First up is Kirby's first-ever racing game and his first Gamecube release. Brake and slide around corners with
a unique push action, steal enemy abilities and use them to your advantage, it has three distinct play modes,
and you can race different types of warpstar vehicles. Click on the image for more details on this Nintendo title.
Anyone who remembers Pitfall Harry from the Atari 2600 VCS can indulge in more up-to-date antics, although a
brief look at some screenshots show what looks like a fairly standard 3D platform action adventure that we've
seen plenty of. Still, Pitfall: The Lost Expedition is out from Activision on February 20th on
Xbox,
PS2,
Gamecube and
Gameboy Advance.
Also out in the spring from Activision is the PC version of True Crime: Streets of L.A., which wasn't
my cup of tea, but you can read the
Xbox review here.
You'll have to wait a bit longer for Atari's Driver 3, aka Driv3r, which is out from June 1st on
Xbox,
PS2 and
Gamecube.
DVDs: John's Not Mad and Stella Street finale...
And for DVDs, filmed as a QED documentary by the BBC, John's Not Mad (click on the image for more info)
made a huge impact on the nation and brought the relatively unknown condition of Tourette Syndrome into the
public domain. The documentary follows John Davidson, a 15 year old schoolboy from Galashiels who suffers from
the most severe form of this complex neurological disorder. This fascinating and inspiring film explores the
way in which John, his family and the local community deal with his extreme condition.
The DVD is released on Feb 9th, costs £14.99 and includes footage from the 2002 follow-up, The Boy
Can't Help It.
And, finally, the BBC occasional series
Stella Street (£19.99)
gets a finale in feature-length form on March 15th. The show is the side-splitting feature-length comedy inspired
by the BBC television series of the same name, a hilarious parody of the petty foibles and feuds of celebrity
existence.
It stars Phil Cornwell, John Sessions and Ronni Ancona in multiple roles impersonating a group of celebrities
including Sir Michael Caine (played by Cornwell), Jack Nicholson (Cornwell), Al Pacino (portrayed by John Sessions),
Mick Jagger (Cornwell), Keith Richards (Sessions), Joe Pesci (Sessions), David Bowie (Cornwell) and Posh Spice
(impersonated by Ronni Ancona) who, tired of the pressures of life in the spotlight, gravitate to an anonymous
London suburb.
For centuries, two races have evolved. Hidden deeply within human culture - the aristocratic, sophisticated
Vampires, and the brutal, feral Lycans (werewolves). To humanity, their existence is no more than a whisper
of a myth. But to each other, they are mortal rivals, sworn to wage a secret war until only one race is left
standing. In the midst of this ongoing struggle, a Vampire warrior, Selene (Kate Beckinsale), discovers a
Lycan plot, a secret that has terrifying repercussions for both tribes - a plot to awaken a new invincible
species of predator that combines the strengths of both creatures and the weaknesses of neither...
Released on February 16th, the extras include director, writers and technical audio commentaries, the
making of Underworld, Creature effects, Stunts, Sights and sounds, Storyboard comparison, Music video
and a TV spot. The DVD costs £19.99 and is presented in 2.35:1 widescreen and Dolby Digital 5.1 sound.
Also out next month are the following:
Secondhand Lions (£19.99):
For 14-year old Walter (Haley Joel Osment), the thought of spending summer with his two crazy old great uncles
on their farm in rural Texas fills him with dread. Also starring Michael Caine and Robert Duvall.
1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, the extras are a directors commentary, Deleted and
alternate scenes with optional filmmaker commentary, Secondhand Lions: One Screenplay's Wild Ride in Hollywood,
On The Set With Secondhand Lions, Haley Joel Osment: An Actor Comes of Age, Visual effects comparisons,
Theatrical Trailer, TV spots. Released Feb 9th.
Ripley's Game (£19.99):
How do you turn an innocent person into a murderer? That's the diabolical game that Tom Ripley is playing in
Liliana Cavani's sleek thriller Ripley's Game, based on Patricia Highsmith's novel (and previously filmed by Wim
Wenders as The American Friend). Starring: John Malkovich, Dougray Scott, Ray Winstone and Lena Headey.
Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, the extras include cast and filmmakers interviews and an on-location report.
Released Feb 16th.
Sonny (£14.99):
Nicolas Cage went behind the camera for this, his directorial debut. Discharged from the Army, Sonny (James Franco)
goes home to New Orleans to visit domineering mother Jewel (Brenda Blethyn) before heading off to make a name for
himself. Also stars Mena Suvari and Harry Dean Stanton.
2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, extras include a trailer. Released Feb 16th.
The Safety of Objects (£19.99):
In a modest house in suburban America, Paul Gold (Joshua Jackson) lies ill in his bedroom, nursed by his mother,
Esther (Glenn Close). A stone's throw away, Annette Jennings (Patricia Clarkson), is in the midst of a messy
divorce.
Extras include a featurette, character analysis and cast sound bites.
2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, Released Feb 16th.
The Fighting Temptations on DVD...
On April 5th, Paramount release the DVD of this movie starring Cuba Gooding Jnr and singer Beyonce Knowles.
