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May 11 2011

Why films on TV in their original widescreen ratio is good for you

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March 31st : Shoot that hoop! It's NBA 2K on Sega Dreamcast... NBA 2K does exactly what it says on the tin. It's a basketball game with a staggering number of options that's as up-to-date as last year's season and allows you not only to play, but also tosses in all the aspects you'd expect from a football manager simulator, i.e. view stacks of statistics, view the details from a host of real players (400 at the last count) and also create your own customisable players. NBA 2K is online and out on Sega Dreamcast now.

Columbia TriStar's May release schedule confirmed... Thanks to The R2 Project for the following information, which I haven't received yet in the post, for the official lineup from Columbia Tristar / Universal for May and news of their planned June titles. "Random Hearts" Day and Date with Rental, 15th May 2000. Original Theatrical Trailer International 'Action' Trailer Original Trailer from 'The Devil's Own' Feature length commentary with Director Sydney Pollack 3 Deleted scenes with Director's commentary Making of Featurette including interviews with Harrison Ford, and Kristin Scott Thomas Animated Menus with selected film score "Ed TV" Day and Date with Rental, 22nd May 2000. Making of documentary "Caught in the Cameras Eye" Feature commentary with Ron Howard Feature commentary with the writers Lowell Ganz and Babloo Mandell Deleted scenes Outtakes Music Highlights Production notes Theatrical trailer "Idle Hands" Day and Date with Rental, 22nd May 2000. Trailer, Filmographies Behind the scenes Featurette Deleted Scenes Storyboard comparison of two scenes - 'Cuff Me' and 'Sawblade.' "The Lawnmower Man" 8th May 2000. 12 Deleted scenes Featurette Animated Montage Storyboard to Film Comparison, Trailer, Hidden Game - 'The Lawnmower Man' "Devil in a Blue Dress" 15th May 2000. Don Cheadle's screentest Feature length commentary by Director Carl Franklin, Theatrical Trailer, Trailer for The Bone Collector, Filmographies "The Sting" 15th May 2000. (with Production Notes and Cast and Crew Biographies) "Priscilla Queen of the Desert" 22nd may 2000. 2 Trailers Making Of Featurette 9 TV clips Filmographies "Kalifornia" 22nd May 2000. (with Trailer) "Sneakers" 22nd May 2000. (with Trailer, Production Notes and Cast and Crew Biographies) "Havana" 29th May 2000. Featurette Web Link Filmographies, Production Notes Theatrical trailer "Savior" 29th May 2000. Director's commentary Filmographies Theatrical trailer June's planned releases : "Muppets from Space" , 26th June 2000. 5 Trailers 19 Deleted scenes Music Videos Feature commentaires Filmographies "Mystery Men" , 26th June 2000. Spotlight on location Feature commentary Deleted scenes Origin of Mystery Men comic characters Trailer DVD Rom Featurette Production notes, Filmographies "Blue Streak" , 26th June 2000. 2 Featurettes 3 Music videos Trailer, Filmographies Mortal Thoughts 12th June About last night 12th June ST. Elmo's Fire 12th June Animal House 12th June Bird on a Wire 12th June October Sky 12th June Double Platinium 19th June Junior 19th June Jakob the Liar 19th June Glory 19th June Seventh Sign 26th June

March 30th : The 225th DVD Review: Chow Yun-Fat and Mark Wahlberg team up to fight The Corruptor on DVD... Chow Yun-Fat is starting to make a name for himself in Hollywood these days with action films such as The Replacement Killers but how does his latest film fare on DVD? It couples him with the rising star of Boogie Nights and Three Kings, Mark Wahlberg. The Corruptor is online and out on DVD now.

The return of A-Ha - 10 years later... Ten years after they last released a record in the UK, they have reformed for another crack at the charts. Summer Moved On is the first single from the as yet untitled album and it's doing very well in Europe with a UK release slated for May. Their biggest hits in the 80s included Take On Me, The Sun Always Shines On TV and one of my favourites, Manhattan Skyline. Keyboard player Mags (can't spell his surname) has said that he feels they haven't made their best record yet, or was that a hint that his art career wasn't going very well, Morten Harket's solo singing career had stalled and heaven knows what's been going on in the life of Pal Waaktaar, so it was time to pay the bills? Who cares. A-Ha are back and that's all that matters and I, for one, am looking forward to the output.

March 29th : Nicolas Cage heads for the big city in Leaving Las Vegas on DVD... A powerful and emotional tale from British director Mike Figgis, Nicolas Cage won an Oscar for his performance in this film, as an alcoholic, which saw him head to Las Vegas to drink himself to death. Leaving Las Vegas is online and out on DVD now.

Playstation 2 - still due this year... Last week, [.tv]'s computer games show Game Over (Thurs, 7.30pm), declared that the Playstation 2 might not head for UK shores until the start of next year... However, I managed to confirm with Sony's PR department yesterday that they are still on target for a UK release later this year although a date has yet to be confirmed. September or October are looking the most likely and the date of September 29th would be preferable as it would clash with the five anniversary of the original Playstation's UK release. Japan are having trouble to meet demand at the moment since the console's release. They're turning out 500,000 machines a month and still leaving customers wanting, so they want to get that side of things sorted out before the rest of the world gets a look-see. Of course, it's obvious that if you were to import a Playstation 2 from Japan and it goes wrong you'll have no luck complaining to Sony UK since the warranty will be invalid. As soon as I have more info on the forthcoming arrival, I shall display it here although more shall become known in May when the E3 exhibition takes place, but for now I recommend you register for info with their website at www.playstation.co.uk Updated DVD and widescreen video lists... It's been a while since I last updated them, but the new versions contain an additional 297 DVDs and 27 widescreen videos. Check the links on the left-hand side for the full monty. DVD Delays... Due for release this week, Eagles: Hell Freezes Over is now set for release on April 14th, Walking With Dinosaurs is "late April" and Super Speedway is May 29th. Jason Priestly in jail...! Yes, Beverly Hills 90210 star Jason Priestly has landed himself a five-day spell in the clink after pleading guilty to drink-driving. He will also have to attend a rehab clinic after getting out. Now if only I could catch the b&*%!rds who bored out the driver and passenger door locks on my car on Monday night which made me take an enforced day off today and cost £200 for a completely new set of locks.

March 28th : Yeah, baby! It's Austin Powers 2 on DVD... If it's Mike Myers and Heather Graham, it must be the shagadelic sequel, Austin Powers 2: The Spy Who Shagged Me, also starring Robert Wagner, Rob Lowe and Mike Myers again in two other roles including Dr. Evil. Austin Powers 2: The Spy Who Shagged Me is online and out on DVD now.

