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February 2003 Headlines 

02/25/03

KIDS IN THE HALL "TOUR OF DUTY" DVD TO BE RELEASED MARCH 18th

When comedy legends Kids In The Hall announced they would be reuniting for a sold out tour of North America last summer, Win Media recognized something big was about to go down. Dispatching an eleven camera production crew to capture every hilarious moment of the troupe's all new high energy show in widescreen format, Win Media not only succeeded in documenting the boys at their absolute comic best, but managed to record one of the freshest comedy troupes in ages in a performance people will be talking about for years to come.

This March 18th, when consumers and fans alike can purchase the KIDS IN THE HALL TOUR OF DUTY DVD they will not just be treated to some of the troupe's most celebrated characters, like Chicken Lady (Mark McKinney), Buddy Cole (Scott Thompson), Sir Simon Milligan (Kevin McDonald), Hecubus (Dave Foley) and Gavin (Bruce McCulloch), but also to handful of new characters in some of the most outrageously funny skits the Kids have conceived to date. Bonus features include backstage happenings and outrageous tour bus footage.

From their humble origins as a popular live sketch comedy troupe in their native Toronto, Canada, to their controversial HBO television series and hit film Brain Candy, the Kids In the Hall have had an enormous influence on the comedy world, and will undoubtedly continue to play a role in the shaping of pop culture for many more years to come.

KIDS IN THE HALL TOUR OF DUTY SRP: $19.95

02/23/03

DREAM WITH THE FISHES-- DAVID ARQUETTE HEADLINES THIS EDGY COMEDY/DRAMA DEBUTING ON DVD ON MAY 6

David Arquette (Never Been Kissed, Scream, Eight Legged Freaks) stars in DREAM WITH THE FISHES, an oddball odyssey about voyeurism, LSD and nude bowling, coming to DVD for the first time on May 6 from Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment.

Described as "poetic  - always true to itself" (San Francisco Chronicle) and praised for its "distinctive visual style" (New York Times) by first-time director Finn Taylor, DREAM WITH THE FISHES is an off-beat and compelling story of a truly unlikely friendship.

Arquette plays Terry, a suicidal voyeur who doesn't seem to be able to kill himself. While preparing to jump off a bridge, he meets Nick (Brad Hunt - Magnolia, Hart's War, Blow), who ends up saving his life.  Terry discovers that Nick is terminally ill and doesn't have much time left.  Scared by the lack of time, Nick offers Terry a deal he can't refuse: Terry will become the beneficiary of Nick's life insurance or, since money doesn't matter to Terry, Nick promises to kill him before he dies.  All Nick asks is Terry's help to realizes a few fantasies before dying.

The film also co-stars Cathy Moriarty (Analyze That, Soapdish) and Kathryn Erbe (Stir of Echoes, TVs "Law & Order: Criminal Intent").

DREAM WITH THE FISHES DVD:

 

KING RAT-- DEBUTING FOR THE FIRST TIME ON DVD MAY 6

Classic WWII Drama Starring George Segal Nominated for Two Academy Awards®

Oscar® nominee George Segal (Best Supporting Actor, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, TV's "Just Shoot Me") became a star with his powerful performance in KING RAT, the epic WWII drama based on the best- selling novel by "Shogun" author James Clavell, premiering on DVD May 6 from Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment.

KING RAT chronicles the scams of a streetwise G.I. held in a Japanese prisoner of war camp.  He earns the nicknamed "King Rat" because of his breeding of rodents to serve as food for his emaciated fellow soldiers, as well as a comment on his shifty personality. Under the harrowing camp conditions, he rises to a position of power over his military and social superiors, manipulating those around him and controlling the prison's black market.

A powerful exploration of one man's struggle to survive and flourish against all odds, the film also stars Tom Courtenay (Last Orders) and James Fox (Sexy Beast). Nominated for two 1965 Academy Awards® for Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography, KING RAT was directed by Bryan Forbes (The Stepford Wives, International Velvet).

KING RAT DVD:

 

NAKED LIES-- PREMIERING ON DVD MAY 6

Sexy Shannon Tweed Has an Offer You Can't Refuse in the Erotic Thriller

Go south of the border with sultry Shannon Tweed (former Playboy Playmate and star of Human Desires, Forbidden Sins) in the action-packed erotic thriller NAKED LIES, available for the first time on DVD May 6 from Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment.

Tweed stars as FBI agent Cara Landry, racked with guilt for killing a young boy in a drug bust, who is sent on a dangerous undercover assignment to gather evidence on Damian Medine, a Mexican casino owner running a counterfeiting operation for the Cali drug cartel.  With virtually no backup and no way out, Cara's only way to accomplish her mission and stay alive is to use her brains and body to lure Medina into a false sense of security and stay one step ahead of his suspicious underlings.

A seductive, suspense-filled tale of innocence, greed, betrayal and lust, NAKED LIES also stars Steven Bauer (Traffic, Scarface), Jay Baker (Shag) and Mexican superstar Fernando Allende.

