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DVD Slicks and Menus
Finally got around to scanning a few more images.
Here's DVD Slick Scans, and DVD Menu screen shots from
Kiss, The Human Body and Blue Murder
DVD Reviews
A few more from Cass.
DVD Station Update
We've finally managed to re-plenish stock for our entire Amaray Range AND
long last we have the DOUBLE TRANSPARENT AMARAY case as well!!!!!
(the same case used for Se7en and ID4)
For those of you who have been patiently waiting for your
Amarays and Snapper replacements, we'll be dispatching them over the next few days so most
of you should have them next week some time....thanks |
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The Birds Eye View
When The Universal Pictures press release came out a few weeks back for their September
DVD Lineup I was someone surprised to see Alfred Hitchcocks "The Birds" was
listed as a 1.33:1 Full Frame Version.
Theatrically it was released in 1.85:1 AND the recent USA Special Edition came in
Anamorphic Widescreen.
I thought maybe it was just a typo [as this DVD is to be included in the Hitchcock Boxset
#2] as there are a few other Full Framed Transfers in the boxset as well (as they were
shot in the 1.37:1 format)
Sadly, this is NOT a typo, so the region 4 version will be 1.33:1 Full Frame.
It Turns out Universal do NOT have an Anamorphic Widescreen Version of The Birds Available
in the PAL format. (Considering they recently made an NTSC transfer for their Region
1 special Edition this seems well kinda thoughtless of them not to make a New Anamorphic
PAL transfer at the same time, for the rest of the world... don't you agree?..then
again Universal on a whole show a lot of inconsistency with their Transfers, the PAL
version of Psycho is Anamorphic Widescreen..the region 1 version is not....The region 4
version of the Frighteners is 4x3 letterboxed whereas the region 1 IS Anamorphic, the list
goes on and on....).
As is the case with pretty much all the major Non USA Studios, they simply get what big
brother tells them they can have, hense the reason we get the UK censored-ish version of
Braveheart, and the slightly longer cut of The Rock, etc :(
These types of decisions (well at least the ones were we get less of a movie :) are quite
often the reason you hear about people sourcing their DVDs outside of Australia (I see on
the newsgroups that FOX's Upcoming Region 4 Big Trouble in Little China : 2 Disc
Edition DVD is the latest casualty. From what was NOT listed in their Recent press
release...many people are under the impression it ain't all that special, for it appears
to NOT include the commentary track OR the DTS audio track found on the region 1
version...well have to wait and see on this one though)
BTW An American Werewolf in London has been delayed until Early 2002 :(
STILL no PAL of mine Buddy!
Some rather interesting news on the Warner Region 4 NTSC DVD front today.
Warner's very prompt reply can be read below
To answer your enquiry, Ace Ventura
Pet Detective and Robin Hood Prince of Thieves will be released in Australia in the NTSC
format for the following reasons.
When the titles in question were
originally released in the US they were both multi-region coded [ed. Encoded with Region 1/4 for USA and Mexico respectively] however for the European [PAL] release they were
not coded for region 4. The cost to have the two titles coded for region 4 at this point
in time was not effective, so basically the decision came down to economics.
We will however be releasing both titles in PAL format next year.
So..this means two things.. 1) Ace Ventura
WILL be a 1.33:1 Transfer AND ....Robin Hood : Prince of Thieves will
be........a flipper!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
OH and I see I wasn't the only one who noticed the security commission warning message on the back of the BAIT
DVD. Mike D has All the
skinny on this one....and a Poll :)
Also, Here's a few Press Releases for Warner's
September/October Release
.....and Warner's November DVD Releases (we'll have the specs on these soon)
- Ace Ventura Pet Detective (NTSC
VERSION)
- Last of the Mohicans (NTSC VERSION)
- Robin Hood Prince of Thieves (NTSC
VERSION)
- Clint Eastwood - Dirty Harry
- American Masters: Clint Eastwood
- The Dead Pool
- Dirty Harry
- The Enforcer
- Magnum Force
- Sudden Impact
- Bronco Billy
- Outlaw Josey Wales
- Dr Zhivago
- Best of Friends box set
- Romeo Must Die (NEW PAL VERSION)
- Into the Arms of Strangers
Longer and MORE Lethal
While no one comes even close to Mr Lucas in the "let's see if we can
recycle this movie one more time" department. It still doesn't stop others from
trying with multiple Movie re-releases.
