Dominator’s News and Views Jan 2000

The new widescreen videos out this week are :

January 30th : Kingpin racks ’em up on DVD…Woody Harrelson, Randy Quaid, Bill Murray and Vanessa Angelstar in a film from the directors of There’s Something About Maryand Dumb & Dumber,Kingpin,which is online and out on DVD now.

January 29th :

Sarah Young gets ’em out for DVD…Sarah Young (right), the Queen of Euro Porn, born and bred in Hampshire,has appeared topless on page 3 and bottomless to in a number of softcore andthen hardcore porn films with her large breasts and tight waist. Her new DVDarrived on my doormat yesterday and my eyes have now gone less blind, justenough for me to write the review with SIX, count ’em SIX, screengrabsattached.Sarah Young’s Erotic Dreams Vol.1is online and out on DVD now.

January 28th :

George Michael’s out… and about on DVD…George Michael followed Wham! with a solo career that has spannedfifteen years to date and has released a 23-track compilation album, videoand DVD.George Michael: Ladies and Gentlemenis online and out on DVD now. Updated cinema listings…Stuck for something to do this weekend? Live in the Manchester area? The listof the films showing at
Manchester Showcase Cinemacan be found on this page.This week’s new films are : Double Jeopardy, Julian Poand Simpatico.

January 27th : First look: The Planets, Notting Hill, The Voyeur and P.O. Box Tinto Brass on DVD…Thanks to Katy Prout from the BBC for The Planets on DVD. A full review ofthis and all the titles in this section shall follow in due course, but tosummarise, this DVD runs for 390 mins approx. and contains all eight episodesof last year’s BBC2 series.

As well as subtitles in several languages, this title comes on two dual-layereddiscs and is in its original 16:9 ratio, unlike the recent video release whichwas cropped to 4:3. The disc is anamorphic to give a brilliant picture onwidescreen TVs.

Thanks to Andy Timms on behalf of Universal for the Notting Hill DVD I’ve received.As well as an excellent 2.35:1 anamorphic picture and Dolby Digital 5.1 sound,this disc contains a trailer, cast and crew biographies, a map of the Notting Hillarea and DVD-ROM content.

And last, but not least, thanks to Richard Larcombe on behalf of Nouveau Picturesfor the two ‘erotic’ stories directed by Tinto Brass, namely P.O. Box TintoBrass and The Voyeur, both of which contain dubbed English language on topof whatever soundtrack lay beneath it, a photo gallery and are slightly widescreen, notquite the 4:3 fullscreen picture the back covers proclaim.

January 25th :

Kenneth Branagh tracks down The Gingerbread Man on DVD…Kenneth Branagh leads an all-star cast of Embeth Davidtz, RobertDowney Jr, Daryl Hannah, Tom Berenger and Robert Duvall in RobertAltman‘sThe Gingerbread Man,which is online and out on DVD now. Columbia’s March DVD releases :March 6th :

Go! (Simultaneous DVD & Rental release) : 3 pop videos, 14 deletedscenes, featurette inc. interviews, trailer. Ratio: 2.35:1.

March 13th :

A League of Their Own: 28min Documentary, Filmographies, Madonnamusic video, Behind the scenes interviews, 3 trailers.
American Pie: Featurette, interviews, Filmographies.
Bizet’s Carmen: Theatrical trailer, Full cast and crewfilmographies.
Dumb & Dumber: Photo Gallery, Filmographies, Original theatricaltrailer, Interactive scene selection.

March 20th :

Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story: Featurette, Audio commentary,Jason Scott Lee Screen Test, Outtakes, Dragon promotional material,Production notes, Bruce Lee interviews, 2 Trailers, Bruce Lee photos,Storyboards of various fight sequences, Menu Music. Ratio: 2.35:1.
Desert Heat (Simultaneous DVD & Rental release) : Theatrical trailer, Full cast and crew filmographies.
Legionnaire: Theatrical trailer, Full cast and crew filmographies.
Hard Target: Trailer, Production notes, Filmographies.
Groundhog Day: 6 minute featurette, Filmographies, Theatricaltrailer
Orgazmo (Simultaneous DVD & Rental release) : Theatrical trailer,interactive menu scene selection, Full cast & crew filmographies.