Oscars 2000 - the winners are announced...? Since I had to go to work yesterday morning, I taped the Oscars and watched it last night, skipping past the boring speeches. A full list of the winners are now online on my Oscars 2000 Awards Round-Up Ian Dury R.I.P.... It's sad news indeed that pop star Ian Dury, best known for his hits as Ian Dury and the Blockheads with Sex And Drugs And Rock And Roll and Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick, died yesterday when he lost his battle with cancer at the age of 57. He died peacefully at home with his family, but despite his illness he continued to work, helping children's aid organisations and appearing on TV. He also made an appearance in the 1995 film, Judge Dredd. R.I.P. Ian Dury 1942-2000 Updated cinema listings... Stuck for something to do this weekend? Live in the Manchester area? The list of the films showing at Manchester Showcase Cinema can be found on this page. This week's new films are : Any Given Sunday, Mansfield Part, Love's Labours Lost, Lake Placid, Miracle Maker and a review of The Green Mile is online too.

March 27th : Sheryl Crow rocks the globe on DVD... Released today, 15 tracks of excellent rock tunes from Sheryl Crow and her band in one of the first DVDs to contain both a Dolby Digital 5.1 AND a DTS 5.1 Surround soundtrack. Sheryl Crow: Rockin' The Globe Live is online and out on DVD now.

Will Mel C "muscle" in on the top slot...? To find out the answer to that - and to see last week's chart - visit my music chart analysis page Vote for next week's No.1 single As you'll see from every page, you can now vote for who deserves to be No.1. Only one vote per visitor so choose wisely... The EZpolls.com site seems more stable these days so get voting now and let's see more people doing so. It's your duty! Last week, most people thought Mel C would be the new number one and they were right. The only other votes were for the ginger slapper who fell down the chart. I know who I'll be voting for this week - do you? Visit the DVDfever homepage and make your selection. Oscars 2000 - who will win...? If you're reading this after 6.30am BST, you'll know the full story, but until then who will the awards for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Actress go to? American Beauty is tipped to scoop the lot, but only time will tell. I hope to have a full round-up of the winners online tomorrow. South Park: The Movie arrives on DVD. Take cover... Exclusive "South Park Teaser" game to coincide with the VHS and DVD release of "South Park: Bigger, Louder and Uncut" (released nationwide in the UK March 27): They'll be no escaping South Park next week when the South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone touch down in London for three days of interviews to support the video/DVD release of "Bigger, Longer, Uncut" on sale from 27th March. The biggest video/DVD release for Warner Home Video this quarter (and the rudest) the film is also tipped to win an Oscar this Sunday for the song 'Blame Canada'! It has just been announced today that Robin Williams will be performing 'Blame Canada' at the Oscars (see it on Sky Premier). Check out the new South Park teaser game specially created for the British VHS and DVD release: HERE The teaser was produced byJohn Bichardof Liquid Idea a highly talented new media artist who specialises in viral marketing on the web, Bichard recently created the Grand Theft Auto 2 email teasers for Take 2, and did a fantastic 3D emailer postcard for SEGA Dreamcast by giving hypnotic motion to the popular Dreamcast spiral logo. Also check out Warner Home Video UK's official South Park video/DVD site: HERE Further information please call Peter Noble PR in London on 0171 794 2302, peter@noblepr.co.uk New DVDs and widescreen videos out this week The new DVDs out this week include : 101 Dalmatians (Animated) (19.99, Buena Vista) Abbott and Costello: Africa Screams (18.99, Stonevision) Absence of the Good (19.99, Columbia) American Perfekt (19.99, Planet Distribution) Big Daddy (12, 19.99, Columbia) Buena Vista Social Club (19.99, VCI) Cindy Crawford: A New Dimension (19.99, Carlton) Cybersex (19.99, MIA) Couples Guide to Great Sex Over 40 Vol.2 (15.99, Disc Distribution) Drunken Master (19.99, Medusa) Eagles: Hell Freezes Over (19.99, Pinnacle) Evil Cult (19.99, VCI) Fanny Hill (19.99, Medusa) Gods and Monsters (19.99, MGM) Hercules (Animated) (19.99, Buena Vista) Island of Dr Moreau (15.99, Entertainment in Video) Jean De Florette (19.99 sub, Pathe) Jesus of Nazareth (19.99, Carlton) Jungle Book (Animated) (19.99, Buena Vista) Lady and the Tramp (Animated) (19.99, Buena Vista) La Reine Margot (19.99 sub, Pathe) Last Hero in China (19.99 sub, Disc Distribution) Laurel and Hardy: Classic Comedy Shorts Vol.3 (18.99, Stonevision) Laurel and Hardy: Hustling for Health (18.99, Stonevision) Lesbian Neighbours / Leather Bound (19.99, Fantasy Blue) The Little Mermaid (Animated) (19.99, Buena Vista) Manon Des Sources (19.99 sub, Pathe) Mariah Carey: Ones (19.99, Sony Music) Monkey Trouble (15.99, Entertainment in Video) Mortal Conquest (19.99, Planet Distribution) Mulan (Animated) (19.99, Buena Vista) One Night Stand (15.99, Entertainment in Video) Pinocchio (Animated) (19.99, Buena Vista) Playboy Celebrity Special: Sammy Jessop (15.99, Medusa) Red Hot Chili Peppers: Funky Monks (19.99, Warner Music Vision) Romance (19.99, Disc Distribution) Sex Law / Dripping Wet Tarts (19.99, Fantasy Blue) Sheryl Crow: Rockin' The Globe Live (19.99, Pinnacle) South Park 4 (19.99, Warner) South Park 5 (19.99, Warner) South Park 6 (19.99, Warner) South Park 7 (19.99, Warner) South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut (19.99, Warner) Strong Language (19.99, Planet Distribution) Too Young To Die? (19.99, Columbia) Top Fighter SE (19.99, Eastern Heroes) Total Reality (19.99, Planet Distribution) The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends (19.99, Carlton) Young and Dangerous 2 (19.99, MIA) The new widescreen videos out this week are : The Blacksheep Affair (12.99 dub, Medusa) The Blacksheep Affair (13.99 sub, Medusa) South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut (15.99, Warner)

March 25th : More than just Bruce Lee: Cinema of Vengeance on DVD... Bruce Lee leads the way, but this documentary also features comments and chat from Jackie Chan, Chow Yun Fat, Sammo Hung, John Woo, Cynthia Rothrock and more. Cinema of Vengeance is online and out on DVD now.

March 25th : Bruce Lee: Death By Misadventure on DVD... A documentary about his life, his films and the title taken from the cause of his death, this DVD also contains an interview with his equally-late son Brandon. Death By Misadventure is online and out on DVD now.

March 24th : Tom and Nicole head Far and Away on DVD... In their second film role together, husband-and-wife team Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman head off to look for land with the luck of the Oirish in Ron Howard's spectacular Far And Away, which is online and out on DVD now.