The normal trend seems to be a bare bones edition, followed by a director's cut special
edition series holographic logo boxset.... and Warner are set to release Lethal Weapon 1,
2 and 3 to DVD this September in "director's cuts" no less.
No tech specs are available at the moment, but we hope to have all the details soon.
In what can only be another attempt at irony from the BBFC in the UK, Warner released
Lethal Weapon 2 : The Director's Cut to VHS a little while back and well, AND the BBFC
demanded 31 seconds of nastiness be excised from this version so the film would pass with
an 18 certificate. (the same as our R18+ Rating. (actually I remember hearing that Warner
changed the title for this UK release to be Lethal Weapon 2 : The BBFC Director's Cut
...just so that it wouldn't be as misleading to the general public :) (okay okay so
I made that up...i gotta spice these editorials up somehow...jeez :))
While NOT on the Topic of DVD
Finally....concrete evidence that some people are truly off their rocker.(pretty darn
toot'n cool though :)
BTW We are having a special on our Double Brackley cases for the next week or so. |
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The Mummy Returns, Fully Preserved
We got word back From Columbia the other day, regarding the upcoming DVD release of The
Mummy Returns, as to whether the region 4 version would be the UK [theatrical]
Cut version (Given so many Universal DVDs are region 2/4 encoded). The good news, is
NO. The Region 4 Version of the Mummy Returns will be totally uncut!
(so we'll get to see Rachel Weiz's "knockout" performance in full :)
As to our other question.. "will our verison of the Mummy Returns feature
Dolby Surround EX/DTS ES mixes?" .the answer is sadly NO :(
The Dolby Website does in fact list this movie as coming to DVD with A Dolby Surround EX
track (silly me for thinking something like this could apply outside the USA! :)
Sounds Good to Me
DVD Angle get quite a few interviews
with industry techo's and general bigwigs. Here's two articles to peak your
curiousity.
and a couple of extracts from the Dolby Article
......the extra channel in a Surround EX
soundtrack will come along for the ride when movie soundtracks encoded with Dolby Digital
Surround EX are transferred to DVD-Video discs.
...........Every film released in Dolby Surround EX theatrically will remain so encoded
when it is transferred to DVD.
They're no PAL of mine Buddy!
After some of the flack Warner received from Region 4 DVD'ers when they
released Romeo Must Die in the NTSC region 4 instead of our Countries "normal"
PAL Television standard, I'm surprised to see they are continuing this trend by releasing
MORE NTSC region 4 DVDs to our shores.
(Romeo is finally getting re-released in the PAL format this November)
Two recent NTSC region 4 releases for Oz are Trial By Jury and Bait.
I was most concerned when i looked on the back cover of BAIT and saw a warning
message contained in it's own little Frame under the aspect ratio logo...which read
"if you are RENTING this particular DVD, please contact the Australian Securities
commision!!!!!" Huh?
But it doesn't stop there. Upcoming NTSC Region 4 DVD releases from
Warner Australia include Ace Ventura : Pet Detective, Last of the Mohicans and
Robin Hood : Prince Of Theives (incidentaly, the region 1 version
of Ace was 1.33:1 and Robin Hood was a.... Flipper.........hmmmmmmmmm)
To add more fuel to the fire, Warner released region 2 UK versions of Ace (in 1.85:1 no
less) and Robin Hood a few months back, and from what specs and reviews i've read, they're
PAL versions. double hmmmmmm.
We hope to have more on this shortly :)
PS Widescreen Review have
finally released their DTS trailers DVD...get in quick :)
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Infinifilm Downunder??
For a few months now, New Line Cinema in the USA (region 1) have released a handful of
films with the infinifilm
treatment.
