DISC DISH

Growing up in England, I have a special place in my heart for our most famous secret service agent, 007. Of course, Sean Connery is my favorite, but I still like Roger Moore, and Pierce Brosnan used the Walther PPK with great style. I'm keeping a skeptical eye on Daniel Craig, but, I digress...

Just in time for Bond to live once again on the big screen (Casino Royale opens Nov. 17), MGM (through Fox) is releasing what it's calling "The Most Comprehensive Bond Discs EVER." The James Bond Ultimate Edition Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 debut on DVD on Nov. 7 (prebook Oct. 11) and Vol. 3 and 4 are due Dec. 12 (prebook Nov. 15). Each is priced at $89.98. (I know what I'm getting my Dad for his next two birthday and Christmases!)

This is apparently not just a repackaging of the same disc collections Bond fans already have on their shelves. MGM's press release--all 12 pages of it--say the films have been restored frame by frame, and the movies now feature 5.1 DTS sound. Now that's something to be thankful for.

There are new extras too, including commentaries by Moore and previously unreleased footage from the Bond archives, such as "long-anticipated deleted scenes," so the press release claims. Connery's screen tests on the Goldfinger disc should be fun.

Here's the low-down of which movies are in each volume:

Vol. 1: Goldfinger, The World is Not Enough, Diamonds Are Forever, The Man With the Golden Gun and The Living Daylights

Vol. 2: Thunderball, Die Another Day, The Spy Who Loved Me, A View To a Kill and Licence to Kill

Vols. 3&4: GoldenEye, Live & Let Die, From Russia With Love, For Your Eyes Only, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Tomorrow Never Dies, You Only Live Twice, Dr. No, Octopussy and Moonraker

Wait a minute, I know it's unofficial, but how "comprehensive" can a Bond collection be without the rogue movie, Never Say Never? I'm just a sucker for Connery in a wetsuit.

Retailers rejoice! The Descent and Pulse are coming to town. OK, OK, I know what you’re thinking. These didn’t do very well at the box office: Descent dug up $25.9 million, and Pulse pounded out $20.2 million. But that’s the point. These two horror titles are primed to scare up some serious dough in video stores.

That’s deep

Lionsgate is so confident in The Descent (street Dec. 26, prebook Nov. 29) that the title is the studio’s first new release coming out simultaneously on DVD and Blu-ray Disc, and it’s getting a 50GB Blu-ray disc to boot. The R-rated theatrical version will be released only in fullscreen, but an unrated version will be available in fullscreen and widescreen ($28.98 each). The Blu-ray disc ($39.99) will have both versions. All offer commentary with the director and cast, but the unrated cut also contains commentary with the director and crew, a making-of featurette, deleted and extended scenes (the same ones as in the extended, unrated movie?), storyboard/scene comparisons, outtakes and an interview with the director about the U.K. vs. U.S. ending. For the BD release, take all that and add a featurette on spelunking, plus the commentaries will have picture-in-picture video.

What a genius

Genius’ Pulse (street Dec. 5, prebook Oct. 24) is equally pulsating (sorry, couldn’t resist) with extra content. And it too will be delivered in the PG-13 theatrical version and an unrated version ($29.95 each). Both SKUs serve up seven deleted/alternate scenes, two commentaries and three featurettes: “Creating the Fear: Making Pulse,” “Pulse and the Paranormal” and “The Visual Effects of Pulse.” That should get the heart beating.

So much for online buzz. After the much-hyped Snakes On a Plane brought in a disappointing $33 million in theaters, New Line is reworking its marketing campaign for the DVD. “We are going to go out with a focused message that this is a great action thriller,” New Line executive VP of marketing Matt Lasorsa told VB. “There was so much theatrical awareness, but there might have been confusion as to whether this was a comedy or horror film or what.”

Snakes will writhe into stores on Jan. 2 (prebook Nov. 28; DVD $28.98) backed by a $4 million to $5 million spend in broadcast ads touting the action scenes, and the box will include a slip sleeve that has the feel of snake skin.

“Exit poll research shows that 67% of people who saw it in theaters said it was better than they expected,” Lasorsa said. “Box office was not where we had hoped it would be, but I think people will be predisposed to buy the title.”

Bonus features include commentaries from star Samuel L. Jackson and director David Ellis, deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes documentary and a featurette about that not-so-helpful online buzz.

In the pit

Also getting a bit of a change for DVD is Sony’s Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, which will race into stores on Dec. 12 (prebook Nov. 9) in the PG-13 theatrical version as well as an unrated and uncut version. Both are priced at $28.95, as is the theatrical version for the PlayStation Portable.

