To the fourth power - 12:54pm

Leading off today's news are a number of new street date announcements from Fox Home Entertainment. September 16th will see the release of the recent box office disappointment Down with Love, followed by the surprise sleeper hit Bend it like Beckham on the 30th. Stay tuned for more...

Finally, due for release on September 9th is The Family Guy: Volume Two. This three-disc set features the entire third season in 4:3 full screen with English, French and Spanish Dolby 2.0 surround tracks, plus plenty of extras including audio commentary on six episodes (including the unaired "When You Wish Upon a Weinstein"), 15 minutes of animatics, the pilot pitch and a series overview. Retail will set you back $49.95.

Slim-Fast DVD - 12:54pm

In a continuing trend causing much controversy amongst DVD fans, the studios continue to issue feature-laden multi-disc sets of top titles, then re-release the same flick again in a stripped down, single-disc version. The latest studio to jump on the bandwagon is DreamWorks Home Entertainment, who will release cheapie-priced, single-disc versions of three of their biggest DVD hits on August 18th: Gladiator, Shrek and Minority Report. Each is simply the widescreen release of the film without the second disc - all other features remain the same, and retail is $19.95 a pop.

Bend it like Beckham - 12:54pm

Looking for a little back-to-school fun this fall? On September 18th, MGM Home Entertainment will release the reality TV-esque comedy The Chateau, starring Paul Rudd, and the family soccer film Just 4 Kicks. Both feature full screen transfers (Chateau also includes a widescreen option) plus trailers. Retail is $29.95 and $27.95, respectively.

Just in time for the holiday buying season comes A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie on October 7th. This special edition features a 4:3 full screen transfer, English, French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 surround tracks, deleted scenes, the "Inside Pepe's Studio" featurette, a blooper reel and Muppet character bios. Retail is $19.95. Also due for release on October 7th is the all-star remake of A Christmas Carol, starring (no joke) Nicolas Cage, Kate Winslet and Simon Callow, plus the animated holiday adventures A Freezerburnt Christmas and Second Star to the Left. Each is presented in full screen and English 2.0 surround, and include a featurette. A Christmas Carol also includes the original alternate opening and ending plus the "What If?" music video. Retail is R19.95 a pop.

Rounding out MGM's October 7th lineup are a number of catalog gems, led by Mike Nichols acclaimed Silkwood, plus The Whales of August, Street Smart, Alien from LA, Straight Out of Brooklyn and the cult thriller Impulse with Meg Tilly. All are a mix and match of aspect ratios - Silkwood is presented in non-anamorphic widescreen, Whales of August, Street Smart and Straight Out of Brooklyn in anamorphic widescreen, and Impulse and Alien from LA in full screen only. MGM will also issue a full-screen, single-disc version of Robert Wise's Oscar-winning classic West Side Story, sans features aside from the trailer. (The deluxe widescreen set remains on the market as of now.) Retail is $14.95 each.