March 23rd : Create your perfect mate with Virtual Sexuality on DVD... In more than a passing resemblence to Weird Science, Justine (Laura Fraser) tries out a Virtual Reality machine that enables her to change her appearance or create her dream man, but a freak accident occurs and her body is instantly transformed into that of Jake (Rupert Penry-Jones) who she's just put together. Virtual Sexuality is online and out on DVD now.

eXistenZ announced for DVD... Thanks to The R2 Project for the info that an official announcement from Alliance Atlantis has been made for the May 8th release of David Cronenberg eXistenZ, starring Jude Law and Jennifer Jason Leigh. The extras are as follows : 53 Minute documentary "The Invisible Art of Carol Spiers" (Cronenberg's Production Designer) Theatrical Trailer Director's audio Commentary Director of Photography's Commentary Visual and Special Effects Supervisor's Commentary Exclusive Sega Dreamcast interactive menu including Internet Hyperlink The interactive Dreamcast menu will provide information and previews of the latest Dreamcast games. The RRP is £19.99, the ratio is 1.85:1 widescreen and it'll come complete with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack and English subtitles for the hard of hearing.

March 22nd : Robert De Niro goes crazy ape as the Taxi Driver on DVD... Mentally-disturbed, Vietnam veteran, not all there. Not the prime qualities you'd be looking for in a candidate to work in your taxi rank, but Robert De Niro is up for the job in Taxi Driver, which is online and out on DVD now.

Updated cinema listings... Stuck for something to do this weekend? Live in the Manchester area? The list of the films showing at Manchester Showcase Cinema can be found on this page. This week's new films are : Magnolia, Girl Interrupted, Cider House Rules and a review of The Green Mile is online too. More Men Behaving Badly coming to DVD... Thanks to The R2 Project for the info that following the release of the final trilogy, Men Behaving Badly: Last Orders, there will be more to come in the form of Men Behaving Badly Series 6 on May 1st and the news that this could signal the start of a whole wave of Thames Programing including Mr bean, The Sweeney and Sooty.

March 21st : Jack Nicholson assorts the Five Easy Pieces on DVD... Jack Nicholson plays a classical pianist, but family life gets in the way and he can't decide between socialite Susan Anspach or his pregnant girlfriend Karen Black. Five Easy Pieces is online and out on DVD now.

"Oscar" has been found... They thought they'd have to hand out book tokens, but gladly Oscar has been found. All bar three of the statuets (52 out of 55) were discovered in a dumpster in downtown LA and two men have been arrested and charged with grand theft. Bail is set at $100,000. Forthcoming EiV, Fox/Pathe, Paramount titles coming soon... Thanks to The R2 Project for the following info : Entertainment in Video : March 27th : Monkey Trouble The Island of Dr Moreau One Night Stand April 24th : Detroit Rock City Astronauts wife Gloria May 1st : Mad Cows Trench May 15th : Happiness Ride with the devil Fox/Pathe : May (date unknown) : Richard III Lolita May 1st : The Siege Rising Sun May 29th : Never Been Kissed July (date unknown) : Dances with Wolves Rogue Trader Malcolm X July 27th : Sleepy Hollow August (date unknown) : Topsy Turvy Third quarter of 2000 (date unknown) : The Player Andy at The R2 Project also has a Q&A session from Paramount on his site, but you'll have to visit it to read it. It also features cover artwork for Drop Zone, Star Trek: Insurrection and Rugrats.

March 20th : Drive away in the Crazy Taxi on Sega Dreamcast... Thanks to Jools Moore from Powerhouse PR for the this game which I've made my review of the week. This game is an arcade racer that began life in that very dwelling. The premise is simple: drive around town, pick up fares, drop them off, then move onto the next unsuspecting punter. Each time they have a time limit. The sooner you arrive, the more cash you'll score. Some people will also pay more than others. Crazy Taxi is online and out on Sega Dreamcast now.

Will Geri take her 'girl powder' into the top slot...? To find out the answer to that - and to see last week's chart - visit my music chart analysis page Vote for next week's No.1 single As you'll see from every page, you can now vote for who deserves to be No.1. Only one vote per visitor so choose wisely... As I type the EZpolls.com has crashed, so I cannot change the polls for this week (D'oh!) so no doubt it'll come back online while I'm at work and still ask for votes for yesterday's chart :( Last week, most people thought Geri Halliwell would be the new number one and they were right, followed by Macy Gray who was way down the charts. I know who I'll be voting for this week - do you? Visit the DVDfever homepage and make your selection. New DVDs and widescreen videos out this week The new DVDs out this week include : Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (cut) (15, 19.99, Columbia) Groundhog Day (19.99, Columbia) Hard Target (19.99, Columbia) In Love and War (15.99, Entertainment in Video) Orgazmo (19.99, Columbia) The new widescreen videos out this week are : Austin Powers 2: The Spy Who Shagged Me (12, 16.99, Entertainment in Video) Blast from the Past (12, 15.99, Entertainment in Video)

March 19th : The Two Ronnies laugh their way onto DVD... Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett divulged their comedic wit onto the public for 21 years. Does the same comedy sound as fresh after all this time? The Best of the Two Ronnies is online and out on DVD now.

Alien Legacy - the DVD details... Thanks to Darius from DVD Inside for the following details on the German release of the Alien Legacy boxset which has already graced American shelves, but has a better looking box (right) for the German market. The set will contain all four films in anamorphic widescreen, plus the following extras : Alien : Deleted Scenes TV Spots Trailer Story Boards Audio commentary from Ridley Scott Aliens : Interview with James Cameron Behind the scenes Trailer Picture gallery Alien3 : 'Making of' Trailer Alien Resurrection : Trailer Plus a fifth disc containing a 68-minute making-of on the whole series. Just a shame that films 3 and 4 get treated quite shabbily when it comes to extras. A Close Encounter for DVD...? Thanks to The R2 Project for the following info : According to reports on US Site "DVD File", Columbia have at long last announced plans for "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" for later this year. Knowing how Columbia operate I wouldn't be surprised to find a simultaneous release in the UK. Note that "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" was actually one of the first disks announced in the US back in 1997 and in fact featured heavily in Columbia's initial "This is DVD trailer" on the first batch of disks.

March 18th : The Frighteners spook you out on DVD... Michael J. Fox stars as psychic investigator Frank Bannister in Peter Jackson's comedy/thriller. If there's something weird... and it don't look good... don't call the Ghostbusters, watch The Frighteners, which is online and out on DVD now.

