January 31st 2001:

January 31stJanuary 30thJanuary 29thJanuary 26thJanuary 25th
January 24thJanuary 23rdJanuary 22ndJanuary 20thJanuary 19th
January 18thJanuary 17thJanuary 16thJanuary 15thJanuary 14th
January 12thJanuary 11thJanuary 10thJanuary 9thJanuary 8th
January 7thJanuary 5thJanuary 4thJanuary 3rdJanuary 1st

January 31st :Is SSX the best PS2 launch title…?

One of the first titles to come out for the new Sony console and it’s asnowboarding race, with fantastic graphics and sound.

SSXis online and out on PS2 now.

Got something to say about this game ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

Will the Spice Girls last Forever…?

Regular DVDfever reviewer Jason Maloney returns withwhat may well become the swansong from the spicy quartet as it completelyfails to sell in the huge quantities expected.

Spice Girls: Foreveris out on CD now.

Got something to say about this CD ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

Midweek chart positions…

Thanks to Ben Cook from thePoptastic UK websitewho has the following info on the midweek chart positions :

01. Atomic Kitten – Whole Again [13,101]
02. U2 – Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of [12,035]
03. Mya – Case Of The Ex (Whatcha Gonna Do) [8,450]
04. Limp Bizkit – Rollin’ [7,843]
05. Ash – Shining Light [7,811]
06. Planet Funk – Chase The Sun [7,481]
07. Usher – Pop Ya Collar [7,234]
08. Dr Dre – The Next Episode [6,761]
09. Rui Da Silva featuring Cassandra – Touch Me [5,368]
10. Fragma featuring Maria Rubia – Everytime You Need Me [5,293]

“There’s a bit of a shock at the top this week, as Atomic Kitten go from one extreme to the other – smallest hit to biggest hit, and their first single to go to the top 5. Surely has something to do with all the news of Kerry leaving and Jenny fromPrecious replacing her”.

Last week, Limp Bizkit sold another 47,435 copies to remain at number one for a second week.

Other Top 40 positions :

15. JJ72 – Snow [3,763]
17. Mansun – Fool [3,176]
19. Alice Deejay – Celebrate Our Love [3,001]
22. Amira – My Desire [2,613]
30. Grandaddy – The Crystal Lake [1,935]
35. Lowgold – Mercury [1,426]

Dido has climbed from 9 to number 1 in the album charts! No new entries inthe top forty though.

Eidos’ Millionaire hits magic mark…

Thanks toCTW.co.ukfor the following info.

ClickHEREfor the full Eidos’ Millionaire hits magic mark press release.

Friends Season 7 DVDs appearing less ‘friendly’…?

Thanks to Jon Burton who’s raised the following query over the forthcomingreleases of Friends DVDs on March 12th.

“I read your excellent site every day and I was wondering if you had any information about the Friends DVDs… Up to now we have had the first 6 seasons with 8 episodes per disc – 3 discs per season. Season 6 was priced at £19.99 per disc (so nearly £60 for a complete season).

However, looking at a few sites, it seems that Season 7 discs will only have 4 episodes per disc – requiring 6 discs to complete the season. The RRP is still £19.99.

I think that there is meant to be a “director’s cut” of each episode on the disc (so 4 episodes plus longer versions of the same 4 episodes), but in reality I can’t imagine anyone will watch the broadcast 22-minute episode when they have the option of a longer episode on the disc.

In effect, Warner Brothers has doubled the price of the Friends DVDs, since a complete series will now cost nearly £120 to get the complete series.

Have you seen any press releases, or know of anyone within Warner Brothers UK who can explain why they are doing this?”

Personally I’ve seen no press releases about these, but from what I’ve readon DVD-selling sites likeBlackstar.co.uk,everything Jon has written has been confirmed. I’m wondering whether thingswill change between now and mid-March when they appear.

The last I heard, Friends videos, at least, account for around 34% of theentire sell-thru video market although that may be because the videos areoften reduced to 9.99 with a “Buy 1 get 1 free” offer. Time will tell aboutthe DVDs.