March 27th :

Big Daddy (Simultaneous DVD & Rental release) : Filmographies,Trailers, Interview with Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider and Denis Dugan (Director),Music Videos by Sheryl Crow and Garbage.
Too Young To Die: Trailer, Biographical notes.
Absence of the Good: Trailer, Biographical notes.

Fox’s romantic duet for Valentine’s Day…Released the Monday before (Feb 7th), Fox release Ever After: A CinderellaStory and Romeo and Juliet (1996) for a penny under 20quid apiece.Both are anamorphic with a ratio of 2.35:1, and include the trailer plusseveral subtitles.

January 24th :

Robin Williams discovers What Dreams May Come on DVD…Robin Williams, Annabella Sciorra have everything they could everwant until fate takes it all away. Winner of an Oscar for Best Visual Effects,What Dreams May Comeis online and out on DVD now. Will Britney’s Bristols push the Manics from the top slot…?To find out the answer to that visit mymusic chart analysis page New DVDs and widescreen videos out this weekThe new DVDs out this week include :

The new widescreen videos out this week are :

January 23rd : Plunkett and Macleane ride out on DVD…Robert Carlyle and Jonny Lee Miller are the dashing highwaymenthat you’re too scared to mention. They spend their cash on looking flash andgrabbing your attention. Join them on their escapades inPlunkett and Macleane,which is online and out on DVD now.

First Look: Blue Juice on DVD…Thanks to Michelle at Media Communications for the copy of Blue JuiceI’ve received. As well as a 16:9 anamorphic picture, the DVD comes with atheatrical trailer and an 18-minute featurette featuring clips and interviews.A full review shall follow in due course. Coming soon on DVD, PC, Dreamcast and Playstation…976 Evil I & II: Both released on DVD on February 7th with photolibraries for £15.99 apiece, the first film marked a milestone for’Freddie Krueger’ Robert Englund as his directorial debut telling thegory tale of small-town wimp Spike, whose life is satanically changed foreverthe day he calls up a mysterious freephone telephone number which has a directlink with the Devil (hmm…doesn’t *look* like the customer services numberfor Dixons).

The Wraith: Another February 7th release for £15.99,this horror film marked Charlie Sheen‘s acting debut.

Hang the DJ: Available later, on March 27th for £19.99,this is a deep quest into the heart of dance music and club culture, its DJs,clubs and crowds, taking you on a rollercoaster ride through its world gainingaccess to some of the planet’s biggest DJs led by Junior Vasquez, RogerSanchez, Carl Cox, Danny Tenaglia and discoverer of Elisa Fiorillo (whoshe? :)), Jellybean.

Sarah Young’s Erotic Dreams: Out now for £19.99, Sarah Young(right), the Queen of Euro Porn, born and bred in Hampshire, has appearedtopless on page 3 and bottomless to in a number of softcore and then hardcoreporn films with her large breasts and tight waist. This DVD, I understand,oozes with naked sensuality and way-out eroticism of the highest calibre.

Hard Boiled: Starring Chow Yun Fat & Tony Leung,this film has a bodycount well into three figures, more firepower than you canshake an Uzi at and adrenaline-pumping action sequences, this John Woo filmcomes on DVD complete with a 60-minute interview with John Woo, the theatricaltrailer and a choice of dubbed or subtitled versions.Released March 2000. Price: £TBA

Dobermann: Untamed, uncut and unleashed, Dobermann is a wild,frenetic assault on the senses. Set in modern day Paris, this visuallyaudacious, ultra-hip urban western, pits a stylish gang of bank robbers againsta sadistic cop. The original trailer will be included.Released March 2000. Price: £TBA

Society: One of my favourite schlock-horror films of all timeand the first legal 18-cert I saw in the cinema (on my 18th birthday, no less,as a midnight showing just after a nice meal on April 14th 1990), Baywatch‘sBilly Warlock lives in Beverly Hills, playground of the rich. Families,homes and the people are perfect, although at night they meet up for more thana bit of schmoozing. In the town where a business “merger” means somethingcompletely different and with special effects by Screaming Mad George,you can be sure of something different. Oh, and Warlock’s screen-girlfriendhas nipples like bullets too :)Released March 2000. Price: £TBA

Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (Playstation): This new 3D action-adventure on Playstationreveals more details of the evil Umbrella Corporation and its corrupt plans ofgenetic mutation for use in biological warfare. The plot begins just hoursbefore the events of Resident Evil 2 and features Jill Valentine caughtup in Raccoon City, this time aided by a mercenary, Carlos Oliveira. It includes10 different types of zombies from both previous games and introduces newcharacters including the terrifying Nemesis character.

