CTHV March DVD Slicks & Release Details
Columbia have a rather broad selection of DVDs for their March DVD releases, ranging from a cutsie kids film (in both Widescreen and Pan & Scan) like Elmo in Grouchland, to Brian Depalma's softcore porn flick Body Double (starring Melanie Griffith).
All these Columbia/Universal DVDS will be Anamorphic Widescreen.

Click HERE for the DVD Slicks

Click HERE for the CTHV Release Schedule

Click HERE for the Universal Release Schedule

New DVD Slicks & Menu Screen Shots
Here's a first look at the upcoming Roadshow DVD of The Faculty.   Please drop by the DVD Slicks page (and look below the slicks section)

Roadshow Release Update
Sometime in the first quarter of this year, Roadshow are hoping to Release Last Years Academy Award winner (for best foreign film), Life Is Beautiful.  Unlike the region 1 release, this region 4 version will not only have the re-dubbed English Dolby Digital 5.1 track (that Miramax made only after it won the Oscar), as well the original Italian mix for the purists (along with English subtitles), BUT it will also be Anamorphic Widescreen.( the USA release was only 4x3 Letterboxed)

After the initial release of Long Kiss Goodnight having DVD-ROM playback problems, Roadshow have decided to rebuild it.  The disc contents will essentially be the same as the original DVD release, but the extras will be re-formatted in the Anamorphic Widescreen format. (and there won't be the now defunct MPEG audio track on it either)

NEW Dolby Digital Trailers
2000 finally sees the release of the 2 new Dolby Digital Trailers, RAIN and AURORA.  The very cool RAIN trailer is being included on the Upcoming FACULTY DVD from Roadshow....sweeeeeeeet (both trailers are also designed for the new Dolby EX Surround format).

PS Roadshow are in Test Disc Phase for The Faculty, Rush Hour, Judge Dredd, Wag the Dog & the long awaited Shawshank Redemption, so it shouldn't be long til they are Released. (BTW ALL are Anamorphic Widescreen, with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio).

PPS Happy Birthday Hils (your card's in the mail :-)

DVD Australia's latest Offerings
DVD Australia have released a few titles this week.  Cartoon Crazy's 2, High Voltage, Zero Boys, Hidden Hawaii (IMAX), Pope John Paul II, Hot Body T-Shirt Party, plus more.  so if you're wondering which internet DVD retail shop is selling these, try out DVD Plaza's region 4 Price Crawler

DVD Australia a-PIX a few agood aDVDS
Do you have any idea how hard it was to think of anything that was remotely amusing about that lame heading (and yet I still failed miserably :)...Thankfully, a few the A-Pix DVD titles that DVD Australia are set to release in OZ pretty soon are not so lame. 
For the past few months we've seen little 'ol independent Anchor Bay really showing the big boys how we all like our DVDs to be.  Look at the excellent THX approved Halloween and Army Of Darkness : Collector's Editions. (and they're about to release another limited Edition THX approved DVD of SUPERGIRL!!!....certainly wasn't expecting that one!!) 
Anyhoo, it seems it's not only Anchor Bay who realise that DVD'ers like this technology to be put to the test with 16:9 Enhanced pictures, multi-Channel sound, endless extras, etc) as A-Pix have upped the ante' a bit and are bringing some, shall we say, low budget/alternate titles to DVD and giving them the royal treatment. 
Anyone with even the slightest incline towards horror films has heard of Italy's master of gore and suspense Dario Argento, and his latest spin on the Phantom of the Opera had made it to DVD in an Anamorphic version (and Pan & Scan) both with Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio, and a few other goodies to go along with this Director's Uncut release.  Oxygen (just about to be released here on Video I believe) stars Maura Terney(from TV's talk Radio) is also anamorphic, with DD5.1 audio, a running commentary and plenty of other goodies...I hear it's a very cool movie to .RELAX..it's just sex with Jennifer Tilly..gotta love anything with Jennifer Tilly (anyone see Bound?)..there's a few more coming, but these are ones specifically mentioned.
A-Pix are the company that made the (only just now released in the USA ) Ultimate DVD DEMO Disc..which is arriving on our shores very very soon...
NOTE These titles are NTSC (not PAL) and are region 0. 

ALSO , Though reports to date have the number of DVD titles released here in OZ at about 500, they have neglected to include any of the titles release by DVD Australia, who have single handedly released some 300 titles.  (so you could say our Aussie total is about 800 plus now )

PS had a look at FOX's DVD of Courage Under Fire today....absolute stunner!!  Die Hard also looks terrific as does Speed.
After the very depressing FOX DVD release of the NON Anamorphic Boat Movie, I am thrilled to bits that they've given us PAL versions that are  16:9 Enhanced on ALL These titles,(when the region 1 versions aren't!!!!) ...
Now, if we could only do something about the higher than average sale price on these FOX DVDs

Austin 2 PREVIEW
That's the other good things about holidays, you can review discs as soon as you get 'em.  So here's a review of  Austin Powers : The Spy Who Shagged me

Home Theatre - 101
Tonight at 7pm Sydney time the DVD User Group have their Latest On-line Chat session.  This time on the chopping block is DVD Net's Steve K and Sony's David Allen, ready to tackle your Home Theatre Questions.

