Wednesday, 30th August 2000

Scream Box Set now a 4 DVD'er
Many SCREAM fans out there will be pleased to know that the 4th Disc (containing only special features) is being included in the planned Roadshow/Magna SCREAM Box Set, tentatively due for release October 2000.  The First Scream was initially released through Becker (Polygram) and as such is now owned for Video by Magna Pacific as they bought them out earlier this year.  Not long after the release of Scream, Roadshow Signed a deal with Miramax giving them Film and Video Distribution rights for Australia, so SCREAM 2 & 3 come from Roadshow (SCREAM 3, comes out this October and is loaded with goodies).  No Details or specs have been made available for Scream 1 as yet, but Scream 2 is the same single release (16x9, DD5.1 with a few extras) and SCREAM 3 (is 16x9, DD5.1 with a tonne of extras).

Cass's Weekend Reviews
Even after a Huge battle with Telstra over get a phone installation, Cass still managed to whip up a few reviews and e-mail them to the mother ship in Bris-Vegas.   (Just today She got a phoneline & Internet back after going Cold turkey for far too long)  Here's her reviews on  Snow Yawning on Cedars, Sommersby, and the Sixth Sense

Virus and Man on the Moon Specs
Within the next month, Magna Pacific are set to release the Jamie Lee Curtis Vehicle Virus to DVD, as well as the excellent Man on the Moon, with Jim Carrey as Andy Kaufman.

While a very large majority of DVDs being released in OZ are Widescreen (with a very high percentage of them being Anamorphic Widescreen) Magna are [curiously] releasing these 2 DVDs as 4x3 Panned and Scanned  While we may be denied these DVDs with their Original Aspect Ratios (both Scope, 2.35:1) They are coming loaded with Extras on DVD-9 (RSDL) DVDS!
Virus, which never received a theatrical run in OZ (you just gotta see the movie to see why it tanked o.s.!) includes a Dolby Digital 5.1 track, Featurette, Commentary Track, Cast and Crew Bios and Theatrical Trailer, while Man on the Moon comes with a DD5.1 track, Spot Light on Location (Featurette?), Deleted Scenes, Music Video, and an Easter Egg.

BPAY Coming Soon to DVDown Under
We've just setup a B-Pay account and it'll be going on line shortly!! So for anyone shopping at our DVD Station, you'll be able to pay through B-Pay (via phone or Internet banking) using your Savings and Cheque accounts as well as Credit Cards  (if anyone is wishing to Purchase anything within the next few days, please drop us a line and we can give you our B-Pay Details)
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Catching up on Reviews
Ya take a month off, and next thing you know you're up to your ears in reviews!  :)

Starting things off are five DVDs that are all terrific in one way or another  Muppets From Space (can't get sick of watching this one!), Life is Beautiful,  Walking With Dinosaurs, Cider House Rules and Last but not least Sleepy Hollow. and please welcome Ezy DVD as our new Co-sponsor for DVDown Under Reviews.

Pioneer 717 Firmware Upgrade
Well after many month of procrastinating I thought it was about time I up and got my Pioneer 717 modded to fix that god awful audio sync delay many, many pioneer players are plagued with.  While up until a short time ago my player was still under warranty I wasn't about to have it fixed by Pioneer themselves and end up with a region 4 only player.  So I posted it down (registered mail) to the DVD Shop and had them do it for me!  Now fitted with Firmware 2.284/4, I can say that it has most certainly reduced the audio delay, but is not 100% corrected.  Even So, I am most pleased with the results and can easily recommend this fix to anyone who gets pissed off by the sync-ing problem. 
If you pop over to Mike D's site and check out the Audio Sync Page.  You'll find you can get this mod at a cheaper price through a DVD Shop/Mike D Special Deal (so check it out).  The only downside to this mod is that you will be required to send you entire player down to them and will loose it for a good part of a week (hence my delay :) .

