HEY KIDS!!!Here’s a pantload of new DVD news and upcoming releases!!What could possibly be so important? You ask…How about PETER SELLERS ON THE MUPPET SHOWHow about news about… SUPERMAN!!X-FILES!!….DARK ANGEL!!….CSI!!TRUFFAUT!!!………..FELLINI!!!A WHOLE LOTTA CLASSICS!!!….DISNEY DROPS TWO MORE!!!Read on, true believers… First up today, from our pals at Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment, comes the anxiously awaited second set of classic MUPPET SHOW discs. BEST OF THE MUPPET SHOW VOLUME 3 will feature 3 episodes with guest stars JOHN CLEESE, PETER SELLERS and DUDLEY MOORE. VOLUME 4 will feature HARRY BELAFONTE, LINDA RONSTADT and JOHN ‘Sunshine on my goddamn shoulders’ DENVER. Both Discs will feature extras including “Muppetisms”, “Movie Mania” and “From The Archives”. The episodes are presented in their original Fullscreen ratio with mono sound. It’s time to get things started on March 4.CTHE also has the Greg Kinnear biopic of “Hogan’s Heroes” star Bob Crane, AUTOFOCUS ready to street on March 18. This critically acclaimed drama features Kinnear backed up by a solid cast including Willem Dafoe, Rita Wilson, Maria Bello, Ron Leibman and Kurt Fuller. Directed by Paul Schrader, this one will be presented as a “Special Edition” package, with 5 deleted scenes, a making-of featurette, the “Murder in Scottsdale” featurette on the real crime behind the story, 3 audio commentaries, trailers and weblinks. 5.1 DDS sound and Anamorphic Widescreen.CTHE also has the 1992 competitive sailing epic WIND on deck for March 11. Mathew Modine and Jennifer Grey costar with Cliff Robertson for acclaimed director Carroll Ballard in the story of a shamed American sailor who quests to regain the America’s Cup by sailing one last time against an arrogant Australian champ. Dolby Surround and a Widescreen transfer are supplemented by trailers.Universal Studios Home Video has announced some deets on its April 1 release of the Hannibal Lecter prequel (and MANHUNTER redux) RED DRAGON. There will be 3 different available versions. A single disc release will be available in Anamorphic Widescreen or Fullscreen, with 5.1 DDS sound and extras including commentary, deleted scenes, serial killer profiles by expert John Douglas, filmographies, trailers and production notes, as well as a featurette entitled “Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter”. Also look for DVD-Rom and a “Total Axess” link. A 2-disc “Special Edition” will also be available with the full single disc AW release, along with a second disc containing, among other things, Brett Ratner’s Video Diary, 2 more featurettes and a little something on Ralph Fiennes’ immense tattoo, as well as storyboards and Brett Ratner’s first NYU Film School project.Also April 1, from Universal, is the recently unseen CHARADE remake THE TRUTH ABOUT CHARLIE starring Thandie Newton and a perplexed Mark Wahlberg. 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen with 5.1 DDS and DTS audio. This is a two-discer and will have audio commentary from director Jonathan Demme, a making-of featurette, deleted scenes and DVD-Rom… Fox Home Entertainment has announced the April 6 release of LOVE IS A MANY-SPLENDORED THING as the next entry in it’s new Fox Classics series. This classic from director Henry King, stars William Holden and Jennifer Jones in the story of an American War correspondent and the beautiful Korean doctor he falls for. This one is stacked with a 2.55:1 AW transfer, 2.0 Surround and extras including commentaries, a William Holden biography, trailers and the ever-popular MovieTone Newsreels.Fox continues their commitment to the classics with the May 20 release of 8 new entries in the Fox War Classics line. All are presented in their original aspect ratios with remastered sound and extras including featurettes and MovieTone newsreel clips. THE BLUE MAX, THE ENEMY BELOW, THE DESERT FOX, HEAVEN KNOWS MR. ALLISON, 13 RUE MADELEINE and the inimitable SINK THE BISMARK. These movies are a definite must for anyone into WW2 pics, and anyone who loves the classic action-dramas.May 13 is the day that “The Truth” returns with THE X FILES: COMPLETE SEVENTH SEASON. As with previous seasons, this will be a six-disc set featuring all eps from Season 7 in the original 1.78:1 AW ratio, with 2.0 Surround audio and a multitude of extras. Lots of episode commentaries from creators, directors and stars. 