17th August 2006

DVD NEWS

Optimum Classics will release a new three-disc edition of Robin Hardy's horror masterpiece The Wicker Man on DVD on September the 4th.

Two versions of the film will be included in the set: the (edited) Original Theatrical Release ("84m") and the (less edited, but still incomplete) Director's Cut ("99m").

The first disc will feature the Original Theatrical Release, and a theatrical trailer. The second will feature the Director's Cut, accompanied by a commentary track (with Christopher Lee, Edward Woodward and Robin Hardy, moderated by Mark Kermode - the same track as the last DVD edition); two documentaries, The Wicker Man Enigma (35m - on the last DVD) and Burnt Offering: The Cult of the Wicker Man (50m - a 2001 TV documentary, new to DVD); and the original press book.

This means that some of the bonus features that were on the last DVD edition will remain exclusive to that version (some of them are also on the various US editions, of course).

The third disc is a soundtrack CD (it's not known whether this is the Trunk Records or Silva Screen version, or something else).

The film will be presented in anamorphic 1.85:1 format. The Original Theatrical Release will have Dolby Digital 5.1 audio; the Director's Cut will be Dolby Digital mono.

The RRP is officially £20.99, but some retailers are listing RRPs between £13.99 and £21.99, and pricing accordingly - check out the various deals here - the cheapest seems to be Benson'sWorld - who have it listed for £10.99!) HMV are listing an exclusive version, but there are no details on their site.

A single-disc Wicker Man will apparently be released in October, with an RRP of £12.99.

Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment has launched a Best Dressed Trekker competition, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Star Trek, on September the 7th. The winner will win tickets to an exclusive dinner with Next Generation star Brent Spiner, on September the 7th. The winner and runners-up will also receive Star Trek goodies.

To enter, dress up in your best Star Trek outfit, take a photo, and send it to www.startrekuk.co.uk. Full details will be posted there from Monday.

4DVD will release the comedy series Badly Dubbed Porn on DVD on September the 25th.

The series, from the makers of The Staggering Stories of Ferdinand de Bargos, adds new dialogue to old porn movies. It stars I'm Alan Partridge's Simon Greenall, Tittybangbang's Lucy Montgomery, animation voice-over specialist Sally Grace and "Scotland's answer to Rory Bremner" (lord help him) Lewis MacLeod. It's written by veteran scribes Geoff Atkinson and Kim Fuller.

The two-disc set has an RRP of £19.99.

Speaking of the talented Ms. Montgomery, the poorly-received BBC THREE sketch show Tittybangbang will be released on DVD by Contender Home Entertainment on October the 23rd.

Tittybangbang - The Complete First Series will feature all six episodes of the first season, supplemented by more than an hour of exclusive extras, including audio commentary by Bob Mortimer (who writes for the series, under the pseudonym Robert Renwick); outtakes; behind-the-scenes footage and deleted scenes. The RRP is £19.99. A couple of etailers are also listing a Tittybangbang "sampler" DVD, for release on October the 9th, with an RRP of £2.99.

Metrodome will release Marcos Siega's black comedy Pretty Persuasion on DVD on October the 9th.

The film, which is regularly compared to Heathers and Election, is about a fifteen-year-old high school sophomore (Thirteen's Evan Rachel Wood) who persuades her friends into bringing charges of sexual assault against their English and drama teacher, Mr Anderson (Ron Livingston). It also features James Woods, Ally McBeal's Jane Krakowski and Hellboy's Selma Blair.

The disc will feature a theatrical trailer (that, at least, gives it the edge over the bare-bones Region 1 edition). No technical spec's were announced. The RRP is £15.99.

Tartan has announced two Asia Extreme releases for November the 13th. These are Chang-Jae Lim's Unborn But Forgotten (about a television producer investigating the deaths of a series of victims of a mysterious website) and Woo-cheol Lee's supernatural thriller Cello (about a woman haunted by memories of a car-crash).

Both films are offered with anamorphic transfers, and a choice of Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0 and DTS 5.1 audio tracks. Cello will feature a director's commentary; a behind-the-scenes featurette; and a trailer. RRP is £19.99 each.

Anchor Bay will release Liliana Cavani's The Night Porter (Il Portiere di notte) on DVD on September the 18th. This is its first UK release.

The film will be presented with Anchor Bay's customary choice of Dolby Digital 2.0, Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 audio tracks, (no details of the aspect ratio were announced).

The disc will have interviews with Cavani, co-writer Italo Moscati and star Charlotte Rampling. Criterion's non-anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) Region 1 version has no bonus features. The RRP is £14.99.

14th August 2006

ZETA MINOR NEWS