Retailing for £19.99 and presented in 2.35:1 widescreen and Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, the extras include
8 Extra Musical Numbers, 7 Extended Scenes and a trailer.
Samsung unveils the World's first 80" plasma television...
Samsung is set to lead the flat panel TV market having unveiled the World's first 80" plasma television at the
Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week.
In addition, with £2.3bn invested in its LCD business in a joint venture with Sony, Samsung is scheduled to
complete its first seventh generation LCD production line in 2005 allowing it to make larger sized panels more
efficiently.
Robert Shaw at Samsung UK, comments "Samsung is committed to becoming the market leader in flat panel
technology and our partnership with Sony to invest in a state of the art production plant for LCD panels is a
major step towards achieving this. However, with the launch of the World's first 80" plasma display panel,
Samsung continues to demonstrate its innovation and leadership in this market already."
Get ready for the first ever-downloadable interactive entertainment channel due to hit our computer screens on
26th January 2004. Universal Pictures are launching ‘Cool Night In’, a completely new and exciting initiative
that will give you exclusive access to the latest movie trailers, music, games, competitions and the hottest
Hollywood gossip.
Surf the Cool Room with Miss Cool, who will help you to explore the freshly designed room and all of its modern
applications. Miss Cool will guide you around the room allowing you to interact with all of the latest media
players. These include an Mpeg movie clip player, flash games player and Mp3 player. These will allow you to
use the TV to view clips, listen to your favourite tracks on the stereo and play a multitude of new games on
the arcade machine. In addition to these, there will be exclusive online news, competitions, screensavers and
wallpapers. Over time, users will develop a collection of film material all housed in a unique DVD rack that
will show all the media available for specific movie titles available through the other players. New music,
trailers, sneak peak clips, games, screensavers and gossip will be delivered to users on an on going basis
by streaming the content to your computer but in an unobtrusive manner by appearing in the Cool Room.
The Cool Room’s interface is a colourful 3D space that allows you to completely redesign the interior, by
rearranging furniture, adding to and re-colouring in completely your own style. Miss Cool will help you choose
the latest designs and applications which can be instantly transformed. The Cool Room application relies on the
fact that new media and supporting graphics files are downloaded into a directory on the users machine.
Bandwidth friendly technology downloads these assets ensuring that your Internet connection is always fluid.
Universal Pictures have already secured deals with key third-party companies who will feature their latest
products in the Cool Room, ranging from the latest technology to funky furniture. These targeted third parties
can “buy” time to have an accurate 3D representation of their product, a poster on the wall or another portrayal
in the Cool Room. These ever changing third parties simply add an additional dimension to everything else
offered in the Cool Room.
Download this pioneering entertainment channel by logging on to www.universalpictures.co.uk and experience a
‘Cool Night In’ with the latest in home entertainment. It will be yours to create from 26th January 2004.
Nintendo's Happy Xmas and future releases...
Taken direct from the press release:
Nintendo released figures highlighting the continued success of the
Nintendo GameCube and the Game Boy Advance across Europe. This Christmas was
the biggest ever for the Nintendo GameCube and the stylish Game Boy Advance
SP made an impressive Christmas debut, reinforcing its number one position
in the handheld market.
The Nintendo GameCube has had its most successful Christmas to date, with
sales having increased 88% across Europe compared to the same period last
year. These fantastic results have taken total sales in Europe of Nintendo
GameCube to nearly 3 million*.
This festive momentum was further fuelled by an excellent software line-up
with games such as Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, 1080° Avalanche and Mario
Party 5 all launching pre-Christmas. Nintendo GameCube software sales were
up 45% on the same period last year.
The Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Advance SP have also enjoyed a fantastic
year, with sales for the full calendar year 2003 having increased 33% on the
previous year.
Game Boy Advance software sales also increased significantly in the
Christmas period and were up 104% on the previous year. Pokémon Ruby and
Pokémon Sapphire were the strongest software titles for Game Boy Advance
over Christmas and the sales for these games has now reached 2.4 million* in
Europe.
Nintendoąs success looks set to continue into 2004 as the incredible
software line up highlights. With all time classic games such as Final
Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, James Bond
007 Everything or Nothing and Pokémon Colosseum coming to the Nintendo
GameCube in 2004, gamers can expect another great year from Nintendo. The
Game Boy Advance will also see some incredible games launching such as
Metroid Zero Mission, Pokémon Fire Red & Pokémon Leaf Green (exact name to
be confirmed) and Fire Emblem. All this and more are in store from the
worldąs most legendary video game company in 2004.
Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire EON Ticket Extravaganza...
Taken direct from the press release:
Journey to Southern Island and finally meet the legendary Latias or Latios
For one day only Pokémon fans across the UK can download EON tickets onto
their Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire games! The EON ticket allows you to
visit the Southern Island to encounter Latias (in Pokémon Ruby) or Latios
(in Pokémon Sapphire). Gamers should head to one of 30 participating
Gamestation stores on Saturday 21st February 2004 to get their hands on the
legendary EON Ticket.
Kids just need to take their Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire game plus
their Game Boy Advance to one of the following Gamestation stores, where
they can download the EON ticket onto their game with the use of a Game Boy
Advance Game Link Cable.
