DVD Talk: August 2002 Archives

This week The DVD Savant takes a look at MGM's Special Edition of The Fog a good ghost story that becomes an absorbing experience, thanks to the fine extras in MGM's Special Edition. The Long Goodbye - one of those pictures that gets better with age, especially when it can be enjoyed in such a fine-looking DVD presentation and Miramax's prestige offering Iris, an intelligent and un-hyped account of the last times of Iris Murdoch, a celebrated author who succumbed to Alzheimer's disease Read all this an more in this week's DVD Savant.

DeepDiscountCD has issued a special coupon for DVD Talk Members. Get $2 off any purchase at DeepDiscountCD.com with the coupon code DVDT. DeepDiscountCD.com Guarantees the lowest total online price for CDs and offers free shipping on their CDs! Some great deals include: Bruce Springsteen - The Rising for $9.89, Norah Jones - Come Away With Me $10.77 The Vines - Highly Evolved $7.97 and Dave Matthews Band - Busted Stuff (CD & DVD) (Coupon Expires September 9th).

You can now Pre-Order the 2 DVD Special Edition of this summer's lackluster sequel Men In Black II. Set for release on November 26th, MIB II will be available in both Widescreen and full-frame versions and feature: Audio Commentary by Director Barry Sonnenfeld (with option Telestrator Diagrams), Alternate Ending, Blooper Reel, Production Featurettes including a featurette on the Alien Creatures, a Multi-Angle Scene Deconstruction and more. Pre-Order MIB II

Broadway has often taken inspiration from Hollywood and vice versa. If you'd have made a list of stage-ready filmmakers, however, it seems unlikely that shock auteur John Waters would have been near the top. Somehow his 1988 film Hairspray has become the brand-new hottest ticket in town. Cinema Gotham got a chance to check Hairspray out recently and found it to be extremely funny, colorful and completely entertaining.

This week we're giving away 5 copies of the wonderful family film The Rookie: Widescreen starring Dennis Quaid. The Rookie is one of those great films that can be enjoyed by both kids and adults and the DVD has a number of really well done features including: Audio Commentary by Dennis Quaid and Director John Lee Hancock, Deleted Scenes Introduced by John Lee Hancock, and "The Inspirational Story of Jim Morris" - the real life story this film was based on. Enter Now for your chance to win a copy of The Rookie

Out this week are the much anticipated Sopranos The Complete Third Season, out just in time to watch before 'Season Four' starts on HBO mid-September and Reservoir Dogs 10th Anniversary Edition which has been getting a lot of ink over its less than great video transfer . Three notable horror movies from MGM are also worth checking out including Wes Craven's The Last House on The Left [Review] and John Carpenter's The Fog: Special Edition [Review] and legendary Return of the Living Dead [Review]. From Buena Vista comes two family DVDs The Rookie and School House Rock: Special 30th Anniversary Edition both great DVDs.

Good news for people who hate to pay for shipping: Amazon.com has just lowered their minimum for free shipping to $25 (from $49). In addition to Amazon you can also get great shipping deals at Buy.com, DeepDiscountDVD.com, DVDOvernight, AdultDVDEmpire and FiveStarDVD all of which offer NO MIN free shipping. Also DVDEmpire who offers free shipping on 4 or more titles. Expect even more great shipping deals as we march past the 'Back To School' season and head towards the key holiday buying season.

We're extremely excited to announced that DVD Talk has passed the 4,000 DVD Review mark! We thought you'd find interesting the top 5 most read DVD reviews: #1 Star Wars: Episode 1, #2 Shrek, #3 Memento:LE, #4 Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring and #5 The Godfather, The DVD Review read the fewest times: Tie Died. You can now easily search our reviews from your browser with the new DVD Talk Toolbar

Warner Bros. has announced the DVD release for Divine Secrets Of The Ya-Ya Sisterhood. Set for release on November 5th Divine Secrets Of The Ya-Ya Sisterhood will be available in both a widescreen and a full frame release and feature: Audio Commentary by Director Callie Khouri, Executive Producer Lisa Stewart, Producer Bonnie Bruckheimer, Editor Andrew Marcus, Music T-Bone Burnett and Producer Hunt Lowry, Second Commentary track with Ashley Judd and Callie Khour, Deleted Scenes, HBO First Look and More. Pre-Order Divine Secrets Of The Ya-Ya Sisterhood at 30% off

This week The Aisle View takes a look at Robin Williams who stars as a creepy photo-guy in One Hour Photo . Also in case you missed it, check out The Aisle View's take on Read My Lips, Possession, xXx Spy Kids 2 on Signs and Full Frontal. Also be sure to SIGN UP and get The Aisle View delivered to your e-mail box as SOON as it's published!