11 deleted scenes, “The Truth About Season 7”, another featurette on the season, 13 FX featurettes, TV spots and a DVD-Rom game are also included.Also from the good folks at Fox comes the long-awaited (by some) release of DARK ANGEL: SEASON 1. This is also a six-disc all-inclusive set, featuring episode commentaries, 3 featurettes, audition tapes, gag reel, and even a trailer for a DARK ANGEL video game.Also entering the TV DVD arena, on April 29 is a SON OF THE BEACH 3-disc set. The infamous cable show will be represented by several ‘outrageous’ episodes, commentaries, featurettes, outtakes, montages and trailers. Hoorah!Creative Design Art has picked up licenses on three more flicks to release monstrous “Box sets”. OCEAN’S ELEVEN (Clooney, not Sinatra), SUPERMAN THE MOVIE and AMADEUS: THE DIRECTOR’S CUT. As usual, the DVD itself is no different than what you can pick up at your friendly neighborhood Wal Mart. What CDA adds is a ‘collectible box’, CD soundtrack, 35mm Film senitype, collectible booklet, and a mail-in offer for a reprint of the theatrical poster. SUPERMAN also comes with a set of 8 reprinted lobby cards, 6 black and white stills and a one-sheet poster. If those kind of collectible items stoke your flames, look for all three to be available February 25. $60 US for OCEAN’S ELEVEN and AMADEUS, $80 US for SUPES…Buena Vista Home Entertainment has announced an April 29 release date for the recent Box Office disappointment TREASURE PLANET. Specs have yet to be announced but look for advertising to be absolutely everywhere very, very soon.Also in Disney news – look for TOY STORY and TOY STORY 2 to soon join the ranks of the unavailable in Walt’s Vault. Both films will go into a moratorium starting April 15, and then once current copies are gone… they’re really gone…Paramount Home Entertainment has also recommitted to their ‘Classics’ line with the recent announcement of a whole mess a’ western classics. April will see The Mount release BLOODY SUNDAY, COPPER CANYON, NEVADA SMITH, THE CARPETBAGGERS, THE LONELY MAN, BIG JAKE, RIO LOBO, A MAN CALLED HORSE, Dustin Hoffman in LITTLE BIG MAN, and one of my faves, the Burt Lancaster/Kirk Douglas version of GUNFIGHT AT THE O.K. CORRAL. Also look for Steve McQueens racing flick LE MANS to join in the fun…Also from Paramount comes news on CSI: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON. Somehow, despite the fact that the show is broadcast every week in 1.78:1 Hi Def Anamorphic Widescreen, and with Surround stereo, the DVD release will be cropped to Fullscreen and feature only 2.0 stereo sound. What gives, ‘Mounties?Finally for today, Criterion has announced a couple of new acquisitions coming your way. April 29 will see the debut of the Big C’s DVD of THE ADVENTURES OF ANTOINE DOINEL, a 5-disc collection of Francois Truffaut films featuring the titular character (often said to be based on Truffaut himself). Films featured in the set will be THE 400 BLOWS, STOLEN KISSES, BED AND BOARD, LOVE ON THE RUN and the short film ANTOINE AND COLLETE. The set will also contain interviews, documentaries, newsreel footage and archival footage, as well as trailers.Then, also on April 29, comes Federico Fellini’s THE WHITE SHEIK. Presented in a remastered 1.37:1 aspect ratio with the original mono soundtrack in Italian (English subtitles), extras will include trailers and interviews.Don’t forget!! EYECRAVEDVD is still looking for Reviewers – No experience necessary, just a good attitude, a nice system, and an unnatural love of Movies and DVD’s!!!CLICK HERE SUZY!!