Before receiving these exclusive EON tickets, players must have collected 5
badges in Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire by defeating five of the gym
leaders and then activate the mystery event. Pokémon fans better get
battling! After receiving the EON ticket, players need to travel to
Petalburg City to meet their father, the gym leader Norman, who will
actually hand over the EON ticket. Once the Elite Four and the Pokémon
League Champion have been defeated, you can then take the ferry (SS Tidal)
from Lilycove City Harbour to the renowned Southern Island.
Once on Southern Island players will encounter Latias in Pokémon Ruby or
Latios in Pokémon Sapphire, which carry SOUL DEW (which boosts Special
Attack and Special Defence, not found in any other places). Latias and
Latios are known as mysterious* and yet powerful Dragon-Psychic types of
Pokémon.
After downloading an EON ticket for yourself you will also be able to share
it with your friends, around 100 times, using a Game Boy Advance Game Link
Cable to connect two Game Boy Advances together.
Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire launched on 25th July 2003 priced at
around 45 Euros each.
The EON ticket will be available from the following Gamestation stores on
Saturday 21st February:
STORES ADDRESS
BIRMINGHAM Unit 70, South Mall, The Pallasades Shopping Centre, BIRMINGHAM
B2 4XJ
BOLTON 37, Newport Street, BOLTON, BL1 1NE
BOURNEMOUTH 49 Commercial Street BOURNEMOUTH BH2 5RH
BRIGHTON 69 Western Road BRIGHTON BN1 2HA
BRISTOL BROADMEAD 28 Broadmead BRISTOL BS1 3HA
CARDIFF 2 St Davids Way St Davids Shopping Centre CARDIFF CF10 2DP
CHESTERFIELD 26 Burlington Street CHESTERFIELD S40 1RR
CRAMLINGTON 4 Dudley Court Manor Shopping Centre CRAMLINGTON NE28 6QW
DERBY 6, East Street, DERBY DE1 2AU
DURHAM 35 Silver Street DURHAM DH1 3RD
GLASGOW 43 Union Street GLASGOW G1 3RB
HULL 92, Prospect Steet, HULL HU1 3RT
LEEDS 2/3, Kirkgate Market Buildings, LEEDS LS1 6BY
LEICESTER 42, Granby Street, LEICESTER LE1 1DH
LIVERPOOL 45, Hougthon Way, St Johns Shopping Centre, LIVERPOOL L1 1LN
LIVINGSTON 6 Almondvale Centre South LIVINGSTON EH54 6HR
LUTON 39. George Street, LUTON, LU1 2AQ
MANCHESTER 180A, Halle Mall, The Arndale Centre, MANCHESTER M4 2HU
NEWPORT 46, Commercial Street, NEWPORT, Gwent, NP20 1LP
NOTTINGHAM 16, Angel Row, NOTTINGHAM NG1 6HL
PLYMOUTH 104, Cornwall Street, PLYMOUTH PL1 1NF
PORTSMOUTH 24, Arundel Street, PORTSMOUTH PO1 1NL
PRESTON 172 Friargate PRESTON PR1 2EJ
ROMFORD 12 Stewards Walk ROMFORD RM1 3RJ
ROTHERHAM 16 College Street ROTHERHAM S65 1AG
SHEFFIELD 85 The Moor SHEFFIELD S1 4PG
SUTTON 192, High Street, SUTTON, Greater London, SM1 1NR
TAUNTON 47 North Street TAUNTON TA1 1LX
WOLVERHAMPTON 33, Wulfrun Centre, Wulfrun Way, WOLVERHAMPTON. WV1 3HG
YORK C S 5 Church Street, YORK, YO1 8BG
The remake of
The Italian Job
didn't get the best of reception on its cinema release but some thought it worth
a look as a piece of standard action fare. It'll be released on March 8th at a penny
under 20 quid in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen.
Extras include "Pedal to the metal: the making of The Italian Job", Putting the words on the page for The Italian Job,
The Italian Job Driving School, The mighty MINIS of The Italian Job, High Octane – stunts of The Italian Job,
6 deleted scenes, Gag reel (Easter Egg) and a theatrical Trailer.
Also available is a
2-disc Special Edition,
for £26.99 which contains both 1969 and 2003 versions and all respective extras.
The rest of the month's releases are as follows:
Star Trek 6 : The Undiscovered Country (Special Edition) (£24.99):
The Enterprise crew must fight to salvage a peace treaty between the Federation and the Klingons
when it is sabotaged by a rogue member of the hostile alien race. Kirk, Spock and the rest of the
crew must somehow save the fragile possibility of peace before countless lives are lost.
Extras: 6 featurettes on the making of. Cast and crew interviews. DeForest Kelley: A Tribute.
A Conversation With Nicholas Meyer. Klingons: Conjuring The Legend. Federation Operatives.
Penny's Toy Box. Together Again - William Shatner and Christopher Plummer reminisce about
their friendship as young actors. The Perils of Peacemaking. Theatrical trailers. 1991
convention presentations by Nicholas Meyer. Production gallery. Storyboards.
2.00:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, Released March 1st.
Talent For The Game (£15.99):
A baseball scout for the Californian Angels travels America for new talent, only to find that the
new team owner has decided to do away with his job. Stars Edward James Olmos & Lorraine Bracco.