Walking with Dinosaurs DVD delayed... BBC Worldwide have just announced that this disc, originally due for release on April 3rd, has been delayed due to unforeseen technical difficulties beyond their control. Rumours that a second series has been delayed because the T-Rex's wages dispute, stating that he won't get out of bed for a million pounds, are unconfirmed. M.I.A. budget DVDs coming soon... For a penny under a tenner, M.I.A. are release ten DVDs on May 22nd... Kiss Daddy Goodnight, starring Uma Thurman and Steve Buscemi Guardian Angel, starring Cynthia Rothrock Bruce Lee: The Man, the Myth L.A. Takedown When a Stranger Calls Mission of Justice Silent Rage Iron Maze Heart of Midnight, starring Jennifer Jason Leigh CyberTracker ...and ten more DVDs on June 19th : A.P.E.X Chained Heat The Concrete Jungle Death Match Fade to Black American Dragon The Guyver: Dark Hero Hard Hunted Massacre in Rome Ring of Steel Hong Kong Legends: New DVD release dates... Thanks to The R2 Project for the following info : "Hong Kong Legends" have announced that their proposed slate will be rescheduled. The stated reason is that the restoration of the titles is going to take a lot longer than anticipated. The new schedule looks like this: March 20th "New Dragon Gate Inn" April 17th "Drunken Master" April 24th "Blacksheep Affair" May 15th "Drive" May 15th "Legend of a Fighter" Deep Throat takes it in on DVD... Thanks to The R2 Project for the following info : CultPorn A.K.A Visual Entertainment have announced "the most notorious Adult Movie" "Deep Throat" for DVD release on March 27th priced at £19.99. The release comes with a commentary by "adult film expert" (I'm no convinced that's a title I would own up too) David Flint, the original movie soundtrack with stills gallery and hidden 'HotSpots' that lead to text info. My understanding is that while this release is not exactly cut but has been edited in such a way as to gain an 18 certificate. The Blade hits DVD next month... Thanks to The R2 Project for the following info : "Hong Kong Classics", (not to be confused with HK Heroes) have announced the spectacular "The Blade" for April 28th. Priced at £19.99 the disk is in widescreen with a Cantonese 2.0 Dolby stereo soundtrack and the Original Theatrical trailer. The film is reputed to have the most spectacular 20 minute finale ever seen in HK cinema.

March 17th : Parenthood: It could happen to you on DVD... Steve Martin heads the cast for Ron Howard's excellent ensemble piece as families and friends get through their lives in what amounts to a two-hour soap opera full of dry humour. The film also stars Mary Steenburgen, Dianne Wiest, Jason Robards, Rick Moranis, Tom Hulce, Martha Plimpton and the man whose career was resurrected last year with The Matrix, Keanu Reeves. Parenthood is online and out on DVD now.

Geri Halliwell - anamorphically anorexic...? Leading the pack for this week's No.1 single is Geri Halliwell's "Bag it Up", but why does she look so amazingly thin in the video? It's because the picture's been horizontally-squeezed to the same proportions as a 16:9 anamorphic widescreen digital broadcast or DVD and those of you watching on a widescreen television can use the anamorphic mode on your TV (which might be labelled as "16:9" or "Wide screen" or consult your manual, depending on the model) to get the promo in a very wide ratio indeed. For a list of a few more anamorphic pop video, check out the MTV section of my ONdigital Digital TV review. Voting for next week's No.1 single... I'm relegating this to the homepage only since it seems to take too long to load on occasion (when it actually works), so to place your vote - although it looks like Geri's going to walk it - visit the DVDfever homepage now. Only one vote per visitor so choose wisely... Updated cinema listings... Stuck for something to do this weekend? Live in the Manchester area? The list of the films showing at Manchester Showcase Cinema can be found on this page. This week's new films are : Ordinary Decent Criminal, A Clockwork Orange and a review of The Green Mile is online too.

March 16th : RoboCop 3: He's back to lay down the law on DVD... RoboCop is back and this time he's portrayed by Robert Burke, but once again Nancy Allen comes along for the ride, while an OCP member goes bad and turns Delta City into a warzone. RoboCop 3 is online and out on DVD now.

March 15th : Tinto Brass checks his post in P.O. Box Tinto Brass on DVD... Apparently Tinto Brass is revered by thousands of beautiful young women who long to appear in his films and has apparently received truckloads of of unsolicited letters, photos and videos from female fans, all recounting their most intimate sexual fantasies. P.O. Box Tinto Brass, which is online and out on DVD now, puts them all into practice...

The Complete Flumps - the press release... Thanks to Alex Denning from LDA Communications for this press release I've received for next week's release of one of the greatest children's shows ever made. IT'S FLUMPTASTIC! IT'S THE COMPLETE FLUMPS Brace yourselves for Flumpmania! The hat wearing family of six fur balls are back! Sounds like Southpark but with fur and without the shocking behaviour? The Complete Flumps contains all of the 13 original Flump episodes and is released on both video and DVD on 20th March by Kult Kidz. For those who haven't heard of the Flumps, it was, and quite frankly still is, a fantastic 3-D animation, made in the late 1970s in the days when Choppers, Atari, Space Invaders and Star Bars were tops. But for those in the know, I'm sure you're happily humming the Flump theme tune and recounting the days of your youth with fond memories. The Complete Flumps follows the Flump family - Grandfather Flump, Father Flump, Mother Flump, Perkin, Posie and not forgetting baby Flump Pootle - through their day to day life. They are a busy bunch - Grandfather playing his Flumpet, Father with his workshop and allotment, Mother baking in the kitchen, Perkin and Posie playing-up as Flump siblings and Pootle, who spends most of his time getting into mischief and getting his words mixed-up. Strangely enough, the Flump voices were done by just one person (star of musical theatre) actress Gay Soper! Classic Flump episodes featured in The Complete Flumps include 'Secrets' and 'The Cloud', which introduce viewers to the meaning behind the phrase 'keep it under your hat' and reveals what it means to be 'umpty' - it's a symptom of a grumpy Flump. Kult Kidz are blasting their way into the millennium with this simultaneous release on both video and DVD - The Complete Flumps is the first retro/nostalgia kids programme to be released on DVD. Now you've been warned - the Flumps are back in town and they're ready to give Southpark a run for its money! Released on video and DVD on 20th March by Kult Kidz, RRP £9.99, certificate U. To get your bit of Flumpmania, please call Alex 'Flump' Frith at LDA Communications on 0181 959 1199 or email alexf@lisadenning.com Paramount sign up to DVD... Thanks to The R2 Project for the following info : Paramount have now confirmed that they are to start releasing tiles in the UK and Europe. There are no real surprises, so for the record here are the titles: April 17th "The Truman Show" "The Rug Rats Movie" Late May, Early June (depending on the local window) "Star Trek Insurrection" "Drop Zone" "48 Hours" Late June "Mission Impossible" The pricing nor extras are known at the moment, but it's likely they will all be anamorphic, providing a better picture for widescreen TVs and will contain Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. Warner have more Friends on DVD... Thanks to The R2 Project for the following info : Warner have officially announced the release of series 1-3 (along with the already available 4-5) of "Friends" on DVD. Released on 29th of May at £24.99 per disk each disk features 8 complete episodes. All disks feature the Rembrandt's Music Video and DVD-Rom links to the official "Friends"" web site and there are 3 disks per season. Medusa delay the Hong Kong legends... Thanks to The R2 Project for the following info : Finally, the word on the retail street is that Medusa has delayed all of it's "Hong Kong Legends" disks by at least a month. The official reason is that the restoration work on these disks is taking longer than expected. I can't help wonder if the outcry byt collectors over the 16:9 chopping of "Snake in the Eagles Shadow" has made them think again and they are going back to the negatives to create product in the correct ratio ? I'll see what I can dig up on that one.