NAKED LIES DVD:

 

02/20/03

IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA NEW TO DVD ON MAY 6

Classic Sci-Fi Thriller Featuring Creature FX from Academy Award®-Winning Visual Effects Legend Ray Harryhausen

From out of the depths to destroy the world - IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA, the cult favorite 1955 science-fiction "monster movie" featuring the groundbreaking special creature effects from stop-motion animation pioneer Ray Harryhausen (Clash of the Titans, The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, Mysterious Island), premiering for the first time on DVD May 6 from Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment.

The action is wet and untamed in the sci-fi thriller that pits man - and woman - against a giant octopus. Submarine commander Pete Mathews (Kenneth Tobey - Single White Female) and scientists Lesley Joyce (Faith Domergue - This Island Earth) and John Carter (Donald Curtis - Earth vs. the Flying Saucers) battle an angry sea monster driven from the depths of the ocean by an H-bomb explosion. In search of non-contaminated food, this tentacled tyrant counts among its victims a fishing trawler and its passengers, a family sunning at the beach, several San Francisco skyscrapers and even the Golden Gate Bridge! A daring attempt by the scientists to destroy the monster while saving themselves is a gripping finale to this aquatic adventure.

IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA DVD:

 

02/19/03

THE EXCITEMENT CONTINUES!-- BABYLON 5: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON

By Popular Demand, Warner Home Video Sets April 29 Debut for the Next Installment of Classic Sci-Fi Series

Following the resounding success of the first season’s DVD release, Warner Home Video is following up with the second 22 regular season episodes of the Emmy Award-winning series BABYLON 5. BABYLON 5: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON comes to DVD on April 29 as its own six-disc giftset. Loaded with extras including commentaries by series creator J. Michael Straczynski, the set will sell for $99.98 SRP.

BABYLON 5, the acclaimed series about the space station that's the tumultuous center of the 23rd century's bid for peace among humans and aliens, joins Friends, The Sopranos, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Simpsons and more TV-to-disc programs that prove DVD is the hot-selling format TV fans want to own.

BABYLON 5 won two Emmys (Groundbreaking Visual Effects and Makeup) and earned the 1999 Saturn Award for Best Genre Cable/Syndicated Series from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films (Hugo Awards). The second season of BABYLON 5 also won the 1996 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation for The Coming of Shadows episode. Other Hugo nominees that year included Apollo 13, Toy Story and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s The Visitor episode. Additionally, BABYLON 5: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON includes three Emmy-nominated episodes, Acts of Sacrifice, The Geometry of Shadows and Comes the Inquisitor.

It was the first-ever television series to use extensive computer-generated imagery and to shoot and air in a widescreen format. BABYLON 5 rewarded fan loyalty and broke new ground by maintaining narrative consistency through a five-year story arc, and the show was singled out by NASA, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and other noted institutions for its science-based treatment of futuristic space themes/technology.

Today, BABYLON 5 continues its mission with episodes syndicated on the Sci-Fi Channel, which also recently aired the new BABYLON 5 feature, Legend of the Rangers. There are also more than 30 novels in print set in the BABYLON 5 universe, and fan requests for a new BABYLON 5 television series are growing.

BABYLON 5 BONUS FEATURES

The six-disc set BABYLON 5: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON includes the following:

SYNOPSIS

The long-running Emmy Award-winning television series BABYLON 5 takes place in the year 2257 A.D, on an immense space station floating in a stationary orbit in a neutral corner of a distant galaxy. Staffed by a crew of peaceful Earthmen and women, Babylon 5 serves as a non-political economic and social hub for the four alien races -- the Narn, Centauri, Vorlon and Minbari -- who fight to control the galaxy.

BABYLON 5: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON

 

THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT SPECIAL EDITION PREMIERING MAY 6 ON DVD WITH ALL-NEW BONUS FEATURES

Woody Harrelson, Courtney Love and Edward Norton Star in The Provocative and Critically Acclaimed Film from Director Milos Forman

Two-time Oscar®-winning director Milos Forman's (Amadeus, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest) acclaimed biographical drama THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT about the most talked about man in controversy will be released as a Special Edition DVD May 6 for $29.95 SRP from Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment. This much anticipated DVD is highlighted with exclusive never-before- seen bonus features, including exciting featurettes and behind-the-scenes commentaries.

Nominated for a Best Actor Academy Award® for his acclaimed role, Woody Harrelson (Natural Born Killers, Anger Management) stars as the infamous Larry Flynt, the strip club owner who with his wife Althea (Courtney Love - Trapped) launched "Hustler," the notorious magazine that ignored society's morals and taboos, bringing Flynt not only millions of dollars in profit but also the wrath of the Religious Right. With his overburdened lawyer (Edward Norton - Red Dragon, Fight Club) Flynt finds themselves in courtrooms all over the country defending Larry against criminal and civil charges, all while Flynt is beset by paralysis after an assassination attempt, drug addiction, mental illness and Althea's failing health.

THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT a stranger-than-fiction story about one man's outrageous public persona and eccentric private life, chronicles Flynt's raunchy business savvy, his wildly unconventional marriage and his infamous courtroom antics, in this "smart, funny, shamelessly entertaining" film called "a blazing triumph" by the New York Times.

THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT DVD:

 

THE GREATEST ‘70S COP SHOWS-- DEBUT EPISODES FROM CHARLIE’S ANGELS, STARSKY AND HUTCH, S.W.A.T., POLICE WOMAN AND THE ROOKIES PREMIERING ON DVD MAY 6

Relive the Classic TV Series that Defined an Era in the Must-Own Collection of Everyone's Favorite Shows

Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment returns to the era of disco, bell-bottoms and fearless crime-fighters with the premiere of the new DVD compilation THE GREATEST ‘70S COP SHOWS featuring the definitive collection of classic 1970's cop shows including CHARLIE’S ANGELS, STARSKY AND HUTCH, S.W.A.T., POLICE WOMAN and THE ROOKIES, debuting together for the first time on DVD April 22 at the collectible price of $19.95 SRP.

See how all the action started when THE GREATEST ‘70S COP SHOWS premieres the original first episodes of these ultimate crime-stopping adventure series, including:

CHARLIE’S ANGELS / "Hellrider" - starring Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Jaclyn Smith & David Doyle

STARSKY AND HUTCH / "Savage Sunday" - starring Paul Michael Glaser & David Soul

S.W.A.T. / "Killing Ground" - starring Robert Urich, Steve Forrest & Steve Perry

POLICE WOMAN / "The End Game" - starring Golden Globe Award winner Angie Dickinson

THE ROOKIES / "Concrete Valley, Neon Sky" - starring Darren McGavin, Cameron Mitchell, Robert F. Lyons, Paul Burke

THE GREATEST ‘70S COP SHOWS DVD:

 

02/13/03

LOCKDOWN-- GRITTY URBAN DRAMA FEATURING KILLER SOUNDTRACK WITH NEW SONGS BY MASTER P PREMIERING APRIL 29 ON DVD

Rap sensation Master P (HBO's "Oz," I Got The Hookup) stars in, performs several new songs on the soundtrack and produces the powerful, graphic urban drama LOCKDOWN about the harsh realities of prison life, debuting April 29 on DVD and videocassette from Columbia TriStar Home

Entertainment.

Richard T. Jones (The Wood, Moonlight Mile) "displays great charisma and promise" (FilmThreat.com) as Avery, a talented young swimmer with a bright future and hopes for collegiate glory.  But a night out with his buddies Cashmere (Gabriel Casseus - Black Hawk Down, Lone Star) and Dre (De'aundre Bonds - Tales From The Hood, Get On The Bus), turns into a shocking case of mistaken identity and the three friends are wrongly accused of murder.

Now behind bars, Cashmere quickly falls under the wing of the prison's chief goods smuggler (Master P); Avery does his best to stay out of trouble per the guidance of his older, wiser cellmate (Clifton Powell - Friday After Next, The Brothers); and Dre is confronted by both physical and psychological abuse.  The three young men quickly learn that in prison there's a whole new set of rules - it's all about survival!

LOCKDOWN DVD:

 

02/11/03

ACADEMY AWARD® WINNER BURT LANCASTER STARS IN THE CLASSIC SOCIAL COMEDY-- THE SWIMMER: NEW TO DVD ON APRIL 29

Hollywood film legend Burt Lancaster (Academy Award® & Golden Globe winner for Elmer Gantry) lights up the screen in "the best performance of his career" ("The Today Show") in the acclaimed and thought- provoking black comedy THE SWIMMER, available for the first time on DVD April 29 from Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment.

One summer in an affluent Connecticut suburb, troubled middle-aged advertising man Ned Merrill (Lancaster) must confront all of his dreams and deceptions as he decides to "swim" home via the pools of his wealthy friends. Along the way he encounters several women from his past: a tempestuous teenage girl (Janet Landgard - Land Raiders), teetering at the edge of adolescence and womanhood; his embittered ex-mistress (Janice Rule - Bell, Book and Candle); and the sexy wife of an old friend (Kim Hunter - Planet of the Apes). Ned's revelatory journey is one of embarrassments, humiliation and steamy passion as he passes from one scenario to another, until he finally arrives home to an empty house ... and to a startling self-revelation.

THE SWIMMER was co-directed by Frank Perry (Mommie Dearest) and acclaimed filmmaker Sydney Pollack (Out of Africa, Ordinary People) and featured Academy Award® winning composer Marvin Hamlisch's (The Way We Were, Ice Castles, A Chorus Line) first film score.

THE SWIMMER DVD:

 

ACADEMY AWARD® WINNER CARY GRANT GIVES HIS FINAL SCREEN PERFORMANCE IN THE CHARMING ROMANTIC COMEDY-- WALK, DON'T RUN: NEW TO DVD ON APRIL 29

Hollywood movie legend Cary Grant bids the silver screen farewell with his final endearing performance that is a fitting coda to the dapper, debonair style of his prolific movie career in WALK, DON'T RUN, the charming remake of the classic romantic comedy The More the Merrier, coming to DVD for the first time April 29 from Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment.