The studio is going all out for the DVDs, offering a trunk full of extras on the regular version plus even more on the unrated disc. The sprinkles on the vanilla version include deleted scenes, a gag reel, alternate lines not used in the film, interviews with Ricky and other characters, bonus race footage, the featurette “Will Ferrell Returns to Talladega” and a “25 Years Later” commentary—imaginative. For the unrated version, add more character interviews, montage and outtakes of Walker and Texas Ranger (Ricky’s kids, for those of you who haven’t seen the movie), more deleted scenes and 13 more minutes in the film itself. Hopefully, there’s not more footage of Will Ferrell naked.

Susanne Ault contributed to this post

Love is a battlefield in two of Fox's titles announced this week for fourth-quarter DVD release.

John Tucker Must Die arrives Nov. 14 (prebook Oct. 18) with My Super Ex-Girlfriend bowing Dec. 19 (prebook Nov. 22).

With a $40.4 million box-office gross, John Tucker proves teens will still flock to theaters for a good date movie. Guess Uma Thurman trashing Luke Willson in Ex-Girlfriend wasn't sexy enough, as the movie earned only $22.3 million. Of course, it probably helped that John Tucker himself came in the form of Desperate Housewives boy toy Jesse Metcalfe.

Teen girls will no doubt equaling flock to the Tucker disc ($29.98), which has an "On Set Tour With Jesse" as well as an extended version of the movie itself. The other extras on the menu are deleted scenes, a making-of featurette, a live performance by People in Planes and a commentary by the director, editor and writer.

The Ex-Girlfriend disc ($29.98) isn't nearly as plump, offering just deleted scenes, an extended shark sequence and the Molly McQueen "No Sleep 2 Nite" music video. No on-set tour with Luke and Uma?

Strange love

And talking of weird love, MGM is delivering a well-deserved A Fish Called Wanda Two-Disc Collector's Edition on Nov. 12 (prebook Oct. 21; $26.98). Distributed by Fox (they're keeping busy over there), the set's supplements include a trivia track, featurettes entertainingly called "Something Fishy" and "Kulture Vulture" and three Easter eggs. (We'll tell you what they are, but you have to find them: Jamie Lee Curtis' Halloween cell phone, John Cleese's thoughts on the U.S. and Wanda kissing Ken.) The always funny Cleese also contributes a commentary and the featurette "John Cleese's First Farewell Performance."

It's always good to see studios using the DVD format's interactive abilities on their releases. Paramount just announced it will bring out the $70 million-grossing animated kid flick Barnyard on Dec. 12 (prebook Oct. 31) with a DVD-ROM feature that allows kids to create their own Barnyard comic book. According to the disc's press materials, kids can drag and drop backgrounds, characters and dialog from the movie to create a print-able comic book. Now that's something that can get kids' creative juices flowing.

The DVD, priced at $19.95 MAP (minimum advertised price), also will offer the usual commentary, behind-the-scenes featurette and deleted scenes. But there's also three games -- "Which Animal Are You?," "Where's Maddie" and "Chicken Launch," plus a demo of the THQ PC game based on the film. Funnyman Kevin James stars in a featurette called "Method Acting With Kevin James" that promises a few giggles as he gets into his character, a cow called Otis. And Otis and the other characters got some new animation for a music video for "Barnyard Bop." Sounds like Paramount has gone all out for this DVD, aiming it squarely at the younger set, exactly where it should be.

And the fourth quarter heats up. Some of the most highly anticipated summer titles were announced this week. Topping the list is Buena Vista’s $417 million-grossing Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, which bows on Dec. 5 (distributor prebook Oct. 10, direct Sept. 26) as previously reported. A two-disc set ($34.99) and single-disc set ($29.99) will be available. Star Johnny Depp and screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio take center stage, with the writers contributing a commentary and Depp getting his own featurette. Other featurettes look at the special effects, etc., and how the filmmakers re-imagined the popular Disneyland ride on which the franchise is based. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer even threw in his photo diary of the production. Hope he had a waterproof camera.

It’s a bird

Warner has snagged Nov. 28 (prebook is Oct. 17) for the release of the $197 million-grossing Superman Returns. The ultimate peacekeeper, Superman will fly out as an HD DVD Combo disc (which has HD DVD on one side of the disc and standard-def on the other) priced at $39.99 and on Blu-ray Disc with a list price of $34.99. On standard-def, the movie will be available in two versions: a single-disc for $28.98 with just the movie and a two-disc special edition priced at $34.99 that offers 10 deleted scenes and four featurettes about various aspects of the production, including the filmmaker’s resurrection of Marlon Brando as Jor-El. What no PSP? Warner has partnered with Papa Johns Pizza, Duracell and PerfectMatch.com for the DVD releases—and judging by the movie, Superman could use some help from PerfectMatch.

