By Peter M. Bracke

May 19 through 21 : This week's indie roundup; quick COLUMBIA specs

Since I know all of you just can't wait until Friday for your dose of the weird and wonderful, it is time once again for this week's indie wrap-up!

Pioneer has a couple of new titles due on 8/15. Watch for SAILOR MOON SUPER S - BLACK DREAM HOLE (?) and VERDI: REQUIEM. Both discs are full frame, 2.0 and $29.95.

Coming via Showtime on 7/18 are SAFEHOUSE and WALL, two original made-for-cable movies. Both are 1.85:1 non-anamorphic widescreen and 2.0 stereo, and WALL includes interviews with the cast, some historical info and the trailer. Retail is $24.95 each.

Due from Koch on 6/27 are GUN and Fred Olen Ray's SIDESHOW. Both are full frame and 2.0, with the latter featuring the trailer and a making-of featurette. Both are $24.95.

Coming from A-Pix on 6/27/2000 is LET THE DEVIL WEAR BLACK (as opposed to...pink?) The full frame and 5.1 disc also includes a making-of featurette and the trailer. Retail is $24.95.

Arriving on 6/27 from Rykodisc is an Ingmar Bergman double feature of THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY and WILD STRAWBERRIES. For only $19.95, I'm not sure the quality of these public domain titles, but both are full frame and 2.0, and includes some newsreel footage.

Then on 8/29 and 10/31, respectively, look for two volumes in the CADFAEL series, DEVIL'S NOVICE and A MORBID TASTE FOR BONES from Acorn Media. Both discs are full frame, 2.0 stereo and include an audio commentary by Derek Jacobi and a Ellis Peters Biography. Retail is $24.95 each.

On the music side of things, watch for JOHNNY CASH: THE MAN, HIS WORLD, HIS MUSIC and DEAD KENNEDYS: DMPO'S ON BROADWAY from Music Video. Both $24.95 live concert discs are full frame and 2.0 stereo, with discographies on each.

Finally, from Warner Music on 6/20 comes K.D. LANG: HARVEST OF SEVEN YEARS - CROPPED & CHRONICLED. The $24.95 disc is a compilation of live appearances, music videos and behind-the-scenes documentary footage. The 60 minute disc is full frame and 2.0 stereo.

WHATEVER IT TAKES specs come in from COLUMBIA

Another brief Columbia note today, with the full specs for that WHATEVER IT TAKES special edition due 8/15. The film, yet another in the seemingly never-ending line of teen flicks currently hogging multiplexes, will feature an isolated music score and deleted scenes with commentary, in addition to the making-of featurette and audio commentary with Director David Hubbard. Retail is $24.95.

May 18 : New ARTISAN announcements; quick COLUMBIA update

New ARTISAN summer announcements

A few new Artisan announcements for June, July and August have come in (not counting the big T2 news from a few days ago, of course.)

First up on 6/27 are two special interest titles. CROCODILE HUNTER is a documentary on our green scaly friends, which is full frame, 2.0 surround and features additional croc info. Then we have RAISING THE MAMMOTH, about those big gray things with long trunks (oh yeah, elephants). This disc is also full frame and 2.0 surround, and includes scientist biographies, "Mammoth Facts of the Day" and an interview with Explorer Bernard Buigues. Both discs are $19.95.

Then, arriving on 7/18 is the recent TV extravaganza ARABIAN NIGHTS, which is full frame, 2.0 surround and retails for $19.95. Also on this day is the Eric Roberts thriller RESTRAINING ORDER, which is full frame and 5.1, and also includes an audio commentary with by director Lee H. Katzin. Retail is $24.95.