It'll cost about 15 bucks or so each way (at least from Bris-Vegas).and Registered Post is a good way to go as it means you can track the box if needed and someone must sign for it at the other end. 

Press Releases
Here's a Whole bunch of press Releases from Columbia and Roadshow..enjoy

- Press Releases -

The Hurricane on DVD

Cider House on DVD

Ripley on DVD

Heads Will Roll on DVD

Columbia DVD Web Sites
CTHV have started two more web sites for upcoming DVDs.  Men In Black, and Stuart Little Click HERE for the Press Release
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Take our DTS v's Dolby Digital POLL

BUFFY on DVD, and MORE TV Shows
It seems FOX are moving into DVD in a big way!!!  Rental only releases (not my most favourite of DVD topics! ), special Edition movie Box Set's ('al'ah the Alien Trilogy) and now TV series Boxsets!
On the 25th November 2000 Fox intend on releasing THREE of their beloved TV shows to DVD.  X-Files comes on 7 DVDS for the entire season 1 episodes.  Stargate : SG1 season 1 comes in 2 volumes, and last, but certainly not least (& my personal favourite) is Season 1 of Buffy The Vampire Slayer!!!!
No Prices or additional features have been announced for these great box sets. 

Also out in October and November will be Fight Club (retail version), BraveHeart (2disc set), Edward Scissor Hands (10th Anniversary Edition),the Special Edition Of Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein! (oh and the Home Alone Trilogy Boxset!. the first 2 movies are also available Separately!), PLUS The Wog Boy, Planet of the Apes, ID4 Spec Ed. and The Abyss Spec Extended Edition

Missing Reviews
Before Moving interstate, Cass whipped up a few reviews and I sorta kinda lost them...temporarily!:)

Mickey Blue Eyes & Runaway Ride

Whole Nine Yards Menus
Though not coming out for a few months yet Roadshow have sent us menu shots of this quirky little film >> To the Slicks Page!

M.I.B DVD Specs
Without a doubt, the upcoming Simultaneous worldwide DVD Release of Men In Black is going to the hottest DVD to hit the streets. 
In region 1 land...everyman and his dog is no doubt going to buy Artisan's shithot T2 : Ultimate DVD. However,  a few days later M.I.B comes out. The Question is...which DVD will win out?  It's gonna be a close call, that's for sure as both DVDs are jam-packed with goodies.(and both on DVD-18's 'cause there is sooo much stuff)

So what's on MIB?  Well firstly there are TWO Versions of MIB DVD's being Released. Your basic old Deluxe Collector's Edition :) with more than enough extras to satisfy even the most critical, on what is worthy of the "Deluxe Label"  (totalling some 9 hours worth to play with!!) OR the super-duper Limited Edition which is soooo overloaded with goodies it's taking 2 separate DVDs!!! One DVD is Double sided Dual Layered (the first DVD-18 for OZ, AND the 2nd DVD is single Sided Dual Layered!  So you've got 6 layers of DVD!!!

Here's what's on BOTH the MIB DVDs, due out 5th September

M.I.B Deluxe Collector's Edition(RRP approx $39.95)
1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen picture with English, German and French Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio Tracks, plus the usual tonne of subtitled languages

• More than 9 hours of extra value
• Animated menus
• Audio & "live" video commentary by director Barry Sonnenfeld & star Tommy Lee Jones
• All-new behind-the-scenes documentary "Metamorphosis of MEN IN BLACK" (22 minutes)
• Original behind- the scenes Featurette on the making of the movie
• Three storyboard to final film comparisons
• Five extended & alternate scenes
• Music video "Men in Black" performed by Will Smith
• Original movie trailers
• Character animation studies with director introduction (uses ANGLES)
• "Tunnel scene" deconstruction with introduction & optional commentary by the ILM creative team (uses ANGLES)
• Bonus trailers for Stuart Little and Men in Black II
• Storyboard photo gallery
• Production photo gallery
• Talent Profiles

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