When English industrialist Sir William Rutland (Grant) arrives in Tokyo on business, the influx of tourists for the upcoming 1964 Olympic games makes it impossible to find lodging. So Grant fast-talks his way into sharing an apartment with beautiful Christine Easton (Samantha Eggar - Doctor Doolittle, Anna and the King) for a few days. To further confuse matters, Grant invites Steve Davis (Jim Hutton - Hellfighters), a member of the U.S. Olympic team, to share his half of the apartment.

Three's definitely a crowd as Grant attempts to play Cupid between his two roommates. Will Grant manage to send them to the altar? Only if he manages to solve the many comical complications that come his way! Filmed entirely on location in Tokyo, WALK, DON'T RUN was directed by Charles Walters (The Unsinkable Molly Brown, High Society, Gigi).

WALK, DON'T RUN DVD:

 

POKÉMON 4EVER-- LATEST ADDITION TO THE POKÉMON VIDEO LIBRARY ON DVD MARCH 18, 2003
Includes 20-Minute Never-Before-Seen Pokémon Short

POKÉMON 4EVER, the all-new animated movie, comes to DVD and VHS on March 18, 2003. Referred to by the Film Advisory Board as "The Best One Ever…" this fast-moving adventure features many classic Pokémon characters, and introduces two legendary Pokémon®, Celebi and Suicune. Both VHS and DVD versions include an exclusive Pokemon trading card game card and a special twenty-minute short feature – Pikachu’s PikaBoo. The DVD includes a host of extras, such as a POKÉMON 4EVER interactive trivia game. POKÉMON 4EVER is available for $29.99 on DVD (S.R.P.) and $19.99 on VHS (S.R.P.) from Miramax Home Entertainment.

Pokémon continues its hot streak this year with the launch of two of the most highly-anticipated video games in history -- Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire -- the first Pokémon games produced exclusively for Nintendo’s GameBoy Advance® system. Pokémon continues to be a family entertainment staple. In addition to garnering more than $15 billion in total product sales worldwide, it is one of the most successful video game franchises in history. On Kids’ WB, Pokémon ranks among the top programs for kids ages six to eleven, and just recently the Cartoon Network began airing popular episodes throughout the week.

POKÉMON 4EVER introduces Celebi, a legendary winged green Pokémon, which uses its special power to time travel to the present. When Celebi is captured by an evil villain, Ash, Pikachu and another legendary Pokémon, Suicune, battle against dark forces that threaten the fate of the entire forest.

Here are the special bonus features included on the POKÉMON 4EVER DVD:

Other specs:

 

02/09/03

ONCE A THIEF STEALING ITS WAY ON TO DVD APRIL 22

World renowned action film maestro John Woo (Mission: Impossible 2, Face/Off, Windtalkers) wrote and directed the stylish martial arts action thriller ONCE A THIEF, starring international superstar Chow Yun-Fat (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Replacement Killers), coming to DVD April 22 from Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment.

A crafty and lightning-paced caper of stolen art and broken hearts, ONCE A THIEF features Woo's trademark over-the-top action sequences, non-stop thrills and mind- blowing gunplay mixed with comedy and romance in this thrilling crowd-pleaser. Chow Yun-Fat stars as master thief Joe, who along with his lifelong friends Jim (Leslie Cheung - Happy Together, Knock Off) and Cherie (Cherie Chung - Zodiac Killer) have lived life on the edge and been partners in crime since their childhood spent on the streets stealing to survive. Now world-class art thieves who are ready to call it quits on the "family" business, their relationships and lives are put on the line when they agree to one last mission for their biggest score ever ... to steal a multi-million dollar painting for a mysterious client who's bent on revenge ... against them!

ONCE A THIEF DVD:

 

MAD ABOUT YOU: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON-- PREMIERES APRIL 22 ON DVD

Witty & Romantic Comedy Series Available in Special Three-Disc Set Featuring 25 Hilarious Episodes

Jamie and Paul Buchman's comedic journey into the "final frontier" of marriage in the '90s returns with the DVD release of MAD ABOUT YOU: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON, featuring all 25 episodes on a special must-have three-disc DVD set, available April 22 at the collectible price of $39.95 SRP from Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment.

Created by actor/comedian Paul Reiser (Bye Bye Love, The Marrying Man) and Danny Jacobson (TV's "Roseanne"), MAD ABOUT YOU was the popular top-rated NBC sitcom centering on the newly married NYC couple "The Buchmans" - endearing and neurotic Jamie (Emmy, Golden Globe and Academy Award®-winner Helen Hunt - As Good As It Gets, What Women Want) and charming and supportive (albeit flawed) husband Paul (Reiser). As they adjust to married life, this urban duo must contend with their sometimes difficult friends and family, career choices, relationship issues, domestic dilemmas and eventually parenthood - not to mention the inconveniences of daily life - as they learn to savor the everyday miracles.

MAD ABOUT YOU: COMPLETE SECOND SEASON features several of the series' most memorable episodes, including the Emmy Award-winning guest appearance by Cyndi Lauper, along with Andre Agassi, Christie Brinkley, Garth Brooks, Julia Sweeney and a hilarious recurring guest role by Lisa Kudrow of "Friends."

Well-written, funny and thoughtful, MAD ABOUT YOU garnered seven Emmy Awards (including four consecutive wins for Hunt as Outstanding Lead Actress / Comedy Series) and was honored with several nominations for the Golden Globe Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards and American Comedy Awards during its eight-year run.

