By Peter M. Bracke

APRIL 7 through 9 : PARAMOUNT June titles; Indie Wrapup

PARAMOUNT JUNE TITLES

The full details have come in for Paramount's June announcements and there are some good catalog titles and another day & date special edition.

Due on 6/23 is HAROLD & MAUDE, DEAD AGAIN and one many of you have been asking about, CLUE. Each is $29.95, anamorphic widescreen, 2.0 (except for DEAD AGAIN which is 5.1) and all feature the trailers. CLUE also has all three endings (arranged in order like the previous video versions) and DEAD AGAIN includes two commentary tracks, one with director/star Kenneth Branagh, and another with producer Lindsay Doran and screenwriter Scott Frank. (Click for the full press release.)

The full details have also come in for the THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY, which is due on 6/27. This is another in the growing number of Paramount day & date special editions, and in addition to a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer and 5.1 Dolby surround track, there is an audio commentary by Director Anthony Minghella, "Inside THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY" featurette and an additional featurette that looks into the making of composer Gabriel Yared’s soundtrack, two music videos and the trailer. Retail is also $29.95. You can also see the full press release for RIPLEY as well.

LATEST INDEPENDENT ANNOUNCEMENTS

First up is the premiere DVD from newcomer Bell Canyon, who will bow POWDER director William Salva's RITES OF PASSAGE (I'll try not to read too much into that title!) on 5/2. The special edition features a widescreen transfer and 5. 1 mix, an audio commentary by director Salva, some deleted scenes, a still gallery and the trailer. Retail is $29.95.

Next up is a personal childhood favorite, the first volume HR PUFNSTUF. Rhino is releasing two episodes per disc, and this first set is due 5/23 and retails for the nice price of $19.95. Can't wait for the rest!

Due from Shanachie on 5/2 are a couple of music titles, FELA: LIVEand SOLAS: LIVE. Each disc is $24.95, full frame and in 2.0 stereo.

Then on 5/2 comes my vote for title of the week, Ventura's $24.95 "shockumentary" WORST OF THE MANY TABOOS OF DEATH. I'd hate to see the best of the many taboos of death! I think I'll make Cliff review this one.

Finally, due from Vanguard on 5/2 is a collection of new titles, all of which I'm not familiar with. Look for ANCHORESS, ANIMAL ROOM, BLACKROCK, CLIMB, CROSS MY HEART, the recent Errol Flynn biopic FLYNN, HALF JAPANESE: THE BAND THAT WOULD BE KING, A LITTLE BIT OF SOUL, THESIS and TIERRA. All are $29.95, full frame and 2.0 stereo, except for TIERRA and ANCHORESS, which are non-anamorphic widescreen.

APRIL 6 : BUENA VISTA June specs; FOX ID4 delay; more ANCHOR BAY news

BUENA VISTA JUNE DAY & DATE TITLE SPECS

The full details have come in for four Buena Vista previously-announced June titles, and the specs show they are continuing to support anamorphic widescreen enhancement, as well as adding at least a few supplemental materials even on titles that aren't full-scale special editions. Due on 6/13 are three recent theatrical releases, all of which feature anamorphic widescreen transfers, English and French 5.1 Dolby surround tracks and the theatrical trailer: BICENTENNIAL MAN (which also includes a making-of featurette); PLAY IT TO THE BONE (also with the theatrical trailer) and ALL I WANNA DO.

Following a week later on 6/20 is the Oscar-winning epic DEUCE BIGALOW MALE GIGOLO, also complete with an anamorphic widescreen transfer, English and French 5.1 Dolby surround tracks, as well as a making-of featurette, screen-to-storyboard comparisons(!) and the trailer. Also due on 6/20 are two new announcements, the recent Sandra Bullock/Liam Neeson "comedy" GUN SHY and TWIN WARRIORS, both of which are in anamorphic widescreen with English and French 5.1 tracks and the trailer. All of the above are at Disney's new $32.95 price point.

Finally, PRINCESS MONONOKE has been postponed from it's original May release date, with no new date currently set. Stay tuned.

