By Peter M. Bracke

APRIL 28 through 30 : Three new WARNER box sets; Indie wrap-up

Warner & Creative Design sets another trio of Collector's box sets

Following the success of last fall's deluxe box sets for THE EXORCIST, THE MATRIX and THE WIZARD OF OZ, Warner has now licensed three more titles to Creative Design for the deluxe treatment. BLADE RUNNER: THE DIRECTOR'S CUT, BLAZING SADDLES and TWISTER each will feature the DVD (same disc and features as the standard editions for each), as well as lobby cards, an original movie cell, a soundtrack CD and "collectible packaging." Each box retails for $79.95 each, and street is 6/6.

Also, for reasons currently unknown, the oft-postponed METALLICA S&M disc has been canceled. I have no idea why, but hopefully we can find out. Stay tuned.

This week's indie news

First up are some good music releases. Coming from Sony Music on 5/23 is G3 LIVE IN CONCERT featuring Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, Steve Vai. The $24.95 disc is full frame with a 5.1 Dolby Digital mix and band discography and biographies. Finally, from Warner Music on 6/6 comes CIRCUIT 6 featuring performances and clips by Air, Camper Van Beethoven, Supergrass, Michael Penn amongst others, as well as MANA UNPLUGGED, which includes a making-of featurette, deleted footage and bonus tracks. The former is $14.95, the latter $24.95.

Due on 7/25 from Pioneer are AMAZING NURSE NANAKO: MEMORIES OF YOU, FLOOD: A RIVER'S RAMPAGE, TRIGUN: WOLFWOOD, KEY THE METAL IDOL, something called PANDA! GO, PANDA! and Abel Ferrara's crime saga THE FUNERAL with Christopher Walken. Each is $24.95, full frame and 2.0, though TRIGUN and NURSE NANAKO are $29.95 apiece.

Finally, from Synapse on 8/22 is a special edition of FATAL FRAMES, featuring a 1.85:1 widescreen transfer, 2.0 surround track, an audio commentary with the director, making-of featurette, deleted footage, a music video and the trailer. Retail is $29.95

APRIL 27 : STAR TREK: TMP news? NEW LINE blooms MAGNOLIA; Warner debuts CLINT EASTWOOD box set; COLUMBIA live chat transcript

STAR TREK THE MOTION PICTURE news

Trek Today has a good report up from last night's Leonard Nimoy in-store signing at the Virgin Megastore in Los Angeles. Seems Paramount dropped a few hints on the final STAR TREK film still unannounced for DVD, THE MOTION PICTURE. Seems the disc may be something really special, so check out the report for the hints!

NEW LINE debuts MAGNOLIA special edition

In a first for New Line they have announced their debut two-disc set, for Paul Thomas Anderson's MAGNOLIA on 7/25. The set features an anamorphic 2.35:1 transfer and English 5.1 and 2.0 mixes, a making-of feature (no length specified), deleted scenes (after the main 188 minute feature), the "Save Me" music video by Aimee Mann, the trailer and cast & crew biographies. Retail is $29.95, which is higher than New Line's usual $24.95, but given the two discs it certainly seems reasonable. (Note that no information has been given if the main feature is split over two discs or fully contained on the first disc. Stay tuned for a subsequent update when any further information is released.)

WARNER launches CLINT EASTWOOD gift pack

Also coming in July is the CLINT EASTWOOD COLLECTION on 7/18. This $149.95 set doesn't really include much that is new, containing repackaged versions of ABSOLUTE POWER, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES, UNFORGIVEN, DIRTY HARRY and the only new release in the bunch, BRONCO BILLY. All the titles have the same features as transfers as previous versions, and yes, BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY is still full frame!

COLUMBIA live chat transcript from HTF

The Home Theater Forum had another good studio live chat last night with Columbia-TriStar's Michael Stradford, and there was a lot of good questions and title news, so check out this full transcript for all the details!