Got something to say about this item ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

Sega to develop software for other platforms…

Thanks to Stuart Ledger of Bell Pottiger PR for the following press release.

ClickHEREfor the full Sega to develop software for other platforms press release.

Sega announce “Sonic Café”…

Thanks to Stuart Ledger of Bell Pottiger PR for the following press release.

ClickHEREfor the full Sega announce “Sonic Café” press release.

Sega to provide games for Palm wireless computers…

Thanks to Stuart Ledger of Bell Pottiger PR for the following press release.

ClickHEREfor the full Sega to provide games for Palm wireless computers press release.

January 30th :All we see is A View to a Kill on DVD…

Released this week :

The final two Bond films starring Roger Moore are released this week.Yesterday, we had Octopussy and now we have a review of Moore’sswansong, co-starring Christopher Walken, Tanya Roberts and Grace Jones.

A View to a Kill SEis online and out on DVD now.

Got something to say about this DVD ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

A double-header of American Psycho on DVD…

Today we have not one but two reviews for you of this thriller starringChristian Bale and Reece Witherspoon. One is from regularDVDfever reviewer Jason Maloney, the other fromonline novelist Jon Rosling, both of whom have their own websiteslinked from their reviews.

Check out the reviews for this film from bothJason MaloneyJon Roslingand the DVD is out now.

Got something to say about this DVD ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

If Stephen King can do it, so can Rosling.org…

Now available onwww.rosling.org

A dark and original horror story of witchcraft, jealousy and vengeance!Now available for download!!

Written in 1995, this is the first ever time this novel has been madepublicly available and can be downloaded.

Get your copy now!Try before you buy!Try the first three chapters of The Ravens absolutely free, and with nocommitment.

You can download them for nothing at www.rosling.org

All major credit cards accepted. WinZip required.

Samantha Mumba makes a ‘right tit’ of herself on stage…

Thanks to The Sunfor the following info :

Wham bam thank you, Sam! Sexy Samantha Mumba gives fans a thrill as one of herboobs slips out during a show.Sam, 18, gave the world a flash of her star potential as she performed forkids in Dublin.

Just goes to prove the singer, who shot to fame last year with herNo.2 debut single Gotta Tell You, is a saucy little Mumba.

Got something to say about this? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

Eminem to blitz the Brits…

Thanks to The Sunfor the following info :

Outrageous rapper Eminem is to play at this year’s Brits.

The performance will mark a rare awards appearance by theworld’s No1 star midway through a string of UK gigs.

In a major coup for the ceremony organisers, the SlimShady will go through his shocking stage show.

There is a bit of a problem though. While thrilled at landing such a big name,awards chiefs are terrified his strong language and OTT antics may prove toomuch for the mainly young audience.

A source close to the singer said: “We’re keeping everything under wraps.But let me just say that it will blow your British minds.

“It was touch and go if Eminem was going to make it for the Brits. But hisrecord label have applied pressure and he’s definitely going to be there.”

Eminem’s stage shows have become legendary. For some songs he dons an ice hockey mask anddungarees and brandishes a chainsaw in a scene straightfrom violent horror flick The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Gay and women’s groups have tried and failed to ban himfrom performing, saying his homophobic and sexist lyrics are insulting.

Organisers of the Brits, at London’s Earl’s Court on February26, have triumphed where other award bashes have failed.

Eminem was due to appear at the NME Carling Awards nextweek. But he pulled out of the show last week – eventhough the date of the ceremony had been changed toaccommodate the rapper’s busy schedule.

A show insider said: “He’s a great signing. The worry withEminem is that when he’s around anything can happen.”

Last year he upset organisers of the MTV Video Awards inthe U.S. by turning up with a crazy army of lookalikes.

Got something to say about this? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

Match of the Day axed in TV fiasco…

Thanks to The Sunfor the following info :

Millions of football fans were fuming on Sunday night after the BBC scrapped its FACup Match of the Day special – and showed a documentary about bears.

