Loving A Spy
Attention, fans of uber-agent Sydney Bristow! Mark September 2nd on your calendar, for that is the top secret date when Buena Vista Home Entertainment will release Alias: The Complete First Season. This six-disc set features the entire first season lineup, plus plenty of extras: audio commentaries on select episodes (TBA), deleted scenes, a production diary on the pilot, the “A Mission Around The World” featurette, “Marshall Finkman’s Gadget Gallery,” audition footage, and season 2 and 3 previews. Alas, despite being broadcast in HD, the information announced on the transfers is that they will be full frame only, along with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround tracks. (Stay tuned for an update.) Retail is $69.95.
Buena Vista has also just announced the July 22nd arrival of Felicity: The Complete Second Season. This one also features full screen transfers and Dolby 2.0 surround tracks, plus audio commentaries by the series creators on select episodes, the never-before-seen half-hour pilot presentation, and cast audition footage. Retail is $59.95.
For you action fans, Buena Vista will debut the hit sequel Shanghai Knights on July 22nd. Presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, extras include two audio commentaries with director David Dobkin and screenwriters Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, deleted scenes, the “Fight Manual” and “Action Overload” featurettes, and trailers Retail is $29.95.
Want more big sequels? How about The Santa Clause 2, which will be available in separate anamorphic widescreen and full screen editions on November 18th. Extras include audio commentary by stars Tim Allen and Spencer Breslin, the “Naughty And Nice” interactive game, the “Tour the North Pole” and “Special Effects” featurettes, additional interviews, deleted scenes, a gag reel, trailers and ROM extras including E-Cards. Retail is $29.95.
For the family crowd, Disney has just revealed the full specs for the recent theatrical release The Jungle Book 2, which makes its way to DVD on June 10th. This one comes complete with a 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround tracks, deleted scenes, the “Mowgli’s Jungle Ruins Maze” interactive game, “The Legacy Of The Jungle Book” featurette, and three music videos: “I Wanna Be Like You” music video by Smash Mouth; “W-I-L-D” music video; “Jungle Rhythm” music video. From the direct-to-video department we have George of the Jungle 2, streeting on October 21st. This one is also presented in 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer and Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1, with extras including deleted scenes with director commentary, the “George Of The Jungle 2: Behind-The-Scenes” featurette, “Jungle Bungles” bloopers and sneak peeks. Next we have the Roberto Benigni’s remake of Pinocchio, which was a huge bust this past fall at the box office. This one streets on July 15th and features a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer and Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround tracks, plus minimal extras: just “The Voices Of Pinocchio: Creating The English Dubbed Version” featurette and trailers. Retail is $29.95 each.
Last but certainly not least we have a new two-discs special edition of the 1959 classic Sleeping Beauty, arriving on September 9th. This perennial favorite comes complete with a new 2.20:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer and Dolby Digital 5.1 remix, and tons of extras. Supplements include the “Once Upon A Dream: The Making Of Sleeping Beauty,” “The Design” featurettes, the “Sleeping Beauty 3-D Virtual Galleries,” various story reels, the “Helene Stanley Dance Reference” footage, additional sections with featurettes on “The Music,” “The Restoration,” a “Widescreen-to-Fullscreen Comparison,” the TV show excerpt “The Peter Tchaikovsky Story” from the 1959 “Disneyland” program, a “Grand Canyon” short film, the “Four Artists Paint One Tree” special hosted by Walt Disney, two interactive games “Rescue Aurora Set-Top Adventure” and “Sleeping Beauty Ink And Paint,” plus trailers. Retail is $29.95.
Buying DVD’s In A Blaze Of Glory
And now for something completely different. Newly-minted Oscar winner Eminem comes home in Da Hip Hop Witch (seriously), coming June 17th from Artisan Entertainment. This early Marshall Mathers appearance is presented in full screen and 2.0 Dolby surround only, with only bonus trailers as extras. Retail is $14.95.
Also just announced from Artisan are updated specs for the new Young Guns Special Edition, due April 22nd. The disc features a new anamorphic widescreen transfer and Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround tracks, plus audio commentary by cast members Dermot Mulroney, Casey Siemaszko and Lou Diamond Phillips, “The Real Billy the Kid” documentary, the “Gunning for the Facts” trivia track, and trailers. Retail remains $24.95.
Categories