APRIL 26 : PARAMOUNT debuts ANGELA'S ASHES for July; New CRITERION details; update on SPINAL TAP and DTS GALAXYQUEST

Poor ANGELA gets toasted this July

Coming on 7/18 from Paramount is a film I thought was really underrated and overlooked this past fall, ANGELA'S ASHES. While some thought it was depressing, I really enjoyed it and thought it was definitely Alan Parker's finest film in years. Paramount will be releasing a very nice DVD for it, so definitely check it out when it arrives this summer. The disc includes a 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer, 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby Digital mixes, an audio commentary with Director Alan Parker, and the theatrical trailer. Retail is $29.95.

New CRITERION details

Criterion has released some details on more of their 2000 slate, and it looks to be another three fine discs on the way. Coming on 7/18 is Laurence Oliver's HAMLET, and also due is Fellini's VARIETY LIGHTS and finally W.C. FIELDS' 6 SHORT FILMS, which includes"The Pool Sharks," "The Golf Specialist," "The Dentist," "The Fatal Glass of Beer," "The Pharmacist" and "The Barber Shop. All of the above are full frame with newly restored prints, mono soundtracks and English subtitles where appropriate. Retail is $29.95 each.

SPINAL TAP news and GALAXYQUEST DTS confusion?

Good news for you THIS IS SPINAL TAP fans (aren't we all) awaiting the new MGM reissue of the DVD, which they now own. IGN FilmForce had a very entertaining 4 part interview with Harry Shearer, where he divulged some details about the DVD, which will apparently feature a new commentary of the band "in character." Sounds cool, and check out IGN for the full story.

Also, just a quick note on some email we've gotten lately on the lack of any solid information available on some retailer sites for the DTS version of DreamWorks' GALAXYQUEST. I also got an email from someone overseas who claims to have got an early copy of the disc, which includes both DTS and Dolby digital tracks. However, we contacted DreamWorks, and while not every retailer may be listing a DTS version of the release, both will indeed street on 5/2, and as for any dual DTS/Dolby Digital discs, they are not happening. However, note that DTS discs must have either a Dolby Digital or PCM track on them in accordance with the DVD spec, so if you do buy a DTS disc, you will get a Dolby Digital 2.0 surround track as well, it just won't be in full discreet 5.1. So keep checking around if your retailer isn't preordering the DTS version of GALAXYQUEST, because it is coming...

APRIL 25: JAWS arrives this July, finally!; Updates on SUPERMAN and GLADIATOR; new HBO announcements

JAWS to debut this July

Finally, the press release arrives for JAWS, due 7/11 from Universal, and for me it is a mix of some really good news and some not so good news. There will be two separate releases, one with an English Dolby Digital 5.1 track and the other with DTS 5.1, and both sport the same features. The discs include a 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer, as well as outtakes, deleted scenes, a new "Shark World" educational video on sharks, storyboards, a photo gallery with advertising materials and production photos, and a trivia game, along with the trailer, production notes and cast & crew biographies.

However, the entire 2-hour plus documentary from the laserdisc, which was terrific, has been cut in half to an hour to fit on a single disc. While we do get some new stuff, like the storyboards and "Shark World," the documentary has been quite edited down. I have to be honest here and say I don't understand how, after waiting so long for this DVD, Universal didn't see fit to give collector's what they seem to want, which includes the entire show, even if it had to go to two discs (hey, Fox and Buena Vista can do it, so why not Universal?). Grrrrr...I sense an editorial coming on?

UP, UP and AWAY!

Since the anticipation continues to build on the forthcoming SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE DVD release from Warner, we thought it was time to check in with Director Richard Donner's production office regarding the DVD to see if any early news could be gleaned, who did have a few juicy tidbits to share.

As you SUPERMAN fans undoubtedly know, there was a substantial amount of footage shot at the time of the first SUPERMAN that was not used for the film or ended up being incorporated into Richard Lester's SUPERMAN II (a fact which Mr. Donner has reportedly not been pleased about, as well as some of the actors like Gene Hackman). However, according to Donner's folks, the DVD, while containing some extra footage, will not run the 30 to 40 minutes longer that some fans have hoped, but more along the lines of "about 15 minutes." However, this footage will be incorporated into a longer cut of the film, and as per Donner's wishes, both the original version and the longer cut will be accessible from the same DVD.