March 14th : Tinto Brass looks into the world of The Voyeur on DVD... Italian Erotica film director Tinto Brass directs a tale of lust, love and fruity students when he encounters The Voyeur, which is online and out on DVD now.

Microsoft prepare for the launch of the X-Box console... I forgot to put this online the other day so here are the full details now. While the Sega Dreamcast is out now and Sony's Playstation 2 is due for release in September over here, both Nintendo's Dolphin and this new console won't see these shores until 2001. Bill Gates announced on Friday at the annual Game Developers Conference that Microsoft Corp. is entering the video game world with the introduction of a future-generation dedicated video game console, currently code-named X-Box, designed to deliver intense, action-packed games. Building on the company's software expertise and advances in PC technology such as 3-D graphics and Internet connectivity Microsoft is developing a high-performance, easy-to-use platform that will enable developers to create better games, faster. "Building on our strengths as a software company, X-Box will offer game developers a powerful platform and game enthusiasts an incredible experience", said Bill Gates, chairman and chief software architect at Microsoft. "We want X-Box to be the platform of choice for the best and most creative game developers in the world." Unlocking New Gameplay Experiences Familiar tools such as the Microsoft DirectX API will inspire movie-quality rendering, enhanced Internet gaming, and superior audio in future-generation games. X-Box will catapult gameplay quality to new heights by delivering the following: More than three times the graphics performance of the newest-generation game consoles Co-developed with experts at nVidia Corp., the custom-designed graphics chip will deliver more than 300 million polygons per second. Rich, fast-action and realistic experiences enabled by the X-Box hard drive Broadband Internet connectivity that extends the game experience Combining the power of PC technology with the accessibility of its cutting-edge DirectX development tools, Microsoft is providing game developers with a maximum-performance creative medium to deliver better games. "The PC has always been the design center for high-end entertainment because of the unlimited graphics power and the great tools that make programming easier," said Robbie Bach, vice president of the Games Division at Microsoft. "Our developer partners are excited to apply Hollywood design techniques to creating superior X-Box games." Developer Enthusiasm Microsoft is allocating significant resources in technology, developer support and marketing to make X-Box and its developer partners successful. X-Box is slated to launch in 2001, and numerous developers and publishers have already expressed their enthusiasm for it, including industry leaders Electronic Arts Inc., Konami Company Ltd., Acclaim Entertainment Inc. and Eidos Interactive. "We view Microsoft's entry into the console business as an important and positive event for our industry. Electronic Arts is intrigued by the opportunity to develop exciting new games for X-Box", said Larry Probst, chairman and CEO of Electronic Arts. "We welcome the development of the new X-Box platform because we expect it will help the home game console industry to expand", said Kagemasa Kozuki, chief executive officer of KonamiCo., Ltd. "We plan to organize an X-Box development team and release new titles for the platform before anyone else. We hope that the X-Box will be a successful platform and will help the game console industry grow further." New Games Division To advance future-generation PC and X-Box games, Microsoft has formed a new dedicated games division comprising world-renowned software engineers and designers in the industry. Robbie Bach, vice president of the Home and Retail Division, will oversee the Games Division. Further directing the division's efforts are Vice President Rick Thompson, and General Manager Ed Fries, who will oversee first-party software development. Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software any time, any place and on any device. For more info, check out Vote for next week's No.1 single (hopefully) As long as EZpolls.com is working now, you can vote for who deserves to be No.1 this coming Sunday by clicking on the selected box on the left-hand side. Choose from ATB, Blink 182, Macy, Geri or Bryan (again). Only one vote per visitor so choose wisely... Sega Dreamcast's release schedule updated... Thanks to Jools from Powerhouse PR for the following updated info : Title Company Release Date Price SEGA BASS FISHING RED DOG ChuChu ECCO THE DOLPHIN SWWS Euro Edition TIME STALKERS ZOMBIE REVENGE M-SR SPACE CHANNEL 5 MAKEN X Sega Sports Argonout Rocket! Sega Appaloosa Action Silicon Dreams Climax Sega Bizarre Sega Atlas 07-Apr-00 21-Apr 00 12-May-00 26-May-00 26-May-00 09-Jun-00 23-Jun-00 07-Jul-00 21-Jul-00 25-Aug-00 £ 39.99 £ 39.99 £ 39.99 £ 39.99 £ 39.99 £ 39.99 £ 39.99 £ 39.99 £ 39.99 £ 39.99 Note that both Ecco the Dolphin and SWWS Euro Edition may be delayed until the week after, June 2nd 2000.

March 13th : Dolby Digital Demo has the whole world listening on DVD... Ray Dolby started it all back in the dim and distant past when Dolby Noise Reduction was introduced for home taping, we are now in the age of Dolby Digital and what better to treat yourself to than a Dolby Digital Demo, which is online and out on DVD now.

Will Bryan Adams 'chicane' into the top slot...? To find out the answer to that - and to see last week's chart - visit my music chart analysis page Vote for next week's No.1 single As you'll see from every page, you can now vote for who deserves to be No.1. Only one vote per visitor so choose wisely... As I type the EZpolls.com has crashed, so I cannot change the polls for this week (D'oh!) so no doubt it'll come back online while I'm at work and still ask for votes for yesterday's chart :( Last week, most people thought Madonna would make a second week at No.1. Second came Bryan Adams, but I thought Tom Jones might have done it. New DVDs and widescreen videos out this week The new DVDs out this week include : American Pie (19.99, Columbia) Blast from the Past (19.99, Entertainment in Video) Carmen (19.99, Columbia) Casablanca (15.99, Warner) Drop Dead Gorgeous (15.99, Warner) Dumb and Dumber (19.99, Columbia) Instinct (15.99, Buena Vista) The Last Yellow (19.99, VCI) A League of Their Own (19.99, Columbia) Pocahontas 2: Journey To A New World (15.99, Buena Vista) The Westlife Story (15.99, BMG) The Who: The Kids Are Alright (15.99, BMG) The new widescreen videos out this week are : Babycart to Hades (14.99, Warrior) Babycart to Hades (rental, Warrior) Beast Cops (13.99 sub, MIA) Beautiful People (14.99, Fox) Beautiful People (rental, Fox) (WR) Kitchen (14.99 sub, Fox)

March 12th : Hugh Grant falls in love with a film star in Notting Hill on DVD... Hugh Grant starred in the biggest UK film of all time when Four Weddings and a Funeral was released. Now he's grown attracted to famous film star Anna Scott (Julia Roberts) but can true love cross the class boundary? Rhys Ifans, Emma Chambers, Tim McInnery and Gina McKee also star in Notting Hill, which is online and out on DVD now.