1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, no extras stated. Released Mar 1st.
Mommie Dearest (£15.99):
Mommie Dearest is the outrageous and controversial story of legendary movie star Joan Crawford
(Faye Dunaway) and her struggle with the dual roles of fading actress and tormented mother.
1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, no extras stated. Released Mar 1st.
Targets (£15.99):
In his directorial debut, Peter Bogdanovich weaves two disparate story lines into a terrifying moment
of confrontation. In seemingly unrelated events, aging horror film star Orlok (Boris Karloff) announces
his retirement,and an apparently average young man (Tim O’Kelly accumulates an arsenal of rifles and
handguns. As the pace quickens, O’ Kelly turns into a murderous sniper, showing up at a drive-in theater
where Orlok is making his final personal appearance...
1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, no extras stated. Released Mar 1st.
House Of Fools (£15.99):
The inmates are running the asylum... literally. As a war led by local rebels surrounds their tranquil
haven, the patients of a small psychiatric hospital remain blissfully cut off from the raging conflict
— safely confined in their own small, restricted world. But problems ensue as the medical staff abandons
the hospital, leaving the residents to fend for themselves.
1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, no extras stated. Released Mar 8th.
Dear God (£15.99):
Greg Kinnear stars in this spirit-lifter about a money-scamming con artist who goes from no-good to doing
good. That con artist is Tom Turner (Kinnear), whose transformation begins when a judge gives him a choice
of work or prison.
1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, no extras stated. Released Mar 8th.
The Big Bus (£15.99):
A spoof of disaster films, The Big Bus is about the world’s first nuclear-powered bus – a 75-ton monster
on 32 enormous wheels – and its maiden journey from New York to Denver. Jockeying the world’s greatest bus,
of course, is the world’s greatest bus driver.
2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, no extras stated. Released Mar 8th.
The Tenant (£15.99):
An apartment with an unhappy past, in a building filled with faintly sinister residents, sets the stage
for Roman Polanski’s riveting thriller The Tenant. Polanski plays Trelkovsky, a quiet, timid file clerk
whose unremarkable life becomes increasingly overshadowed with dread and fear after he moves into his new home.
1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, no extras stated. Released Mar 8th.
Charlotte's Web (£15.99):
A charming animated adaptation of EB White’s children’s classic which sees Charlotte the spider
(voice of Debbie Reynolds) team up with Templeton the rat (voice of Paul Lynde) to save Wilbur
the runt pig (voice of Henry Gibson) from a grizzly end.
1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, no extras stated. Released Mar 8th.
Rugrats Go Wild (£15.99):
The Rugrats family vacation takes an exotic detour when their boat capsizes and they become shipwrecked
on a deserted tropical island. With the jungle as their new backyard, the babies race from one wild
adventure to the next... soon to discover that someone else is on the island.
1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, extras include a behind the scenes featurette
and interviews with Bruce Willis and Chrissie Hynde, deleted songs, an alternate ending to the film
and animated menus. Released Mar 8th.
Legacy of Kain: Defiance on PS2, Xbox and PC...
Return to the dark intrigue of Nosgoth, where the vampire Kain pursues his fallen creation Raziel. Divided
by their common enemies, the two heroes must fight to unravel the mystery of their destinies, as the
fate of the world hangs in the balance. While their adversaries plot their destruction, Kain and
Raziel must embark on a dark odyssey, which only one of them may survive.
For more info of each format, click on these links:
Spy Kids 3D and The Hot Chick on DVD...
The annoying kids return in Spy Kids 3D: Game Over, with parents Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino in tow. Sylvester Stallone co-stars.
Out to rent from March 15th and in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, the extras include:
DISC 1 (3-D Disc) - Mega-Race Set Top Game (3-D Version), Feature Commentary with Robert Rodriguez (for 3-D version of film)
DISC 2 (2-D Disc) - Robert Rodriguez's Film School, Feature Commentary with Robert Rodriguez (for 2-D version of film),
An Adventure Into the 3rd Dimension: The Making of SPY KIDS 3D: Game Over, Surfing and Stunts Piece,
The Effects of the Game, Big Dink, Little Dink, Making Traks with Alexa Vega, Alexa Vega in Concert (Three Music Videos)
and Mega Race Set Top Game (2D version).
Also out to buy on the same day is
The Hot Chick,
a wild and heartfelt comedy starring Rob Schneider
(Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo), Anna Faris (Scary Movie 1, 2 and 3), Eric Christian Olsen (Dumb and Dumberer) and
newcomer Rachel McAdams. Rob Schneider has been a gigolo, an animal and now he's something he's never been
before: a woman. Extras include Audio commentary with director Tom Brady. Hot Chick Yearbook. 15 deleted scenes.
Zed music video 'Starlight', and it'll set you back £15.99. 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen.
Prince of Persia and Beyond Good & Evil extra formats...
Ubisoft have announced that
Prince of Persia: Sands of Time gets a release on both
Xbox
and
Gamecube
on February 27th, while
Beyond Good And Evil gets a release on both in early March.
Late in 2004, you can expect their submarine simulation, Silent Hunter III.
