DVD ANNOUNCEMENT ROUNDUP

We’ve got DVDs that will make you feel pretty, witty, and gay – among other things.

One of my favorite musicals of all time, WEST SIDE STORY gets a blu-ray release for it’s 50th Anniversary on NOVEMBER 15TH. The film features a new restored print and 7.1 audio.

Announced Special Features will include:

Pow! The Dances of West Side Story – cast members, contemporary filmmakers, dancers and choreographers analyze and illuminate the film’s famous dance sequences.
A Place for Us: West Side Story’s Legacy – a look back at the iconic film and the impact it has had all over the world
Song Specific Commentary by Lyricist Stephen Sondheim
Music Machine, which allows viewers to go straight to their favorite musical numbers and MUCH MORE!

The JURASSIC PARK TRILOGY comes to blu-ray on October 25th. All three films have been digitally restored and remastered in high definition and the films’ sound effects and the music from John Williams can now be heard in 7.1 surround sound. It will be available as a regular boxed set and in a limited edition gift set which includes a T-Rex figurine.

The set will include an all new bonus feature, “Return to Jurassic Park”, a six-part documentary features all-new interviews with the many of the cast members from all three films, the filmmakers and Steven Spielberg.

There’s also a HUGE selection of other special features on all three films.

Here’s a trailer for the set:

Brian De Palma’s masterwork SCARFACE comes to blu-ray on SEPTEMBER 6th. First you get the money, then you put it into a high interest savings account, and then maybe you can get your hands on this extremely limited edition cigar humidor.

Created by the renowned Daniel Marshall, the humidor’s exterior is hand painted and polished with the Marshall’s trademark “1000 coat brilliant finish.” The interior – made with untreated Spanish cedar – will properly condition and age approximately 100 cigars at optimal humidity levels. Limited to 1,000 worldwide, each individually numbered humidor comes embellished with custom medallions inspired by the iconic film and includes a certificate of authenticity.

The regular blu-ray will also be released on the same day. The blu-ray includes an new special feature called The Scarface Phenomenon. This all-new documentary presents Scarface as a unique phenomenon in cinema history. It explores how a film plagued by controversy leading up to its release has become a Hollywood classic, influencing a whole new generation of filmmakers and leaving a lasting imprint on popular culture.

Also, the blu-ray will include a Scarface Scoreboard, which keeps track of the number of times ” fuck”is used and bullets are fired!
There will also be a Picture in Picture, which will access interview footage of Brian De Palma, Al Pacino, Screenwriter Oliver Stone, and others without interruption to the movie experience. Also featured is a scene comparison between the 1983 version of Scarface and Howard Hawks’ original film.

The Dude will definitely abide with the release when THE BIG LEBOWSKI arrives on a Limited Edition blu-ray on AUGUST 16th!

Announced Special Features include:

Mark it Dude: This onscreen counter really ties the film together. Keep track of all the “F-Bombs,” “Dudes,” and “Dude-isms” in the film with this ultimate fan guide.
The Music of The Big Lebowski: Instantly identify the songs heard while watching the film, create a custom playlist of your favorites and even purchase them from iTunes!
WORTHY ADVERSARIES: WHAT’S MY LINE TRIVIA: Test your Lebowski knowledge by finishing lines of dialogue during the film. Play as Walter or The Dude or in two-player mode against friends.
JEFF BRIDGES PHOTO BOOK: For more than 30 years, Jeff Bridges has been snapping pictures on movie sets. The accomplished photographer presents exclusive shots taken on the set of The Big Lebowski providing personal commentary on each photo.
THE DUDE’S LIFE: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi and John Turturro take a look back at their performances and their delivery of the Coen Brothers’ dialogue that became classic movie lines.
THE DUDE ABIDES: THE BIG LEBOWSKI TEN YEARS LATER: A freewheeling conversation with the cast about the film’s decade-long reign as a cult classic, including a discussion about what ever happened to the “little Lebowski” that the Dude and Maude made that fateful night!
THE LEBOWSKI FEST: AN ACHIEVER’S STORY: An in-depth look at the popular Lebowski Festival, formed by the legion of fans in honor of the film.
FLYING CARPETS & BOWLING PIN DREAMS: THE DREAM SEQUENCES OF THE DUDE: From aerial flights over Los Angeles with his bowling ball chasing Maude on a flying carpet, to the large scale “Busby Berkley” dance sequences as The Dude goes flying through the legs of all the bowling pin headed dancers, this piece examines how these “ahead of their time” scenes were constructed.

and much more!

Lastly, nerd favorites Simon Pegg and Nick Frost come to blu-ray in an unrated edition of alien road trip comedy PAUL on AUGUST 9th.

Announced Special Features include:

Between the Lightning Strikes: The Making of Paul
Behind the Scenes Featurettes including: RV Doorway: The Cast of Paul On-Location. Smithereens, 5th Date Level Direction: The Cast on Greg Mottola, Mexico Zero: The Locations of Paul, and The Many Pauls.
Paul: The Musical — The cast joins together for an impromptu musical version of the film.
The Traveler Beagle — A look at all the different RVs used on the set of Paul, from fully functioning vehicles to a mock-up on a Hollywood soundstage.

and here’s brief video of stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost talking about the blu-ray. with teacups.

See you on the next round up!