Today's Reviews
Also reviewed is Warner's Jack Frost

New Audio Ratings in Our Reviews
I guess without the stress of work (I'm on Hols for a few weeks at least...WOO HOO :-) one can think up ideas much easier.  All our reviews from now will have 2 parts to the Rating of the Audio, for basic Quality (detail clarity, etc) and [my new fav feature, at least ] a 5.1 WOW FACTOR rating!! (sorry I get excited about such simply things I know)

DVD 2000 on Roadshow's Pulp
Dan over at www.dvd-2000.co.uk has added a region 4 section to his region 2 site. Starting off with an article about Roadshow's Pulp Fiction DVD, said by many around the traps (Dan included)  to be the BEST version out there, hence the reason for his article

Region 4 Frighteners NOT 16:9 Enhanced
Over at the Michael DVD site, Mike D himself picked up on the fact that Frighteners was listed only as Widescreen in the latest Columbia Release spec sheets.   Columbia just informed us that the region 4 Version of The Frighteners will NOT be 16:9 Enhanced. (whereas the Universal Region 1 version IS 16:9 Enhanced and very bloody good looking at that)
Universal (not Columbia I stress) really are a funny bunch...They did the SAME thing with the excellent Out of Sight transfer (according to the Hidden menu on the region 1 version, a 16:9 PAL master was made), and so Universal (not Columbia I stress again :-) go and cock it up again this time offering only a 4x3 letterboxed transfer of Frighteners.....What's up with that??
As much as I wanted a PAL version of this DVD (cass and paul think Frighteners is a bit of all right as well), I'm afraid I have to say Go region 1 on this DVD for IT's improvement in piccy quality, even over PAL superiority....(I'm still hoping it's a boo boo and that it is 16:9 Enhanced, but it's not that likely :-(

Today's Reviews
Also reviewed is Warner's Feature Length Cartoon The Magic Sword (stick with it for about 20 minutes and it gets pretty good), as well as CATS : The Musical

FOX / MGM DVD Update
As mentioned a while back, from now on, Twentieth Century FOX will be the Aussie Distributors of MGM DVDs.  The First MGM DVD to come from FOX is The 1999 version of The Thomas Crown Affair, to be released on 22nd March.  Click HERE for the latest release Schedule for FOX and MGM

CTHV / Universal DVD Update
CTHV have 2 lots of DVD releases for the Month of February and 6 DVDs to be released Date and Day with the VHS Rentals

Click HERE for the Columbia Press Release

Click HERE for the Columbia DVD Release Update

Click HERE for the Universal DVD Release Update

Weekend PREVIEW DVDs
Here's a few sneak peeks at Look Who's Talking, Parenthood, and CTHV's first DELUXE COLLECTOR'S EDITION DVD, The Mummy

PS To anyone who ordered a DTS plaque : Your FREE DVD Case Covers are being posted separately (in a few days)

Austin 2 and Shank DVD slicks
in addition to the Menu shots we received the other day, is also the actual DVD slick for Shawshank Redemption and Austin 2, both are viewable via the DVD Slicks Page

DTS Plaques have arrived...But!!!!!
Phew, they made it just in time and anyone Who Ordered a DTS Plaque will be receiving theirs on Monday or Tuesday coming (depending where you live).  Unfortunately, from initial orders we've now run out, but never fear, more are on their way. (they look damn fine to..the gold lettering is nice and shiny)

DVD Menu Shots and New Slicks
The FTP gods were against us yesterday, no way in hell would it let anything upload......grrrrrrrrrrr
Anyhoo, if you're reading this it's worked today........

Please Click Here for new Menu Shots from the upcoming Shawshank Redemption and The Remastered Long Kiss Goodnight (though you won't be able to tell from the piccys, the scene selection for Shank are suppose to be fully video-motion based), and as much as we'd love to include the background music that goes with these menus, the downloading would kill our maximum monthly rate..sorry :-)
(Shank is such a great movie, and look how well it's selling in the USA..the transfer is suppose be a cracker and the audio has been remixed into Dolby Digital 5.1..can't wait!!!!!)

Also for a looksee is the front DVD Slick for Shank, along with a few More of the January 2000 titles from Columbia

Warner DVD Reviews
Paul and Cass had an even busier Long weekend with even more reviews.

Free Willy

The Sword in the Stone

The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)

Midnight Cowboy

Demo Disc Delayed Some More
It was just about to head out the doors of A-Pix in the USA and someone found a glitch in the matri....err the Demo Disc Tools Section, so don't expect it anytime soon as a rebuilt seems to be in order (though I think it's only 1 of the discs that needs this, thankfully)

DVD Plaza Price Crawler
DVD Plaza have a very nifty price crawler that searches ALL Region 4 on-line stores and such, and gives you a price breakdown as to who offers the best deal around town...very nice addition

PS The DTS PLAQUES have ARRIVED IN OZ.  We will get them in a few days and will ship them ASAP.

Weekend Reviews
Paul has reviewed Clint Eastwood's True Crime

Cass has reviewed Pete's Dragon(which she didn't like) and 6 Days, 7 Nights(which she loved)

I've reviewed Alice in Wonderland

PS Sleepy Hollow is a very cool movie (but needed more blood :)