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| Action this summer (Region 1) at 16.48 on 03/06/02 |
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Two of the biggest male actors in Hollywood have movies coming out on region one DVD this summer.
Paramount Home Entertainment have just announced the Mel Gibson war drama We Were Soldiers. Here's a little bit about the movie:
In a place soon to be known as The Valley of Death, in a small clearing called landing zone X-Ray, Lt. Colonel Hal Moore (Mel Gibson) and 400 young fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons, all troopers from an elite American combat division, were surrounded by 2,000 North Vietnamese soldiers. The ensuing battle was one of the most savage in U.S. history. We Were Soldiers Once...And Young is a tribute to the nobility of those men under fire, their common acts of uncommon valor, and their loyalty to and love for one another.
We Were Soldiers will get the following treatment:
2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen
Official Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround EX mix and a 2.0 surround option
Audio commentary with director Randall Wallace
Getting It Right featurette
10 deleted scenes with optional commentary
Trailer
You can expect the disc to hit shops on 20th August and it will carry a retail price of $29.95.
Not to be outdone, Arnold Schwarzenegger releases his controvesial new movie on DVD this summer. Warner release the Special Edition of Collateral Damage, which was originally due to hit cinemas before the September 11th tradegy. Here's some info about the movie:
Firefighter Gordon Brewer is plunged into the complex and dangerous world of international terrorism after he loses his wife and child in a bombing credited to Claudio "The Wolf" Perrini. Frustrated with the official investigation and haunted by the thought that the man responsible for murdering his family might never be brought to justice, Brewer takes matters into his own hands and tracks his quarry ultimately to Colombia
Collateral Damage looks to be getting an excellent feature packed release. Here's what you can expect:
2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen
English and French 5.1 Dolby surround tracks
Audio commentaries by Schwarzenegger and director Andrew Davis
The Hero In A New Era featurette
HBO First Look special Deleted scenes Filmographies and trailer
Arnie will be making his way to region one on 24th July and the disc will retail for $26.95. |
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| Buena Vista : Summer Releases (Region 1) at 12.20 on 03/06/02 |
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Buena Vista have just announced a couple of releases for this summer.
First up is the critically acclaimed Iris, which is based on the life of British writer Iris Murdoch. She falls in love with fellow professor John Bayley. The movie concentrates on their student days through to her battle with Alzheimer's disease. The film has an all-star cast including Kate Winslet, Jim Broadbent and Judi Dench. In fact Broadbent won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in this movie. Here is what you can expect from the release:
1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer
English and French 5.1 soundtracks
A special message from David Hyde Pierce
A Look at Iris featurette Alzheimer�s Association Honors Jim Broadbent featurette
Trailer
Also announced is the Nicole Kidman movie Birthday Girl. This movie is not released here in the UK yet, but has received disappointing reviews in America. Here's some information about the film:
"Internet love connections and mail-order brides rarely ever work out, and John (played by Ben Chaplin) should have known. Having never been lucky in the game of love and tired of waiting for the perfect woman to come along, John decides to take his chances and orders a mail-order bride from Russia online. At first, things seem perfect: his new bride Nadia (Nicole Kidman) is a gorgeous woman, and although she may not speak much English, her skills in the bedroom more than make up for any communication problems. When Nadia's 'cousins' unexpectedly arrive to celebrate her birthday, John is drawn into their web of corruption and crime".
Birthday Girl will receive the following treatment when released:
1.85;1 anamorphic widescreen transfer
English 5.1 surround track
Behind the Scenes featurette
Somethin' Stupid music video
Both Iris and Birthday Girl will be released on 13th August and will retail for $29.95 |
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| Press Release - Battlestar Boxset delayed (Region 4) (Region 4) at 12.19 on 03/06/02 |
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Earlier this year Universal Pictures Video Australia announced the planned Region 4 release of a Battlestar Galactica Box Set for June 2002. This has now been postponed until Mid-2003.