In another quick turn from movie theater to DVD, Warner Bros. has announced the DVD release for Eight Legged Freaks. Set for release on October 29th, Eight Legged Freaks will be available in both a Widescreen and Full Frame version and feature: Audio Commentary with David Arquette and Director/Co-Writer Ellory Eklayem, An Alternate Ending, Additional Scenes, "Larger Than Life" - The Director's Original Short Film that Inspired the Movie, DVD-ROM Spider-Killing Challenge Game and More. Pre-Order Eight Legged Freaks

So many great things going on in the DVD Talk Columns here's a run down of the latest: DVD Savant: Hopscotch & The Giant Gila Monster and Pulp Fiction, CineSchlock-O-Rama: THEM! and a Horror Giveaway, The Aisle View: Read My Lips & Possession , The Blue Room: Tera Patrick and Another Simon Wolf Pleaser .

In the pantheon of true New York filmmakers (Scorsese, Jarmusch, Allen) none has cut closer to the heart of darkness in the city more consistently than Abel Ferrara. Films like Bad Lieutenant, King of New York, Ms. 45, and The Funeral have each blended disparate themes (violence, salvation, revenge, love) in unique and powerful ways. His latest, 'R Xmas, follows those films with a new vision of New York's drug dealing subculture as a loving family. Cinema Gotham hung out with Ferrara to get the scoop on what's happening with the film and what Ferrara has been up to.

DVDTalk writer Phillip Duncan had the chance to talk with Director/Film Scholar Peter Bogdanovich (The Last Picture Show, Texasville) about his latest DVD release "The Cat's Meow starring Kirsten Dunst, Cary Elwes and Eddie Izzard. Read and LISTEN to Phillip Duncan's interview with Peter Bogdanovich and find out more about his newest DVD release, his upcoming projects and his thoughts on film today.

We're extremely excited to present Nutshell Toolbar for DVD Talk! This handy small toolbar (72K) will allow you to quickly search the Web, query DVD Talk's Review Database and Forum, find the lowest price on what you're looking for with our Price Search and easily run searches at the top online DVD stores! Nutshell is designed for Windows Internet Explorer (5.5 and above) and adds small search box to your tool bar. Get more information on the Nutshell Toolbar or Download it now

There are some great DVDs coming out this week including: two Quentin Tarantino special Editions Pulp Fiction: Collector's Edition [Review] and Jackie Brown: Collector's Edition, the latest from Braveheart Writer Randall Wallace and Star Mel Gibson We Were Soldiers [Review] a fantastic Vietnam War story, another Academy Award winner Iris [Review] with stellar performances by Jim Broadbent , Judi Dench and Kate Winslet, the classically styled The Cat's Meow [Review] from Peter Bogdanovich, Hopscotch [Review] the latest Criterion Edition with Walter Matthau.

HKFlix.com has a special deal for DVD Talk Members. Get the lowest price on the Net on two hot new Guinea Pig double-feature DVDs (freightingly realistic Japanese Horror), with free shipping anywhere in the world! The Guinea Pig DVDs come from Satoru Ogura, an infamous producer and writer, who decided to make a series of horror films that could truly claim to be the utmost violent and disgusting. The series was a phenomenal success in Japan, with most of the titles out-grossing mainstream Hollywood competition during their theatrical releases and stirred a huge controversy both in Japan and in the US. Get Android Of Notre Dame and Devil's Experiment Double Feature or Mermaid In A Manhole and He Never Dies Double Feature each with Free Shipping anywhere in the world!

This week we've got a giveaway for both Quentin Tarantino Collector's Edition DVDs from Buena Vista Home Video: Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown. Both DVDs are packed with special features including deleted scenes, original documentaries and lots about both films from Quentin Tarantino. Enter Now For Your Chance To Win!

Victory over VHS oblivion! THREE!!! Count 'em THREE captured Most Wanted titles: the value-sized ant epic Them!, Airwolf: Shadow of the Hawke and Time After Time. While in the H.G. Wells 'hood, we'll also ogle the CGI-addled Time Machine remake. Plus, Resident Evil giveaway winners, responses to reader emails and Mako: The Jaws of Death joins CineSchlock-O-Rama's Most Wanted.

Universal has announced the DVD release for About A Boy an overlooked gem. Set for release on October 22nd About A Boy will feature: Deleted Scenes with Director's Commentary, A Making-Of featurette, English to English Dictionary, "Killing Me Softly" Sing-A-Long Karaoke Style, How Cool Are You? Quiz, Outtakes and more. Pre-Order About A Boy today.

This week The DVD Savant takes a look at Criterion's Hopscotch a handsome widescreen version of a very unpretentious Walter Matthau vehicle. Also, Miramax's new Collector's Edition of Pulp Fiction redeems all the sins of the very ragged DVD from long back, and even offers a rebate for those who bought the earlier copy. The twisted crime saga looks even better now, if such a thing is possible. Read all this an more in this week's DVD Savant.