FOX ID4 DELAY

A late announcement yesterday that the INDEPENDENCE DAY special edition has been bumped back a couple of weeks to 6/27, and the features and price remain the same ($34.95 for the two-disc set). Should be a good one.

YET MORE ANCHOR BAY NEWS

The folks at the Anchor Bay web site are working overtime this week, with yet another update of announcements. In good news, they are lowering their prices on their special editions and limited edition collectible tins from $44.95 and $49.95, respectively, to $39.95. Cool! Also updated is some revised street dates (mostly just delays of a couple of weeks to a month on some summer titles), and finally another batch of new acquirees including THE DAY THE EARTH CAUGHT FIRE, EMMANUELLE IN AMERICA (how many of those damn films have they made?), GARDEN OF ALLAH, the "it's about time" debuts of HOUSE and HOUSE 2: THE SECOND STORY, the hilarious Richard Franklin thriller LINK with Elizabeth Shue and THE MANY FACES OF CHRISTOPHER LEE.

If Anchor Bay doesn't deserve the award for most extensive and varied lineup of licensed titles ever, I don't know who should!

APRIL 5 : Buena Vista offers new rebate and guarantee program

DISNEY GOLD COLLECTION AIMS FOR INCREASED CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

In a move to make their Gold Classic Collection line of animated classics even more consumer-friendly to families (and potential customers), Disney has instituted two new rebate and money-back guarantee programs with yesterday's debut of of THE ARISTOCATS. Packaged inside every disc rebate coupon for $5.00 off the DVD for those who purchased any previous home video version of THE ARISTOCATS, which must be accompanied by copies of both the original and DVD purchase receipts.

First-time purchasers of THE ARISTOCATS DVD will also benefit, though, from what is most likely a DVD first from any major studio, a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. If a consumer is unsatisfied with the quality of the disc for any reason, they can return it to Buena Vista along with the receipt for a full refund of the purchase price.

A Disney spokesperson indicated that the $5.00 rebate coupons will be employed only on select titles, while the 30-day guarantee will extend to all future titles that are a part of the Gold Classic Collection of animated favorites. The program were implemented to further benefit the consumer, though there was no comment on whether the lethargic sales and negative press engendered by past Disney animated releases on DVD had any influence on the institution of the new programs.

But whatever the case may be, we here at DVDFILE think this is a fine idea, and certainly a major studio offering a quality guarantee sends a clear message that they are willing to back up claims of quality with a real consumer-friendly guarantee. While one could be cynical and suggest that if titles are done properly in the first place there is no need for any guarantee program, along with Buena Vista's increasing commitment to anamorphic and supplemental material, this certainly seems like a step in the right direction to us.

APRIL 4 : FOX licenses titles to IMAGE; New BMG music titles

FOX DIPS TOES INTO THE LICENSING WATERS

Just a quick note today on some of the recent news you've probably been reading here and elsewhere on some titles coming from Image Entertainment that were previously distributed by 20th Century Fox. We were waiting to hear back from Fox on what the situation was with these titles, and word has come that the studio has licensed a small number of titles to Image for release on DVD. However, many of the titles that Fox may have previously distributed theatrically or on video (such as SHORT CIRCUIT) were never actually owned by the studio (just distributed by them), so not all the Fox-related titles being released by Image are actually licensed.

While on the surface it may seem that licensing titles is a way for a studio to pass off their "lesser" catalog titles (and often that is a case), in many instances it is a positive move. Oftentimes, especially with special-interest or popular cult titles, an independent has a better understanding of the collector's market and knows how to present the title most appropriately. We've seen this on some recent Anchor Bay titles, because really let's face it, would most majors do anything as cool as a two-disc set of SUPERGIRL!?

Unlike previous licensing agreements between studios such as Universal to Image or Disney to Anchor Bay, both of whom licensed upwards of 50 or more titles at a time, Fox is licensing titles on a much smaller basis. Titles set for DVD release by Image so far that were licensed or previously distributed by Fox include the acclaimed documentary VISIONS OF LIGHT, the aforementioned SHORT CIRCUIT, and the special 20TH CENTURY FOX: THE FIRST 50 YEARS. Watch for more licenses to trickle in over the next few months, though it seems like Fox will continue to hold on to their major titles.

