Kangaroo bebop - 4:29pm

This past winter's surprise family hit, Kangaroo Jack will be hopping to a DVD near you on June 24th. Warner Home Video will release the talking marsupial movie in separate 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and full screen versions, each with English and French Dolby Digital 5.1 surround tracks and lots of extras: two audio Commentaries by Kangaroo Jack himself and the other by the cast and crew, the "Casting Sessions Uncut - Outrageous Animal Auditions" and "Behind The Gas" sound design featurettes, a gag reel, sing-along with "Jackie's Leg's," a guide to Jackie's dance moves, and ROM extras to be announced. Retail is $26.95.

Street date alert - 4:29pm

Just in from Buena Vista Home Entertainment are a number of new retail dates for some of this year's hottest Oscar contenders. While specs are not yet available, watch for a double-disc set of the acclaimed Frida on June 10th, featuring Salma Hayek's Oscar-worthy Best Actress performance, the Chuck Barris biopic Confessions of a Dangerous Mind on July 15th, Michael Caine (sans Dressed to Kill drag) in The Quiet American on July 29th, and Chicago on August 19th. Also note that Buena Vista retail has again released a July 1st street date for Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York, a date which many retailers are beginning to take preorders for, but Buena Vista PR keeps telling us it will be more like August at the earliest. Your guess is as good as ours...stay tuned.

Buena Vista has also announced the full specs for perhaps the most overlooked film of 2002, Spike Lee's 25th Hour. This special edition arrives on May 20th and features a THX-Certified 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer ) and an Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track, plus two audio commentaries with Lee and screenwriter David Benioff, the "Spike Lee: The Evolution of an American Filmmaker" and "Ground Zero - A Tribute" featurettes, deleted scenes, and trailers. Retail is $29.99.