MAD ABOUT YOU: COMPLETE SECOND SEASON DVD:

 

I G N I T I O N -- DEBUTING ON DVD APRIL 22

Bill Pullman & Lena Olin Headline The Suspenseful Conspiracy Thriller

Talented & versatile actor Bill Pullman (Igby Goes Down, Independence Day) and sexy Lena Olin (TVs "Alias", Chocolat) star in the intense action-packed thriller IGNITION set against the intriguing backdrop of a U.S. military conspiracy, premiering on DVD and videocassette April 22 from Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment.

Federal judge Faith Matheson (Olin) is preparing to try the most explosive case of her career, involving corruption within some of the highest levels of the military. But the power of her final ruling could severely impact attempts of the U.S. Army to launch the first rocket into space in over thirty years. Suddenly finding herself in grave danger, Faith is assigned the protective services of Conor Gallagher (Pullman), a former Marine Corps helicopter pilot, decorated with the Congressional Medal of Honor. But the stakes are higher than either ever imagined and as they dig deeper to uncover the truth, they are pulled into a dangerous web of conspiracy, intrigue, treason and murder.

IGNITION DVD:

 

IMMEDIATE FAMILY-- NEW TO DVD ON APRIL 22

Academy Award® nominees Glenn Close (Dangerous Liasions, Fatal Attraction) and James Woods (John Q, Riding in Cars with Boys) star in IMMEDIATE FAMILY, the realistic and heart-warming drama about two couples and the baby they both love, premiering on DVD April 22 from Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment.

Linda (Close) and Michael (Woods) are a happily married couple, who desperately want a baby and turn to an adoption agency for help. They meet Lucy (Mary Stuart Masterson - Fried Green Tomatoes, Bed of Roses), a teenage girl expecting her first baby, and her boyfriend Sam (Kevin Dillon - The Doors, A Midnight Clear). Initially the couples agree that Lucy will sign away custody of her baby to Linda and Michael, however things don't go quite as planned once the child is born and everyone learns that the toughest choices are always made with the heart.

Featuring an "honest, unpretentious performance" (Washington Post) by Mary Stuart Masterson who was honored with the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress, IMMEDIATE FAMILY was written by Barbara Benedek, co-writer of The Big Chill, and directed by Jonathan Kaplan (The Accused, Unlawful Entry).

IMMEDIATE FAMILY DVD:

 

02/06/03

WARNER HOME VIDEO AND VILLAGE ROADSHOW PICTURES PRESENT THE ANIMATRIX A GROUNDBREAKING COLLECTION OF NINE SHORT FILMS FROM THE CREATORS OF THE MATRIX TRILOGY-- WORLDWIDE RELEASE JUNE 3 ON DVD

Featuring Techno Soundtrack Including Juno Reactor, Massive Attack, Death in Vegas & More Music Supervised By DJ Jason Bentley

After breaking domestic and international box-office and DVD sales records, garnering four Academy Awards® and setting the standard by which all futuristic action films are measured, THE MATRIX is poised to break new ground with the highly-anticipated release of Warner Home Video and Village Roadshow Pictures' THE ANIMATRIX.

An unprecedented fusion of CG-animation and Japanese anime, THE ANIMATRIX is a collection of nine original short films conceived by the Wachowski Brothers, the creators of THE MATRIX trilogy. Inspired by the visionary action and innovative storytelling that power the trilogy, this spectacularly visual short film series delves deeper into the mind-bending world of THE MATRIX and the characters who inhabit it. Created in the anime style pioneered by Japanese animation artists and helmed by world-renowned anime directors, THE ANIMATRIX also features the voices of actors Keanu Reeves (Neo) and Carrie-Anne Moss (Trinity) in two of the shorts.

One complete episode from THE ANIMATRIX, The Final Flight of the Osiris, will accompany the worldwide release of the supernatural thriller Dreamcatcher when it debuts in theaters on March 21. Written by Larry and Andy Wachowski, this nine-minute computer-generated short serves as an explosive prelude to THE MATRIX RELOADED.

THE ANIMATRIX debuts worldwide on DVD and videocassette on June 3, between the release of the next two films in THE MATRIX trilogy - THE MATRIX RELOADED, which opens theatrically on May 15, followed by THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS, which debuts in theaters in November. THE ANIMATRIX will be available on DVD for $24.98 SRP/$19.95 MAP and on VHS for $19.98 SRP/$13.95 MAP from Warner Home Video (WHV).

THE ANIMATRIX features an eclectic techno soundtrack supervised by renowned DJ/producer/remixer Jason Bentley with some of today's hottest electronica artists such as Juno Reactor, Death in Vegas, Massive Attack, Meat Beat Manifesto and others. The original score for the project is provided by Don Davis, who crafted the music for all three films in THE MATRIX trilogy. THE ANIMATRIX features short films directed by some of the world's premiere anime filmmakers, including:

This "ultimate dream team" of anime collaborators provides THE ANIMATRIX with the creative power to take viewers on a cerebral journey of cutting-edge animation, mind-blowing visuals and pulse-pounding music.