So, I'd assume this would indicate seamless branching of some sort, but particulars remain unknown. Also, Donner "will be involved with supplementary materials' for the DVD, though again no exact particulars. Lastly, as for a theatrical release of SUPERMAN before the DVD, we'll "have to ask Warner" that one. According to Warner, an announcement on SUPERMAN plans is due "this spring," so I guess we won't have to wait too much longer...

A GLADIATOR of a disc

Speaking of cool directors, we've heard rumors that there might be some pretty cool stuff included on the eventual DVD release of Ridley Scott's upcoming GLADIATOR, due in theaters on May 5. We talked with Scott Free Productions, Mr. Scott's production company (obviously), and the director is becoming a real proponent of the DVD format. According to them, there is "considerable material" that was cut from the finished film, and many of this footage has already been compiled for the eventual DVD release.

Since the film is over 2 hours long, and rumors are already rumbling, will GLADIATOR be DreamWorks first two-disc set? Could be, but given Scott's past track record with special edition DVDs (such as ALIEN), I'm expecting it to be pretty great. Stay tuned!

New HBO DVDs

Some new HBO announcements have come in for this spring and summer, for a host of their acclaimed cable movies.

First up on 5/23 is CARACARA, followed by WITNESS PROTECTION on 6/23, CITIZEN X on 7/11, GIA on 7/18 and STOMP OUT LOUD on 9/5. All are in their original full frame, 5.1 Surround (except for WITNESS PROTECTION and CITIZEN X, which are 2.0) and including cast bios and English and French subtitles. Retail is $24.95 each.

APRIL 24: New WARNER and COLUMBIA July and August titles, MGM BOND preview

More WARNER summer fun

Hot on the heels of the recent Warner live chat (read the HTF transcript here), some announcements for titles that were mentioned in the chat have come as well as more of their summer slate.

Coming in July will be the Sharon Stone remake of DIABOLIQUE on 7/11, which includes anamorphic widescreen and full frame transfers, cast bios and a trailer. Then on 7/18 there will be a bevy of Clint Eastwood titles, including new titles BRONCO BILLY and KELLY'S HEROES (both with anamorphic and full frame transfers, cast bios and trailers). Look for a Clint Eastwood box set which Warner PR told us would include other previously released Eastwood titles only, but watch for the full title list soon.

Then in August on 8/29 will be three true classics, including the 1994 version of TRIAL BY JURY and ARSENIC & OLD LACE (the former in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, the latter in its original 1.37;1 aspect ratio and 1.0 mono track). Also on 8/29 is the long, long awaited special edition of Alfred Hitchcock's NORTH BY NORTHWEST, which will include a new documentary, 5.1 remix and music-only track, an Ernest Lehman audio commentary and more Hitchcock trailers.

And, as mentioned in the live chat, the following fall titles have been confirmed for the following dates: A STAR IS BORN, 42ND STREET, TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME, THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN and GOOD NEWS will all debut 9/26 and THE FACES OF DR. LAO on 10/3.

Finally, alas the SPACE JAM special edition is indeed full frame only. Don't ask me to explain it, I'll never understand these decisions...

New COLUMBIA July titles

Columbia has added three new announcements for some anticipated catalog titles. First up n 6/27 is the thriller JILL THE RIPPER. The $29.95 disc features a full frame transfer, 2.0 surround track and production notes.

Then on 7/25 comes John Sayles mysterious THE SECRET OF ROAN INISH as well as Julia Roberts' first Oscar-nominated performance in STEEL MAGNOLIAS. Both discs feature both anamorphic widescreen and full frame transfers, 2.0 surround mixes, talent files and trailers. Retail is $24.95 each.

Cool BOND stuff

If you are as anxiously awaiting the next Bond set as we are, check out the Official James Bond site in the interim, as they have some cool menu screens and other stuff for you while you wait...