 For August 1997 |
For August 1997 |
DVD LISTINGS THROUGHOUT OUR SITE! | |
We have just discovered that most of the upcoming Simitar releases listed on our webiste in the DVD "Coming Distractions" column were not upcoming DVD releases at all, but were upcoming VHS tape releases instead. This also turned out to be the case for two Simitar DVDs that were supposedly already released -- The Best Fights of Jackie Chan and Krakatoa, East of Java. We have removed all such false listings from our site, and we profusely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. However, Simitar is solely to blame for these errors. We receive faxed release sheets from Simitar on a regular basis touting "Attached is information on Simitar's DVD releases," but apparently someone over there has been mixing VHS release information in with the DVD information. For example, the most recent release sheet we received from them, which states "September DVD releases," listed seven titles that are supposedly being released on DVD on September 8, 1997. But guess what...that's right, they are all VHS releases instead. Since we obviously can no longer rely upon Simitar's official "DVD release sheets," we will only be listing release information AFTER we have confirmed upcoming titles against the distributor release information we also receive. |
OF ALL LASERDISC TITLES! | |||||||
MPI Home Video has permanently reduced the retail price of all their laserdisc titles to $14.98 and $19.98. Retailers should be offering the new price in the near future. The following titles are now $14.98:
The following titles are now priced at $19.98 each:
| |||||||
NEW DVD COMPANY! | |
| Passport Internatonal Productions, which has produced numerous documentaries for the home video market, has announced that they will begin releasing some DVD products later this year. Three DVD titles are currently in production: 100 Years of Horror, a 13-part documentary series hosted by Christopher Lee; Elvis; and We Remember Marilyn, which includes quite a bit of rare footage. |
LASERDISC DISTRIBUTION DEAL | |
| We just learned that as of August 8, 1997, Image Entertainment began an exclusive laserdisc distribution agreement with Warner Home Video. Although the details are still a little sketchy at this time, we understand that Image has access to Warner's entire laserdisc library and will be handling the transfer and manufacturing duties themselves. We'll provide you with more information as soon as it becomes available. |
DVD PROBLEM | |
"Over the past week or so we have received several phone calls and E-Mail with regard to a problem with our recently released DVD, Night of the Living Dead. Here is the story. After investigating the problem, we have discovered that a software error existed in the authoring process of this title. This "bug" only affects the disc when played on a Sony DVD player. The defect is that the trailer and sort film parody cannot be accessed directly from the menu. The good news is, however, that you can still view these selections by simply accessing the previous chapter and "chaptering-up" to them. This is the only problem with this release. We are sorry for this minor inconvenience and are correcting the error for future releases." Vini Bancalari |
DVD MOVIE TITLE AGREEMENT | |
Elite Entertainment has chosen NB Digital Solutions to author at least 10 new DVD movie titles for the consumer market. The development agreement calls for 10 titles to be released over the next 18 months, with perhaps as many as 36 titles overall. F.Y.I., NB Digital Solutions provided the authoring services for UAV Entertainment's recent DVD releases. |
| |
There are apparently several problems plaguing Vivid's recent DVD release of the adult film Bobby Sox. Those of you with Mitsubishi, Pioneer or Sony DVD players will have problems accessing some of the menu selections. Although we have not seen the title ourselves, we understand that the "Vivid Girls Gallery" and several other selections do not work. However, the movie itself plays fine. Panasonic, RCA and Toshiba players are unaffected by this menu problem. However, there is also an audio problem that affects the disc on all players. Apparently, the audio cuts out for several minutes during one of the chapters. |
MY FELLOW AMERICANS LASERDISC | |
Due to a problem with the audio track on the laserdisc release of My Fellow Americans, Warner Home Video is issuing a recall on all shipments effective immediately. The audio on initial shipments of this title were manufactured with mono audio rather than Dolby Stereo as stipulated on the packaging. A new version of this laserdisc will be manufactured in the coming weeks. The remastered version will have a new catalog number (#15604). Warner will only accept returns of this disc from dealers until September 12, 1997, and consumers who purchased mono copies are urged to return them to their dealer as soon as possible. |
NATIONWIDE RELEASE DATE | |
| Due to the overwhelming response generated by Warner's announcement of nationwide distribution of their DVD titles on August 26, they have moved up the date slightly to Friday, August 22. This nationwide distribution include all Warner, MGM/UA and New Line titles. |
| |
Roadshow Entertainment, a division of Village Roadshow, has announced that they plan on releasing 15 movie titles on DVD before the end of the year. Specific titles mentioned were Pulp Fiction and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. The disc are expected to retail for $25 to $35 (Australian). DVD players are currently expected to be available around September. Additionally, major movie distributors, including Warner and Columbia TriStar are expected to begin releasing titles in Australia starting in March 1998. Just in case any of you are thinking about importing titles, you should know that Australia is located in Region 4... |
BIRTHDAY SALE! | ||||||||||||||||
Those of you looking for some terrific laserdisc bargains should visit the Lumivision website. In celebration of their 9th Anniversary, Lumivision is selling numerous catalog laserdisc titles for as low as $6.99 each. That's right...$6.99!!! Sale prices are good until September 26, 1997. The following titles are priced at $6.99 each:
The following title is priced at $15.99 each:
The following titles are priced at $29.99 each:
The following title is priced at $39.99 each:
The following title is priced at $59.99 each:
| ||||||||||||||||
| |
Image Entertainment will be permanently reducing the retail price of several laserdisc titles each month. The following first batch of ten titles will be available in stores between 09/17/97 and 10/17/97:
|
| |
Those of you with Toshiba DVD players have probably been wondering whether or not their rumored DVD Starter Kit would ever arrive. Well, we're happy to announce that Toshiba has begun mailing out your kits (provided, of course, that you remembered to mail in your product registration form). You'll definitely know your Toshiba Starter Kit has arrived the second you see the shipping box -- it's got this enormous, full-color "Toshiba DVD Video -- Your Starter Kit Has Arrived!" sticker on it. Inside the package you'll find a letter from Toshiba, subscription offers from Widescreen Review and Laserviews, a discount offer from Monster Cable, and a $25 rebate certificate. The rebate certificate is good for New Line, Warner, HBO and MGM/UA titles, and in order to get this discount you have to return this certificate, 10 original proof of purchase tabs from any of the previously-mentioned companies, and your original cash register receipt. The package also contains a DVD keep case, but it's not what you think -- since the promised (if you bought their top-of-the-line SD-3006 player) Video Essentials disc has been delayed once again, Toshiba states that they will be shipping them out once they are finished (expect it within four to six weeks). The keep case is entitled "Buy 4 Get 5th Free" on the spine, and it's simply a marketing tool to get you to immediately purchase some titles directly from Warner Home Video. It's got a fold-out cardboard cover, a 18-page color catalog, and a card-stock DVD-shaped order form stuck in the DVD section. Last but not least, Toshiba has also include a free, extra-large white t-shirt featuring color artwork on the front, and a "You've got senses. Use them." slogan on the back. |
| |
| Pioneer Entertainment has announced three initial DVD titles for release on September 16, 1997 through their new Pioneer DVD label: Beastie Boys: Sabotage, La Femme Nikita and Tenchi: The Movie - Tenchi Mûyo! In Love. |
| |
The following laserdisc titles were cancelled during the month of August 1997:
|
| |
The following DVD titles were cancelled during the month of August 1997:
|
| |
The following laserdisc titles were discontinued during the month of August 1997:
|
Created: 08/01/97 Last Updated: 11/30/97 |