DVDown Under - July Archived News

30th July 1999

A Bit on the T2 Delay
I've seen a few bits and pieces of news around the place on the reasons for the continuing Delay of this title....today when I enquired with CTS about it, it turns out the first reason for the Delay was Audio related....BUT the problem was a curious one as the English audio track changed over to the FRENCH audio track at Chapter 20 (which I'm guessing was the point of the Layer Change of the disc).....so, back to square one for them..Then when the disc was re-authored BUT the overall quality didn't meet spec, so again, they have re-authored......so don't expect to see this DVD any time before September in the Region 4 market......

Those DTS DVDs....
Last night i had the chance to test out the three DTS Audio DVDs released in OZ by DVD Australia, on the fan-dangled Meridian Digital Home Theatre System(available from Northside Hi-Fi, just ask for Mervyn....plug plug :-)
(By the way, my house is now up for sale if anyone is interested :-)
All I can say is WOW....Shadoan (the DVD Game) sounded absolutely spectacular in DTS 5.1...the difference to the Dolby 2.0 track was incredible....there was so much more present in the mix it kinda makes you wonder if some of the sound effects and music were actually extracted for the DD2.0 track...while you would expect multichannel audio to sound a lot better, in this case it was frightening how damn good it sounded....The other 2 DVDs sounded pretty good, with the kids cartoon Legend of Mulan sounding very nice, with some very accurate discrete surround effects sounding very natural, whereas Zig Zag tended to sound exaggerated in the rears, which is by no means bad, but a little distracting..still the sound was clear and clean for a very low budget movie shot on 16mm, but i did notice a bit of bad lip-syncing, which i am pretty sure is NOT the fault of the DVD authoring, put rather a post dubbing problem, as every thing else is sync-ed fine....After hearing these DTS DVDs i am very tempted to fork out the money and get my decoder upgraded to DTS as i think I'm hooked.....I used the new Sony DVP-S725 and what a killer machine this is....in addition to the Bit rate metre which shows what the DVD was encoded at, it also includes the bit rate for the audio tracks...On Shadoan, the DD2.0 track was encoded at 192Kbits per seconds, whereas the DTS track was encoded at a whopping 1052Kbits per second. Almost SIX times the amount in data is needed to encode a DTS5.1 track over a Dolby Digital 2.0 track.

this is white text

29th July 1999

Upcoming CTS and Universl Releases
Goto the Studio Releases page for a detailed list of upcoming released from CTS and Universal, some details were not available, but you'll get the gist of it....On some the USA DVD sites it has been mentioned that Beuna Vista will be releasing Shakespeare in Love as their FIRST 16:9 Enhanced DVD to the REGION 1 Market...whereas Universal have the rights to this Movie outside the USA...(I wonder if Universal has some pull here on the USA release of this DVD), not sure of the details of the region 1 version, but our Region 4 version is packed full of goodies....

this is white text

28th July 1999

FOX's October DVD Releases
Fox have a few more titles coming this October, though no details have yet been released

There's Something About Mary / Die Hard / Die Hard 2 : Die Harder /
Speed / Speed 2 : Cruise Control / Unlawful Entry / Point Break

PS someone emailed that they accidientally selected the $44.95 box for the What price will you pay survey (apparently it crashed their machine....honest)

I've also had a few quick look at the new DTS 5.1 audio DVD Game Shadoan....great animation, a big step up from Dragon's Lair...(now available from EZY DVD )

And finally, Video Now have finished with the overhaul of their site layout....muuuuuch better now, though the dark blue text is a bit hard to see.....(but their prices are really good)

this is white text

27th July 1999

More on FOX DVD Pricing
Here's some more info the FOX DVD pricing.....turns out that FOX are not using a RRP for DVDs, instead they will sell the DVDs to Dealers at a certain price (as the others do), BUT it will be up to the dealer to come up with a suitable Retail Price, so in accordance to the Wholesale Price of these DVDs, the previoulsy mentioned RRPs of $39.95 and $44.95 are about right (as it's going to cost shops more to buy FOX DVDs than it does for them to buy Roadshow and CTS DVDs (which i might add are generally 16:9 Enhanced, unlike FOXs upcoming DVDs)......
And expect Titanic to be the higher of the two prices as it'll cost the shops Even More to buy due to the fact this particular DVD will be authored, and duplicated in the UK, whereas the remainder of the DVDs (like Mary and the Die Hard Films) will be Made in Taiwan...seriously..

