By Peter M. Bracke

September 10th

'Apes' redux (09.10.01 - 1:04 pm)

Quite a big day for new announcements... Fox has just issued the full press release for Planet Of The Apes, Tim Burton's "reimagining" of the 60's sci-fi classic. This two-disc set comes quite feature-loaded, streeting on 11/20. Add another one to the already-massive 4th quarter DVD lineup!

Jurassic roar (09.10.01 - 11:01 am)

Just announced from Universal for a 12/11 release for the summer hit Jurassic Park III. In addition to a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer and Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround tracks, the disc looks quite feature loaded, with an audio commentary with the special effects team, an onset making of featurette, additional features on "The New Dinosaurs of "Jurassic Park III," "A Tour of Stan Winston's Studio," "Visit to ILM; Dinosaur turntables," a behind-the-scenes montage, and galleries including storyboard sequences, the "Jurassic Park III Archives," and "Finding new dinosaurs," as well as theatrical trailers. Retail is $26.95, and there will also be a separate pan & scan version released with the same features and retail price. Universal will also release The Jurassic Park Trilogy, a set with the widescreen and Dolby Digital versions of all three films for $76.95.

New from Criterion (09.10.01 - 11:01 am)

Just announced from The Criterion Collection are four new classics, all due on 11/13. Bunuel's That Obscure Object Of Desire is presented in 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen with a French mono track and English subtitles, along with a video interview with screenwriter Jean-Claude Carriere, excerpts from Jacques de Baroncelli's 1929 silent film "La Femme et le Pantin," a text interview with director Luis Bunuel, and the theatrical trailer. Peter Weir's The Last Wave debuts with a new 1.77:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer and English 2.0 stereo mix, along with an interview with director Peter Weir and the theatrical trailer. Retail is $29.95 each.

Also on 11/13 is a two-disc set of Fellini's 8 1/2. Presented in anamorphic widescreen and Italian mono, the set is loaded with extras. Disc one starts with an introduction by Terry Gilliam, a new screen-specific audio commentary with film critic Gideon Bachmann, NYU Professor of Film Antonio Monda, excerpts from Fellini interviews, and Deena Boyler's on-set diary, and the trailer. Disc two features "Fellini: A Director's Notebook," "Nina Rota: Between Cinema And Concert" documentary, additional interviews and a still gallery. Finally, Criterion will release a new special edition of Hitchcock's classic Rebecca. The disc is presented in full frame and English mono, with an audio commentary with film scholar Leonard J. Leff, an isolated music and effects track, rare excerpts from Hitchcock conversations with Francois Truffaut, a 1986 phone interview with Joan Fontaine, and Dame Judith Anderson, the complete 1938 broadcast of the Campbell Playhouse radio adaptation, two additional complete Lux Radio Theatre broadcasts; Hitchcock's casting notes; deleted scene script excerpts, rare screen, hair, makeup and costume tests, footage from the 13th Annual Academy Awards, a still gallery, illustrated essay, and the reissue trailer. Retail is $39.95 each.

'Cheap' date (09.10.01 - 12:06am)

Just announced from Columbia is a 11/13 street date for the Neil Simon comedy The Cheap Detective, starring Peter Falk. The disc features anamorphic widescreen and full screen transfers, English and Spanish mono tracks, the "A Conversation With Neil Simon" featurette, talent files and trailers. Retail is $24.95.

Columbia has also just announced specs for the following 12/4 80's classics - Sheena, Queen Of The Jungle, White Water Summer, Weekend At Bernie's II and Silent Rage. All feature anamorphic widescreen and full screen versions, English 2.0 surround tracks (Silent Rage is mono only), and theatrical trailers. Retail is $19.95 a pop.

Finally, a quick correction on the upcoming release of The Prince Of Tides, due 11/6. Originally announced by Columbia as having no extras, the disc actually does... though not much. Included will be talent files, production notes, and trailers. Whoa, stop me!

Pootie call (09.10.01 - 12:06am)

I haven't seen the film, but it is hard to totally discount any movie called Pootie Tang. Paramount has announced an 11/27 release for this Chris Rock box office bomb, complete with 1.85;1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 5.1 and 2.0 surround tracks, and the theatrical trailer. Retail is $29.95.

New from Buena Vista (09.10.01 - 12:06am)

Just announced form the house that Mickey built comes specs on a number of fall titles. First up on 11/6 is the what-took-ya so-long Sister Act, featuring a new 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer and English 5.1 surround track, Extras include a featurette actually entitled "Inside Sister Act," as well as two music videos and the theatrical trailer. Retail is $29.95. Also announced for 11/6 are the comedies Santa Who? in anamorphic widescreen and English 5.1, and Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed In At The House Of Mouse, in full frame and 5.1. Both feature trailers, and House Of Mouse includes interactive games, weblinks and a sing-a-long. Retail is $29.95 each.

Then, on 11/13 is Crazy/Beautiful, a better-than-average teen love story starring Kirsten Dunst. The disc features a 1.85;1 anamorphic widescreen transfer and English 5.1 Dolby surround track, an audio commentary with director John Stockwell and Dunst, a making of featurette, deleted scenes, and the theatrical trailer.