Click on the following for a PC review ofResident Evil 2and the Playstation original ofResident Evil 2.

Final Fantasy 8 (PC): Already out on the Playstation, the PC versiontakes advantage of 3Dfx technology with an epic tale of love, hate, fear andrevenge set to a full orchestral soundtrack. There are 8 playable characterseach with individual personalities and special abilities, plus massive,beautifully detailed locations and a new menu system that allows players tocustomise the abilities of each player.

Tomb Raider IV: The Last Revelation (Dreamcast): SEGA Europe is proud to announce that Eidos is to develop Tomb Raider: TheLast Revelation, the latest episode in the best selling Tomb Raider series,for Dreamcast, the most powerful video games console ever created. TombRaider: The Last Revelation marks the return of Lara Croft and Tomb Raiderto Sega.

Lara is depicted in her full glory holding a Dreamcast at:www.powerhousepr.com/dreamcast/images.shtmland you will be able to download the full print-quality picture by clicking onthe image (download takes about 5/10 mins)…

J-F Cecillon, Chief Executive Officer, Sega Europe, said: “This is a world class signing. The strongest software property ever-createdjoins Dreamcast, the most powerful games console ever created. I salute theSega and Eidos executives who concluded this great deal.”

Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, due for release on Dreamcast in spring2000, will join a number of other titles that Eidos has already developedfor Dreamcast. These include Fighting Force and Power Stone.

Kazutoshi Miyake, Chief Operating Officer, SEGA Europe, said:“With today’s announcement, Dreamcast now has the majority of the world’smajor games software companies developing titles for the console, which isan outstanding achievement for SEGA.

“Together with Eidos and our other software partners, we will continue toexploit Dreamcast’s phenomenal power and interactive capabilities. SEGA willcontinue to be the pioneer of the most advanced gaming entertainment ever.”

Sega Europe Chief Executive Officer, J-F Cecillon added: “Thanks to the amazing power of Dreamcast’s graphics, Lara will appearbetter than ever before. You can be sure to see a top class marketingcampaign to welcome Lara to Dreamcast. “

For further information please contactPete Devery or Jools Moore at Powerhouse PR
Tel: 0171 471 6838/9 or dreamcast@powerhousepr.comand tell them you saw the press release on Sonicstate.

Click on the following for PC reviews of :Tomb Raider II,Tomb Raider III andTomb Raider IV.

January 22nd : Go on the rampage in Fighting Force 2 on Playstation…Hawk Manson is back and this time he’s taking no prisoners. The KnackamicheCorporation are up to something dodgy and he’ll sort out the bad guys from theeven worse ones.Fighting Force 2is online and out on Sony Playstation now.

January 21st : Move your RC with RC Stunt Copter on Playstation…A flight-sim with a difference – control a remote controlled chopper, pull offsome stunts and try not to crash!RC Stunt Copteris online and out on Sony Playstation now.

January 19th : Vroom! Vroom! Carmageddon runs over the Playstation…I loved this game when it was released on the PC, but how does it fare on thePlaystation?Carmageddonis online and out on Sony Playstation now. Updated cinema listings…Stuck for something to do this weekend? Live in the Manchester area? The listof the films showing at
Manchester Showcase Cinemacan be found on this page.This week’s new films are : Bicentennial Man, Stigmata, Music of the Heartand Rancid Aluminium.