So, here is ANOTHER POLL that you may like to have your say in.... Will you be Buying the Region 4 DVD of TITANIC

More Extras on MGM's RONIN
Turns out that the region 4 version of Ronin will have an EXTRA featurette not found on the Region 1 Version....called Filming in the Fast Lane - the making of doco with Frankenheimer...

this is white text

25th July 1999

Fox DVDs at a Titanic price
I Received some info on the upcoming FOX DVDs and it looks as though FOX are going to put a cat amongst the pigeons wihen they release TITANIC here on DVD on the 1st September, as it will carry a RRP of either $39.95, OR $44.95......., and it's not the only FOX DVD to be priced higher than the current TOP market price of $34.95 for a DVD movie (not including music DVDs)...When There's Something About Mary makes it's DVD debut this October, it will retail for $39.95.......When FOX first released DVDs in the USA some of their DVDs carried a $5 premium over the other higher priced DVDs released by CTS and Buena Vista, much to the disgust of many in Region 1...and I for one won't be buying DVDs at this price either ESPECIALLY since they're cheating us of an ANAMORPHIC picture on the HIGHEST grossing movie of all time.........

Which leads me to the Latest Poll..... What RETAIL price are you willing to pay for Region 4 FOX DVDs

this is white text

23rd July 1999

Screwy Links
Sorry about all the screwy links on the main page.....moved a file I shouldn't have and it auto updated on me putting a /misc in front of everything :-)

PS...you may need to do a REFRESH as some of the graphics n this page have changed

this is white text

22nd July 1999

DTS DVDs are Out Now

DVD Australia's first batch of DTS Audio Encoded DVDs are now available... EZY DVD have them and are selling Zig-Zag, Legend of Mulan and Shadoan starting from $32.95 (Shadoan DVD Game is a bit more though)...All are encoded in DTS 5.1 as well as Dolby Digital 2.0..

PS We're currently out of stock of the Clear DVD Cases.....more in stock soon

this is white text

21st July 1999

No Juicy News Today
Sorry, haven't got anything that you'll find really really exciting today, except I have this Friday off work....woo hoo...long weekend for me!!!!

Our Monster Cable Range has EXPANDED
Due to Consumer demand, we've added a few more goodies from the Monster Cable Range...the new additions include various Audio Interconnects and PAL Connecters (aerial leads),as well as a few combo packs...please Drop by our DVD Station for a look-see...

PS DVD Australia are just about to release their first Batch of DTS encoded DVDs to the Aussie Market.

this is white text

19th July 1999

Polygram DVD Slicks
Goto the DVD Slicks page for a look at Polygrams upcoming The Borrowers and The Big Lebowski........You may notice the UNIVERSAL LOGO all over these slicks......that's because of the big buy up recently.....it certainly makes thing interesting with Universal DVDs being distributed by Columbia Tri-Star in OZ and Polygram DVD being distributed with the Universal badge in OZ...although i did notice that "Universal Music" is listed on the letterhead that came with the Slicks ...so i suppose it's the same sorta setup with Warner and Warner Music..any hoo

Bigger, Longer, and UNCUT
No I'm not talking about the South Park film (which I simply pisses myself laugh in....even got a sore head from it)....
I read in the QLD Sunday Mail that Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut will be released here in its FULL UNCUT " version, which means we'll get to see the full 65 second orgy...woo hoo!!!. So unlike the "digitally fudged" USA Theatrical release there'll be no fuzzy bits in the way of all that nakedness, so to speak....

this is white text

15th July 1999

Nope...you'll still have to wait 'til 2005!!!
DVD File was given wrong info by Lucasfilm PR themselves on the Christmas Star Wars DVD release, drop by DVD File for all the dirt on what IS NOT coming this Christmas..........grrrrr i say.....grrrr

Roadshow's H20 DVD release
No no it hasn't sneeked onto shelves just yet, but I was told today that the Famous John Carpenter Score is being included as part of the main menu, and has been taken from the film transfer soundtrack.........LIS is also still being tinkered with........