It’s a piranha

And Dec. 12 (prebook Oct. 18) has been slated for the $123 million-grossing The Devil Wears Prada, bowing at what Fox calls the “slender price” of $29.98. Extras could be slender too, with the studio listing “director’s commentary, deleted scenes and featurettes.” How about something with a bit of meat on it, like a “how to get even with your boss” section?

OK, I've got a good one for all those classic sitcom fans. On Nov. 7 (prebook Oct. 11), Fox is bringing out M*A*S*H: The Martinis & Medicine Collection, containing all 11 seasons, plus the 1970 feature film, plus two new bonus discs, plus a retrospectic book created specifically for this DVD set, plus a Hummer. (OK, no Hummer, but you might need one to get this set home.)

The list of special features looks promising with the highlight being the unproduced script of an episode called "Hawkeye On the Double." The menu also offers a blooper reel (always good for a laugh or two), archival interviews, clips and interviews from the last day of filming (get out a hankie), featurettes on "Jocularity" and the fans, a few TV specials, PSAs from the cast and a trivia game. Of course, the shows themselves are the diamonds. The set will list for $199.98, so start kissing up to your rich loved ones now in time for the holidays.

Retailers, how about dressing up your store in camouflage for street date?

Addendum

I'd also like to add something to Friday's post, Anthology Galore. As my husband rightly reminded me this weekend, MGM has already brought out a Rocky Anthology (yes, even with the same name). The five-disc set came out in December 2004 and contained only the movies. So, I guess this new does have the supplements over its predecessor.

What is it with anthologies this week? MGM is putting together the Rocky Anthology for Dec. 5 release (prebook Nov. 8), packaging all five movies--including the new two-disc Rocky: Collector's Edition of the first movie--into a thinpack, to ease our already stressed shelves. All that for $49.98. The new edition of Rocky, which also will be available separately for $26.98, packs punches with a new audio commentary by Sylvester Stallone (think he'll mention the upcoming Rocky IV theatrical release?), another new audio commentary by Boxing Legends trainer Lou Duva and commentator Bert Sugar. There's also a whopping six featurettes: "Three Rounds With Legendary Trainer Lou Duva," "Interview With a Legend: Bert Sugar," "The Opponents," "In the Ring: Making of Documentary," "Steadicam: Then & Now" (the expose we've all been waiting for), "Make Up!: The Art & Form With Michael Westmore" (phew, got to catch my breath...), "Staccato: A Composer's Notebook With Bill Conti" and--finally--"The Ring of Truth." But wait! There's more! Deleted scenes.

Scaring us into buying

In time for Halloween, Warner is delivering The Exorcist: The Complete Anthology on Oct. 10 (prebook Sept. 5), priced at $42.92. Now you might be thinking this is an obvious, and it is, except for one thing--This really is the COMPLETE collection. And by that I mean that it has the usual The Exorcist, Exorcist II: The Heretic and The Exorcist III, and even The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen, but it also has Renny Harlin's Exorcist: The Beginning and the black sheep of the family, Paul Schrader's Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist.

For those of you not in the know, Schrader was close to the end of production on Dominion when the plug was pulled and Harlin was hired to redo the entire film. Harlin's version got the theatrical push, pulling in $41.8 million. But word was out and fans were clammoring to see what they were missing. So Schrader's Dominion got a limited theatrical run and later DVD release. Schrader's version had a $30 million budget, and Harlin's $50 million, and they share Stellan Skarsgard as Father Merrin. Now the whole family is together and fans can decide for themselves. Let me know what you think.

In the mail this morning was Fox's usual package of press releases, and the diamond is How I Met Your Mother: Season One, which the studio will release on DVD on Nov. 21 (prebook Oct. 18). The three-disc set ($39.98) offers a "Happy Hour" blooper reel, which sounds promising, and a "Video Yearbook" featurette that we hope is an original take on the standard making-of. There are also two clip montages (why?) and commentaries on six episodes, including three featuring the bubbly Alyson Hannigan. They could be worth a listen.

More features

Fox also announced it's delivering Family Guy: Vol. 4 on Nov. 14 (prebook Oct. 18), with commentary on every episode (phew), extended versions of two episodes (now you're talking), five extended cut episodes (giggidy giggidy), 43 deleted scenes and featurettes galore. Sounds like it's well worth the $39.98 list price.