To generate early awareness for the release, fans will be able to view several complete episodes before street date as well as learn more about THE ANIMATRIX by visiting www.theanimatrix.com.

"THE ANIMATRIX is certain to become the genre-defining standard by which all other anime films are judged. More than three years in the making at animation studios in Japan, Korea and the U.S. with some of the most revered talent in the anime world, THE ANIMATRIX is truly a not-to-be-missed experience," said Mike Saksa, WHV vice president U.S. marketing. "With the release of THE ANIMATRIX along with THE MATRIX TWO-DISC SPECIAL EDITION DVD, the two theatrical films, the new video game and other ancillary projects spawned by the franchise, 2003 is strategically poised to become 'The Year of The Matrix.'"

THE ANIMATRIX DVD is highlighted by the following special features:

THE ANIMATRIX FILM SYNOPSES

The Final Flight of the Osiris

The Second Renaissance - Parts 1 and 2

Kid's Story

Program

World Record

Beyond

Detective Story

Matriculated

THE MATRIX revolutionized science-fiction action films and boggled the minds of moviegoers, becoming one of the most successful sci-fi films of all time, with a domestic box-office gross of nearly $172 million. Recently inducted into the DVD Premiere Academy of Artistic Achievement, the DVD was the first ever to reach sales of three million units. Voted "DVD of the Year" by the Video Software Dealers Association at the first annual DVD Festival 2000 Awards, it has sold over 15 million units worldwide, and its fiercely dedicated fan base has spread feverish anticipation of THE MATRIX sequels across the Internet.

BASICS

 

REVAMPED, RENEWED AND FULLY LOADED THE MATRIX SPECIAL EDITION DVD

Two-Disc Collector's Set Highlighted By Hours of Bonus Features Including Exclusive Sneak Peek At THE MATRIX RELOADED
Experience The Original Matrix Again on April 29

Tapping into the excitement and anticipation of the eagerly awaited May 15 theatrical release of THE MATRIX RELOADED, Warner Home Video (WHV) and Village Roadshow Pictures will kick off "The Year of The Matrix" with the release of THE MATRIX Special Edition DVD. A must-have addition to every movie lover's collection, THE MATRIX Special Edition two-disc DVD brings consumers a fresh look at one of the most popular and influential films in history with hours of bonus materials, cool collectible foil packaging and an exclusive advance look behind-the-scenes at THE MATRIX RELOADED. As an added bonus for consumers, each DVD will also contain a free ticket offer, redeemable by mail, for THE MATRIX RELOADED.

Destined to be "the chosen one," THE MATRIX Special Edition two-disc DVD will be available on April 29 at $27.95 SRP.

Winner of four Academy Awards®, THE MATRIX revolutionized the science-fiction action film genre, challenging the minds of moviegoers to become one of the most successful films of all time with a domestic box-office gross of nearly $172 million. A proven entertainment franchise, THE MATRIX was the first DVD to break the one million unit sales mark and has since sold more than 15 million units worldwide, ranking as one of the top 100 selling DVDs for more than 170 weeks since its initial release date (Source: VideoScan). THE MATRIX DVD has been named to AOL Movies' "Ultimate DVD Collection" (voted on by more than 1.5 million online movie fans) and was also recently inducted into the DVD Premiere Academy of Artistic Achievement.

DVD ELEMENTS

DISC ONE - ORIGINAL DVD FEATURE FILM

DISC TWO - ORIGINAL MATRIX REVISITED DVD PLUS NEW BONUS MATERIALS*

TWO-DISC SPECIAL EDITION BASICS

 

RELIVE SUPER BOWL XXXVII AND THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS INCREDIBLE ROAD TO GLORY WITH THE SUPER BOWL XXXVII CHAMPIONS VIDEO ARRIVING IN STORES TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2003

NFL Films and Warner Home Videos Release Super Bowl Video in Record Time

Twenty-six seasons ago, NFL Films produced The Birth of the Bucs, a documentary that chronicled the struggle of a then NFL expansion team. Now, NFL Films presents THE SUPER BOWL XXXVII CHAMPIONS VIDEO, starring the recently-crowned world champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The exciting three-hour DVD is available through Warner Home Video, the leader in home entertainment, beginning at 12:01 a.m. ET on Tuesday, February 11. From the opening kickoff to the hoisting of the Vince Lombardi Trophy, football fans have the opportunity to relive the Buccaneers' glorious triumph, only 16 days after the final whistle sounded at Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego - a record turnaround for the Super Bowl video. "This DVD shows why Tampa Bay had Oakland's number every step of the way in its 48-21 victory," says NFL Films President Steve Sabol. "Coach Jon Gruden and safety John Lynch agreed to wear NFL Films microphones during the game and their combined commentary gives fans a perspective they didn't see during the original television broadcast."

NFL Films producers David Plaut and Todd Schmidt had just days to pour over more than 135,000 feet of film captured by 22 camera and sound crews and edit it into THE SUPER BOWL XXXVII CHAMPIONS VIDEO. "This is our version of the two-minute drill, but without the usual bye week between the Super Bowl and the championship games, it's like we've burned all of our timeouts," says Plaut, who has been producing the Super Bowl Champions Video since 1985. "Besides the Super Bowl, we have to cover all the regular season games and the playoffs. But thanks to advances in DVD technology, we've been able to give fans more special features, including some we've never been able to offer until now."