Click HERE for a look-see at the H20 DVD main menus

Click HERE for a look-see at the Lost In Space DVD main menus

this is white text

14th July 1999

It's 5.1 all the way baby!!!!!!
As I mentioned yesterday about the latest DVDs(except the Streisand flick as it's was a delayed title) from CTS only including One English Track rather than the standard two (one in Dolby 2.0 and the other in 5.1), I dropped an email to a fellow at CTS Australia to see if they had decided to drop the dual audio approach, and it seems they have.....the response was that from now on, all the recent titles will only have a Dolby Digital 5.1 track (when available)......

New Links
Have added a few new links today....one to the Home Theatre Nut, and the Other to Video Now (a canadian online video and DVD retailer, with some excellent specials and the free shipping for 2 or more DVDs, they list their prices in US Dollars BTW)

this is white text

13th July 1999

It's coming THIS CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!
I dropped by Peter Bracke's The DVD File today and he has some fantastic news that many of you may want to drool over (the links back there ).

Columbia DVD Releases
Although I'm sure i've seen a very similar list to this on DVD Bits, here's a list of some upcoming titles from CTS/Universal that were emailed to me the other day.

Shakespeare in Love and Meet Joe Black in August / Sept, Jawbreaker in Oct, The Mummy in Nov, Spec Ed'n of Mask Of Zorro for same day release as video in Nov, Madeline (Same day release as video too)

Older and classic titles as well like On The Waterfront,Serpico,Silverado,Groundhog Day Ghostbusters 1 & 2 (Nov). Nearly everything they have on video now they plan to release on DVD. They hope to release about 20 titles for August!!!

Steve K over at DVD Net has the DVD Slicks to the July releases.....something of interest i noticed when scanning thru them all......the really NEW stuff of CTS has only ONE Dolby Digital english track (rather than a DD2.0 and DD5.1 track of English)...wonder if they've decided to drop the 2 track approach all together......and the other goodies is that the Universal release of Liar Liar is 16:9 (unlike the USA release which is P&S only )...check em out....(there's a few of them, so it may take a while to load )

this is white text

12th July 1999

More Buena Vista Details
Confirming the BV news from the other day, here's Warner's Official releases for their Buena Vista DVDs for the next few months (plus the date and day titles)

AUGUST
Hand that Rocks the Cradle, The / Rocketeer / Starship Troopers
Three Muskeeters

SEPTEMBER
Air Force One / Aladdin King of Thieves / Deceived /
Dumbo / Guilty as Sin / Jungle to Jungle / Love Bug
Parent Trap / Quiz Show /
Romy & Michelle's Highschool Reunion
Spyhard / While You Were Sleeping
Bugs Life (Day & Date 24 Sep)

OCTOBER - ALL TITLES TBC
Alice in Wonderland / Hocus Pocus / Lion King 2: Simba's Pride
Mafia / Mary Poppins / Mighty Joe Young (VHS 1/9)
Nightmare before Christmas / Operation Dumbo Drop
Pete's Dragon / Santa Claus / Splash / Sword and the Stone

PS. The Digital DVD Shop now sell Warner and Buena Vista DVDs

this is white text

8th July 1999

Lotsa DVD Release Changes
It seems a few Aussie Distributors are rescheduling some of their DVD releases over the next few months......DVD Net have reported some delays from CTS, and now some MORE Buena Vista titles have been dropped from July and August for later dates....In August we will only be seeing 4 titles from BV (who have been giving us around 10 per month since Warner picked up the Two Year Distribution rights)

So for August 99 from BV we are to see ONLY the following 4 titles The Hand that Rocks the Cradle, The Rocketeer, Starship Troopers, and the Three Musketeers....and gone are Air Force One (coming in September), The Love Bug, Pete's Dragon, Quiz Show, Romy and Michelle......Spy Hard and While You Were Sleeping.