The next title in the Silent Hunter franchise will add new dimensions to the
simulation experience. The player will engage in a compelling ocean
environment, featuring dynamic weather, and experience the intensity of
historical naval warfare. Taking the role of the U-boat commander, players
will seek their enemy with sonar and periscope, attack the enemy with
torpedoes, destroy them with the deck gun, or command their crew to do the
job. The all-new 3D engine features impressively detailed U-boat models,
both externally and internally, with exact replica WWII technology.
Iron Monkey and more Ben Dover on DVD...
The Associates have announced Yuen Woo Ping's classic martial arts epic
Iron Monkey,
starring international superstars Donnie Yen (Blade 2; Shanghai Knights; Hero) and Yu Rong Kwong (Shanghai Noon;
The Warrior), has finally been given the full Hong Kong Legends Platinum Edition treatment. Digitally restored
and remastered, the two-disc Iron Monkey Platinum Edition will be available from 1st March 2004 and comes
packed with over four hours of amazing bonus material.
And for those who can't get enough of ITV's cheesy show, here's something that's a tad different -
Ben Dover: Porn Idol.
Nuff said.
Casablanca again on DVD...
And this time it's a big boxset. I thought the film was pretty dull but critics seem to rave about it.
Featuring the often-misquoted line "play it again Sam" this MGM title of Michael Curtiz's Casablanca
also contains 8 lobby card prints, a Senitype image from the movie with 35 mm frame, a one sheet movie poster
(27"x40"), and 6 black and white photograph stills.
'Savage' the PC fun next month...
In a move that proves once and for all that European games players are more ferocious than their American
counterparts, Digital Jesters has announced an exclusive retail pack, which contains substantially more
'Savage' than ever before. £29.99 will secure the game on Feb 20th.
Savage: The Battle For Newerth – developed by S2 Games – is an online multiplayer game in which players
unite to compete in epic battles. The game's unique fusion of first-person combat and real-time strategy
perspective has enthralled American players since its original release late last year, and the all-new European
Savage retail pack offers a host of additional extras assembled to make the game even better value than ever.
To celebrate the forthcoming launch, Digital Jesters has just unveiled a new European official Website, located
at
Savage Europe.com. To give Europe a bigger
boost, Digital Jesters will be hosting servers dedicated for the European community.
Tenchu gets a dedicated website...
Yesterday, Activision launched the new Website for Tenchu: Return from Darkness at
Return From Darkness.com.
The site features the official trailer, a bunch of new screenshots and plenty of information about the
game.
Make sure to check back in the coming weeks for the Tenchu Fan Site Kit, which will also make an easy
place to grab a collection of assets for a first look. Also coming soon to the site will be a brand new
movie that shows off the Xbox Live modes as well as some of the new characters exclusive to Tenchu:
Return from Darkness. Tenchu: Return from Darkness will be available March 9, 2004 on Xbox.
Eat the Sin on DVD...
Courtest of Fox, in The Sin Eater (aka "The Order" in the USA), Heath Ledger plays renegade priest Father Alex Bernier,
sent to Rome to investigate the mysterious death of one of the Order's most revered members. Following a series
of strangely similar killings, Bernier launches an investigation that forces him to confront unimaginable evil
and the terrifying knowledge that there is a fate worse than death.
Released on Feb 9th, and presented in anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen, the extras include audio commentary from director Brian Helgeland
and 7 deleted scenes with optional commentary. This film marks the director bringing back together his cast of
A Knight's Tale, Heath Ledger,
Shannyn Sossamon and Mark Addy.
Also, out on March 1st is the John Cusack drama Max and Meg Ryan contraversial drama, In
The Cut, in which she strips off.
First up on this new announcements page is Paramount's schedule for February,
starting with a sequel.
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life
didn't fare well critically upon its summer cinema release, but the DVD is
released on February 2nd 2004, will be available in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen
with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound for £19.99.
Extras include Director's Commentary; Seven deleted scenes plus an alternate
ending - all with commentary; five featurettes on the film's training, weapons
and vehicles, visual effects, stunts and scoring; music videos by Korn and
The Davey Brothers, Gerard Butler's screen test - who plays Lara's ex-lover
Terry Sheridan, and the original theatrical website archive as a DVD-ROM
feature.
Also available is a
2-disc Lara Croft boxset,
for £26.99 which contains both films and all respective extras.
The rest of the month's releases are largely less high-profile:
Till Human Voices Wake Us (£15.99):
Guy Pearce and Helena Bonham Carter star in a deep and emotional tale about a
man struggling to come to terms with his past.
1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, no extras stated. Released Feb 2nd.
Jimmy Neutron: Confusion Fusion (£15.99):
a complilation of nine stories from his animated series.
1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, no extras stated. Released Feb 2nd.
This link goes to the VHS version at present, although DVD info will be
available from there nearer the release date.
Big Jake (£15.99):
John Wayne in a western - surprise, surprise.
1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, no extras stated. Released Feb 2nd.
The Beautician and the Beast (£15.99):
a classic comedy, it says here - the 4.9/10 rating on the Internet Movie
Database says different, about two people as different as chalk and cheese,
starring Timothy Dalton and Fran Drescher.
1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, commentary by Fran Drescher. Released Feb 2nd.
