WOWIE WOW WOW WOW!!! THE DVD NEWS FLOODGATES HAVE OPENED!!! After a month of no news at all, the studios are making announcements like it’s the end of the world and they know it!
So, how about a little ROGER RABBIT!! WEST SIDE STORY COLLECTORS EDITION!! WELCOME TO COLLINWOOD, CITIZEN TOXIE, BELOW… a man named MUERTE…And… could it really be true?…BREAKIN 2! ELECTRIC BOOGALOO!!!!
Play it cool boy, real cool!
On April 1, MGM Home Video has announced the release of the WEST SIDE STORY: SPECIAL EDITION COLLECTORS SET.
This will be a 2-disc set featuring a new Anamorphic Widescreen transfer of the classic musical, with 5.1 DDS audio, playable with or without the intermission. In addition is the full length WEST SIDE MEMORIES do*censored*entary, rare archival footage, a reproduced promo brochure and a collectible scrapbook and script. (Watch the COVERS section of the Forums for pretty pictures of the set!)Also from MGM on the first of April is an immense load of catalogue greats including THE COUCH TRIP, CHECKING OUT, FATAL INSTINCT, HOW TO GET AHEAD IN ADVERTISING, MEMORIES OF ME, THE MISSIONARY, PALOOKAVILLE, THE PEREZ FAMILY, A PRIVATE FUNCTION, PRIVATES ON PARADE, SIBLING RIVALRY and UNDERCOVER BLUES (“My name is MUERTE!”)
On April 15, the fun continues with David Bowie in ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS, BEAT STREET, RAPPIN’, my personal fave breakdancing flick BREAKIN’ 2 – ELECTRIC BOOGALOO, SALSA, LAMBADA, ROADIE, and A CHORUS LINE. Also look for a wealth of entries in the midnight movies 2-pack arena with PSYCH-OUT/THE TRIP, ANGEL UNCHAINED/CYCLE SAVAGES, MUSCLE BEACH PARTY/SKI PARTY, CRY OF THE BANSHEE/MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE and INVISIBLE INVADERS/JOURNEY TO THE SEVENTH PLANET.
Also added to MGM’s spring roster are KILLING ME SOFTLY on March 25, and the recent indie darling PERSONAL VELOCITY on March 18. Both will come in nice AW transfers with 5.1 DDS sound and trailers as extras.
Buena Vista Home Video has finally released the deets on their long-awaited Vista Series edition of WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT?, currently listed for a March 25 release. The set will feature both Fullscreen and Anamorphic Widescreen transfers, 5.1 DDS and DTS sound, audio commentary with the filmmakers, “Who Made Roger Rabbit?” and “Behind The Ears: The True Story Of Roger Rabbit” featurettes, games, trivia, all 3 Roger Rabbit shorts – TUMMY TROUBLE, TRAIL MIX-UP, and ROLLERCOASTER RABBIT – photo galleries, a deleted scene and trailers.
BVHV also has the Kieslowski classics BLUE, WHITE and RED on the release schedule for March 4, both as individual titles and as part of the THREE COLORS TRILOGY box set.
Also announced are releases for MOONLIGHT MILE and the underseen and underappreciated David Twohy submarine chiller BELOW on March 11.
Warner Home Video has announced a March 18 release date for the little-seen comedy WELCOME TO COLLINWOOD, starring Sam Rockwell, George Clooney and William H. Macy. A 2.35:1 AW transfer and 5.1 DDS sound will be accompanied by extras including the “Behind The Laughs” mockumentary “Welcome to Collinwood: Uncensored”, as well as a viewers’ guide to the “Collinwood Lowlife Lingo”, a Celebrity introduction, easter eggs and more.
Also from WB, comes BABYLON 5: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON on April 29. No details have been announced, but look for it to closely resemble the successful November release of SEASON 1.
Speaking of acclaimed SciFi series, ADV Films has FARSCAPE: SEASON 3, VOLUME 1 on deck for April 8, and ANDROMEDA: SEASON 2, VOLUME 1 on April 22.
Troma Video has set March 18 as the big day for CITIZEN TOXIE: THE TOXIC AVENGER PART IV. Both R-Rated and Unrated cuts will be available.
In old-school SciFi news, A&E Home Video has FIREBALL XL5 ready for mass consumption on February 25.
And Finally, for today, all of you TLC home renovation fans can rejoice! Artisan and TLC Video will release their first TRADING SPACES compilation DVD on March 18.