In many ways it's just another marketing ploy to get people to buy the [infinifilm'd] DVD,
BUT it also a guarantee that it's a DVD loaded to the hilt with extras, and utilises some
of the technical hoo-har only available to DVD (Picture in Picture, Activating Subtitle,
and all sorts of goodies).
Roadshow Home Entertainment hold the distribution rights to
most New Line Cinema Films for Australia and New Zealand, and with this being the case,
there's been a few Region 4 DVD'ers wondering if Region 4 will get any infinifilm themed
DVDs.......
The Answer in short is a big YES!
There are a few catches to this though :( For a DVD
to be released to the region 4 Market under the Infinifilm banner, it MUST be a fully
fledged New Line Cinema release. The Upcoming Thirteen Days DVD from Roadshow will
NOT be an infinifilm
release as it was a co-production by both NLC & Beacon.
NLC only have distribution rights to "13" in the USA, whereas Beacon Hold the
rights to this film in Australia, to which Roadshow distribute films in Australia for
Beacon.
So no Infinifilm on this title :(
This is disappointing in some ways, but I think you'll be more than pleased with what
Roadshow are doing with the region 4 version of Thirteen Days (see below for more info)
At this stage, Roadshow is looking/hoping/preying :) their
first infinifilm
DVD will be Ted Demme's very well praised BLOW, starring Johnny Depp.
Unlike Thirteen Days, Blow was made in full by New Line, so this means it can be released
to DVD outside the USA with the fully licensed infinifilm features.
We'll know more with time on this one, as it's very much hot of the press.
Presidential Treatment for
Thirteen Days
As I mentioned Above Thirteen Days won't be released to the
Region 4 marketplace as an infinifilm,
BUT to make up for it, it's coming as a 2 disc set, LOADED with extras,
AND unlike the region 1 infinifilm
version, ours will include a DTS 5.1 track.
Given the region 1 version had the Film, AND all it's extras crammed on the 1 disc (and
there are tonnes of extras), I'd expect our movie version to knock it dead in the video
and audio department due to the increased disc space (so is to be encoded at a much higher
bitrate) for just the movie on the 1 disc.
You might even say it's a Bit Super, this DVD :)
Also coming From Roadshow
Roadshow have quite a lineup this year, with even MORE DVDs planned to
incorporate DTS 5.1 tracks.
(please note that titles and features may change on these titles)
Over the next few months the following DVD are expected to
include Dolby 5.1 AND DTS5.1 tracks :-
- Enemy at the Gates, Driven, 15 Minutes, Lost souls,
Thirteen days & last but certainly not least, Mad Max.
Other DVDs expected from Roadshow this year include :-
- Highlander : Endgame, The Wedding Planner,
Bamboozled (Spike Lee flick..shot on video), Exit Wounds,
Traffic, 3000 Miles to Graceland, Little Vampire, See Spot Run, Swordfish (with
an exclusive "Rove Live" interview), The Yards, Whipped, Chocolat,
Valentine..and one I've been dying for...Tombstone.
Tombstone deserves special mention.
This was planned as a Roadshow DVD release well over 3 years ago, when DVD was in it's
true infancy (and to be quite honest Roadshow weren't doing such a great job with their
DVDs by offering mostly Pan & Scan piccys with 2 channel sound :(
Oh how times change :)...Roadshow have done right by Tombstone on DVD by including an Anamorphic
Widescreen Transfer, AND a Dolby Digital 5.1 audio mix.
(the rest of the world only released it as 4x3 letterbox with 2 channel sound) I'm
told the 5.1 kicks some serious arse to!!..can't wait..it'll be out in a few months :))
You won't be Boogie-ing til Dawn :(
After we received a heap of specs for the upcoming Buena Vista DVDs, we
were informed that an error was made on said specs for The Special Edition release of From
Dusk Til Dawn.
Unlike the region 2 DVD release (which is obviously where the specs originated), our
region 4 version will NOT include the 90+ minute behind the scenes documentary Full Tilt Boogie..