Tim Smith, Senior Product Manager for Universal Pictures Video Australia explains:
"After initially announcing the box set some months ago we never imagined the groundswell of support for this release not only from Australian fans, but also from fans from all over the world. We had received so much feedback from fans as to what they would like to see in the collection - as it stands today it simply does not do a release of this calibre the justice it deserves in order to be ready for its original planned release date.
Many additional elements I had hoped to have ready for our release are still being researched at this very moment in the U.S. and simply would not be ready to make our planned release date. In addition to this, there are major sound and image enhancements being carried out to the original masters. Whilst our local digital masters were assessed and cleared for DVD authoring, it makes more sense to await for the extensive remastering to allow the very best quality that DVD can provide.
In 2003 there will be a lot of activity surrounding the 25th Anniversary of Battlestar Galactica, including a planned new television mini-series. I believe the decision to postpone the release is the best we could make at this moment. I say to fans - you are being heard, just hold out a little longer - you'll not be disappointed".
Any queries or requests for further updates on the Battlestar Galactica DVD Collection can be directed to Universal on the following e-mail address: [email protected]. Special Thanks to EzyDVD for the boxset image. |
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| JVC World Cup Announcment (All Regions) at 22.57 on 30/05/02 |
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JVC is launching its AV-42PD20 42-inch (106-cm) Wide Plasma Display TV in time for tomorrow's FIFA World Cup kick off. The AV-42PD20 is touted as the ideal 'big screen' to watch the 2002 FIFA World Cup in style (and I reckon it'd play a pretty mean DVD too). It features a slim, floor-standing design that is attractive and allows easy positioning anywhere around the home. The built in sound system offers promising home cinema audio performance without adding extra speakers or making tedious adjustments.
Key Features
JVC DigiPure Pro Picture Improvement for images of unparalleled quality
3D Sound System providing a rich theatre-like experience
Picture and Picture split screen facility
Picture and Text ideal for watching the game whilst keeping an eye on the rest of the action and results
One box Solution easy set up Floor Standing design for easy positioning
PC Input Terminal that turns it quickly into a display monitor for a computer
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Well the Dolby Competition had a record number of entries and the winners have all been informed. To coincide with this we have the long awaited interview with David Fraser, Marketing Manager for Dolby Labs.
To read this excellent interview go here. |
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| Universal Animated Releases for July (Region 4) at 12.23 on 24/05/02 |
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Universal have announced a couple of animated double pack DVD sets that will provide hours of fun for those not tall enough to go on carnival rides.
First up is the Beethoven's 3rd / Beethoven's 4th Double Pack. Beethoven, the world's most loved St Bernard takes the laughs to new heights in this hilarious new all-family adventure. Here is some information about the release :
The Newton family is trying valiantly to manage life with the larger-than-life Beethoven, and the kids try to save the day with obedience training. It's double the dog, as the irrepressible Beethoven stretches his super-sized talent and star as both himself and the overly well-bred show dog, Michelangelo. However, he and a well-behaved look-alike are switched and double trouble is unleashed!
This double bill will feature a 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen transfer and a 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack. Beethoven's 4th will also be available separately.
Next up is the Balto (Original) / Balto 2 - Wolf Quest Double Pack. From director Steven Spielberg, comes the follow up to the original classic BALTO, which captured the hearts and imaginations of families worldwide. Now the adventure continues with BALTO - WOLF QUEST, and this time Balto becomes a father and all the pups but one, Aleu the scrawny runt of the brood, are given away to good homes. After an encounter with a hunter in the forest, the young Aleu discovers that she will never be accepted like her brothers and sisters because she looks more wolf-like than dog. Upset she runs away to begin her quest for the meaning of life and to find her true place in the world.
Balto (the original) will contain its original 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen transfer while Wolf Quest gets a 4:3 Full Frame transfer. Both will recive a 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack. Balto 2 - Wolf Quest will also be available separately.
The Beethoven and Balto Double Packs will be avilable for $AU39.95 from July 3. |
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| Along Came a Spider and other Universal Titles for June (Region 4) at 09.05 on 24/05/02 |
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Paramount have announced the impending release of the latest batch of films on Region 4 DVD in June.