This year's championship release is the most extensive and in-depth Super Bowl highlight video in NFL Films history. Besides featuring stunning cinematography and exclusive all-access sound, the DVD contains an unprecedented two hours of extended programming to complement the traditional one-hour highlight of the game.

For the first time in NFL Films history, the DVD includes:

"Tampa Bay fans, who are among the most passionate NFL fans in the country, will love The Super Bowl XXXVII Champions DVD, because it will provide them with comprehensive coverage of this amazing season and their team's crowning moment," says Doug Wadleigh, Vice President of Marketing, WHV. "As Buccaneers fans wait for their team to make another run at the Super Bowl, they will be able to keep their championship spirit alive through this great memento." For Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego, NFL Films, the recipient of 82 Emmy Awards, utilized a 22-person camera and sound crew, who shot over 135,000 feet of film. The NFL Films Super Bowl Videos are among the highest-selling sports videos of all-time.

The release of THE SUPER BOWL XXXVII CHAMPIONS VIDEO marks the beginning of a three-year exclusive partnership between NFL Films and WHV, which is harnessing its marketing, distribution and packaging resources to make the video available to football fans in a record 16 days following the Super Bowl. The NFL Films Super Bowl Videos are among the highest-selling sports videos of all-time. Through this new partnership, WHV is developing consumer marketing campaigns for NFL Films products and is expanding the distribution of the NFL Films videos through mainstream video retailers, sports retailers and in-stadium stores. WHV and NFL Films also are looking to release new titles throughout the year introducing new collectable and gift sets for the holidays, as well as a series of products to coincide with the kickoff of the NFL season.

02/05/03

AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON 2-DISC DVD WINNER OF TWO ACADEMY AWARDS. WALT DISNEY’S 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA SPECIAL EDITION DVD AVAILABLE ON MAY 13

Starring Academy Award. Winner* Kirk Douglas
DVDs Loaded With Rare Bonus Features
Walt’s Wondrous Film, Restored and Remastered

Climb aboard the fantastic undersea ship Nautilus and head for the adventure of a lifetime in Walt Disney’s 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA SPECIAL EDITION DVD, available for the first time on a 2-disc DVD set on May 13. One of Disney’s most famous, most-requested films, 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA SPECIAL EDITION DVD features Hollywood legends Kirk Douglas, James Mason and Peter Lorre in the rip-roaring version of Jules Verne’s famous story that generations of families treasure. On 2-disc DVD, this spectacular film is buoyed by a massive array of rarely viewed or never-before-seen bonus features that appeal to both first-time viewers and the most enthusiastic film fans. A mesmerizing masterpiece and unquestionably one of Walt Disney’s most enduring classics, 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA SPECIAL EDITION DVD is priced to own for $29.99 (S.R.P.) in a collector’s 2-disc DVD set.

On 2-Disc DVD, 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA SPECIAL EDITION DVD includes:

DISC ONE:

DISC TWO:

DVD bonus features unrated and subject to change.

20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA is possibly the most elaborate live-action production that Walt Disney ever produced, and the Studio spared no expense in creating the undersea world of the film. Directed by Richard Fleischer, 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA garnered two Academy Award. wins for Walt, (Best Special Effects & Best Art Direction, 1954) as well as an Oscar. nomination for Best Film Editing. The design and set of the Nautilus are classics that have thrilled generations of fans and filmmakers. The movie’s astonishing giant squid attack stands as one of Hollywood’s most famous scenes.

Truly one of Walt Disney’s classic live-action films, 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA tells Jules Verne’s gripping story of Captain Nemo (James Mason), the brilliant but flawed sea captain who pits his incredible submarine Nautilus against the world. After attacking a Navy ship, Nemo rescues several survivors, including the feisty harpooner Ned Land (Kirk Douglas) and the Conseil (Peter Lorre). They find that Nemo is an unstable genius who has built the most advanced yet deadly craft in the world. Ned and his group persuade Nemo to share his inventions with mankind, but before he can do so, warships attack the Nautilus and force Ned and his friends to confront Nemo once and for all.

Street Date: May 13, 2003

 

TREASURE PLANET-- A NEW ADVENTURE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY AVAILABLE ON DISNEY DVD APRIL 29, 2003

In the tradition of classic Disney storytelling comes a fun-filled family adventure as big as the galaxy, with uplifting messages of friendship, courage and self discovery! Set sail with TREASURE PLANET, coming to Disney DVD and VHS on April 29, 2003 from Walt Disney Home Entertainment. Directed by "Aladdin" and "The Little Mermaid" directors John Musker and Ron Clements, TREASURE PLANET takes a futuristic twist on Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous tale "Treasure Island," a classic story about a boy in search of his dreams who discovers the greatest treasure hunt of all time. Combining Disney’s world-famous traditional animation, cutting-edge 3D computer animation and a top-notch vocal cast, TREASURE PLANET is an adventure that the whole family will enjoy. On Disney DVD, the film is accompanied by a slew of exciting bonus features, deleted scenes (includes alternate ending,) in-depth behind-the-scenes-looks at the artistry of the film, all-new games and much more (see attached for DVD details). The Disney DVD features state-of-the-art digital transfer picture and Dolby. Digital sound, presented in the animators’ original aspect ratio. TREASURE PLANET is available to own for $29.99 (S.R.P.) on Disney DVD and $24.99 on VHS.