More TV

And rounding out the TV offerings in Fox's press release package were Reba: The Complete Fourth Season (street Nov. 14, prebook Oct. 18; three-disc set $29.98) and The Simple Life: Til Death Do Us Part (street Dec. 26, prebook Nov. 29; DVD $19.98). But seriously, can we call The Simple Life TV?

Randal and Dante return to the video store on Nov. 28. Kevin Smith’s Clerks II prebooks on Oct. 17 and lists at $29.98 on DVD. True to form, Smith’s disc is packed with extras. The director chats with the actors in a feature commentary. Plus there’s deleted scenes, outtakes and an extended Donkey Show—just what we all need. There’s also a 90-minute making-of documentary, up to three hours of production video diaries and a featurette on the dance sequence. The Weinstein Company’s product is distributed through Genius.

And more sex

Keeping with the theme, Pamela Anderson’s latest TV show, Stacked, comes to disc on Dec. 12 (prebook Nov. 15) from Fox. The show was canceled after a brief airing on the Fox network, but the three-disc Complete Series set ($29.98) contains 14 episodes, five of which weren’t broadcast. The special features menu offers “Show Us Your Bloopers” gag reel and two featurettes: “Skyler’s Guide to Dating” and “Nipplegate: Getting Dressed With Pam.” Randal would be so proud.

Has any DVD been as environmentally correct as Paramount’s planned release for An Inconvenient Truth? Following the theme of Al Gore’s $22.8 million-grossing global warming exposé, the DVD (street Nov. 21, prebook Oct. 10; $26.99) packaging includes 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper, inks and coatings, with no inserts, laminates or plastics—“so as to make the smallest environmental footprint possible,” says the press materials. And the studio is donating a portion of the DVD sales to the Alliance for Climate Protection. Next step: Getting the trucks delivering the DVDs to run on Ethanol.

ALTERNATIVE FUELS

Or maybe electricity. Oh, nevermind. Sony on Nov. 14 (prebook Sept. 21; DVD $26.96) tells us Who Killed the Electric Car?. The Sundance and Toronto festival documentary, narrated by Martin Sheen, unravels the controversy and theories about the demise of GM’s EV1.

ALTERNATIVE CULPRITS

Meanwhile, in Acorn Media’s DVD of the British miniseries Eleventh Hour (street Sept. 26, order now; $29.99), Patrick Stewart plays Professor Ian Hood (no, not Professor X) and battles “rogue cloners, ruthless polluters, resurgent viruses and other menaces at the very frontier of contemporary science,” according to the back of the box. Sounds like he could use some help from Storm—and maybe Al Gore.

They’re cute, they’re cuddly and they go straight to DVD. Animated DVD premieres have been a cash cow for studios for years, and three high-profile—at least, more than others—titles are coming in the next few months.

Continuing its strategy of turning classic theatrical movies into DVD franchises, Buena Vista trots The Fox and the Hound 2 to disc on Dec. 12 (prebook Oct. 17 direct, Oct. 31 distributor; $29.99). Featuring songs from Reba McEntire and Trisha Yearwood and the voice talents of Patrick Swayze and Jeff Foxworthy (get it, FOX-worthy? Oh nevermind), the movie follows Copper and Tod (the fox and the hound) to a county fair, where adventure ensues.

Duck soup

Also coming home for the holiday (home video, that is) is Warner’s Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas. This umpteenth take on A Christmas Carol sees Daffy Duck as Scrooge (of course) and Porky Pig as his put-upon worker (Steven Spielberg couldn’t have cast it better). The title will be unwrapped on Nov. 14 (prebook Oct. 10; DVD $19.98). Warner has partnered with KFC for promotions, with kids meal boxes featuring the DVD box art and a $3 mail-in rebate offer. Think Daffy will mind being on a box of fried chicken?

Cobbler pie

And always acting like a major studio, Weinstein plans to steal space on shelves with The Thief and the Cobbler, distributed through Genius on Nov. 21 (prebook Oct. 10; DVD $19.95). Toni Collette, who’s currently garnering laughs in theaters in Little Miss Sunshine, joins a host of notable names in the voice cast, including Matthew Broderick, Vincent Price and Jennifer Beals. The story of a shy shoemaker who falls in love with an adventure-loving princess (aren’t they all?) comes in pop-up packaging showing off the characters and castle. Perfect for any fairy tale ending.

Is the way to consumers’ hearts through their stomachs?