(in fact ALL specs are a bit up in the air on this DVD release :(
BV do not hold the rights to the doco Australia. Last time I checked, ROADSHOW held
the rights, as they do for ALL Dimension/Miramax movies now. (Roadshow mustn't have
held the rights to the Dimension/Miramax films until after Dusk was released in 1996, and
Full Tilt was released sometime in 1997...bummer)
.
Support the Petition for Anamorphic ANGEL DVDs
Wednesday was a public Hol in Bris-Vegas for the Ekka (our show day :).
With the price of admission being some $18, I decided to veg at home, watch some
telly and surf the web. During my surfing I stumbled onto this great Porn...oh never
mind... :) I stumbled onto a petition for Supporting Anamorphic Widescreen DVDs of the
upcoming ANGEL DVD Season 1 Boxset.
It seems good 'ol Fox is planning on Pan And Scan Versions
of series 1 (heeeeello, didn't they take notice how pissed off region 2 and 4 DVD'ers
where when Warner released season 1 Sopranos in 4x3 AND 2 channel sound when the USA
release was 16x9 with DD5.1?.....jeez)
Series 4 and 5 of Buffy AND series 1 and 2 of Angel
where ALL shot in WIDESCREEN!! (to be ready for High Definition TV).
So if you'd like to at least attempt to get FOX to
reconsider their STUPID decision to release ANGEL in 4x3, then please sign the
petition...for us region 4 DVD'ers will no doubt be lumped with the same DVDs that get
released in region 2....
Since Wednesday arvo over 300 MORE people have signed the
petition since me...#1124 :)
(the total stands at 1435 signatures as this goes to press)
I'd also like to suggest that ALL region 4 DVD'ers put
some sort of Ident in their Signature, to say they are region 4 DVDer's ...just to let Fox
know this petition is getting out to the rest of the world, not just the UK.
September DVDelays for
Universal
From Universal :
Please be advised of the following changes to the SEPTEMBER Universal Pictures DVD
release schedule.
The release of the 2nd Hitchcock
Collection and single Hitchcock DVD's will be pushed back from 12th September to 26th
September (2 weeks later).
Highlander: 15th Anniversary Edition,
Oncer Were Warriors/What Becomes of The Broken Hearted Box Set and Turbulence 3 are still
on schedule for release on September 12 and Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles for September
26. |
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Dolby Stuff Runout
Due to shipping Policy Changes by Dolby USA, they no longer ship to Australia.
As a direct result WE are also unable to obtain any further Stock.
So once OUR current stock runs out, that's it for DVDown Under selling Dolby Stuff :(
We have only a couple of Dolby Demo DVDs left, so if you want one...you had get in quick.
Upcoming DVD Slicks and Menus
We've added a few DVD Menu shots from Upcoming Roadshow Films
Battlefield Earth, Where the Money is and a few others
Univeral Sept/Oct DVD Releases
September sees the release
of boxset #2 in the Hitchcock Collection
the following Movies are included
THE BIRDS* (1963) - FAMILY PLOT (1976) FRENZY (1972) TOPAZ (1969) TORN CURTAIN
(1966) MARNIE (1964) VERTIGO (1958)
.
The Birds was listed as being 4x3 Full Frame, which seems a bit odd, [but
not unlikely for DVD], as it was released Theatrically at 1.85:1 and the recent USA Spec
Ed, of said moofy, was Anamorphic Widescreen. We've asked universal about this and
should have an response soon.
Expected for release early Next Year, Highlander
has been bumped up to a much earlier release than we were initally told (this helps tie it
in to the 15th Anniversary of it's 1986 theatrical release :)
This one get the Anamorphic Widescreen treatment, with remixed Dolby 5.1 sound. This
should be quite a step-up from the Flyscreen looking letterboxed version released in the
USA a few years back. (damn that was a nasty transfer...certainly NOT one of THX's finest
moments in quality approved transfers).
Sadly our version appears to be missing the excellent commentary found on the region 1
DVD...small price to pay for a [hopefully] superior piccy.
