Universal has announced that the Hulk (2003) will be released on October
28th. There will be both a P&S as well as an anamorphic widescreen version
available. Both are currently slated for Dolby 5.1 audio. Among the extras
announced are deleted scenes, "Captured Fury" - various illustrators from
around the world, each trained in a different animation style, create a
scene from the movie in comic book form, Superhero Revealed: The Anatomy of
the Hulk -3D ILM-developed Hulk model that can be manipulated through the
viewer's remote control. Special features relating to the Hulk's
extraordinary strength, speed and size. Clicking on various body parts
launch pop-up comic book like bubbles that invite the audience to watch
small featurettes of scenes. Evolution of The Hulk - From the first
metamorphosis of Bruce Banner into the Hulk on the pages of comic books, to
his on-screen metamorphosis, dig deep into he production and technology that
have brought the Hulk to life for this feature. Hulk Cam - optional flashing
icons during the movie playback with behind-the-scenes footage relating to
the current scene. The Incredible Ang Lee - A tribute to Ang Lee's
all-encompassing hands-on directing style. The Making of The Hulk -
documentary featuring special affects team members, stunt coordinators, and
other crew members. Audio commentary with Director Ang Lee. The Dog Fight
(making-of-featurette). The full screen version is UPC 025192307522,
widescreen 025192248924. The suggested cost is $26.98.
On November 4th Warner Brothers have some classic older films, Each will
cost $19.98. Included are Dark Passage, High Sierra, They Drive By Night and
To Have and Have Not. Also from the WB are Dr. Seuss: The Best of (Horton
Hatches the Egg / The Butter Battle Book / Daisy Head Mayzie) and In Search
of Dr. Seuss on November 11th. Beast from 20,000 Fathom, Black Scorpion and
Valley of the Gwangi for October 21st and Lon Chaney Collection on October
28 featuring not only the documentary but three of his works The Ace of
Hearts, Laugh, Clown, Laugh and The Unknown.
From Buena Vista on November 11th: Eloise At The Plaza, Music Man (the 2002
TV version) and Ultimate Musical Movies (Annie / Cinderella / Music Man).
Spanish comedy star Cantinflas is featured by Columbia/TriStar on October
7th. El Analfabeto, El Bolero De Raquel, El Padrecito and Su Excelencia will
street, each with subtitles costing $19.95. YOu can also opt for the four
pack for $70.95.
The modern circus comes to town with Columbia's October 7th release of
Cirque Du Soleil: Alegria and Cirque Du Soleil: Varekai. The initial
specifications indicate no 5.1 audio or anamorphic video but Cirque titles
have been known to change specs suddenly. Each goes for $28.96.
Sanford And Son: The Complete 3rd Season is being released by Columbia on
October 7th.
Also on October 7th from Columbia are Seeing Double, Cromwell, Man Without A
Past, Hollywood Homicide and Another Meltdown.
Music for a variety of tastes is due out from Naxos on August 19th. Most of
the technical specs seem fairly good with several titles providing 5.1, DTS
and anamorphic video. Included are Raw Punk Vol. 1: More Bollocks, Raw Punk
Vol. 2: Even More Bollocks, Giovanni Paisiello: Nina, Joint Concert In Tel
Aviv, Giacomo Puccini: Turandot, Pure Ambience: Therapeutic Temple,
Prokofiev: Romeo And Juliet, Sweet: Here And Now and Merry Widow.
Paramount has some decisions and revisions that a moment will reverse. The
Italian Job (1969) which originally was set for August 15th with a UPC of
097360682847 has been cancelled. It is now being packaged with the 2003
version in Italian Job (1969 / 2003) UPC 097360507140 set for October 21st.
On that date you can also get the 2003 by itself. The two pack is listed for
$48.95 with $29.95 for the new version. The new version is listed for 5.1
audio and anamorphic video.
Three new announcements from Criterion. On October 7th they have Tokyo Story
(Criterion). Listed as extras are 2-Disc Set; New high-definition digital
transfer, with restored image and sound; Audio commentary by Ozu-film
scholar David Desser, editor of Ozu's Tokyo Story; I Lived, But...: (1983) a
two-hour documentary about the life and career of Ozu, featuring former
assistant Shohei Imamura, critics Donald Richie and Tadao Sato, actors
Chishu Ryu, Mariko Okada, Haruko Sugimura, and many more; Talking with Ozu:
a 30-minute tribute to Yasujiro Ozu featuring reflections from directors
Stanley Kwan, Aki Kurasmaki, Claire Denis, Lindsay Anderson, Paul Schrader,
Wim Wenders, and Hou Hsiao-Hsien; Original theatrical trailer; New essay by
David Bordwell, author of Ozu and the Poetics of Cinema; New and improved
English subtitle translation.
Criterion has Schizopolis (Criterion) on October 14th with: New
high-definition digital transfer, approved by director Steven Soderbergh and
enhanced for widescreen televisions; Two audio commentaries: Steven
Soderbergh interviewed by Steven Soderbergh, producer John Hardy, actor and
casting director David Jensen, production sound mixer Paul Ledford, and
actor Michael Malone; Never-before-seen deleted scenes; Original theatrical
trailer; New essay by Village Voice critic Dennis Lim; English subtitles for
the deaf and hearing impaired.
Finally, to round things off also from Criterion on October 14th is Le
Cercle Rouge (Criterion) with 2-Disc set; Excerpts from Cinéastes de notres
temps; Jean-Pierre Melville (portrait en 9 poses), a 1970 documentary on
Melville's career; New video interview with Melville friend and editor of
Melville on Melville, Rui Nogueira; New video interview with Le Cercle Rouge
assistant director Bernard Stora; 30 minutes of rare on-set footage
featuring interviews with director Jean-Pierre Melville, and stars Alain
Delon, Yves Montand, and André Bourvil; French television interview footage
with Melville and Delon; Original theatrical trailer; 2002 theatrical
re-release trailer; Poster gallery; behind-the-scenes photos, and publicity
photos; New essays by film critics Michael Sragow and Chris Fujiwara, plus
an introduction from filmmaker John Woo; Excerpts from Rui Nogueira's book
Melville on Melville regarding Le Cercle Rouge.
Stop by for a complete downloadable information list of all region one DVDs
in several formats as well as daily changes. The official list now
features30,856 titles with 227 additions or changes and 573 Pre-Release
announcements. The All Titles list has 31,429 titles. Recent releases
include: Last Week 242, This Week 210 and Next Week 194 titles.
Featured review this week is Daredevil, previews of Them, and Chicago DVDs.
Recent film reviews include May, Phone Booth, Gangs of New York, It Came
From Beneath the Sea, Children of Dune, The Hulk Original TV Pilot, Harry
Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, , Killing Me Softly, Real Women Have
Curves, The Day the Earth Stood Still , Invaders From Mars (1953), Usual
Suspects and Gormenghast . Coming titles listed before all the specs are in
can be found in a new list, http://www.hometheaterinfo.com/pre-releases.htm
Updated lists for discontinued, cancelled, postponed and rescheduled titles
as well as lists for DTS, ES/EX and Superbit titles. UPC numbers and
original release dates now being added to the database. There is also a
greatly expanded list of titles that were rescheduled or reissued. Search
function for the database, (now including UPC search) complements of site
partner and friend, Michael's Movie Mayhem
(http://kazart.com/mec/DVDList2.html) and DVDLister.
Updates to the DVD database, including release specs usually made twice
daily.
Please stop by and visit.
Thank you.
--
Doug MacLean
http://www.hometheaterinfo.com