Little Big Man (£15.99):
a picturesque fable of the Old West starring Dustin Hoffman and Faye Dunaway.
2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, no extras stated. Released Feb 2nd.
Rio Lobo (£15.99):
More John Wayne as a Union pay train is robbed by Confederate guerrillas.
1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, no extras stated. Released Feb 2nd.
A Man Called Horse (£15.99):
Richard Harris stars in an epic about the life of the American Sioux in the
19th Century.
2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, no extras stated. Released Feb 2nd.
Better Off Dead (£15.99):
Classic '80s comedy with John Cusack as a down-and-out teenager.
1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, no extras stated. Released Feb 2nd.
Buffalo Girls (£15.99):
an 'alternative' western with Anjelica Houston and Melanie Griffith.
1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, no extras stated. Released Feb 2nd.
Sex and the City Season 5 Valentine's Gift Set (£15.99):
All 8 episodes from the series and a limited edition 'Sex and the City' vest
top and shorts in a unique handbag-style plastic gift box.
This link goes to the standard DVD boxset at present, although a further link
will be available from there nearer the release date of Feb 2nd.
Young Sherlock Holmes (£15.99):
Steven Spielberg's attempt to create a hero for the '80s that flopped in this
fantasy romp with Nicholas Rowe and Alan Cox.
1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, no extras stated. Released Feb 16th.
Crocodile Dundee 2 (£15.99):
Mick Dundee to the rescue as he has to save his girlfriend from being held
hostage by a drugs baron.
2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, no extras stated. Released Feb 16th.
Summer Rental (£15.99):
Classic '80s comedy starring John Candy, Rip Torn and Richard Crenna.
1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, no extras stated. Released Feb 16th.
True Colors (£15.99):
John Cusack and James Spader as two friends who become enemies after moving
from law school to Washington's corridors of power.
1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, no extras stated. Released Feb 16th.
Daisy Miller (£15.99):
Cybill Shepherd stars as Daisy Miller - no relation to Windy - a young American
woman of the 1800s who did as she pleased, but seldom pleased herself.
1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, no extras stated. Released Feb 16th.
The Parallax View (£15.99):
Warren Beatty stars as a determined news reporter who witnessed a political
assassination, as did seven other people - who are now dying in 'accidents'.
2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, no extras stated. Released Feb 2nd.
DVD: Down With Love and Le Divorce...
An attempt to recreate the 1960s comedies with Rock Hudson and Doris Day,
but one which leaves this reviewer cold,
Down With Love (£15.99)
pairs Ewan McGregor and Renee Zellweger in a love story where you'll know they'll
end up getting together. Pillow Talk? Well, I could do with one, but
I wouldn't know whether to sleep on it or use it to smother over the cast's
heads.
Released on Feb 2nd and
presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, the
extras include a director's commentary; music video; 5 deleted scenes; four
featurettes: 'Guess My Name', blooper reel, HBO special and 'Down with Love'
testimonial; 6 documentaries; Hair and wardrobe tests and a music promo spot.
Also out on the same day is
Le Divorce (£17.99)
starring Naomi Watts and Kate Hudson, and directed by James
Ivory. Based on the novel by Diane Johnson, this is the story of American
step-sisters Isabel and Roxy, as Isabel travels to Paris to comfort Roxy after
she is left by her French husband.
Nintendo Gamecube software - get four free games in January...
Nintendo have announced this week that throughout January, the following titles
will entitle you to a free disc containing four Zelda games, The Legend of
Zelda (NES), Ocarina of Time (N64), Majora's Mask (N64) and a demo of
The Wind Waker (Gamecube), once you send in your proof of purchase to
the Nintendo Service Centre.
Survival horror returns in Project Zero 2 on the PS2...
Ubisoft announced this week that Project Zero 2: Crimson Butterfly will
be released in the second quarter of 2004, courtesy of Tecmo, also responsible
for Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive, as well as the original
Project Zero.
The second game is a prequel which will feature a new story and characters,
it promises better graphics and gameplay and plunges the player into a nightmare
impossible to wake up from, full of ghosts and creepy places, this time with
implied gore, so aiming for a psychological bent.
Red Dwarf 4 on DVD in February...
The BBC have announced that Red Dwarf IV will be released as a 2-disc
set on February 16th for £19.99, although for this viewer the series
began to go downhill from this point on.
All six episodes are here: Camille, DNA, Justice, White Hole, Dimension
Jump and Meltdown.
The extras are as follows:
Cast commentary: Chris Barrie, Craig Charles, Danny John-Jules, Robert Llewellyn and Hattie Hayridge
Built to Last: A brand new, episode-by-episode, in-depth documentary charting the making of the series.
Deleted scenes: Over 20 minutes long
Smeg Ups: Outtakes and fluffs
Ace Rimmer - A Life In Lamé: Holly charts the history of the inter-dimensional hero
"Lurve" featurette: Despite being three million years into deep space, Lister still finds chances for tonsil hockey
Can't Smeg Won't Smeg: Ainsley Harriot joins Lister, Kryten, Rimmer and Duane Dibley in a climactic curry contest
Trailers: Two of them
Special Effects footage: A compilation of raw footage
Isolated Music Cues: Various elements from the score
Talking Book Chapters: Selected sections of the books read by Chris Barrie
Photo Gallery: An extensive collection of images
Weblink: to the official website
Subtitles: This is an "extra"?