January 17th :

John Carpenter pilots the Dark Star on DVD…Released on DVD today, John Carpenter and Dan O’Bannon not only created this filmabout a space flight gone incredibly wrong, but the latter also starred in it.Dark Staris online and out on DVD now. Are Westlife STILL at the top…?To find out the answer to that visit mymusic chart analysis page New DVDs and widescreen videos out this weekThe new DVDs out this week include :

The new widescreen videos out this week are :

First Look: Jo Guest and Ben Dover…Thanks to Richard Larcombe from The Associates for the DVD review copies I’vereceived for :
Joanne Guest: Playboy Special: nearly an hour of nakedness as shefrolics in the shower and outside.
Ben Dover: Superstars of Sex and Ben Dover: Filthy First Timers: Ben takes his camera out and about while the girls featured take it up theArsenal. Do not double-bill withThe War Zone First Look: The Best of Monty Python Vol.1…Thanks to Katy Prout from the BBC for this DVD which contains 96 minutes ofmadcap lunacy as a ‘Best Of Series 1’, with extras such as Photo Gallery,Biographies, Palindromes and a Sing-a-long Lumberjack Song. All together now…

January 16th : Tim Roth marks his directorial debut with The War Zone on DVD…Released tomorrow to rent on VHS or buy on DVD, star of Reservoir Dogsand Pulp Fiction, Tim Roth has marked himself as one of Britain’sgreat actors over the last 10 years or so. Now he has made his first featurefilm, The War Zone.

With a cast comprising of Tilda Swinton, Ray Winstone, Aisling O’Sullivan,Annabelle Apsion and newcomers Freddie Cunliffe and the excellentLara Belmont, this is a film that is anything but ordinary and has astrong subject matter that is not to be taken lightly.

Thanks go to Michelle at Media Communications for the review copy that Ireceived at the weekend.The War Zoneis online and out on DVD now.

January 15th : Frag yer bots! – It’s Quake II on Playstation…It’s one of the best games ever to have been released on the PC but does itcut the mustard on Sony’s small grey box?Quake IIis online and out on Sony Playstation now.

January 14th : Rachael Leigh Cook proves She’s All That on DVD…Freddie Prinze Jr & Rachael Leigh Cook take to the stage for thishigh-school teen comedy in which the not-the-girl-of-his-dreams transformsfrom an ugly duckling to a swan and proves thatShe’s All That,which is online and out on DVD now.

January 13th : Denise and Neve are the Wild Things on DVD…Denise Richard & Neve Campbell hot things up for a high-school counsellorand cop (Matt Dillon & Kevin Bacon) in John McNaughton’sWild Things,which is online and out on DVD now. Fox DVD releases for January 31st 2000…The X-Files Movie, Point Break, Chain Reaction, Volcano, Broken Arrow &Unlawful Entry are all released at £19.99, are all anamorphic andhave several subtitle tracks.

The X-Files Movie contains an audio commentary from Chris Carter andRob Bowman, as well as a ‘making of’ and trailer

The rest contain a trailer apiece except Chain Reaction which has a’making of’ instead.

Robbie Williams on a DVD EP…Thanks to Sarah Lanaway for the review copy I’ve received of Robbie Williams:Angels on DVD EP released by Abbey Road Interactive.

It contains six videos (inc. one hidden track), three of which were hits(Angels, Lazy Days & South of the Border) and three non-single tracks,plus Robbie’s poems, interviews and a game of “Find the Joker” which providesaccess to the hidden song.

It’s available now for £12.99 and a review shall follow in due course.

Also, it’s worthy of note that Abbey Road Interactive have been involvedwith the following DVDs that I have already reviewed :

Flash GordonBeanThe GraduateRaw DealThis is Spinal TapPlease click on any of these pictures to access those reviews

All titles contain a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, an anamorphic picture and an8-page booklet.

February 28th bring the 1999 remake of The Thomas Crown Affairstarring Pierce Brosnan & the thinking-man’s carpet, Rene Russo.

Extras include a director’s commentary, a documentary, a booklet, Dolby Digital5.1 soundtrack and a video for Sting‘s classy take on the Oscar-winningWindmills of your Mind.

January 12th : Ray Liotta creates some Turbulence on DVD…Ray Liotta goes crazy-ape bonkers on an airline in a thriller alsostarring Lauren Holly & Hector Elizondo,Turbulence,which is online and out on DVD now. Updated cinema listings…Stuck for something to do this weekend? Live in the Manchester area? The listof the films showing at
Manchester Showcase Cinemacan be found on this page.This week’s new films are : Summer of Sam, Bone Collector, Angela’s Ashesand Sleepy Hollow.