A week later on 7/25 is the first stand-alone release of GULLIVER'S TRAVELS, starring Ted Danson. The full frame, 2.0 surround disc was previously only available in a 5-pack set, but will now be available by itself for $19.95. Also being released separately on 7/25 is TRAVELLER, which also was only available previously in a box set. Finally on 7/25 comes a DVD-18 of the short-lived TV series THE KINDRED, starring 80's idol C. Thomas Howell. The 377-minute disc is only $29.95, and features the TV show in all its full frame and 2.0 glory.

On 8/15, look for the CRIME COLLECTOR'S PACK (kinda a sick title, isn't it?) featuring the previously-released RESERVOIR DOGS, SUICIDE KINGS and KILLING ZOE. The set runs $59.95, and contains no new features...

Quick COLUMBIA updates

Just a brief note on three Columbia titles due this summer. On 7/25, BLUE STREAK will be priced reduced from $24.95 to $19.95, and the upcoming ANATOMY OF A MURDER due 7/11 will be in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and not just full frame. Finally, yesterday I called the upcoming SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER a "chick flick," which it really isn't, as some readers pointed out. I just mixed it up in my head with SUMMER OF '42, and well, um, er...they both have the word "Summer" in the title, right?

May 17 : COLUMBIA summer fun; New & noteworthy spec updates

New COLUMBIA summer escapades

A number of summer Columbia titles have been announced, though I think some of these may be a bit old, so forgive me if any of this was already posted previously (I think I'm losing my memory as old age approaches!) All of the following titles include production notes, talent files and trailers:

First is a 6/13 release I missed, John Leguizamo's THE PEST. The disc is in anamorphic widescreen and full frame, and includes a making of featurette and an audio commentary by Director Paul Miller. Retail is $24.95.

Due on 7/11 is James Stewart in ANATOMY OF A MURDER, which is in it's original full frame aspect ratio and a English 1.0 mono track, and features a still gallery with vintage advertising materials. Also due this day is Jackie Chan's GORGEOUS, which includes anamorphic widescreen and full frame transfers, English and Cantonese 5.1 tracks, an audio commentary by Jackie Chan, making of featurette and a music video. Finally on 7/11 comes J. Lee Thompson's MACKENNA'S GOLD, which features 2.35:1 and full frame transfers and an English 1.0 mono track. Retail for all of the above is $24.95 each.

On 8/1, from the creators of "Sesame Street" comes DRAGON TALES: THE ADVENTURES IN DRAGON LAND. The disc features five animated adventures: "To Kingdome Come," "Baby Troubles," "Bad Share Day," "Zak Takes A Drive" and "The Forest Of Darkness." The disc includes a full frame transfer, English and Spanish 2.0 stereo tracks and 3 sing along songs. Retail is $24.95.

Then, on 8/15 watch for IT'S THE RAGE and the classic SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER. The former is in anamorphic widescreen and full frame with a 5.1 track, while the latter is in widescreen and full frame and 1.0 mono, with a photo montage and still gallery with vintage advertising materials. Both are $24.95.

Last but not least, the final features have come in for two Columbia discs. First, THE SECRET OF ROAN INISH, due 7/25, includes an audio commentary by Director John Sayles, while ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER includes a making-of featurette, "An Intimate Conversation with Pedro Almodovar" interview, and an isolated music score.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY updates

Just a few tidbits today for you on a number of titles. First, we received a brief press release from Buena Vista announcing a SCREAM box set due in late September. As the release was very short on features, we've been told to expect to hear more details on the set any day now, but what little is known is that it will include a special 4 disc with DVD-ROM features. Stay tuned for more specs to come soon...

Next, some have emailed with worry that the T2 ULTIMATE EDITION specs we linked to the other day at Widescreen Review might not be right. We did call Artisan and they did confirm sell sheets were sent out, and you probably saw the cool ad from Video Business at The Digital Bits as well. Artisan said the sales info did go out and is legit, and a press release would be forthcoming very soon. So, we've added the specs to the database, and though as with any release a feature or two can always change, we're going with what Artisan said and Widescreen Review posted. Looks like a great set!

