Mile High Club

All aboard the Soooouuuul Plannnneeee! That's right, turning around in record time is MGM Home Entertainment's megabomb Soul Plane, which will hit DVD on September 7th after only opening (and closing) in theaters this month. MGM will torment us with separate R-Rated and "Mile High Edition" unrated versions. Each is presented in anamorphic widescreen and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, and include a cast video commentary, the "Boarding Pass" featurette, deleted scenes, outtakes, a music video, still gallery and theatrical trailers. The unrated version will also include the bonus "Upgrade" featurette. Retail will be $26.95 either boarding pass you choose.

Seasons Change - 11:04pm

Just in from Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment is the studio's September 7th lineup of new release and catalog announcements.

First up are two new indie flicks making their DVD debuts, the thriller Decoy and Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring from director Kim Ki-Duk. Both feature anamorphic widescreen transfers, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround tracks and theatrical trailers, and Decoy also includes a making-of featurette. Retail will cost you $29.95 a pop.

Next are three new Columbia library titles: Naked in New York, the Rita Hayworth classic Music in my Heart, and the animated adult comedy Peep Show. All are in full screen only and contain no extras aside from bonus trailers. List price is set for $14.95 each.

Also on the 7th, Columbia will issue new single-disc editions of Michael Bay's Bad Boys II and Ron Howard's The Missing. Both will feature the same exact specs as the previous two-disc set, simply sans the second disc (note, however, that The Missing features a 4:3 full screen transfer only). Retail will go for $19.95 apiece.

Rounding out Columbia's September 7th lineup are two TV on DVD releases: Jim Hensen's The Storyteller: Greek Myths, which features four episodes of the acclaimed series, and The Best of Beakman's World compilation. Both are presented in 4:3 full screen and Dolby 2.0 stereo, and include no extras. Retail will be $14.95 each.

Caught in a Web - 11:04pm

Just a couple of years ago, it was hip to come up with cute little endings to the phrase, "You know DVD has gone mainstream when...". Now that the format has become fully entrenched and just about completed its takeover of the home video market, it is passe to complain about such once-red-hot topics as multiple versions, director's cuts and studio double dipping. But is it perhaps worth noting that now, during press conferences for big hit Hollywood movies that haven't even hit theaters yet, directors are already touting the extras-special extended edition that will be coming out on the DVD, Version 2.0?

Add Spider-Man guru Sam Raimi to that elite list. The director is already planning an extended cut of Spider-Man 2, to be called Spider-Man 2.5 , and spoke out about his plans at a recent event promoting the flick, which hits theaters tomorrow.

While this new cut of the film has not even been started, Raimi revealed that all told only about five minutes of new footage will be reinstated, and most scene extensions and small additions rather than major sequences. On his approach to the editing, Raimi told reporters, "There's 10 seconds here that was a nice moment, but it's a little slow. Let's trim that up to keep the pace going. This is interesting, but it turns out that information in this particular scene is clear. That's pretty much the type of things that were cut out."

But before Spidey 2.5 hits DVD sometime in 2005, a special edition of the theatrical cut will be released first, and come loaded with extras including featurettes, commentary and other standard DVD extras. And lest anyone think that Raimi is not keeping a watchful eye on all things Spider-Man, the director did reveal that, "I do approve these things. I watch all of them, and... I usually make some edits and suggestions in each and every piece where I try not to give away too much of the magic unless it's necessary."

Watch for Spidey to set new records this holiday weekend at the box office, and likely on DVD this fall, too. Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment has not issued any official statement on Spider-Man 2.5, a release date or features. Stay tuned...