The Beeb had intended to screen highlights of yesterday’s Fourth RoundFA Cup clashes, but bungling bosses were forced to axe the 7.20pm show when they discoveredtheir soccer contract BANNED them from showing FA Cup games on aSunday until the quarter finals of the contest. Viewers who tuned in expecting to see highlights of West Ham knocking outManchester United and Chelsea beating Gillingham got a repeat of aWildlife On One show about Grizzly Bears instead.

A TV insider said last night: “The BBC decided to run a highlights show onSunday, but if they’d looked in their contract they would’ve known theycouldn’t do it. The BBC does not hold the rights. Sky and ITV do.”

The BBC axed the Match of the Day show, which is hosted by Gary Lineker, onFriday after ITV and Sky bosses spotted it in TV listings and complained. The Man U game was shown live on ITV yesterday and the Chelsea match was live on Sky.

The insider added: “The last-minute change left the BBC with a hole that had to be filled.”

A BBC spokesman said: “We decided there were some terrific games in storeon Sunday and we would do a second Match of the Day. We are obviouslyvery disappointed.”

Sky’s contract says the BBC can screen FA Cup highlights only after 10pm andNOT on Sundays until the sixth round.

Got something to say about this? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

January 29th :Mrs Slocombe likes it eight times: Octopussy on DVD…

Released today :

The final two Bond films starring Roger Moore are released this week.A View to a Kill will appear online shortly, but for now here’s hispenultimate adventure co-starring Steven Berkoff and Maud Adamsin the titular role.

Octopussy SEis online and out on DVD now.

Got something to say about this DVD ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

Panic Attack! It’s Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years in paperbook…

Forever worrying about the size of his “thing”, the Norwegian Leather Industryhad a hard time fifteen years ago – literally! Now, he returns to the TVscreen this Friday on BBC1 in the TV series made from this book, releasedlast year. Regular DVDfever reviewer Jason Maloneyhas a read.

Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Yearsis online and out in paperback now.

Got something to say about this book ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

STOP PRESS: Sega integrates Dreamcast technology into Set Top Boxes…

Thanks to Stuart Ledger of Bell Pottiger PR for the following press release,which I’m placing online literally minutes after receiving it.

ClickHEREfor the full Sega integrates Dreamcast technology into Set Top Boxes press release.

COMPETITION WINNERS: The Cranberries Live on DVD…

Thanks to all those who entered the competition to win a copy of this DVD,a review of which can be found by clicking on the picture.

The correct answer, which most of you got right, was that “Linger”was the first hit single for the band which brought them fame in the UKand the winners have been notified.

The Cranberries: Live in Parisis online and out on DVD now.

COMPETITION WINNERS: Mickey Blue Eyes on DVD…

In the dim and distant past – well, around May/June last year – I ran acompetition for this and other Warner DVDs, but this one was the only DVDtitle outstanding.

Finally, after mucho chasing up over the past 8 months or so, we have reachedan almost-complete situation. Warner’s PR dept, rather than send the DVDsout to the individual winners as requested, have sent them to me so I shallpost them out shortly and all five winners have been notified.

A review ofMickey Blue Eyesis online and out on DVD now.

I’d rather not hear Martine McCutcheon on MY radio…

But has she made No.1?To find out – and to see last week’s chart – visit mymusic chart analysis page

What do you think of the state of the charts? Why not discuss it onthe newTalk Talk Forum.

Mel C cancels world tour…

Thanks to The Sunfor the following info :

Mel C has cancelled her UK tour because she is suffering from severe depression.The tour — due to start in Belfast yesterday was axed after Sporty Spice told her aides she couldn’t face it.

Officially, her management say she has a sore throat.But sources close to the singer say the real problem is her recurring depression.

In October the 27-year-old star — worth an estimated £18million — was advised to take a break from music by doctors treating her for depression. She has also been prescribed Prozac.

Last night a pal said: “Mel felt she could not go on. She didn’t feel in the right frame of mind to tackle a tour. At the moment the pressure of it all would have been too much for her.”