The full specs for New Line's BOILER ROOM due 7/11, which will include an audio commentary with Director Ben Younger, deleted scenes and an alternate ending, an isolated score with commentary by Composer Commentary; and DVD-ROM features including the script and web links, as well as the usual production notes, cast bios and trailer.

Also announced are the features for Warner's THE WHOLE NINE YARDS, and will feature an anamorphic transfer, 5.1 mix, an audio commentary with Director Jonathan Lynn, gag reel and the usual cast & crew bios and trailer. Street date is 7/18. Both discs are $24.95.

Finally, a note on the X-FILES SEASON ONE COLLECTION that debuted yesterday. We've gotten quite a bit of email from readers who say they have gotten misprinted booklets that repeat pages. Since we never got final packaging with test discs sent to us for review, we called Fox to see what was up. While they have not taken an official position yet on the matter, they suggested we print the Consumer Hotline number so readers could alert Fox to the problem. The toll-free number is 1-888-223-2FOX (639), and if any official statement is released on the matter, will print it ASAP.

May 16 : New MGM August announcements; COLUMBIA announces another BEAR IN THE BIG BLUE HOUSE installment; BILLY JOEL back on for June; T2 news

Some very cool news came in late yesterday on the T2 ULTIMATE EDITION from Artisan, which we've confirmed via phone as well, so scroll on down to yesterday's news in case you missed it...

MGM's August slate details

MGM's full August slate has come in, and as usual, it is a bit of a mix and match in terms of features (can't wait for that SWAMP THING 4-page collectible booklet!) Perhaps to get a jump on Halloween, this is MGM's horror movie month, as 8/1 sees the debuts of SWAMP THING, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2, PHANTASM IV: OBLIVION, PUMPKINHEAD and a reissue of MISERY. All feature non-anamorphic widescreen and full frame versions and 2.0 surround soundtracks, except PUMPKINHEAD which is full frame only (noooo!) and PHANTASM IV which is anamorphic, while SWAMP THING is the only one that is 1.0 mono.

Then on 8/15 look for SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION and reissues of KALIFORNIA, FARGO and PLATOON. While this batch also doesn't have any extra features, all are anamorphic widescreen and full frame except KALIFORNIA and SIX DEGREES which are non-anamorphic and PLATOON, which is anamorphic widescreen only. Note that due to the usual "licensing issues" the PLATOON disc will not have any extras that were on the previous DVD or laserdisc releases, nor will FARGO (hey, at least they're anamorphic!) All are 5.1 except FARGO which is 2.0 stereo, $19.95 each and feature 4-page collectible booklets (yeaaahhh!)

Finally, on 9/12 is a new special edition reissue of THIS IS SPINAL TAP, which will also get a new theatrical re-release right before the DVD's arrival. The release will include a newly-remixed 5.1 track and anamorphic transfer, a new audio commentary by all the members of Spinal Tap in character, an interview with "Martin DeBergi," an hour of deleted scenes and extra footage, "The Joe Franklin Show" TV appearance, a photo gallery, four music videos ("Hell Hole," "Listen To The Flower People," "Big Bottom" & "Gimme Some Money") and trailers, TV spots and commercials. Retail is $24.95.

COLUMBIA does more BIG BEAR

Coming on 8/1 is another installment of Jim Henson's THE BEAR IN THE BIG BLUE HOUSE - SHAPES, SOUNDS AND COLORS WITH BEAR. The $24.95 disc features three classic episodes "A Wagon of A Different Color," "Shape of A Bear" and "Listen Up" All On One Disc and four sing-alongs: "Shape of A Bear," "What's in the Mail Today?" "Some of the Colors I See" and "Listen Up." The disc is full frame and English 2.0 Stereo with Spanish subtitles. Strangely, the other BEAR IN THE BIG BLUE HOUSE set due next month is still postponed...