Sony DVDs on their way... Thanks to Sue Foster for the info I've received on the forthcoming Sony DVDs : March 13th : Ricky Martin: One Night Only: Filmed at Liberty State Park, this DVD gives you a front row seat as the man invites you to join him on and off stage in his first live home video showcasing the Latin pop magic that has the whole world buzzing. March 20th : Mariah Carey: #1's: Since her debut in 1990, Mariah has achieved 13 consecutive No.1's in the USA and has the most to debut at the top slot in Billboard's history. This DVD contains all these tracks (inc. Vision of Love, Fantasy and Dreamlover) and her November 99 Top 5 single, Heartbreaker. April 10th : Will Smith: Music Video Collection: One of the biggest egos in showbiz 'gets jiggy with it' for an exclusive DVD video compilation bringing together his biggest hits including: Men in Black, Wild Wild West, Gettin' Jiggy With it and Will 2K, plus a 'making of' that promo. May 1st : Jennifer Lopez: Feelin' So Good: She releases her debut home video which contains her hit singles If You Had My Love, Waiting for Tonight and tomorrow's new release: Feelin' So Good, plus exclusive behind-the-scenes interview footage and bonus tracks. If you can't wait until then for info on La Lopez, then get along to JenniferLopezOnline.com or read my DVD review for Out of Sight May 8th : "Manic Street Preachers Leaving the 20th Century (the incomplete work of Manic Street Preachers)": Put back from April 10th, this will feature the comlete concert at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium and features band interiews and backstage footage. Just a shame then that the crossover from December 31st, 1999 to January 1st, 2000, signalled neither the start of a new decade, century, OR millennium as that happens at the end of THIS year. Perhaps it's the sheep. G3: Live in Concert: G3 are Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson and Steve Vai. Featuring separate songs and group combos, this was filmed on November 2nd, 1996 at the Northrop Auditorium in Minneapolis and captures their blistering performance. Korn: Who Then Now II: No details yet known. Jeff Buckley: Live in Chicago: No details yet known. May 15th : Gloria Estefan: Latin Videos: No details yet known. Rage Against the Machine: Live in Mexico: No details yet known. June 5th : Celine Dion: Greatest Hits: No details yet known, but I'd be surprised if The Titanic Song isn't on it. Gormenghast delayed... Thanks to Deborah Carey for the press release I've received which states that the DVD has been delayed until May 15th due to "technical problems". For a list of the specs, check the news page for February 26th. Pocahontas II released tomorrow... Thanks to The R2 Project for the info that Pocahontas II from Buena Vista is released tomorrow at £15.99. There are no other details given and I've just seen a TV advert that only mentions the video release and nothing about the DVD. The Big Mou$e really ought to get their act together.

March 11th : Sean Pertwee gets some Blue Juice on DVD... JC was once king of the waves, but that was nearly ten years ago and now his girlfriend Chloe wants him to settle down and make a commitment. However, his friends have arrived and he has to choose between the girl and the deep blue sea. Sean Pertwee, Steven Mackintosh, Ewan McGregor and Catherine Zeta Jones star in Blue Juice, which is online and out on DVD now.

March 10th : The Planets - "sweet" on DVD... Last year, the BBC unveiled their eight-part series about the universe and how long we've got left, in full anamorphic widescreen glory. There's only a few billion years left until the Sun swells up and burns out, killing off the entire solar system, so get this disc now. The Planets is online and out on DVD now.

Sega Dreamcast's release schedule... Thanks to Jools from Powerhouse PR for the following info : Title Company Release Date Price SEGA BASS FISHING RED DOG ChuChu ECCO THE DOLPHIN SWWS Euro Edition TIME STALKERS ZOMBIE REVENGE M-SR MAKEN X SPACE CHANNEL 5 Sega Sports Argonout Rocket! Sega Appaloosa Action Silicon Dreams Climax Sega Bizarre Atlas Sega 07-Apr-00 TBA 12-May-00 TBA 26-May-00 09-Jun-00 23-Jun-00 07-Jul-00 14-Jul-00 21-Jul-00 £ 39.99 £ 39.99 £ 39.99 £ 39.99 £ 39.99 £ 39.99 £ 39.99 £ 39.99 £ 39.99 £ 39.99

March 9th : Ben Dover checks out the Filthy First Timers on DVD... Ben Dover takes his camcorder and finds out what Jane, Nikki, Jessica and Bev & Nici get up to when the camera's on them. Ben Dover: Filthy First Timers is online and out on DVD now. Eyes Wide Shut announced for DVD... Thanks to The R2 Project for the following info : The official announcement for "Eyes Wide Shut" has arrived. As suspected this will be a full-frame open matte presentation, curiously described in the PR as "full camera negative transfer, never before seen". Well that's one way to put it ! Again as suspected the extras are 30 minutes of interviews with Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. Also included are 2 TV commercials. Of course the sound is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 (which makes a change from Kubrick's usual mono) whilst the disk is a DVD9 to accommodate the 159 minute running time. The disk is released on April 3rd with a RRP of £19.99.