Finally, speaking of Image, I was told by Universal that they have begun to license their more special interest titles for DVD to Anchor Bay and (for the really Z-grade ones) Goodtimes. The last batch of Universal licensees to Image have been released, so for the time being, it looks like Anchor Bay will get the majority of Universal cult titles (such as the upcoming REPO MAN special edition.)

BMG MUSIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

A couple of new releases have just been announced by BMGfor 4/18. Look for BLONDIE: VH-1 BEHIND THE MUSIC with 10 minutes of additional footage not seen in the original broadcast, as well as the "Maria" music video. Also due is WEIRD 'AL' YANKOVIC LIVE, which features some short films from 'AL TV' including "Germs & You" and "Crimes Of Carelessness," music videos of "The Saga Begins" and "It's All About the Pentiums" and a photo gallery. Both of these titles are full frame, 5.1 Dolby Surround and $24.95 each.

APRIL 1 through 3 : SPACE JAM details; ANCHOR BAY news; ADV films acquires animated gems

ANCHOR BAY NEWS

Some more cool news has come in from the fine folks at the Anchor Bay Entertainment web site. Some cult favorites are finally coming to DVD in mid-2001, or being reissued, and I'm stoked!

First up is everyone's favorite Conan ripoff THE SWORD & THE SORCEROR. I remember watching this one ad naseum on cable, and sure it was made to capitalize on he Conan thing, but it is actually a good knockoff! Anyway, also coming is a new version of RE-ANIMATOR, which you may recall was previously released by Elite. This new Anchor Bay version will feature a new anamorphic transfer, but the rest of the details are still TBA.

More new Anchor Bay acquirees include two new Monte Hellman films THE COCKFIGHTER and IGUANAÛas well as MAD MAN.

Finally, more good news for those of you who are hearing impaired. A note from Anchor Bay indicates that SUPERGIRL will not be the only Closed Captioned titles from them...future upcoming titles including REPO MAN, HELLRAISER and more will also be CC'd. Great to see!

ADV ACQUIRES MAINFRAME FILMS TITLES

The independent distributor ADV Films has announced that they have acquired the distribution rights for several of the innovative computer-animated programs from Canada's Mainframe Entertainment, one of hte largest suppliers of CG programming in the world.

Three of the shows we can expect on DVD are REBOOT (which was the first-ever computer animated TV series), both seasons of SHADOWRAIDERS (aka WAR PLANETS here in the U.S.) and finally the first season of WEIRD-OHS. For more info on these discs, visit the ADV Films and Mainframe Entertainment web sites. Cool stuff, and this is particularly exciting as most of these shows are no longer being broadcast in the U.S.

TIDBITS & UPDATES

A couple of updates on some recent announcements and releases. First, Columbia's THE KING OF MASKS DVD, which was just released, was announced as having an anamorphic widescreen version on the disc. However, we've received multiple reports that the actual disc which just streeted does not, and the box is not labeled as such. Looks like another case of an inaccurate press/sales announcement, though we have yet to receive a copy of the disc, and since all the major retailers still list the disc as having a widescreen version, you may want to rent this disc before buying just in case. We'll try to get a copy ourselves to confirm what the actual aspect ratio of the disc is.

Finally, the details have come in for the SPACE JAM special edition coming from Warner on 7/25. There will be a audio commentary from Michael Jordon, Bugs Bunny and Daffy (no joke!), a making-of featurette, an isolated music track and music videos for "Monstars Anthem," Seal's "Fly like an Eagle" and R. Kelley's "I Believe I Can Fly" and finally a "Bugs Bunny Lost in Time" game demo. Alas, the exact aspect ratio details remain MIA, so for now we'll leave it blank until something absolutely definite comes down the pike. Since the last version was full frame only, one hopes Warner would issue a widescreen version here in the U.S...