BILLY JOEL back on for June

Pity poor Billy Joel..the guy just can't get no respect on DVD. Some of you may remember back in the early days of DVD, some Billy Joel titles were set for release on DVD...and never came. Then, what did show up were constantly delayed. The trend continues into 2000, as his LIVE AT YANKEE STADIUM disc was supposed to come out months ago, but is now back on for 6/13...yeah, we'll see!

May 15 : T2 details; New WARNER and COLUMBIA July announcements; SCREAM 3 and other feature details; last week's delayed INDIE WRAPUP

Full T2 SPECIAL EDITION details

Widescreen Review has just posted the early scoop on the full T2 specs, and the disc looks like a real winner. All the extras fans wanted seem to be on their, including all the cool laserdisc box set stuff and Dolby EX and DTS ES tracks. Check out the full details, and watch for the press release to arrive in a week or so!

New TOP PICK contest

Our latest weekly TOP PICK contest is now up, and the prize is Fox's terrific BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID special edition. Check out the Top Pick box to your right to enter and win, and congrats goes out to last week's winner, Janet Tomlinson from Dallas, Texas, who snagged a copy of Paramount's BRINGING OUT THE DEAD!

A brief note on terminology

As summer approaches (hard to believe it is hear already, isn't it?), Hollywood usually turns its attentions to the big blockbusters set to hog the nation's gigaplexes, so some refer to the season for home video as "a graveyard." However, I think with DVD this is not often the case, as with any new format, half the fun is seeing what cool catalog releases are going to come out, not just the latest box office hit (or miss.)

However, today we have some July title news for "day and date" titles, a term some of you new readers have written in that you are confused about. It simply refers to any title that is "day & date" with the VHS release, meaning there is no gap between the tape and disc street dates. Strangely, though, I've never quite understood why the term isn't just "same day" or "same date" as VHS, since if something is "day & date," wouldn't the date automatically determine the day anyway? Or am I just really stupid?

Anyway, another term some new readers are confused by is the "preorder date" versus street date. The preorder date is for retailers, and is the cutoff date that they have to get their orders in by to be guaranteed their copies by street date. Preorder date really has nothing to do with the consumer directly (and is not to be confused with preorder dates online retailers like Amazon set for consumers in order to get discounts on titles), though oftentimes I have seen some listings confuse street date with preorder date (I've messed them up a couple of times myself...oops.)

Finally, longtime readers are probably already aware that there is often a lag between when titles are announced to retailers and the industry trades (i.e., non-consumer-based magazines and sites) and start showing up on eretailers preorder lists, and when the press releases seem to arrive. I've voiced my frustration about this before, but thankfully in some cases, we have begun to be treated as trades, and receive initial street dates and limited specs on disc before the full press release arrives. We've always felt that the hardcore DVD fan like you who reads this contributes significantly by preordering online, so once a title is released to retailers it is all over the web anyway, so is there really a difference anymore between the trades and the "consumer" online press?

So for you new readers who have wondered why sometimes announcements here don't have the full specs, it is because the initial retailer/trade info is often given out without the full final specs on the disc, but as long as we received it from a studio via sales or PR, we post it and add in the full info as it arrives. Hope this little explanation helps clear up some of the confusion for you new readers.

New day & date July fun

Anyway, on to some new day & date title announcements for July. Coming on 7/11 from Warner is a film I thought was underrated, BOILER ROOM. Then due a week later on 7/18 from Warner is the box office hit THE WHOLE NINE YARDS with Bruce Willis and Matthew "I'm not a junkie!" Perry. Aside from the $24.95 list price for both, the only details known are that they are in anamorphic widescreen and 5.1 (big surprise.) Stay tuned for more details...

Coming from Columbia are another couple of day & date titles, including Pedro Almodovar's terrific ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER on on 7/11, which also happened to win a little award called the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. Then on 8/1 (oops, this isn't a July release!) is a comedy of a different caliber, the teen romance WHATEVER IT TAKES. Both titles are "special editions" (the former $27.95, the later $24.95) and feature commentaries (participants TBA) and WHATEVER IT TAKES also features a making-of featurette. Stay tuned for more on both to follow...

