The world according to Dan.

SOME BIG NEWS REGARDING ANIMATION ON DVD

Disney’s Monsters, Inc. will be released on September 17th. And the Beauty and the Beast: Platinum Edition rounds out the year on October 8th, with no less than THREE versions of the film included on the set.

The definitive 2-disc Monsters, Inc. will SRP for $29.99, and will include…

Disc One – the fullscreen Version of the Film (1.33:1) specially reframed for standard TVs, a Widescreen Version of the Film (1.85:1) enhanced for 16×9 televisions (original theatrical aspect ratio), Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround EX, a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround EX sound effects only track, THX-certified with THX Optimizer, audio commentary by the filmmakers (Director Pete Docter, Co-Director Lee Unkrich, Executive Producer John Lasseter and Executive Producer and Screenwriter Andrew Stanton)

Disc Two – (divided into two worlds: The Monster World and The Human World), outtakes (including Company Play), a performance of Put That Thing Back Where it Came from or So Help Me (written, choreographed, produced, directed and catered by Mike Wazowski), For the Birds (the 2001 Oscar-nominated Pixar animated short film, the music featurette If I Didn’t Have You (performed by Billy Crystal and John Goodman) and an exclusive sneak peek of Finding Nemo (Disney/Pixar’s new upcoming feature)

The Beauty & The Beast: Platinum Edition (available for a limited time only (SRP $29.99)) will include…

Disc One – an all-digital presentation utilizing an all-new high definition transfer for the DVD (widescreen 1.66:1 aspect ratio, enhanced for 16×9 TVs), Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound newly created for the 2002 large format release, THX Certified, French language track, three versions of the film (the Special Edition includes the all-new musical sequence Human Again, the Original Theatrical Edition is the animated film masterpiece audiences around the world know and love, and the Work in Progress Edition as shown at the 1991 New York Film Festival), audio commentary from the filmmakers, a karaoke/sing-along track (watch the film and sing along to all your favorite songs as the words pop up on the screen), Maurice’s Invention Workshop Game (help Chip in Maurice’s Workshop and begin a journey that continues on Disc 2 in which the viewer can break the spell and make all the enchanted characters human again)

Disc Two – The Story Behind the Story (the viewer is transported into Belle’s library as celebrity hosts Celine Dion, James Earl Jones, David Ogden Stiers, Ming Na, Angela Lansbury, Robby Benson, Page O’Hara and Jodi Benson share the stories behind several of Disney’s most beloved characters), A Tale as Old as Time (“making of” featurette), Character Profile Game, Beauty and the Beast Broadway musical featurette, Disney’s Animation Magic, Chip’s Musical Challenge Game, Beauty and the Beast music video by Jump 5, Break the Spell adventure game and a complete and exhaustive section for ultimate collector’s and film fans, which includes the early presentation reel, an alternate version of the Be Our Guest number, an alternate score (The Transformation – original demo recordings with introduction by Alan Menken), a production and character design art gallery, pencil tests, animation tests, a layout and background art gallery, camera move tests, poster and ad design artwork, trailers and TV spots, the Large Screen Format trailer and more

SOMETHING TO CROWE ABOUT

Coming out on May 21, 2002, is the sorta-hit Vanilla Sky, Cameron Crowe’s remake of the foreign thriller Open Your Eyes.

The disc includes a 1.85;1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 5.1 and English and French 2.0 surround tracks, audio commentary by director Cameron Crowe and composer Nancy Wilson featuring a conversation with Tom Cruise, two new “Prelude To A Dream” and “Hitting It Hard” featurettes, interview with Paul McCartney, a gag reel, the music video “Afrika Shox” by Leftfield and Afrika Bambaataa, two trailers including the never-before-seen teaser, and a still gallery with intro by famed photographer Neal Preston.

ABC is wooing David Letterman to replace Nightline.

And to paraphrase Mr. Brady, wherever he is, there I’ll be!

Do you know Jack Schitt?

Why yes it does!

But not this weekend!

