All but five of todays titles are double (or triple) dips. Which can mean only one thing: the holidays are right around the corner.
First up today are two re-releases that I’m almost positive nobody was screaming for. Up first we have a Ghost Rider Gift Set due out on November 13th which will include the extended cut of the film, commentaries with writer/director Mark Steven Johnson (Daredevil), visual effects supervisor Kevin Mack, and producer Gary Foster, four featurettes (Spirit of Vengeance, Spirit of Adventure, Spirit of Execution, Sin and Salvation), along with some animatics. The only real selling point seems to be a limited edition figure of the flaming Ghost Rider with “movie-accurate costuming and great detail in his signature chains.” Yeah, because that’s absolutely worth the extra 40 dollars. Right.
Also announced just yesterday by Paramount is a brand new two-disc Titanic: 10th Anniversary Edition planned for release on November 20th. That’s right, after the three disc special edition released just two short years ago, the studio is going back to the well to capitalize on the films anniversary. There isn’t much information about what will be included just yet, but many are speculating that it will include the feature length documentary that director James Cameron cut from the previous DVD at the last minute. Also being rumored is the film this time being in an extended form with deleted scenes added in via seamless branching. We’ll be sure to update you once more news is made available. Hopefully Paramount will correct the video glitch from the last release.
On October 3rd LionsGate plans to release Fido, a movie about a young boy with a pet zombie played by Billy Connolly. Yeah, that peaked out interest too. The film will be presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. For extras you can expect to find an audio commentary with Director Andrew Currie, Producer Mary Anne Waterhouse and Actress Carrie-Anne Moss, deleted scenes (with optional director commentary), a Making of Fido Featurette, Storyboard, Makeup and Concept Art Galleries, Zomcon ‘Zombie Me’ Creator Exclusive DVD-Rom Feature, and Composer Select Scene Audio Commentary Track (SRP$28.98).
The 23rd of October will see a Saw III: Director’s Cut ($26.98) and Saw Trilogy ($49.98) bow on DVD. The Saw III: Director’s Cut will be a two disc set and feature a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. Three commentary tracks (one with Producer/Co-Writer Leigh Whannell; another with Director Darren Lynn Bousman and J Larose; and finally, an Exclusive ‘Villains’ Audio Commentary with Actors Shawnee Smith and Tobin Bell), Jigsaw’s Plan Trivia Game, Hydrovibe Music Video: ‘Killer Inside’ (Messed Up World Remix) Featuring Shawnee Smith, Choose the Death, Looking Tortured Make-Up: An FX How-To, Filmmaker Faves, and finally a Sneak Peek: SAW IV.
The Saw Trilogy box set will include everything from the Saw: Uncut Edition, Saw II: Special Edition and the Saw III: Director’s Cut. But one has to wonder what the point of a trilogy box set is when there is a fourth film hitting theaters this Halloween with even more installments of the franchise planned after that. For those interested in picking this up, you should know that Future Shop has an exclusive 3-D packaging for the set.
Yesterday, Travis posted all the info you need about Fox’s announcement for Live Free or Die Hard due in stores on November 20th. One disappointment about the news on the release is that the theatrical PG-13 version of the film will not be available in widescreen, only the fullscreen DVD will carry that cut. Which reminds me of the whole 40-Year Old Virgin problem we had a while back. Both Unrated versions will have a DTS audio track to go along with the previous Die Hard releases and the two-disc release appears to be packed with extras. Yippee-Ki-Yay.
Travis also posted the press release for 24: Season Six. We’ve included a look at the artwork below.
While not yet officially announced, Adam Sandler’s latest comedy, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, seems to be aiming for a November 27th release date if our sources are correct. The DVD will include deleted scenes, alternate takes, and outtakes(SRP $29.98). An HD-DVD/DVD combo disc will also be made available day and date for around $39.98.
After a very quite run in theaters, Lajos Koltai’s Evening will be released on September 25th (hey, that’s this month). Universal will release the drama in 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio with only deleted scenes and two featurettes (Remembering Evening, Adapting Evening) in the extras department. The studio will also be putting out an HD-DVD release for $39.98.
After the heaps of praise that Sony got for their last release of Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Extraordinarily Deluxe Two-Disc Edition), it’ll surely please many of you that they have announced a brand new release for Life of Brian. Scheduled to be released on November 6th, the two-disc Monty Python’s Life of Brian: The Immaculate Edition will seemingly include all of the bonus material from the previous Criterion release, and more. First up are two commentary tracks (one with Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle & Terry Jones and the other with John Cleese & Michael Palin), an hour-long The Story of Brian documentary, and The Readthrough (an original illustrated 110 minute recording by The Pythons of their early screenplay in progress). Completing the package will be four illustrated vintage theatrical radio ads featuring the voices of Mrs. Cleese, Mrs. Idle, Mrs. Gilliam and Michael Palin’s dentist, and deleted scenes (SRP $24.96).
Misery, the James Caan and Kathy Bates classic, will be released in a brand new Collector’s Edtion by Fox and MGM on October 2nd. The film itself will be presented in anamorphic widescreen, along with an English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround track. Extras will include an audio commentary by Director Rob Reiner, a second audio commentary by Screenwriter William Goldman, seven featurettes (Misery Loves Company, Marc Shaiman’s Music Misery Tour, Diagnosing Annie Wilkes, Advice For The Stalked, Profile Of A Stalker, Celebrity Stalkers, Anti-Stalking Laws), the original theatrical trailer and teaser (SRP $19.98).
Last up for the day is Universal’s latest double dip, this time for the 2005 film Pride and Prejudice, which starred Kira Knightly. The new Pride and Prejudice: 2-Disc Deluxe Giftset will be released on November 13th with a SRP of $39.98. The DVD set will include both widescreen and fullscreen versions of the film with English Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. Extras will include an audio commentary with Director Joe Wright, six featurettes (Conversations with the Cast, Jane Austen, Ahead of Her Time, A Bennet Family Portrait, HBO First Look: Pride & Prejudice, Politics of Dating, The Stately Homes of Pride & Prejudice), Galleries of the 19th Century, and a Pride & Prejudice Family Tree. Also included in the set will be a copy of the original soundtrack CD and a collectible book.
Below you’ll find artwork for 24: Season Six (12/4), Live Free or Die Hard: Unrated (11/20), Evening (9/25), Fido (10/3), I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (/), Monty Python’s Life of Brian: The Immaculate Edition (11/6), Pride & Prejudice: 2-Disc Deluxe Gift Set (11/13), Saw III: Director’s Cut (10/23), and the Saw Trilogy box set (10/23).
As always, feel free to drop me a line with anything I may have missed. See you tomorrow!
