23rd April 2007

ZETA MINOR NEWS

There are two new features on the site today!

The first is a brand new guide to surviving clips from the BBC's famous science-fiction anthology series Out of the Unknown. If you're familiar with the site, you'll probably remember that we already had a guide to the clips, written by Lee Rose. The new one, by Colin Cutler, is a great deal more detailed, and features lots of rare photographs and screen-grabs. Click on the Cult Television button, left, or here, to visit the new guide!

The second new feature is a review of BBC Audiobooks' latest Doctor Who CD, The Gunfighters. Click here to read Ceri Laing's review!

The Incoming guide to new and forthcoming DVD releases continues to be updated, with lots of newly-listed titles, and links to our affiliated retailers (enabling you to find the best etailer offers!)

DVD NEWS

Buena Vista Home Entertainment will release the fifth series of medical sit-com Scrubs on DVD on June the 18th.

The Scrubs - The Complete Fifth Series set will feature twenty-four episodes of the series, including the series' hundredth episode, My Way Home, a tribute to The Wizard of Oz, directed by star Zach Braff.

The set will feature a retrospective look back in a featurette titled My 117 Episodes; commentaries on three episodes (My Way Home, by Zach Braff, My Big Bird, by Neil Flyn and Randall Winston, and My Lunch, by John C. McGinley and director John Michel); seven deleted scenes; outtakes; and an Easter Egg. The RRP is £34.99

2 Entertain's Classic TV imprint is releasing Count Dracula, the BBC's 1977 adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel, on DVD on May the 28th.

This version, which stars Octopussy's Louis Jordan as the Count, is widely acclaimed as one of the best versions of Dracula. It was previously available as a limited edition DVD, from BBC Learning.

No bonus features, sadly, according to the press release. The RRP is £15.99.

Mel Gibson's mythic action movie Apocalypto will be released by Icon Home Entertainment on June the 11th.

The film, which was shot digitally, will be presented in "16:9 widescreen" format, with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, and English subtitles (the film is in Mayan). According to the official sleeve image (left) the disc will also have a DTS audio track!

The discs bonus features are an audio commentary by writer / producer / director Gibson and writer / co-producer Farhad Safinia; "deleted scenes" with optional commentary; and a featurette: Becoming Mayan: Creating Apocalypto. The RRP is £19.99.

A Blu-ray version has been announced for release in the US. It will be released on May 22nd, the same day as the Region 1 DVD.

Cult teen drama My So-Called Life is being released on DVD by Universal Playback on May the 14th.

The series, which launched the careers of Claire Danes and Jared Leto, picked up a loyal following during its nineteen-episode run in 1994 (and, indeed, during its run here on Channel 4 the following year).

The five-disc set appears to be missing the bonus features that were on the very rare US edition (which was released by BMG, in response to a petition from the series' fans).

The press release does not indicate whether the Dolby Digital 5.1 audio tracks which were created for the US set will be used for the UK edition.

Still, at least fans of the series will now have a chance to buy it on DVD without being scalped on Ebay or Amazon.com (where a copy of the set complete with lunchbox and bonus disc currently is being offered for a cool £235!) The RRP for the UK edition is £34.99.

Universal Pictures will release Monte Hellman's road movie masterpiece Two-Lane Blacktop on DVD on June the 18th. The press release mentions that disputes over music rights have prevented the release of the film before now.

The film, which is sometimes hailed as the last great film of the 60s (despite being made in 1971), stars The Beach Boys' drummer Dennis Wilson, similarly ill-fated photographer Laurie Bird, and singer James Taylor, alongside cult icon Warren Oates.

Sadly this release looks to be bereft of the commentary track and featurette that appeared on the now-deleted (and very desirable) US edition, from Anchor Bay.

No technical details were announced. The RRP is £12.99.

EVENT NEWS

Lurker Films, the US company dedicated to the work of H.P. Lovecraft, have announced the details of their annual Film Festival, Zompire. Here's their press release...

2007 Zompire: The Undead Film Festival

WHEN: May 11-12, 2007, Friday & Saturday 7:00pm-1:00am

WHERE: The historic Hollywood Theatre in Portland, Oregon

WHAT: A film festival celebrating all things undead

COST: Tickets are $10 per day per person at the door.

The 2nd annual Zompire: The Undead Film Festival returns to the historic Hollywood Theatre. Created by Andrew Migliore, the founder of the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival, the festival is dedicated to all things undead. We want to highlight various filmmakers creative attempts to show the undead in new and unexpected ways.

Short films for the 2007 schedule have been selected.

More details at www.zompire.com

Last week's Zeta Minor News can be viewed here.

Previous Zeta Minor News entries can viewed here.