Easter eggs: Several bonuses hidden within the DVD menus
Driv3r trailer directed by Ridley & Tony Scott...
Released on the
PS2
on February 27th, and the
Xbox
on March 19th, DRIV3R is an action-packed driving adventure game that stays true to its roots,
incorporating the cinematic gameplay and gritty street crime of its predecessors with ground-breaking
graphics and three mammoth, wide-open city environments: Miami, Nice, and Istanbul.
Featuring Hollywood-caliber production values--with voice actors including Michael Madsen, Ving Rhames,
Mickey Rourke and Michelle Rodriguez - and a gripping, narrative story line, DRIV3R casts players once again
as undercover cop Tanner who, alongside his partner Tobias, must infiltrate a global car theft ring, an
assignment that leads to tire-squealing chases and fierce on-foot firefights while tailing gangsters, chasing
witnesses, stealing cars and unloading massive clips of ammo to bring the criminals to justice.
This week it was announced that a three-minute live-action film will be directed by film-maker siblings Ridley
& Tony Scott, and the first of the three-parter, Run the Gauntlet, will be available on the
Driv3r website
from January 23rd, with the other two parts to follow in February and March respectively.
Seabiscuit on DVD from February 23rd...
Buena Vista have announced that last year's sleeper hit Seabiscuit will be released on February 23rd for
£19.99.
Starring Jeff Bridges, Chris Cooper, William H Macy and Tobey Maguire, this film shows how three
men made Seabiscuit a symbol of hope during the Great Depression era of the 1930s.
Presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, the extras include:
Director's audio commentary
Brining the legend to life
Seabiscuit versus War Admiral - The 1938 Match Race
Anatomy of a Movie Moment
Ned Kelly lays down the law on DVD on February 2nd...
The true story of one of the most notorious outlaws of all time... Ned Kelly. Persecuted by the police and
hunted by an Empire, Ned Kelly (Heath Ledger) had the largest reward in the world on his head. Forced into
hiding whilst his friends and family were unlawfully imprisoned Ned and his gang soon become folklore.
Orlando Bloom and Geoffrey Rush co-star in this dramatic and exciting tale of one of Australia’s
most famous legends.
Presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, the DVD is released on February 2nd and the extras include:
Ned Kelly background piece
Premiere filming
Kelly Gang gallery
Artist conceptions to final features
Theatrical posters
Theatrical Teaser Trailer
Theatrical Campaign Trailer
The WWE team prepare to sing...
Someone's decided that the team who usually throw each other's weight around can sing, and to disprove their
critics, the following album has been released with 17 original tracks under the name, WWE Originals:
1. Where's the Beer? - Stone Cold Steve Austin
2. We've Had Enough - Dudley Boyz
3. I Just Want You - Trish Stratus
4. Crossing Borders - Rey Mysterio
5. Did You Feel It? - Stone Cold Steve Austin
6. Can You Dig It? - Booker T
7. I Don't Suck (Really) - Kurt Angle
8. When I Get You Alone - Lita
9. You Changed the Lyrics - Stone Cold Steve Austin
10. You Just Don't Know Me at All - Lillian Garcia
11. We Lie, We Cheat, We Steal - Eddie Guerrero
12. Don't You Wish You Were Me? - Chris Jericho
13. Drink Your Beer - Stone Cold Steve Austin
14. Put a Little Ass on It - Rikishi
15. Why Can't We Just Dance - Stacy Stacy Keibler
16. Basic Thugonomics - John Cena
17. Don't That Taste Good - Stone Cold Steve Austin
Pro Rugby Manager 2004 on Xbox...
Released on Xbox on March 5th, and on PC three weeks later, Pro Rugby Manager 2004 enables players to
take the reins of their preferred team through European and World Championships. Over 15,000 real players are
included within the game.
Managers can buy and sell players, train their squads and develop match tactics - with
matches portrayed in real-time through a detailed 3D engine. Every bone-crunching tackle, every eye-gouging
scrum is present in glorious 3D, with managers having to adjust their tactics as the games progress in order
to secure victory. On the PC, multiplayer modes allow players to pit their teams against each other in individual games
or leagues - with an Internet ladder ranking the world's greatest rugby managers.
I'm not a fan of rugby at all, but those who are partial to the man whose lucky kick won a match for something
recently can win an England Rugby top autographed by Jonny Wilkinson on the new official
Pro Rugby Manager 2004 Website.
MGM's February DVD line-up...
And we close the first announcements page with MGM's February line-up, beginning with another disc in the
long-running Stargate series.
Stargate SG1 Series 7 Volume 32 (£19.99):
The first four episodes from season 7 (Fallen, Homecoming, Fragile Balance and Orpheus) are released on February 2nd, all presented in
16:9 anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, with revealing commentaries on each of the four episodes,
the fascinating behind-the-scenes Directors Series and star profiles.
Vol.33
is set for release on February 23rd with the next four episodes, Revisions, Lifeboat, Enemy Mine and Space Race.