Once Were Warrior's and the sequel, What
becomes of a Broken Hearted are being bundled together for a double DVD pack.
O.W.W is actually a Magna Pacific Title (scheduled for August). Both are
Widescreen, with Dolby 5.1 mixes and a healthy dose of extras.
October sees the release of two films that
first received ...gasp...RENTAL only...releases in Australia:(
Cast Away 2 Disc Spec Ed (as mentioned a short while back) and Meet
The Parents. Both are loaded with goodies (personally I feel they should
have been released loaded with goodies and made available on sell-thru first time around
as they are in the good old USA (AND with a DTS audio track)
Warner's Special Editions
Over the next few months Warner have a few very Special
Edition DVDs hititng our shores, Starting in a few weeks with the release of Ben-Hur.
(oh and the Super-duper-man 2 Disc Special Edition due out next
week...sweeeeeeet :)
If there's ever been a reason to buy a Widescreen TV, then Ben
Hur is it (not only for the famous Chariot race), but for the simple fact this
movie is coming to DVD with an Aspect Ratio of 2.70:1!!
Anyone with a 4x3 TV, mightn't like the idea that over 1/2 your TV screen will be masked
in black bars to retain the films full aspect ratio (c'mon you know you wanna upgrade :))
Shot in the late 50's when TV was taking over the world. Movie Studios began to
panic and this saw a truckload of films shot in 70mm (nearly all major films today are
shot in 35mm, which is technically 1/4 of the size of 70mm film...biiiiig difference in
quality...but no way near as expensive either :)
Another 70mm shot movie is 2001 .This October sees the Special
Edition release of this landmark film, which was recently re-released to theatres with
suped up 5.1 audio. (it sounded fabulous :)
Enter The Dragon is also coming out in
September as a Special Edition.
Released over 25 years ago, the violence in Enter the Dragon was, and still is pretty
potent and was one film that was heavily put under the knife around the world.
Thankfully it comes to DVD in it's uncut form.
It was passed by the UK BBFC this year in it's full length,
and with a few minutes of additional footage. There is a very interesting article on the
censoring of this film on their Website
BTW The Fugitive Spec Edition is currently scheduled for a
region 4 release next year :(.
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Three From Cass
Cass has reviewed a few older DVD releases, and the rental only version of Meet the
Parents.
PS. Columbia are planning on releasing So I Married
An Axe Murderer in Early 2002 :). |
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It'll take ya Se7en Days to get thru it!!
Totally exhausted and lost for words, here's Roadshow BEST Effort in DVD making this year
with Se7en :SE.
I'm going to bed! :(
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One Hell of a DVD
Hitting DVD in a few days is the latest Adam Sandler Vehicle, Little Nicky.
Unlike the region 1 Version, Our region 4 Version includes a DTS5.1 audio track...
The Bandages Come off Again, this October
It seems as though some movies are being released much quicker to Rental and retails.
Having only just finished its Theatrical Run, The Mummy Returns is set to unravel itself
on DVD this October in a 2 Disc Super Duper Special Edition with 5.1 audio in Dolby &
DTS!!
There are two things that we are chasing up on , regarding
this DVD release..
1) Will our DVD version be Cut or Uncut (seeing as this
will most likely be a region 2/4 DVD and for it's UK theatrical Run there was some
censoring done by Universal Pictures in order for the film to pass with a Rating 12
Certificate :(
2) Will the Dolby Track be Dolby Surround EX
& will the DTS track be DTS ES? (If you drop by the Dolby EX page
at Dolby.com, The Mummy Returns has been included in their Dolby EX listings...The
page indicates Theatrically this movie wasn't in EX, but for DVD it will be..thought it's Not
Available at the moment)
Also coming from CTHE
Columbia also have a few oldies and a few news coming to DVD this October
3rd October Releases
The Gift, Broken Hearts Club, In the Name of the Father, The Boxer, Beautful Creatures
17th October Releases
Finding Forrester, Dead Sexy, A Soldier's Story, Suspect, The Blob
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>> july 2001 news >> |
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