Wait! Wait a minute! Hold on! A person named Don emailed me and said: “…I like your Friday look at what’s new in theatres but it always seems so mean. You always focus on the negative and just make fun of stuff. Could you please make them more positive?…”

Well Don, in honour of you, I will do just that. Yes, even though this weekend’s 2 new theatrical releases are both not very good, I will write about them by focussing on the positives.

So here goes!

40 Days And 40 Nights stars pretty boy of the day Josh Hartnett as a man who gives up sex for Lent. Now when it comes to youth sex comedies, “40 Days and 40 Nights” is virtually Noel Coward. The movie contains some smart writing, funny dialogue, a cheeky production design, attractive leading actors and only occasional lapses into tastelessness. If you are a teenager, or have actually had your brain surgically removed, you will enjoy yourself. Otherwise…

Wow! I can do this! I can focus on the positive! Let me see if I can go 2 for 2!

In We Were Soldiers Mel Gibson is in it. Mel is an actor that I like, and he’s in this movie.

Wow! I did it!!! I was positive!!! Hold on! Hold it just a minute! I owe you the truth!!! And here it is!

We Were Soldiers should have been a movie that I could promote as a film from the writer of “Braveheart” (a great movie!). Instead, be warned that the movie is from the same guy who wrote “Pearl Harbour” (a really bad film). Randall Wallace is the man responsible for both and this movie makes his “Braveheart” work look like a fluke. We Were Soldiers takes place during the Vietnam war and is, as the ads say, “Based On True Events.” But you won’t care. The action scenes are great, and the rare dramtic moments are fine, but the movie isn’t about anything. It just plays in front of you for 2 hours and 20 minutes. And then it ends, without making a point.

And then you go home! And getting home is always positive, isn’t it?

Hey, I ended on a positive! Whoo hoo!!! Thanks for your advice Don!

And I hope to be positive next week as well when the remake of The Time Machine opens across North America and Men With Brooms plays only in Canada.

Until then, enjoy your popcorn and I’ll see you at the movies!

So after the first show we know that most of the castaways are, as I had feared, “really big” idiots, one of the female cast members has 2 “really big” luxury items, and the one who was a “really big” flake got voted off the show.

That said, I can’t wait until next week! I guess that makes me a “really big” sucker! Here’s the results from Survivor: Marquesas- Epsiode One.

Oh, and Marquesas is near Tahiti. And Sarah’s “luxury items” are real. Real expensive that is!

AN UNAPOLOGETIC MIND

Hollywood tough guy Russell Crowe is admitting he had an angry confrontation with a television producer at the British Academy Film Awards after part of his acceptance speech was edited out of the TV broadcast. “He’s not bruised, he’s not battered but I’m quite sure his ears are still ringing,” the Sydney Morning Herald quotes Crowe as saying.

John Madden joins “Monday Night Football.”

‘Clones’ Clip to Bow at Vegas Confab

Twentieth Century Fox will premiere its much-anticipated trailer for “Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones” on Tuesday at the annual ShoWest convention of movie theater owners in Las Vegas.

“Clones” producer Rick McCallum will offer a special presentation dissecting digital-production work on the next installment of George Lucas’ renowned sci-fi franchise. While it’s been known McCallum would offer some clips, it was uncertain whether the “Clones” trailer would be ready in time for the trade show.

Fox executives declined comment. But it’s now known the trailer will be premiered during McCallum’s dinner presentation on the show’s first day. ShoWest, set for Las Vegas’ Paris and Bally’s hotels, concludes Thursday with an awards gala to be emceed by comedian Dana Carvey.

Fox will offer the first public showing of the 2-1/2-minute “Clones” trailer on March 10 at 9 p.m. over the Fox network, between episodes of “Malcolm in the Middle” and “The X-Files.” The studio then will attach the trailer to theatrical showings of its upcoming feature toon “Ice Age.”

“Clones,” which premieres nationwide May 16, was shot entirely in digital, using a special Sony 24P digital camera.

“Hot Lips” Houlihan and Jack Tripper could soon be coming to Fox.