL 18 : New MGM July titles;

MGM adds JULY slate including WOODY ALLEN set and PRINCESS BRIDE

While details on MGM's Woody Allen set and THE PRINCESS BRIDE have trickled in for a while now, finally the press release arrived yesterday and as usual, it was rather incomplete in terms of technical specs. So, we waited a bit and talked to MGM to get all the details, and there is some good news and some bad news...

Coming on 7/5 is THE WOODY ALLEN COLLECTION, an 8-title box set that runs $134.95 or $19.95 for each disc individually. Titles included are MANHATTAN, LOVE & DEATH, BANANAS, EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS TO KNOW ABOUT SEX (BUT WHERE AFRAID TO ASK), INTERIORS, SLEEPER, STARDUST MEMORIES and the previously released ANNIE HALL (which will be reduced from $24.95 to $19.95 once the set streets.) All include 1.85:1 anamorphic and full frame, except MANHATTAN which is 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen only. But (uh-oh) ANNIE HALL is just a repackaged version of the old disc and the only non-anamorphic one in the bunch (figures!). All are English and Spanish 1.0 mono with English and Spanish subtitles, while ANNIE HALL is English and French 1.0 mono with English, French and Spanish subtitles.

On 7/18 are THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES, EASY MONEY, the 1989 version of HENRY V and THE PRINCESS BRIDE. All include 1.85: anamorphic and full frame transfers except BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES which is in its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1, and HENRY V which is widescreen only due to its length. And (uh-oh again), you guessed it, THE PRINCESS BRIDE is the only widescreen transfer of the bunch that is non-anamorphic. All have English and Spanish soundtracks and English, French and Spanish subtitles. Retail is $19.95 each.

So, riddle me this Batman, not only is the planned special edition features dropped, but they don't even make a new transfer for what is probably their most-requested catalog title. But, EASY MONEY gets a new anamorphic transfer! This information comes directly from MGM, so try as I may, I can't figure this stuff out sometimes.

Finally, the James Bond web site vaguely lists THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH as now being included in the Bond Wave 2 set, but according to MGM's PR firm, the set is still only scheduled to include an empty slot for THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH which you must buy separately. However, an MGM representative told us that this doesn't rule out "future repressings" of the set with THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH included. Part of the reason for this decision is to make sure retailers have enough copies of TWINE on hand, so they are not being included in the box set, at least for the initial go around. If we receive any further information on this, we'll post it ASAP.

Three new COLUMBIA JUNE announcements

Columbia has added three new "art house" titles for June. Watch for the 117-minute extended international version of MERCY on 6/13 along with THE EMPEROR AND THE ASSASSIN. Both feature anamorphic widescreen transfers and full frame versions, talent files, production notes and the trailer, and EMPEROR also features an audio commentary with Director Chen Kaige. Both are 2.0 surround and $29.95.

Then following on 6/20 is the funny Parker Posey comedy DAYTRIPPERS which includes both 1.85:1 anamorphic and full frame transfers, talent files, production notes and the trailer. Retail is $24.95.

APRIL 17 : BUENA VISTA sets date for BUZZ LIGHTYEAR special edition; NEW LINE announces HOUSE PARTY trio

BUENA VISTA gives us some BUZZ

While it may not be the full TOY STORY releases we are all waiting for, Buena Vista and Pixar will be delivering a little "buzz" to tide us over. Coming on 8/8 is BUZZ LIGHTYEAR OF STAR COMMAND: THE ADVENTURE BEGINS. The full frame disc will feature an audio commentary by Woody, Rex and "Those Little Green Men," as well as a storybook feature and interactive trivia game (and more commercials before the feature, I'm sure!) While I haven't seen this yet myself, I hear this is not actually computer animation but traditional cell animation. Price is $29.95.

Buena Vista has also issued a preliminary list of their upcoming animated titles due this summer. I think some of these dates are probably old news, but just to recap, upcoming are FUN AND FANCY FREE and A GOOFY MOVIE (6/20), ALICE IN WONDERLAND and ROBIN HOOD (7/25), RESCUERS DOWN UNDER (8/1) and POCAHONTAS 2: JOURNEY TO A NEW WORLD (9/5).

Also note that the original POCAHONTAS has been postponed from its original 6/6 date and been taken off Buena Vista's schedule on their press site. We've only been told it is due to production delays with the special edition version which is still planned to be released concurrently with the movie-only edition. Stay tuned for a new date.

NEW LINE invites you to a HOUSE PARTY

To coincide with the 6/6 release of NEXT FRIDAY (see yesterday's post for more on that), New Line will also debut all three HOUSE PARTY movies on that day as well. Each disc features new anamorphic widescreen and pan & scan transfers, 5.1 mixes, the trailer and some DVD-ROM links. Retail is $24.95 each. By the way, anyone know what are Kid n' Play up to now?