March 8th : Ben Dover checks out the Superstars of Sex on DVD... Ben Dover takes his camcorder and finds out what Missy, Helen Duval, Amanda and Nikki Sterling get up to when the camera's on them. Ben Dover: Superstars of Sex is online and out on DVD now. The UK DVD Committee welcomes five new Members... "The UK DVD Committee has begun the first quarter of the New Year by greeting five new Members. Video distributors BBC Worldwide, PT Video and Sony Music Video have helped to further broaden The Committee's software product representation. Each of these publishers has a rich portfolio of non-film product and is greatly influencing the dramatically increasing breadth and depth of the UK DVD video range. From the authoring sector, Stream Digital Media bring a long experience and specialism within DVD Video and from the hardware sector, Creative Labs again broaden The Committee's scope by bringing their detailed knowledge of the PC market to committee meetings. During the year 2000 The UK DVD Committee intends to continue to work to achieve its objective : 'To significantly raise consumer awareness and knowledge of DVD Video and its benefits, to encourage trial and to endeavour to remove consumer's perceived barriers to purchase.' The Committee is attractive interest from the increasing number of businesses that are committing to DVD Video and in addition to the new Members stated above, is soon to announce further growth. ITV2: The DOG is back... Oh dear. Are ONdigital trying to drive customers away? With their new email service, ONmail, just around the corner, although you need a new remote control for the cost of £30 (or £15 for those who actually bought their box originally) and then it's not a full-size keyboard like Sky's version, what they needed were reasons to attract people to their service. One thing we do NOT need is a DOG - Digitally Originated Graphic, ie. the permanently onscreen "2" with the letters "itv" underneath. When I'm watching ITV2, I KNOW I AM! I don't need to be told! All the time!! Ah, now the first advert has come on during The Grimleys. It's from a charity, calling itself, I kid you not, "Sponsor a DOG!" And it's presented by Twiggy who IS a...lovely charming person. It's bad that the BBC treat us like braindead monkeys with their BBC Choice logo on the English variant... Updated cinema listings... Stuck for something to do this weekend? Live in the Manchester area? The list of the films showing at Manchester Showcase Cinema can be found on this page. This week's new films are : Joan of Arc, Whatever Happened To Harold Smith, The Insider, Next Friday and a review of The Green Mile is online too. Classic BBC Drama is a DVD Revelation... Thanks to The Associates for the following PR info on BBC Drama and Kiseki Anime. Revelation have a number of decent DVDs along the way shortly, including some that are already out : Out now : Boys from the Blackstuff: Alan Bleasdale's complete five-part series (308 minutes), starring Bernard Hill as Yosser Hughes ("Gi'us a job!") and presented as a double-DVD set on a DVD5 (single-sided single-layer) and a DVD10 (dual-sided single-layer) for £34.99. Edge of Darkness: Troy Kennedy's story of a detective (Bob Peck) who is investigating his daughter's murder and finds himself drawn into the sinister and paranoid twilight world of the nuclear state; a web of politcal power, terrorism, secrecy and the nightmare of nuclear catastrophe. It won 6 BAFTAs and also comes on as a double-DVD set in the same format as BFTB for £34.99. Lily Savage: Paying the Rent: an uncensored 62-minute live show from the Scouse blonde bombshell. £15.99. The Best of the Two Ronnies: 45 minutes of the Two Ronnies most memorable sketches (The Opticians Sketch, Harry & Bert at the Pub, The Barber's Shop Medley and of course Ronnie Corbett's solo jokes). £15.99. March 20th : Cider with Rosie: Laurie Lee's classic autobiography of life in the Cotswolds. £19.99. Miss Marple: Body in the Library: Joan Hickson stars as Agatha Christie's lady investigator. £19.99. Ripping Yarns: Three classic stories from the Palin/Jones immortal series. £19.99. Nuts in May: Mike Leigh's classic TV eco-comedy play with Roger Sloman. £19.99. Shadowlands: Joss Ackland and Claire Bloom in the true story of CS Lewis. £19.99. Kiseki Anime on DVD... Two DVD double-bills are set for release, the first being out already : Out now Rei Rei / The Gigolo: Rei Rei is two 30-minute segments featuring the big-breasted Goddess of Love (so the BBC *did* find Ms. Feltz another project after all !) and The Gigolo features Jin, a good-looking and horny 22-year-old hunk who is challenged by the gorgeous Ai Mizushima to "make me scream with pleasure". Oo-er, missus! Total running time: 100 mins. £19.99 March 20th Black Magic M-66 / Plastic Little: Black Magic M-66 is the exciting futuristic adventure of Sybel, a freelance video journalist who becomes involved in a dangerous military fiasco when two top android assassins are lost in an accident and Plastic Little features Elysse who becones a target for the Military Police when her father tries to sabotage the army's newest project. Total running time: 90 mins. £19.99

March 7th : Robbie Williams loves his Angels on DVD... Brit-Award winner Robbie Williams may have a disagreement with Oasis at the moment, but at least he's got a DVD out and they haven't. Robbie Williams: Angels is online and out on DVD now. Lolo Ferrari - dead at 30... Eurotrash favourite Lolo Ferrari has been found dead in her flat at the age of 30 and, no, it's wasn't the weight of her 51" breasts knocking her over, but "natural causes". Hmm...I'd hate to see the shape of the coffin, after the 18 operations she had to fill those balloons. R.I.P. Lolo Snake in the Eagle's Shadow in wrong-ratio scandal...!? Thanks to Rachael from The Associates for two DVDs I've received which were already detailed on the news page for February 27th, Hong Kong Legends' Snake in the Eagle's Shadow and M.I.A.'s Young and Dangerous 2. However, while the first scores points of the second by containing more extras and an anamorphic picture, it loses a score by being in the WRONG RATIO! The opening credits are 2.35:1, but the film is cropped to 16:9. Oh dear, what a missed opportunity. Thanks to DVD Debate for the following info which answers the query and it comes straight from Brian White, Head DVD producer at Medusa : "The reason we decided to re-master this movie into 1:85:1 (4:3) format was to cater for the widest possible commercial audience. The hard-core collectors may all prefer 2:35:1, but we have found that many kids with 14, 17 and 21" television sets are amongst the most regular buyers of Jackie Chan movies. Unfortunately, due to the tiny viewing area offered with the 2:35:1 format on smaller TV sets, we often get asked by this target audience to provide 'pan & scan' versions of our movies. As the hard-core collectors detest 'p & s' with a passion, I thought the 16:9 anamorphic/1:85:1 widescreen ratio, would be a good compromise that would appeal to both markets. In addition, had we conformed the feature to 2:35:1 anamorphic standard, most of the nation's DVD players, are currently not equiped to handle this ratio correctly, and therefore the image would be stretched. If you collect a significant number of consumer comments, which would contradict my current view, please let me know. I always listen to my customers." Well, the gauntlet has been thrown down and it's time to voice your opinion. Get along to DVD Debate where Lee is taking comments on the situation for passing on to Mr. White. Super Speedway and Divas 99 heading for DVD... Aviva have two DVD releases set for April 24th : Super Speedway: Already released in the US, this groundbreaking documentary shot in IMAX features a revolutionary chapter selection menu which gives you the option of jumping from scene to scene from in front of the cameras to behind the lens. The DVD transfer uses the original IMAX film elements and has been produced in a manner that surpasses the highest industry standards. Price: £19.99. Ratio: 16:9. Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 VH1 Divas 99: The first concert featured five women and this new release almost doubles that (albeit one of them appearing in the form of Elton John!) Broadcast live on VH1 last year, the headliners are: Tina Turner, Whitney, Cher, Brandy and guest stars Elton John, LeAnn Rimes, Faith Hill, Mary J Blige and Chaka Khan performing hits such as If I Could Turn Back Time, How Do I Live?, I Will Always Love You and I'm Every Woman. Price: £19.99. Ratio: 4:3. Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 A review of the original VH1 Divas 1998 Concert DVD is also online. Pamela Anderson as the next Lara Croft...? Thanks to Peter Noble PR for this press release I've just received. Pamela Anderson Lee made her name from the hit TV series "BayWatch". She then moved on to movies, starred in "Barb Wire" and delivered the famous celluloid catchphrase, "Don't call me babe". Now Pamela is about to become a computer games star with the development announcement of a new computer game based on her current TV series "VIP". Developed by Kalisto Entertainment (of Nightmare Creatures 2 fame), the game will be published by Ubi Soft Entertainment on PC, Dreamcast and PlayStation in October 2000. Looks like Lara Croft should start thinking about a full body make over. If you'd like to know more about the game, why not download Kalisto's first work-in-progress image of Ms. Lee from the "VIP" game? Pamela Anderson Lee re-created as video game icon by Kalisto Entertainment Click HERE for more info.