The star has been rocked by taunts over her increasing weight and rumours about her sexuality. Recently her behaviour has become increasingly erratic and aggressive.

At the launch of the Spice Girls‘ album Forever in November she made an uncharacteristic attack on pop rivals Westlife and was pictured giving photographers a one-fingered salute.

Mel’s international dates in Athens, Tel Aviv, Dubai, Singapore and Malaysia from February 17 to March 2 should go ahead and she hopes to reschedule the UK tour for May. In an official statement issued last night Mel said: “I was really looking forward to the tour and I’m sorry to have disappointed my fans. But I have to follow doctor’s orders and look forward to touring in May.”

So that’s that cleared up for the alleged “Beefy Lesbo” Spice, then.

Got something to say about this? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

Cover your eyes! Gail Porter’s to strip again…

Thanks to The Sunfor the following info :

REMEMBER Gail Porter swearing she’d never get her kit off again? Well, she’sat it once more.

The telly totty will appear in just body paint in ads for the charityRainforest Concern.

In 1999 lads’ mag FHM projected giant nude photos of Gail on the Houses Of Parliament. The same year she posed for her “last” nude shots and said: “It’s time to move on. In future I won’t be going naked.”

But since she stopped stripping, Gail’s career has hit problems. She was dumped by management firm Unique Artists, her Channel 4 show Dotcomedywas axed and her role as a Top Of The Pops host is being scaled down.

Got something to say about this? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

E4 schedules now available on Digiguide…

The channel started on Thursday 18th January with a double-header of Friendsand ER and the listings are now available on DigiGuide.

You can download version 4.02 of DigiguideHERE

As for the channel itself, it’s rather a disappointment.

• 1. DOGged: Firstly, there’s a DOG (Digitally-Originated Graphic) or “onscreen logo”to the layman, simply because it’s the “trendy” thing to do by sad-bastardTV producers who know that WE know what channel we’re watching and that asimple press of the ‘i’, ‘info’ or similar button will tell us exactly that,but they still insist on sticking a huge ugly blob in the corner of thescreen, which just gets on everyone’s tits and isn’t necessary.

  If such branding WAS necessary, they wouldn’t remove it during the ad breaks,but they don’t want to upset the advertisers do they? A similar DOG is usedon Channel 4 itself during the “T4” sections, a collection of crap kids-likeTV organised by Chief Hamster Fan Andi Peters. I blame him for all ofthis.

  Note how they don’t use a DOG at all on their film channel, Film Four (!)

• 2. No widescreen: As if the above wasn’t enough, they can’t be BOTHERED to get anyepisodes of US imports in widescreen. BBC2 manage to be one of the few placesin the world where you can watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer in widescreenbut Channel 4 are still showing Angel in 4:3.

  As for the E4 content, Friends (Season 7) wasn’t made in widescreenso I’ll accept 4:3 for that, ER (Season 7) didn’t begin in widescreenbut later episodes were, Ally McBeal (Season 4) and The Sopranos(Seasons 1 and 2) were made in 16:9 widescreen, but E4 are showing none of theabove in widescreen.

  They’ve started re-runs of OZ (Season 1) in 4:3, but I do not know ifit was shot in widescreen from the beginning.

• 3. What I DO like: However, I do like Banzai, which is great interactive fun if you’rewatching via an ONdigital box that loads the software. SkyDigital doesn’thave this yet and I can’t speak for the other TV alternatives.

  Trigger Happy TV 2 is just as good as the first series, while ShowMe the Funny is fairly quirky and definitely entertaining. Is it becauseAnya is fit?

  The only problem with Show Me the Funny is that you have to go tothe E4.com website to vote for your favourite sketches. Click on theabove C4 logo to get to the site, but see the next sentence for this site’sgross problems.

PS. I don’t have an E4 logo yet and the E4.com website restricts anyonewho isn’t running IE5 on a HIGH res window, with no less-flashy alternative.

