Bullet time

The biggest sci-fi sequel of the decade or one of the major bummers of the summer? On October 14th. you can decide for yourself (as if you aren't one of the millions who already saw it in the theater) when Warner Home Video will release The Matrix Reloaded. This two-disc set includes a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 5.1 and 2.0 and French 5.1 Dolby Digital surround tracks, English, French and Spanish subtitles, plus four new featurettes: "Preload" (go behind the scenes with the cast and crew), "Freeway Chase" (anatomy of the mind-blowing scene), "The Matrix Unfolds" (a look at the Matrix phenomenon) and "Enter the Matrix" (making of the groundbreaking video game), a look at "What is the Animatrix?", the "Get Me an Exit" still gallery with Matrix-inspired design advertising and the MTV Movie Awards "Reloaded" skit. There will also be weblinks to the official Matrix online portal, but no other ROM features yet announced...stay tuned. Retail is $29.95.

While it can't quite top The Matrix for visual effects and action, the Griswolds are getting a special holiday edition of their own on October 7th. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation will feature a new anamorphic widescreen transfer, Dolby Digital 2.0 surround track, an audio commentary with director and the cast including Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo, and the trailer. Retail is just right for a stocking stuffer...only $19.95.

More exciting Warner news today includes The Looney Tunes Golden Collection which streets on October 28th. Digitally restored, this four-disc set has been designed for the completist and will feature specially selected uncut shorts from the Looney Tunes' golden years, complete with tons of extras including commentaries and more. Stay tuned for the full press release, and retail is $64.95. Warner will also release the double-disc The Looney Tunes Premiere Collection for $26.95, which features 28 of the best animated shorts Last but not least are two single-disc Looney Tunes sets priced at $19.95 each. Looney Tunes: Reality Check! is an all-new Toons spoof of reality TV, while Looney Tunes: Stranger Than Fiction is a collection of favorite Looney Tunes characters doing modern TV and movie spoofs. But wait, there is one more...and will the third time be the charm? Warner has also announced an October 28th release for a new two-disc special edition of the live action-Looney Tunes basketball match-up Space Jam, now a two-disc special edition featuring a new anamorphic widescreen transfer. Retail will be $26.95, and stay tuned for further details.

Rounding out today's extensive Warner news are the results of DVD Decision 2003. Holding an extended online poll to gauge the most highly-sought after of their prized catalog titles, the consumers have chosen, and the winners are... Days of Wine and Roses, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the 1946 version of The Postman Always Rings Twice, The Wind and the Lion and the 1968 version of Where the Boys Are. Selected from a list of 20, all will receive their first-ever DVD treatments on January 6th, 2004, and newly remastered and restored. Extras have not yet been announced, but Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde will include both the 1932 Paramount and 1941 MGM versions. Retail is $19.95, and watch this space for further details.

Broadway bound - 9:01am

Just announced is the return of the 1925 classic The Phantom of the Opera, which Image Entertainment will release in a new feature-laden two-disc set as part of their Milestone Collection. Streeting on September 9th, this newly-remastered edition is minted from a new 35mm print, complete with the restored Technicolor masked ball sequence. The set will include both the original 1925 110-minute version with score by Jon Mirsalis and the 1929 98 minute reedit with a stereo soundtrack by Carl Davis and the original mono theatrical track. Other extras include an audio commentary by film historian Scott MacQueen, the "Carla Laemmle Remembers" featurette, 9 additional dialogue sequences from the 1929 version, interviews with cinematographer Charles Van Enger and historian David Skal, the Faust Opera Extract from the 1929 Tiffany Sound Feature presentation, sill galleries detailing deleted and missing scenes and trailers for both he 1925 and 1930 releases. Retail is $24.95.

Scary 2-Packs - 9:01am

Rounding out today's news are a new batch of horror movie two-packs from Artisan Home Entertainment, cheapie $14.95 releases featuring a pair of scary movie "classics" for one low price. Streeting on September 23rd, the titles include: Howling V: The Rebirth/Howling VI: The Freaks, Prom Night III: The Last Kiss/Prom Night IV: Deliver Us from Evil, Watchers/Watchers II, and Waxwork/Waxwork II: Lost in Time. Alas, all are wimpy full frame-only transfers with Dolby 2.0 stereo or surround tracks and no extras.