Warner continues to roll out DVDs from Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia with the upcoming Everyday Food Vol. 1: Fast, Family-Friendly Ideas on Oct. 17 (prebook Sept. 12; DVD $14.97) and Martha’s Favorite Cookies on Nov. 7 (prebook Oct. 3; DVD $14.97). Everyday Food is a collection of episodes from the TV show, featuring chefs John Barricelli, Sarah Carey, Allie Lewis, Margot Olshan and Lucinda Scala Quinn whipping up such efficient gastronomical delights as “Shrimp With Garlic and Lemon” and “Apple Cinnamon Bundt Cake.” In Cookies, Martha herself bakes “Gingerbread People” and “Scottish Shortbread,” to name a few.

Bon appetit

Meanwhile, WGBH Boston celebrates the original celebrity chef, Julia Child, with a three-disc set on Oct. 17 (prebook Sept. 19; DVD $39.95). Julia Child: The French Chef contains a biography on Child and 12 newly released episodes from her TV series, in which she demonstrates the techniques behind “Coq Au Vin,” “Quiche Lorraine & Co.” and “Génoise Jelly Roll.”

No appetite

Featuring food but not necessarily appetizing are a couple upcoming titles from Hen’s Tooth and HBO. The 1998 offbeat crime movie Fast Food, about “criminals who spend their days playing cards, arguing about the Royal family and eating repellent fast food,” gets greased up on disc on Oct. 31 (prebook Oct. 10; DVD $24.95). And HBO (distributed by Warner) examines the effects of obsessive food habits—women with eating disorders—in the documentary Thin (street Nov. 21, prebook Oct. 10; DVD $24.98).

Mmmm! So, what’s for dinner

Always wanted to be Dr. Dolittle and talk to the animals? Well, lots of upcoming releases offer the opportunity to practice.

Fox’s $27.8 million-grossing sequel Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties purrs onto DVD on Oct. 10 (prebook Sept. 13; DVD $29.98). The talking cat (voiced by Bill Murray) will be featured more on the disc, in a maze game and a widescreen extended edition of the movie. Other bonus features are the featurette “Drawing With Jim Davis,” an exclusive comic strip and “Odie’s Photo Album Game.”

Woof woof

Buena Vista walks the latest DVD premiere in the Air Bud line to stores on Dec. 12. Now, I know what you’re thinking—“the Air Bud dog doesn’t talk”—but in this new movie, Air Buddies (prebook Oct. 17 direct, Oct. 31 distributor; DVD $29.99), five puppies are introduced to the family, and guess what? They talk! Even some adult animals have found their tongues, and they sound amazing like Richard Karn, Michael Clarke Duncan and Don Knotts. The disc offers a featurette to teach owners how to “Train Your Dog to be a Star”—watch out, Fido!—as well as those talking puppies being interviewed for “Hollywood Backstage Pass With Air Buddies.”

Moooo, oink

Talking dogs and cats not enough for you? Sony’s got a host of releases with verbose animals—clay, that is. Creature Comforts: The Complete Second Season (two-disc set $24.96); Creature Comforts: Merry Christmas, Everybody (DVD $9.95) and Creature Comforts: Seasons 1 & 2 (three-disc set $40.95) gather in stores on Oct. 24 (prebook Sept. 21). Supplements in the Second Season package include a making-of featurette, plus “The People Behind the Puppets” and the short “Animated Conversations: Countryside Code.” Better get out your dictionary.

Leather and grass, anyone?

Paramount’s delivering a new DVD edition of Grease on Sept. 19 (prebook Aug. 8) wrapped in—what else?—a black leather jacket. The Grease Rockin’ Rydell Edition, priced at $19.99, is adorned in what the studio billed as a T-Bird leather jacket. The original greasers’ insignia is even on the back of the jacket, and the Grease logo is stitched into the front. Of course, the DVD also offers plenty of new special features, but who needs them when you have a T-Birds leather jacket?

Speaking of dead

Meanwhile, HBO is going, well, six feet under for a new box set of its acclaimed funeral series. On Oct. 31 (prebook Sept. 26), all five seasons of the Emmy Award-winning Six Feet Under will be issued in a 24-disc collection packaged within a burial plot, complete with a faux earth box and a grass lid. Along with the originally released single-season supplements, this new set, priced at $279.99, also boasts “obituaries” of the cast members and two soundtracks.

HBO also has announced the four-disc The Sopranos: Season Six, Part 1, which will arrive on Nov. 7 (prebook Oct. 3; $99.98) with four commentary tracks, including the first ever by Mrs. Soprano herself, Edie Falco. But there’s no special packaging. What, they couldn’t fit four discs in a pan of baked ziti?