On Disney DVD, TREASURE PLANET will include:

Three Navigational Platforms including:

In addition to providing audio commentary, join the Producer and Directors as they take viewers behind the scenes and reveal movie secrets

All DVD features unrated and subject to change.

A secret map inspires a thrilling treasure hunt across the universe as young Jim Hawkins (Joseph-Gordon Levitt, TV’s "3rd Rock From The Sun," "Ten Things I Hate About You") and a hilarious cosmic crew headed by the daring Captain Amelia (Emma Thompson, "Maybe Baby," Academy Award. winner, Best Actress, "Howards End," 1992) set off in search of their destiny. Aboard a glittering solar galleon, Jim meets the ship’s cyborg cook, John Silver (voiced by Broadway stage and three-time Tony Award nominee Brian Murray), who teaches him the value of friendship and the power of dreams. Jim soon teams up with his crazy new robot pal, B.E.N. (Martin Short, TV’s "Primetime Glick;" "Father of the Bride"), and the shape shifting Morph to discover a treasure greater than he ever imagined. It’s an animated adventure the whole family will want to experience over and over again.

 

JAKE GYLLENHAAL, DUSTIN HOFFMAN, SUSAN SARANDON AND HOLLY HUNTER STAR IN MOVING, ACCLAIMED DRAMA: MOONLIGHT MILE-- ON DVD MARCH 11

Touchstone Home Entertainment is proud to present the acclaimed drama MOONLIGHT MILE, coming to DVD and video on March 11, 2003. A moving, sharply funny and always engaging story of loss and redemption, MOONLIGHT MILE boasts an all-star cast that includes Academy Award®-winners* Dustin Hoffman ("Wag The Dog," "Rain Man"), Susan Sarandon ("The Banger Sisters," "Dead Man Walking") and Holly Hunter (O Brother Where Art Thou," "The Piano"), alongside one of the hottest young stars in Hollywood today, Jake Gyllenhaal ("The Good Girl," "Donnie Darko"). On DVD, the film includes a full menu of bonus features, including deleted scenes, director and cast commentaries, interviews and behind the scenes features. Directed by Brad Silberling, MOONLIGHT MILE is produced by Mark Johnson and Brad Silberling, with a screenplay by Brad Silberling. Executive producers are Patricia Whitcher, Susan Sarandon, Ashok Amritraj and David Hoberman. MOONLIGHT MILE will be available to own on DVD for $29.99 and will be available to rent on VHS.

On DVD, MOONLIGHT MILE will include the features:

In MOONLIGHT MILE, when Joe Nast’s (Jake Gyllenhaal) plans for marriage change due to an unexpected loss, he wants to be the man he believes everyone wants him to be – dutifully bereaved husband-to-be, and perfect would-be son-in-law to Ben (Dustin Hoffman) and JoJo (Susan Sarandon). But when another woman, the spunky Bertie Knox (Ellen Pompeo, "Catch Me If You Can") unexpectedly enters his life, Joe is torn between fulfilling his role with his former girlfriend’s family, entering into business with Ben and a lecherous real estate agent (Dabney Colman, "Inspector Gadget"), and following his heart towards a new romantic soul mate. The film also stars Holly Hunter. Deeply moving, and told with both emotion and wit, MOONLIGHT MILE is an acclaimed drama that touches the heart.

Set in the 1970’s, MOONLIGHT MILE includes a stellar line-up of songs from that era. As director Brad Silberling states, "It was always the tunes that mattered. Close your eyes, and they told your story for you."

 

DAWSON'S CREEK: FIRST SEASON-- AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON DVD ON APRIL 1

Complete 13 Episodes Featured in Three-Disc Set

Follow the lives of Dawson, Joey, Pacey, and Jennifer, a close-knit group of high school students in the quiet little coastal town of Capeside, as they build new relationships, break hearts and overcome growing pains. Welcome to DAWSON'S CREEK, the critically acclaimed and thought-provoking young adult series, set for an April 1 release exclusively on a special three-disc DVD set, featuring the entire first season of 13 episodes and priced to own at $39.95 SRP.

This provocative coming-of-age drama about a group of teenage friends moving into young adulthood in a small tourist town in New England is from writer/creator Kevin Williamson (Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer), and has become the television standard in the teen drama genre.  DAWSON'S CREEK features hot young Hollywood actors James Van Der Beek (The Rules of Attraction, Varsity Blues), Katie Holmes (Abandon, Wonder Boys, GO), Joshua Jackson (The Skulls, Urban Legend) and Michelle Williams (Prozac Nation, If These Walls Could Talk 2).

DAWSON'S CREEK chronicles four teenagers through the undeniabl