Full SCREAM 3 details and other tidbits

Just a few new feature updates for you. The final SCREAM 3 specs have arrived, and it looks to be a pretty cool disc (can't they go back and redo the first 2 movies as well, pretty pretty please?) In addition to the already-announced commentary with Director Wes Craven, Screenwriter Ehren Krueger and Producer Marianne Maddalena, the three featurettes will be separate making-ofs for each SCREAM film, along with deleted scenes and an alternate ending (with optional commentary) and the music video will be for Creed's "What If," which also features an appearance by the film's David Arquette and "ghostface" himself. Retail is $29.95, and for anyone interested in the identity of the killer, Sharon Stone did it.

Also a few updates on some other upcoming titles. Buena Vista's MANSFIELD PARK due 7/11 will also feature an audio commentary with Director Patricia Rozema and a making-of featurette, while Warner's MY DOG SKIP also includes actor Frankie Munz on the commentary along with Director Jay Russell. Paramount's ACTIVE STEALTH also includes a commentary, with Director Fred Olen Ray.

Finally, the Warner/Elektra METALLICA S&M DVD will released in 2 versions, an Unedited version with all the nasty words, and a Clean edition suitable for family viewing (strange, as I can't imagine any Metallica fan wanting a watered down version.) Both will be available concurrently, Also, due to some confusion with the various announcements and false cancellation notice sent out by Elektra, I confirmed with them that the list price for either version is indeed $34.95, not $39.95. Sorry for any confusion.

Indie wrap-up

Due to my E3 excursion, the indie wrap-up is a bit late this week. But, some good stuff that is hopefully worth waiting for.

Uh oh, hide the children and pets, MARILYN MANSON is coming to DVD. Due from Vanguard on 5/30 is DEMYSTIFYING THE DEVIL, a "shockumentary" on the infamous Manson and his music. While this is not as exciting as a real Manson live or video compilation DVD (note to Universal: will you PLEASE start releasing more music video titles aside from Shania Twain?), it might be amusing. Retail is $19.95 for the full frame and 2.0 stereo disc.

Also on the music front is BMG's upcoming ARISTA 25TH ANNIVERSARY: 25 YEARS OF HITS. This recent TV special is an "exciting live event which took place on April 10, 2000 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles" and includes performances by Santana, Sarah McLachlan, Whitney "I'm the real Puff Daddy" Houston, Patti Smith, Annie Lennox and Barry Manilow! The $24.95 disc is full frame and arrives on 6/6. Al;so on that day is LFO: LIVE FROM ORLANDO AND MORE, which features additional music videos, interviews and backstage footage. The disc is also $24.95, full frame and 2.0 Stereo.

Coming from WinStar on 7/5 are a variety of interesting titles. Watch for ANDREW WEIL M.D.'s (not to be confused with Marcus Welby or Quincy) EATING WELL FOR OPTIMUM HEALTH, along with COUCH IN NEW YORK, the John Waters bio DIVINE TRASH, DOWNHILL WILLIE, JOHNNY 100 PESOS, ONE GOOD TURN and WOMEN. All of the above are full frame, while the following trio are non-anamorphic widescreen: SINGLE GIRL, LEWIS & CLARK & GEORGE and MY SEX LIFE. All are $29.95, and the theatrical titles feature trailers and filmographies for the cast.

Finally, New Horizons has some entertaining-sounding titles on the way. Watch for BECAUSE OF YOU, NIGHTFALL, KID WITH THE X-RAY EYES, NO DESSERT DAD 'TIL YOU MOW THE LAWN, and a toss-up for Title Of The Week, THE CRAZYSITTER and THE INVISIBLE MOM. All are $14.95 and full frame only. They all sound like great entertainment, no?