All of the following titles are released on February 2nd:
Canadian Bacon (£12.99):
The American President is behind in the polls and is looking to increase his popularity. His advisors launch an
'anti-Canadian' campaign which results in a Sheriff and his men invading Canada. Directed by Michael Moore and
starring the late John Candy, this is presented in
1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen with a trailer.
Exodus (£12.99):
Starring Paul Newman and Ralph Richardson, this is a screen adaptation of Leon Uris' best seller about the birth
of Israel, in 2.35:1 letterbox widescreen with a trailer.
King Solomon's Mines (£12.99):
This is a 1985 action comedy with the gorgeous Jesse Huston (Sharon Stone) commissioning rugged adventurer Allan
Quatermain (Richard Chamberlain) to help her find her father who has been lost in the African jungle during his
last exploration. Last seen at the legendary King Solomon’s Mines, they make their way through a jungle full of
dangerous animals, Nazis and cannibals and encounter more danger and breathtaking excitement than even they had
bargained for! Presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen with a trailer.
Allan Quatermain And The Lost City Of Gold (£12.99):
In this sequel to 'King Solomon's Mines', Allan Quatermain is in search of his missing brother. The dashing
adventurer and his fiancee trek through the uncharted jungles of Africa and accidentally discover a legendary
lost civilisation. Based on H. Rider Haggard's famous novel. Presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen with a trailer.
The People That Time Forgot (£12.99):
Based on the novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, who also wrote the Tarzan books, this is a non-stop adventure in the
Indiana Jones mode as a party led by John Wayne’s son, Patrick Wayne, travels to the Antarctic wastes to search
for Bowen Tyler (Doug McClure) who has been missing in the region for several years.
Presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen with a trailer.
Solomon And Sheba (£12.99):
In this glorious biblical epic, director King Vidor cinematically explores the evils of the flesh and pagan
worship. A clash between King Solomon and his brother is further complicated when the Queen of Sheba seduces
Solomon in an attempt to bring about Israel's downfall. Shot in Spain, the picture chronicles the exploits of
its larger-than-life characters. Presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen with a trailer.
Liebestraum (£12.99):
Nick Kaminsky is a man who is about to discover his past. On a visit to Elderstown to see his dying mother, he
is haunted by scenes of a brutal murder... Presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen with a trailer.
House Of Games (£12.99):
The story of a female psychiatrist and best-selling author whose dull life takes on a new meaning when she gets
deeply involved with a charismatic conman. Their relationship becomes more and more intense as she finds herself
totally embroiled in a dark world of treachery. 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen with a trailer.
Scorpio (£12.99):
The story of an ageing C.I.A. agent in a hair-raising game of cat-and-mouse, which provides a fascinating glimpse
into the world of the professional spy, starring Burt Lancaster and Alain Delon.
16:9 anamorphic widescreen with a trailer.
The Long Goodbye (£12.99):
Directed by Robert Altman, and starring Elliot Gould and even Arnie Schwarzenegger.
Meet Philip Marlowe, private eye. Maybe you already have. After all, Dick Powell, Humphrey Bogart, Robert
Montgomery, Robert Michum and others have played Raymond Chandler's fictional hero. But this Marlowe (played by
Elliott Gould) is different. Not content with repeating the standard movie Marlowe director Robert Altman, with
screenpaly by Leigh Brackett, neatly reinvents him in this daring version - an unromanticized snoop for hire in
an unromanticized L.A. 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen with a trailer.
DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TXW32R4 32" widescreen TV
connected to either a Creative Dxr2 DVD-ROM player or Microsoft Xbox and
played through a Sony STR-DB930 amplifier.
PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
Since Nov 2005: Intel Pentium D 830 3.0Ghz, 1Gb RAM, 128Mb nVidia GeForce 6700XL, Windows XP
Since Aug 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.66Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb GeForce4 MX440 graphics, Windows XP
Since May 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.6Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb ATI Radeon 9600TX graphics, Windows XP
Since Jun 2002: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, 64Mb ATI Radeon 8500LE
Since May 2000: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, Voodoo 3 3000 AGP
DVDs: John's Not Mad and Stella Street finale...
The Fighting Temptations on DVD...
Samsung unveils the World's first 80" plasma television...
Nintendo's Happy Xmas and future releases...
Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire EON Ticket Extravaganza...
Legacy of Kain: Defiance on PS2, Xbox and PC...
Spy Kids 3D and The Hot Chick on DVD...
Prince of Persia and Beyond Good & Evil extra formats...
Iron Monkey and more Ben Dover on DVD...
Casablanca again on DVD...
'Savage' the PC fun next month...
Tenchu gets a dedicated website...
Eat the Sin on DVD...
DVD: Down With Love and Le Divorce...
Nintendo Gamecube software - get four free games in January...
Survival horror returns in Project Zero 2 on the PS2...
Red Dwarf 4 on DVD in February...
Driv3r trailer directed by Ridley & Tony Scott...
Seabiscuit on DVD from February 23rd...
Ned Kelly lays down the law on DVD on February 2nd...
The WWE team prepare to sing...
Pro Rugby Manager 2004 on Xbox...
MGM's February DVD line-up...