March 6th : Katie Holmes and Sarah Polley Go! on DVD... Katie Holmes, Sarah Polley, Scott Wolf, Jay Mohr and William Fichtner star in what could possibly be the brat-pack answer to Pulp Fiction. Go!, is online and released on DVD today. Will muscly Maddie hit the top slot...? To find out the answer to that - and to see last week's chart - visit my music chart analysis page Vote for next week's No.1 single As you'll see from every page, you can now vote for who deserves to be No.1. Only one vote per visitor so choose wisely... If you don't see the poll, then the site of those who wrote the software for EZpolls.com has crashed, but check back later when it's online again. New DVDs and widescreen videos out this week The new DVDs out this week include : Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes (15.99, Mosaic) Go! (19.99, Columbia) Life (19.99, Columbia) The new widescreen videos out this week are : Indiana Jones Trilogy (34.99, Paramount) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (12.99, Paramount) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (12.99, Paramount) Once Upon a Time in China III (18, Made in Hong Kong) Raiders of the Lost Ark (12.99, Paramount)

March 5th : Jo Guest frolics digitally on DVD... Joanne Guest, everyone's favourite Page 3 blonde, proves her worth when she lets it all hang out for Playboy: Joanne Guest Celebrity Special, which is online and out now on DVD. The f***ing Brits 2000 on TV... If you were watching ITV last night between 9pm and 11pm, you'll have seen one sozzled celeb board the stage after each other, stupidly trying to "out-fuck" each other to see who could use the most foul language on stage. Idiots. By not repremanding any of them, Davina McCall proved she couldn't even host a piss-up in a brewery, never mind an awards show. My updated Brits 2000 Award Winners rundown now includes my high-points and low-points of the show. Get ready for the shock of your life: It's The Flumps on DVD... Thanks to DVD News for the news regarding the release of The Flumps' complete series on DVD: all 13 episodes for a mere £9.99. This is a landmark as the first kids TV program now aimed at remenising students to make it on to DVD and may it be the first of many. Release date: March 20th. The Manic Street Preachers perform live for New Year on DVD... Thanks to The R2 Project for the following info : According to The Manics Page, The Manic Street Preachers will release a DVD of their "Millennium eve" concert on April 10th. The DVD entitled "Manic Street Preachers Leaving the 20th Century (the incomplete work of Manic Street Preachers)" will feature the comlete concert at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium and features band interiews and backstage footage. Just a shame then that the crossover from December 31st, 1999 to January 1st, 2000, signalled neither the start of a new decade, century, OR millennium as that happens at the end of THIS year. Perhaps it's the sheep. Alien Lecacy and Xena on their way to DVD... Thanks to DVD Times for the info regarding Fox's Alien Legacy DVD release. No need to panic, these discs are still expected to arrive at £19.99 or £69.99 for the complete set. When these titles were released in the US they included a form which when filled and returned to Fox would result in the eventual dispatch of a 5th disc containing a making-of documentary on the first Alien film. Well it appears this bonus disc may now appear as part of the UK box set due to arrive on 15th May. Also, the official details for Universal Home Video's release of Xena: Warrior Princess due on 17th April have been released. The first disc in this series will contain three episodes, "Giant Killer", "Orphans of War" and "Remember Nothing". Extras will include a still gallery, bios and illustrated booklet for the RRP of £15.99.

March 4th : Brits 2000: The winners are announced... Presented by Davina McCall, this year's British "music Oscars" took place last night in London (as always - what's wrong with Manchester? - Ed) and if you can't wait to see the edited highlights on ITV tonight at 8.55pm, then read the Brits 2000 Award Winners online.

Full-price PC games available online for download...? freeloader.com builds world's first free games website with Morse technology. freeloader.com, the world's first free premium videogames website which will launch on May 1st 2000, has chosen Morse, Europe's leading provider of enterprise technology integration and e-commerce solutions, to design and build its website. freeloader.com is set to revolutionise gaming by offering software on demand. It will provide full versions of premium quality PC games that users will be able to download for free. The Morse technology will fully integrate the tailored technology to build a new website capable of managing high levels of traffic and numerous profiling instructions from the end-user. By offering cutting edge videogames for free, freeloader.com will broaden the appeal of computer games to more than just hardcore gamers. It will set a new benchmark in Internet innovation as consumers return to the site again and again to download even more levels and the latest games for free. Morse was involved in the project from the conceptual stages and worked to a tight schedule of six months. Morse's technology solution included five Sun Microsystems E2 Unix servers to power the site, a Netscape Application Server, an Oracle database, and Interwoven's Content Management System. Morse's technical and e-commerce solutions will be used to enable users to download the PC quality games and allow freeloader.com to manage a dynamic tracking system which profiles users for accurate targeting by advertisers. Simon Parkinson, Publishing Director for freeloader.com said: "We chose Morse because they offered a personalised service that has been tailored to our new business models. Morse understood the challenges we faced in building the website and delivered innovative solutions. "The Morse team advised us on a range of e-commerce issues, from how to design the site to how to develop the user profile database."

March 2nd : 200th DVD review online: The Best of Monty Python Vol.1... Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin are the six men whose brand of humour ran for five years on TV from 1969 to 1974. The Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Vol.1 is online and out now on DVD.

March 1st : Antonio Banderas makes his mark in The Mask of Zorro on DVD... Antonio Banderas learns from the best as he takes over the crown from the master - Anthony Hopkins - and attempts to win the heart of Catherine Zeta Jones in The Mask of Zorro, which is online and out now on DVD. Walking With Dinosaurs 2...? If you thought repeats of Dad's Army were old, then what about the series that was effectively made 65 million years ago? Walking With Dinosaurs attained audience figures of 20 million viewers and even trounced Coronation Street, Eastenders and Who Wants To Be Annoyed By Chris Tarrant? in the ratings. Plans are now afoot for a sequel to the SFX extravaganza which will bring to life the prehistoric creatures which were missed out the first time round including giant amphibians, insects and 80-stone scorpions. The new series will cost £6 million, but will easily recoup its costs from worldwide TV rights and UK video (and hopefully DVD, following the forthcoming release of series 1) sales.

As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B 37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier.

PC games reviewed by the editor are on: