Site created 12/15/97.		page created: 7/9/99 The Buzz (Page 2) back to Page 1 Universal is perhaps the busiest Hollywood studio, and has some of the coolest upcoming DVD product as well. They have a number of long-awaited DVD titles coming out later this year, starting with dual full frame and anamorphic widescreen versions of The Mummy (1999). Both discs will SRP for $29.98, and will include: full-length director's commentary, an original documentary (Building a Better Mummy), an educational look at ancient Egypt and Egyptian mythology (Egyptology 101), the ability to view a major action sequence in various stages of development, deleted scenes, Jerry Goldsmith's isolated score, trailers for The Mummy, For the Love of the Game and The End of Days, and several DVD-Rom features (an interactive game, cast & crew bios, trivia, web links, postcards and screen savers). Both versions street on September 28th. In addition to The Mummy, the first of Universal's classic horror DVDs, Frankenstein, will street on August 17th (SRP $29.98). The disc will include audio commentary, production notes, talent bios, the original theatrical trailer, a documentary and DVD-Rom features. Collector's Edition DVDs of both EDtv and Grace of My Heart, and a DTS version of Virus, will arrive in stores on August 17th as well (SRP for each is $34.98). EDtv will include production notes, a trailer, a documentary, deleted scenes, audio commentary, outtakes, the soundtrack, DVD-Rom features and more. Grace of My Heart will have production notes, a trailer, a documentary, audio commentary, a screen saver, DVD-Rom features, and more. In honor of the 100th birthday of director Alfred Hitchcock, Universal is releasing a 3-disc collection of his works on DVD. The Alfred Hitchcock Collection will include repackaged versions of Vertigo and Psycho, as well as Alfred Hitchcock Presents, a compilation of 4 short films: Lamb to the Slaughter, The Case of Mr. Pelham, Banquo's Chair, and Back for Christmas. The set will street on August 3rd, for $74.98 SRP. New Line is preparing their Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me DVD for November. The disc will feature TONS of extras, including a full-length commentary track. Look for the first use of multi-angle on the studio's Detroit Rock City DVD, later this year. More of director John Waters' films will find their way to DVD next year, and there is a Platinum Series DVD re-release of David Fincher's Seven in the works. But the big story at VSDA, is their upcoming The Nightmare on Elm Street Collection, which streets on September 9th ($129.98 SRP). You will get all SEVEN films in the boxed set, and a specially created 8th DVD disc, called The Nightmare Series Encyclopedia. The set also includes a slipcase for the entire collection, and a 36-page booklet with production notes, photos and essays. The original Nightmare will also be available separately for $24.98, but the rest of the series will only be available in the set until sometime next year. Each DVD in the series features "Jump to a Nightmare" scene selections, fully animated menu screens with music, trailers, and cast and crew bios taken from the original theatrical press kits. All are in digitally remastered, anamorphic widescreen. I'm told the discs will feature very cool, Myst-like, interactive menu screens. The original Nightmare and Wes Craven's New Nightmare also feature full-length commentaries with Craven and others, a 3D sequence, and two pairs of 3D glasses (for use on 3D film scenes, and animated menus). DVD-ROM contents on each disc include the original screenplay (you can watch the film, while scrolling through the script text), trivia, updated bios, web links, and a Dream World Trivia Game. The Encyclopedia disc is packed with extras too numerous to list completely here, but including a documentary, games, interviews with all of the directors in the series, music videos, footage of Freddy's stint as a guest VJ on MTV, and tons more. A&E is getting ready to really blow people away with a ton of new British TV series episodes. Following fast on the heals of their terrific Avengers '67 set of 8 discs (in 4 sets), the network is prepping 4 more sets of the classic series, featuring 4 discs of Avengers '65 episodes (in 2 sets), and 4 MORE discs of Avengers '66 episodes (also in 2 sets)! Each set of 2 discs SRPs for $44.95 (street date August 31st). Most of the disc have 3 episodes each, except 2 of them, which have 4 (for a total of 26 episodes in all). And guess what Monty Python fans? VSDA brought us all a very cool surprise... ... MORE Monty Python's Flying Circus episodes! The ENTIRE second season of the series is being released this fall, as well as the ENTIRE first season (which we already knew about). Monty Python, Season 1 (sets 1 & 2) streets on September 28th. Monty Python, Season 2 (sets 3 & 4) streets on November 16th. Each set SRPs for $44.95 (single discs are available for $24.96 each). Each disc contains 3 episodes (except discs 4 and 8, which have 4 episodes each). There are 8 individual discs altogether, for a total of 26 episodes in all! Now that's better than a dead parrot any day... wink, wink, nudge, nudge! There's not a great deal in the way of major DVD announcements from either Columbia TriStar, or Warner Home Video, but we did manage to get some new artwork for you to take a look at. Columbia is gearing up for Sense and Sensibility on August 24th, and The 13th Floor on September 21st. There was no word on The Matrix, or Wild Wild West, but Warner did reveal that they're releasing a remastered Wizard of Oz on October 19th (recently acquired from MGM), with TONS of extras. The DVD will include a newly restored film transfer, new Dolby Digital 5.1 sound (plus the original mono soundtrack), a documentary hosted by Angela Lansbury, interviews with Ray Bolger, Margaret Hamilton and Jack Haley, unseen trailers, outtakes from the original recording sessions (including Buddy Ebsen as The Tin Man), photo galleries, production art and lots more. The DVD will also be available in a special Deluxe gift package, which will include the original script reproduction, rare still photographs, and theatrical posters (no word on price). Warner is also expected to release a DVD of South Park Holiday Episodes on October 12 ($19.98 SRP). No word on more of the regular episode volumes. MGM and Buena Vista were not exhibiting this year on the show floor, and Buena Vista has had little to announce thus far. MGM is prepping DVD versions of Child's Play, The Dark Half, and Monkey Shines (all $24.98 SRP), and a Phantasm: Special Edition (SRP $34.98), all for a September 28th release. Phantasm will include extra footage, director's commentary, ten minutes of deleted scenes, trailers and TV spots, behind-the-scenes footage and more. The studio is re-releasing Four Weddings and a Funeral on September 7th ($24.98, newly acquired from Polygram). And a Yellow Submarine: Special Edition is expected on September 14th ($29.98 SRP), with interviews, Hey Bulldog animated song (never-before-available), newly remastered widescreen picture, audio commentary, 5.1 audio, and lots more. Finally, Image Entertainment is preparing two exciting new IMAX DVD releases, very similar in content and quality to their Super Speedway release (we can't spill the titles yet, but word is that one features a Sting soundtrack, and another is rodent infested - good clues). One of Image's forthcoming DVD releases is expected to feature audio in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1, AND possibly even DVD-Audio format as well. And Image just made a major deal with content-owner Wade Williams, for the rights to distribute digitally remastered DVD versions of more than 40 cool titles, including some old sci-fi TV stuff, and the entire Ed Wood collection (think Plan 9 from Outer Space, baby!). Look for them later this year, and well into 2000. back to VSDA '99 menu
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