January 11th : Go football crazy with Manchester United on DVD…They may be making a hash of things outside of the UK, but last year theywon three things which prompted the release ofManchester United: The Treble,which is online and out on DVD now.

January 10th :

Treat Williams and Famke Janssen find there’s something from the Deep Rising on DVD…Treat Williams and Goldeneye‘s Famke Janssen go for aswim inside the luxury liner Argonautica and find that out of the deep bluesea there’s somethingDeep Rising,which is online and out on DVD now. Are Westlife STILL at the top…?To find out the answer to that visit mymusic chart analysis page New DVDs and widescreen videos out this weekThe new DVDs out this week include :

The new widescreen videos out this week are :

January 9th : Billy Connolly settles a score in The Debt Collector on DVD…Billy Connolly was put away for 18 years after being caught bypoliceman Ken Stott. Now a free man and married he wants to start witha clean slate, but one man will not let him forget his past.The Debt Collector,is online and out on DVD now. Digital TV gets another rival…Taken from www.newsunlimited.com Microsoft’s 300m NTL deal pays off

Written by David Teather

Microsoft’s gamble on spending 300m for a 5% stake in NTL seemed to pay offyesterday when the cable company announced plans to adopt the softwaregroup’s operating system as the platform for its next generation of digitaltelevision.

NTL will use Microsoft software in set-top boxes for the launch of itsdigital terrestrial service later this year. The service will be similar toONdigital by transmitting over traditional aerials, allowing NTL to targetcustomers outside its cable franchise areas.

Jeremy Thorpe, group managing director of NTL Interactive, said it was tooearly to “prejudge” the suggestion that Microsoft may dislodge Liberate andPowerTV, the American pair which provide software for NTL’s cable digitalset-top boxes and cable net access.

Mr Thorpe said the decision to use Microsoft as a supplier had not beeninfluenced by its presence on the shareholder register. “We have to makecommercial decisions. Microsoft came out on top in this through its ownmerits.”

But the decision seemed a vindication of Microsoft’s recent strategy to buyup stakes in the newer distribution channels for internet access rapidlydisplacing the PC. The software business also owns a third of Telewest.

The NTL service will initially offer 10 free-to-air channels and potentiallypay-per-view films. Mr Thorpe said the selling point was the interactivenature of the NTL offering.

Services will include interactive programming allowing viewers to join inwith game shows or access sports statistics, as well as core internetfunctions such as web browsing and email.

The “killer” application could be a built-in digital video recorder enablingusers to download programmes on to a hard drive for later viewing. Real timeprogramming can also be paused and rewound.

Microsoft also revealed that it had reached a deal with Audible, an internetprovider of audio books and information, to integrate its technology – whichallows users to hear and read electronic books – into its new “e-book”.

January 7th : Stereophonics do their Performance and Cocktails live at Morfa Stadium on DVD…Recorded at the end of July last year, Kelly Jones, Richard Jones,Stuart Cable and Tony Kirkham bring you 21 tracks of rock withStereophonics: Performance and Cocktails: Live at Morfa Stadium,which is online and out on DVD now.

January 6th : Does Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels Director’s Cut improve on the original on DVD…?Nick Moran, Jason Flemyng, Dexter Fletcher and Jason Stathamstarred in one of 1998’s films of the year, but how does the director’s cutfare?Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels Director’s Cut,is online and out on DVD now.

January 5th : Jeff Bridges finds all is not well down Arlington Road on DVD…Jeff Bridges meets one of his neighbours – Tim Robbins – and finds he’s notall he seems downArlington Road,which is online and out on DVD now.

January 3rd : Are Westlife STILL at the top…?To find out the answer to that visit mymusic chart analysis page New DVDs and widescreen videos out this weekThe new DVDs out this week include :

The new widescreen videos out this week are :

Already out :

December 6th :

December 13th :

December 27th :

January 10th :

January 17th :

January 24th :

January 31st :

February 7th :

February 28th :

The new widescreen videos in the list are :

January 10th :

January 17th :

January 24th :

February 7th :

January 1st : Charlotte Church will soothe your Millennium Hangover with her new DVD…Charlotte Church takes to the stage for her first solo concert recordedat the Brixton Academy in March last year.Charlotte Church: Voice of an Angel,is online and out on DVD now.