More On Muriel
Got word today that Roadshow have received the print which will be used in the transfer of their upcoming Muriels Wedding DVD....It was struck from the original negative and is a true anamorphic print......
For those of you after film of a totally different nature, Roadshows release of H20 is still in the works...apparently there were some audio glitches on the original soundtrack they received, and they are patiently waiting for a new one

this is white text

6th July 1999

DTS DVDs coming to OZ from "DVD Australia"
Okay, okay, so i may have unintentionally :-) exaggerated a little (or made you think otherwise) but it is true, in a few weeks time we will see the first batch of DTS Audio Encoded DVDs to hit our shores thanks to DVD Australia who are currently [Legally] importing all their DVDs from the USA as NTSC region 0 discs...Just recently, they decided to pick up the game up a bit and are venturing into essentially uncharted waters by releasing a selecion of Movies and Games with DTS Audio for the Australian Market.....(these disd are also NTSC region 0)

Shadoan (DVD Game from the Creators of Dragon's Lair)
Click HERE for the SLICK

Zigzag (Adult Thriller)
Click HERE for the SLICK

Legend of Mulan (Animated)
Click HERE for the SLICK

The second week of July is the expected release date, and at this time no prices have been announced (DVD Australia also plan to release a DTS Audio version of "DVD Karaoke"!!!!!!

PS. The Region 4 Verson of TITANIC will be selling for around the $AUD36 mark

this is white text

5th July 1999

Slight Delays for Armageddon and Enemy
With the need to re-encode these DVDs for REGION 4 playback these 2 titles have been delayed a little longer than previoulsy mentioned...the DVD release date for Armageddon and Enemy of the state will now be the 30th July 1999.....while the further delay is a bit of a bummer, just think how much better off we'll be in OZ with 2 more 16:9 Enhanced / RSDL DVDs to add to our Collections that you can't get on Region 1 :-)

Other Warner and BV Delays
All Warner DVDs have been pushed back from a 5th July release (today) to a 12th July Release...
Mike D mentiond the other day that a "selection" of Buena Vista titles due to be released in July are now delayed til August..as Mike pointed out, nearly ALL these DVDs are Flippers.....and like him my first thought was ......hnmmmm RSDL releases....but unfortunately they are ALL still being released as flippers.........bugger
Warner are also set to repackage the Kurt Russell vehicle SOLDIER.......Althought the commentary track is suppose to be there (on track 3)...the only way to access it is via your remote Control's AUDIO BUTTON as there is no selection via the DVD Menu

PS BV's DVD of George of the Jungle is absolutley terrific....only a Full Frame Version mind you, but immaculate none the less....and you'll be very pleased to know that the audio sync is near perfect (even on the pioneer DV717) .......see, they can do it properly....

Studio Releases Main Page

this is white text

1st July 1999

A Few Postal Changes
We've made some changes and are now using Ansett Air for a few bigger postal orders....particularly the amarays and Monster Cable
Please goto DVD Station and then goto the items in question.

Universal's Bride Of Chucky coming from Roadshow???
I had seen on The Video Shift's coming soon page that Bride Of Chucky is down as coming from Roadshow....I was under the impression that Universal would be distributing that one over here seeing as the last 3 in the (travolta style come-back) series have been bought to us by Universal...being the ever curious DVD'er that i am, I asked Roadshow about this film and they do hold the distribution rights to BOC in OZ.......While VRS have plans to release it on DVD, it's been put on the back burner for a little while......all i can say is HURRY UP...the region 1 version of this movie is a fantastic DVD.....killer piccy, great sound, excellent commentaries, and very bloody funny......a real DVD keeper

tis is white text