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When I see studios announcing their upcoming DVD releases with tiles like "Deadly Encounter" and "My Stepmother Is An Alien" I just can't help but wonder what they're thinking. I realize that every movie has its fans and you can't please everyone, but since the studios have never asked me what I wanted to see released I though I would kindly offer my help. That's where this list comes in! It's to give the studios a little feedback on what an avid movie-goer or collector, like myself, might want to see released on DVD. There are already enough talk about Star Wars, The Godfather Trilogy and Indiana Jones. What I have assemblied here are movies that, maybe didn't enjoy box-office success, but that I thoroughly enjoyed and would enjoy seeing again on DVD.
Update: Someone must be paying attention to this list... the number of unreleased titles listed here keeps growing shorter! Yea! Now, we’re still waiting on a couple of big blockbuster titles to be released (Star Wars, et al.), but, just a few years into the DVD format there are a bunch of great movies (and many that aren’t so great) available!
Do you have a favorite movie that’s not listed below? Sent it to me and I’ll add it to the list!
Here are a few notable upcoming DVD releases: (click on the title for additional information)
Recently Released DVDs:
These are titles I would like to see on DVD, either because their laser disc counterpart is out of print (OOP) or they were released only in a full frame or pan and scan format on laser disc. If the studio that owns the particular title sees fit to do a special edition with lots of extras - all the better!
- Adventures Of Ford Fairlane (1990) - "Johnny was the only guy who could out-disgust me. When we were kids we had gross-out contests. I coughed a pile of phlegm on a table, he said 'Nice try!' and pulled out a straw..." - Wouldn't you just love to have a full-length running commentary track by the Dice Man (Andrew Dice Clay) himself? By the way, does anyone know what the Dice Man is up to these days? A Region-4 DVD is available.
- Captain Ron (1992) - A very funny movie! "He said gorillas, NOT Guerillas... Gorillas, Guerillas can you hear the difference!?!" Currently Scheduled for Release on September 3, 2002.
- Down Periscope (1996) - "A rusty sub. A rebel commander. A renegade crew. When destiny called, they should have hung up." - While it may not have had box office success, I found it throughly enjoyable. A Region-2 DVD is available.
- Fawlty Towers (1975) - I don't know anyone who doesn't like this television series. They could take the laser disc masters done a few years ago and put them on DVD (even with the PAL to NTSC problems the laser discs suffered from) and I'd be happy! Adding a commentary track with John Clesse would be a wonderful extra - remember the hotel signs?... Warty Towels, Flowery Twats, Farty Tower, Fatty Owls. Released on October 16, 2001.
- Great Balls Of Fire (1989) - "The true story of a legend." - A little background on the Killer, Jerry Lee Lewis, and some good Rock 'n Roll music too! A remixed 5.1 DTS soundtrack would be a very nice addition. Maybe even a commentary track by Jerry Lee Lewis or Myra Lewis. Released on June 4, 2002.
- Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy (1981) - "Mostly harmless." - Originally made as a six-episode BBC TV series, it has aired on PBS stations across the USA from time to time. The laser disc of this is very good and probably even sought after by fans of this series. A release on DVD with all the episodes on one 5" silver platter, especially now that DVD-18 is an available option, and remixed in 5.1 audio would be wonderful! Oh, and in case you're still wondering - the answer is 42! There is a "HHGTTG: The Movie" rumored to be in the works, the first version of the script has curently been written by Douglas Adams. Released on April 30, 2002.
- Howard The Duck (Howard: A New Breed Of Hero) (1986) - "Trapped in a world he never made." - This is the 80's "Plan-9 From Outer Space" (1965). It's so bad you gotta love it! Lea Thompson (aka Caroline from the NBC sitcom "Caroline in the City") is a rock star and a duck (Howard!) who was plucked off of his livingroom couch, transported all the way across the Galaxy (by mistake!), where he subsequently saved us all from Evil. Adapted from a comic book to the silver screen by George Lucas. Everybody needs to see this turkey, er... duck at least once.
- Memoires Of An Invisible Man (1992) - "Women want him for his wit. The C.I.A. wants him for his body. All Nick wants is his molecules back." - Not the original, but the one with Chevy Chase as the invisible man. A commentary track by the director or special effects supervisor would give you a behind the scenes glimpse at state of the art movie magic just before the digital age took over.
- Ocean's Eleven (1960) - "Nobody else would have dared it beacause nobody else would have the nerve! Just Danny Ocean and his 11 pals - the crazy night they blew all the lights in Las Vegas!..." - How can you not like a movie with the Rat Pack in it? Frank Sinatra (the brains) and his crew Dean Martin (the heart - "Take the vote away from women - make slaves of 'em."), Sammy Davis, Jr. (the soul), and Peter Lawford ham it up in one of my all-time favorite Sinatra movies, even if Ol' Blue Eyes doesn't sing. A Remake ("Ocean's 11") with George Clooney, Brad Pitt & Julia Roberts is currently in production and scheduled for a summer 2001 theatrical release. Released on January 8, 2002. And while we're talking about the Rat Pack how about a double-feature with...
- Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964) - "Be careful or six of your best friends will be carrying you by the handles." - Robbo (Frank Sinatra), Little John (Dean Martin), Will (Sammy Davis, Jr.) and company are charitable gangsters fighting for turf in 1928 Chicago. Lot's of cameos and movie/TV stars appear in this one - Bing Crosby, Peter Falk, Tony Randall, Edward G. Robinson, Paul Frees a.k.a. "Man of a Thousand Voices". Released on January 8, 2002.