This week The Aisle View takes a look at the the hot new french thriller Read My Lips as well as Possession starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Aaron Eckhart and Directed by Neil LaBute (In The Company of Men . Also in case you missed it, check out The Aisle View's take on xXx Spy Kids 2 on Signs and Full Frontal. Also be sure to SIGN UP and get The Aisle View delivered to your e-mail box as SOON as it's published!

MGM Home Video has generously provided five copies of BOTH Wes Craven's notorious Last House on the Left AND John Carpenter's Barbeau-licious chiller The Fog for a double-barrel CineSchlock-O-Rama giveaway!!! Each disc features commentary by these undeniable Masters of Horror and other fan-friendly extras. Enter today and WIN these classic flicks BEFORE you can buy them.

Warner Bros. has announced the DVD release for South Park - The Complete First Season. Set for release on November 12th South Park - The Complete First Season will be presented in full frame with Dolby Digital 2.0 audio and feature: audio commentary on all 13 episodes from Trey Parker and Matt Stone, intros by Trey and Matt to each episode, 2 'classic' South Park Christmas music videos, the original promos for the show's debut and more! Pre-Order South Park - The Complete First Season Now

We've got a Giveaway this week for Repli-Kate a fun comedy staring Ali Landry (best know as the Doritos Girl) and Eugene Levy, from the producers of American Pie (Zide-Perry Productions). The Repli-Kate DVD Filmmaker's Commentary, Deleted Scenes Including Alternate Opening and Alternate Ending with Outtakes. Enter now for your chance to win on of 4 copies of Repli-Kate!

You can now Pre-Order the upcoming DVD for Star Wars Episode II: Attack of The Clones. Set for release on November 12th Star Wars Episode II will be presented in Anamorphic Widecreen (2.35:1) with Dolby Digital EX and feature: Audio commentary by George Lucas; Rick McCallum; Editor and Sound Designer Ben Burtt; Visual Effects Supervisors Pablo Helman, John Knoll and Ben Snow; and Animation Supervisor Rob Coleman, 8 Deleted Scenes with intros by George Lucas, Rick McCallum and Ben Burtt, new documentaries "From Puppets to Pixels," "State of the Art: The Previsualization of Episode II,", "Films Are Not Released; They Escape" , 3 behind-the-scenes featurettes, All 12 parts of "Making Episode II," the web documentaries and more! Here are the complete DVD Details.

This week we're giving away 5 copies of Chris Botti & Friends - Night Sessions DVD a great live Jazz performance by a rising star. Chris Botti & Friends was shot live at the El Ray theater in LA and features special guest performances by Sting and Shawn Colvin. The Night Sessions DVD is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and PCM with Interviews With Chris, Sting and Shawn Colvin, a Video Profile of Chris Botti and a 5.1 Recording (Audio Only) of "Through an Open Window". Chris Botti & Friends - Night Sessions is a great concert and now you have a chance to win it on DVD!

We got a lot of positive feedback last week on our having a quick run down of the notable DVDs being released for the week so we're going to make it a regular feature! This week DVDs are: Birthday Girl the art house triller with Nicole Kidman, Clockstoppers a cute but mediocre kids film, Curse of the Demon/Night of the Demon [Review] a cult classic that is truly a classic, In The Bedroom Todd Field's Oscar contender which is barebones because the Director's wanted the film to speak for itself , The New Guy [Review] a star vehicle for DJ Qualls which is silly but still a guilty pleasure, and Showtime [Review] where COPS goes Hollywood with Eddie Murphy and Robert De Niro.

This week The Aisle View takes a look at the the new Vin Diesel action fest xXx as well as Robert Rodriguez's digitally spiffed up Spy Kids 2. Also in case you missed it, check out The Aisle View's take on Signs, Full Frontal, K-19: The Widowmaker, Reign of Fire , 13 Conversations About One Thing and Road to Perdition.

Warner Bros. has announced that the summer remake of Scooby-Doo will be released on DVD on October 22nd. Released in both a widescreen and full-frame version, Scooby-Doo will feature: Two Commentaries by Cast and Filmmakers, 10 mins of Deleted Scenes, a Behind-The-Scenes Documentary, 7 Interactive DVD-ROM Challenges, several featurettes, a Two-Player Spooky Island Arcade Challenge, and a music video for 'Land Of A Million Drums'. Pre-Order Scooby-Doo.

This week The DVD Savant takes a look at some more horror flicks including The Last House on the Left, The Unearthly , The Oblong Box/ Scream and Scream Again and The Return of the Living Dead DVD Savant also takes a look at 2 : Le million and Day of Wrath - both part of the Sundance Channel Criterion Classic screenings (on this weekend).