September 5th

Willow art (09.10.01 - 12:06am)

Last but not least for today, a look at the new cover art for the Ron Howard and George Lucas fantasy Willow. Anyone else thinks it looks kinda, well.. goofy? Click for an enlargement to see what you think.

Like sands in the hourglass... (09.05.01 - 1:11pm)

Just announced from Columbia are a number of new titles and street dates. First up is a special edition of the thriller The Breed. The disc features anamorphic widescreen and full screen transfers, English 5.1 and 2.0 surround tracks, an audio commentary with director Michael Oblowitz and actor Adrian Pasar, talent files and trailers. Retail is $24.95 and street date 11/20.

After spending about ten seconds in theaters, Columbia has announced specs for John Carpenter's Ghost Of Mars. Goodies including a 2.35;1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 5.1 and English and French 2.0 surround and subtitle tracks, an audio commentary with director John Carpenter, three featurettes including "Video Diary: Red Desert Nights," "SFX Deconstructions" and "Scoring Ghosts of Mars," production notes, talent files and theatrical trailers. The disc retails for $24.95 and street date is 12/4.

Columbia has also just announced a 12/11 street date for three new catalog titles: the Brian De Palma drama Casualties Of War, the Humphrey Bogart classic Sahara, and the Kevin Bacon adventure White Water Summer. No specs yet, but stay tuned...

September 4th

Divorce, American style (09.04.01 - 2:40pm)

Just announced from Fox is a 12/18 street date for the blackest of American comedies, The War Of The Roses. Danny DeVito's acidic take on divorce is still wicked and witty, and Fox is prepping a nice special edition that looks to be a conversion of the previous laserdisc. The disc boasts a new THX-certified 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 5.1 and English and French 2.0 surround tracks, an audio commentary with director Danny DeVito, deleted scenes, a still gallery, filmographies and trailers. Retail is only $19.95.

Spec updates (09.04.01 - 2:40pm)

A trio of updates on three new releases. Though mismarked on the back packaging, Fox's The Legend Of Hell House (streeting today) is indeed presented in 1.85;1 anamorphic widescreen, while Warner's The NeverEnding Story features both anamorphic widescreen and full screen versions on opposite sides of the disc. And no exact word from MGM on why The Woman In Red, originally due out today, was pushed back indefinitely. Due to the dreaded "production issues,' this title is now on tap for 2002...

Day of infamy (09.04.01 - 2:40pm)

Buena Vista has just released some new pics of the upcoming myriad of Pearl Harbor DVD releases set to begin invading store shelves this Christmas. Check out a pic of the 60th Commemorative Edition, complete with map and National Geographic special, as well as the 3-disc Vista Series edition. Whatever you think about the movie itself, these look like very nice sets and the packaging is pretty cool, too.

Fox war classics (09.04.01 - 12:02am)

Just in time for the 60th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, Fox Home Entertainment has announced a new line of war-themed DVDs, the Fox War Classics series. Nine titles will be released in all, with five of them - Patton, The Thin Red Line, Von Ryan's Express, The Longest Day and Twelve O'Clock High - repackagings of existing titles. Four additional titles will also be released for the first time ever on DVD - The Young Lions, A Wing And A Prayer, The Halls Of Montezuma, and Guadalcanal Diary. All are being presented in their original aspect ratios (The Young Lions in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, 1.37:1 full screen for the rest.) All feature English 2.0 stereo and French mono tracks, English and Spanish subtitles, and trailers. Retail is $19.95 apiece, and street date 11/6.

The name's Harry... Dirty Harry (09.04.01 - 12:02am)

Warner is really going all out this November celebrating its ever-growing Clint Eastwood Collection, with the release of yet another Eastwood title. On 11/20, Warner will bow Clint Eastwood: Out OF The Shadows, a 87-minute documentary on the life and career of Eastwood, narrated by his Unforgiven costar Morgan Freeman. The disc is presented in full frame and 2.0 stereo, with additional filmographies and trailers rounding out the set. Retail is $19.95, and this title will not be released as part of the Dirty Harry Series box set.

To commemorate the 60th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor, Warner will also releases National Geographic: Legacy OF The Attack, narrated by Tom Brokaw. Remembrance. This special is presented in 4:3 full frame and 2.0 surround, with additional features including the featurette "Remembrance: Firsthand Veteran Accounts" and "Behind-The-Scenes Of The Ballard Expedition," as well as an interactive map of Japanese Fleets And Bombing Runs. Retail is $19.95.

Back to the future...someday? (09.04.01 - 12:02am)

Hey Back To the Future fans, check out a great interview with BTTF producer and writer Bob Gale over at BTTF.com for new info on what's up with the DVDs. It appears as if some foreign rights snafus are holding up the release of the beloved trilogy on DVD, but despite the long wait, there may be a light at the end of the tunnel according to Gale. Check out the interview for the news (page 6, if you're looking) and check out the BTTF.com site, too... it's a great one.