- Safe House (1999) - "The less you know, the safer you are." - A made for cable (Showtime) movie - this is an excellent thriller. Patrick Stewart's (aka Captain Picard ST:NG) performance is outstanding as an ex-CIA type agent who is... well, just a little paranoid or is he suffering from Alzheimer's disease? Released on July 18, 2000.
- Sunburn (1979) - "A private dick. A classy chick. An old guy named Al. As dectectives they were second to everyone." - Farrah Fawcett and Charles Grodin as a married couple? Well it's still a very good popcorn movie. Be sure to check your brain at the door! Pure eye candy.
- Star Trek: Voyager - "Future's End" (Episodes 150 & 151 [3.8 & 3.9]) (1996) - For purely selfish reasons I would like to see this two-part episode from the Voyager TV series on DVD. If you really must know why, email me and I might just tell you... and no it isn't because Sarah "I hate chinks" Silverman plays in it!... or is it?
- WKRP in Cincinnati (1982) - Baby, if you've ever wondered, Wondered whatever became of me, I'm living on the air in Cincinnati, Cincinnati WKRP. Got kind tired of packing and unpacking, Town to town, up and down the dial, Maybe you and me were never meant to be, Just maybe think of me once in a while. I'm at WKRP in Cincinnati. What a great show! The music rights will probably keep this one from appearing in its original form. A lot of great lines too: "...but the senator, while insisting that he was not intoxicated, could not explain his nudity." and how can you ever forget: "For those of you who've just tuned in, the Pinedale Shopping Mall has just been bombed with live turkeys. Film at eleven"
There have been many rumors floating around that these films are to be released on DVD, but no official word or date has been set.
- Back to the Future (1985) - "17 year old Marty McFly got home early last night. 30 years early." - This title has been rumored for quite a while, it even had an 'unofficial' release date at one point in time, and has also appeared on several DTS inserts. So, why hasn't it been released? Currently Scheduled for Release on December 17, 2002.
- Caddyshack: 20th Anniversary Special Edition (1980) - "The snobs against the slobs!" - Every golfers nighmare, or dream, I can never decide which! Warner Bros. released a VHS edition of this movie in 1999, but did not release it on DVD at the time for some reason. While you're at it you might as well do a box set and include the sequal - Caddyshack II (1988). Released on April 4, 2000.
- Edward Scissorhands (1990) - "His story will touch you, even though he can't." - Only available on Divx (DVE)! Now that Divx is gone I would have though Fox would try and make it available on DVD as soon as possible... well, we're still waiting. The Divx version was pan & scan, so maybe they're remastering it in 16x9 enhanced widescreen. A Region-2 DVD does exist! Released on September 5, 2000.
- Escape From New York (1981) - "1997. New York city is now a maximum security prison. Breaking out is impossible. Breaking in is insane." - This title was actually announced by Polygram, but was later postponed after Polygram was sold. Released on November 21, 2000.
- For All Mankind (1989) - "A Film by Al Reinert" - Excellent documentary on the Apollo moon flights, shot "on location." The only voices heard in the film are the voices of the Apollo astronauts and mission control. Criterion has placed this title on hold after announcing that it would be available on July 20, 1999 - the 30th anniversary of Apollo-11 moon landing. Released on Feb. 15, 2000.
- Grease: Special Edition (1978) - "Grease is the word." - Paramount announced that this title was going to be part of their initial DVD offering, but was pulled at the last minute. Probably becuase they couldn't obtain music rights for some of the performances (new deals must be made to secure the rights and residual payments regarding release on DVD). Also Oliva Newton-John is in litigation over her proper share of residuals from album, cd and cassette sales. Bottom line - all these issues must be resolved before we'll see the release of Grease on DVD. Currently Scheduled for Release on September 24, 2002.
- Independence Day (1996) - "We've always believed we weren't alone. On July 4th, we'll wish we were." - ID4 is in the works, however it is being released by Fox so lets hope that it gets the 16x9 enhancement it deserves! And how about a DTS soundtrack? Released on June 27, 2000.
- Little Shop Of Horrors: Special Edition (1986) - "A Singing Plant. A Daring Hero. A Sweet Girl. A Demented Dentist." - Based on the off-Broadway musical by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, which in turn was based on Roger Corman's 1960 low-budget (and very bad!) version featuring Jack Nicholson!. This musical with Rick Moranis and Audrey II was released on DVD in January 1998 then because of legal reasons (not having rights to the alternate ending) it was pull from the shelves. Rumors are that Warner Bros. is working on re-releasing it with a different version of the alternate ending (maybe in color, as the original DVD presents the alternate ending in black & white) or possibly a movie only edition sometime in Summer 2000. Released on May 23, 2000.
- Men In Black: Special Edition (MIB) (1997) - "Protecting the Earth from the scum of the Universe." - The commentary track on the laser disc edition of MIB was obviously recorded with DVD in mind, because the director makes a note about watching the pan and scan verses the letterbox side!?! This is another disc I would like to see in DTS. Released on September 5, 2000.
- Planet of the Apes (1968) - "Somewhere in the Universe, there must be something better than man!" - Only available on Divx (DVE)! Now that Divx is gone I would have though Fox would try and make it available on DVD as soon as possible... once again, we're still waiting. How about a box set of all 5 "APE" movies? Released on August 15, 2000.
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