MGM has announced the DVD release for the John Woo/Nick Cage WWII film Windtalkers. Set for release on October 15th Windtalkers will be presented in 2.5:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio and only feature production notes and two trailers (a fairly bare bones release). For a review of Windtalkers check out the archived report on it from The Aisle View.

Columbia Tri-Star hav e announced the DVD release for the latest Adam Sandler laughfest Mr. Deeds. Set for release on October 22nd Mr. Deeds will be released in both a widescreen and full-frame version of the movie. Mr. Deeds will feature, Director and Writer Commentary, Deleted Scenes, the featurettes - 'Clothes Make The Man', 'From Mandrake Falls to Manhattan' and 'Spare No Expense', the Deed' Greeting Cards, and 'Where Are You Going' video by Dave Matthews Band and more. Pre-Order Mr. Deeds with Adam Sandler or check out the excellent Frank Capra film it was based on: Mr. Deeds Goes to Town.

MGM has announced the DVD release for the much talked about Y Tu Mama Tambien. Set for release on October 22nd Y Tu Mama Tambien will be released in both a rated and unrated version of the movie. The Unrated Y Tu Mama Tambien will be presented in Anamorphic Widescreen with Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio and feature Deleted Scenes, Audio Commentary with director Alfonso Cuaron, actors Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna, A making-of featurette, the short film 'Me la Debes' (directed by Cuaron) and more. Pre-Order Y Tu Mama Tambien - Unrated.

Warner Bros has announced the DVD release for Memento Director Christopher Nolan's latest film Insomnia with Al Pacino, Hilary Swank and Robin Williams. Set for release on October 15th Insomnia will feature: Audio Commentary with Director Chris Nolan, Commentary by Hilary Swank and Filmmakers, An Interview of Al Pacino by Christopher Nolan, "Day For Night": The Making-Of Insomnia, Additional/Extended Scene with Optional Commentary by Chris Nolan, "In The Fog": An Exploration of Cinematography with Director of Photography Wally Pfsiter and more. Pre-Order Insomnia now, and if you want to see the movie that this was remade from check out the Criterion Edtion of the 1998 Norwegian version of this film staring Stellan Skarsgård

This week we've got 2 great DVD Giveaways for you! First up is a special SIGNED copy of Collateral Damage, autographed by none other than the mega-star Arnold Schwarzenegger. Enter for your chance to win a Signed Collateral Damage. Secondly we've got 5 copies of Deuces Wild that we're giving away. So try your Luck at the Deuces!

Get your DVD Players warmed up, because this is one of the biggest weeks for DVD in a long time! Prepared to go broke on Tuesday when these great DVDs hit the streets: Lord of The Rings - The first of 2 DVD releases for it and nothing from this disc will be on the November release [read our review]. The Simpsons - Season 2 - an amazing season with so many 'firsts' not to be missed [review]. Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan: The Director's Edition - a Star Trek fan's dream [review], Dogtown and Z Boys - the ultra cool origins of skate boarding doc that was a huge Sundance hit, and a bunch of great stuff from Warner Bros including: Clash Of The Titans [review], Them, Time After Time, V: The Final Battle [review]

Columbia Tri-Star has announced the DVD release for this summer's blockbuster Spiderman. Set for release on November 1st, Spiderman will feature: "Weaving the Web": Pop-On Production Notes & Historical Facts, Commentary with Director Sam Raimi, Producer Laura Ziskin, Star Kirsten Dunst & Co-Prodicer Grant Curtis, a Second Visual Effects Commentary, Branching 'Web-i-sodes' featurettes, HBO Making-of, E! Entertainment Special, Profiles on Sam Raimi and Danny Elfman, Screen Tests, Gag/Outtake Reel, a DVD-Rom feature which will allow you to Record Your Own Commentary and much more! Spiderman is NOW UP FOR PRE-Order

Mini-skirted Milla Jovovich kicks zombie keister to a devil-icious soundtrack in Resident Evil -- enter to win one of five copies in this exclusive giveaway! Those ill-mannered lizards in red jumpsuits and cheesy shades return for V: The Final Battle. At long last, Savage Beach and Guns grace The Andy Sidaris Collection. Plus, responses to reader emails and Night of the Creeps joins CineSchlock-O-Rama's Most Wanted.

This week The Aisle View takes a look at a M. Night Shyamalan's latest spookfest Signs as well as Steven Soderbergh 'return' to his indie roots with Full Frontal. Also in case you missed it, check out The Aisle View's take on The Kid Stays in the Picture, K-19: The Widowmaker, Reign of Fire , 13 Conversations About One Thing and Road to Perdition.