First off is the latest film adaptation of a James Patterson novel, Along Came a Spider onto DVD. Detective and author Alex Cross (Morgan Freeman) reluctantly comes out of retirement when a senator's daughter is kidnapped from her Washington, D.C. prep school while under the supervision of Special Agent Jezzi Flannigan (Monica Potter).
Given evidence that reveals Megan's teacher Gary Soneji (Michael Wincott) as the suspect, Cross soon discovers Soneji's motive is to be immortalised in the authors next novel. Special Agent Flannigan and Cross must untangle the web of leads, ransom demands and hidden agendas.
The DVD includes the following features:
Anamorphic Widescreen video presentation
Dolby Digital 5.1 Channel English and French Soundtracks
'Making Of' featurette
Theatrical Trailer
Subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Paramount are also set to release a large number of Classic titles into Region 4.
The collection includes Elvis films Blue Hawaii, GI Blues, King Creole & Roustabout and other back catalogue titles including Congo, Dead Again, Friday 13th Part 3, Escape From Alcatraz, Chinatown, Two Jakes, The Butchers Wife and Cheech & Chong: Up In Smoke.
You can pre-order Along Came a Spider and the classic range from EzyDVD for $AU36.95 each. Look for them from June 7, 2002. |
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| Stereophonics : A day at the race (Region 2) at 20.46 on 20/05/02 |
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May 27th sees the long awaited release of the new Stereophonics DVD on region two. Stereophonics - A Day At The Races covers two concerts from the Welsh band's tour last year. Here is a little information about the release:
Recorded at the band's sell-out Summer 2001 shows at Donington Racetrack and Cardiff Millennium Stadium, where they played in front of over 100,000 people, the DVD features 16 songs played live, backstage documentary footage, a photo gallery and more besides.
The disc will contain Behind The Scenes Footage and also a Photo Gallery. I was lucky enough to see the gig at the Millennium Stadium, and I would thoroughly recommend this release. No set list is available yet, but I am sure the DVD will be packed with all their hits. Fans of the phonics will be interested to know that the disc has a retail price of �17.99. |
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| TV programmes come to region one (Region 1) at 20.02 on 20/05/02 |
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The last week has seen the announcement of the release of two American TV programmes on region one.
First up is the gangster comedy The Sopranos. The Sopranos: The Complete Third Season will feature all 13 episodes from the series. Here's what you can expect from the boxset:
1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen
English 5.1 and English, French and Spanish 2.0 Dolby tracks
Three audio commentaries Behind the scenes featurette "A Day on the Set of The Sopranos,"
Recaps of seasons 1 and 2, episodic synopses, previews and recaps
Cast and crew bios
Weblinks
Released a month later is the popular American comedy Friends. Warner have have recently released the 1st series on region one and now they have announced Friends: The Complete Second Season. Here is some information we have about the collection:
4:3 full screen tranfer Dolby Digital 5.0
Audio commentary with the producers on two episodes, the "Open House at Monica and Rachel's Place"
Interactive map "Friends Of Friends" video guestbook
"How Well Do You Know Your Friends?" trivia game "What's Up With Your Friends?" video character bios
The Sopranos will retail for $99.95 and is released on 27th August. Friends will be released shortly after on 3rd September and will retail for a friendly $69.95. |
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| Director's Edition of Star Trek 2 (Region 1) at 12.45 on 20/05/02 |
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I haven't been around for the past week so region one news hasn't been updated. I will try and get up to date over the next day or so.
The first bit of news is that Paramount have released information about the new "Director's Edition" of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. This two disc set will feature the following extras:
2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer
English 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby surround tracks
New extended cut of the film
Audio commentary by director Nicholas Meyer and a text commentary by Michael Okuda
"The Captain's Log" exclusive new interviews with Meyer, actors William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Ricardo Montalban and writer and producer Harve Bennett,
"Designing Khan" featurette
"Visual Effects of Khan" featurette
Original 1982 interviews with DeForest Kelley, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy and Ricardo Montalban
Storyboard archive
Trailers
Quite impressive reading isn't it? The Wrath of Khan will be released on 6th August and will retail for $29.95. |
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