New DVDs out this week…

• 1746: The Last Highland Charge (19.99, Pinnacle)
• ABBA: Forever Gold (19.99, Universal)
• Amistad (19.99, Universal)
• Braveheart SE (cut) (22.99, Fox)
• Bryan Ferry In Concert: Live At Le Grand Rex (19.99, EMI)
• Chances Are (19.99, Columbia TriStar)
• Death Row: Uncut (17.99, Visual)
• Doctor Who: Spearhead From Space (19.99, BBC)
• Drive Me Crazy (rental, Fox)
• The Endless Summer (19.99, Pinnacle)
• Enigma: Remember The Future (19.99, EMI)
• Four Weddings And A Funeral (15.99, MGM)
• French Kiss (15.99, MGM)
• Gate Of Flesh (15.99, Pinnacle)
• Gloria Estefan: Latin Videos (19.99, Sony Music Video)
• High Noon SE (17.99, Universal)
• In Dreams (17.99, Universal)
• Jack And Sarah (15.99, MGM)
• The Jazz Channel Presents Lou Rawls (19.99, Pinnacle)
• Joy and the Pharaohs (15.99, Pinnacle)
• Kids (19.99, Momentum)
• King Kong (17.99, Universal)
• The Last Temptation Of Christ (19.99, Columbia TriStar)
• Leather And Lust (15.99, Fantasy Blue)
• Miles Davis: Miles In Paris (19.99, Warner Music Vision)
• Molly (15.99, MGM)
• Neil Young: Friends And Relatives Live From Red Rock Amphitheatre (19.99, Warner Music Vision)
• Octopussy SE (19.99, MGM)
• One Giant Leap (DVD Single) (5.99, Palm Picturer)
• The Peacemaker (17.99, Universal)
• Pussy Patrol (15.99, Fantasy Blue)
• Return To Me (19.99, MGM)
• Roy Orbison: The Black And White Night (19.99, Pinnacle)
• Rude Lesbian Nurse (15.99, Fantasy Blue)
• Stargate SG1: Series 3 Vol.8 (19.99, MGM)
• Steel Magnolias (19.99, Columbia TriStar)
• The Stranglers: The Video Collection 1977/1982 (12.99, EMI)
• Sword Of Honour (19.99, VCI)
• Terminator 2: Judgment Day (24.99, Momentum)
• Twilight Zone Vol.13 (15.99, Pinnacle)
• Twilight Zone Vol.14 (15.99, Pinnacle)
• A View To A Kill SE (19.99, MGM)
• Zombie Holocaust (19.99, Stonevision)

January 26th :Project I.G.I. on PC…

Tested by the military, apparently, but they can’t have been much good asa quality control dept. otherwise they would have pointed out the reason whythis potentially-excellent game has an absolute dog of a control system.

Project I.G.I.is online and out on DVD now.

Got something to say about this game ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

January 25th :There’s “No Need To Argue” with The Cranberries on DVD…

Fronted by Dolores O’Riordan, one of my favourite tracks wasZombie, written in the hope of peace being found in NorthernIreland, but there’s about as much chance of that happening as there is ofthe country’s now-ex Secretary, Peter Mandelson, ever uttering a wordof truth again.

The Cranberries: Live in Parisis online and out on DVD now.

Got something to say about this DVD ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

Uncle Buck comes to stay on DVD…

Released this week :

When the Russells need someone to look after the house at short notice,the only person they can find is the crude, crass Uncle Buck (John Candy)and chaos ensues when he arrives.

Uncle Buckis online and out on DVD now.

Got something to say about this DVD ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

U-571: DVD balls-up…

Not the only cock-up this month, with details on some Universal titles tofollow soon, but thanks toHome Cinema Choice Onlinefor the following info :

“U-571 did not win a great deal of British Fans with it’s altering of British Wartime History and sheer fabrication of how American Soldiers captured the elusive Enigma machine. However there was no denying that the R1 DVD released last year was a very good disc that features a suite of extras, superb Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks, and a crisp, highly detailed original aspect ratio 2.35:1 Anamorphic Picture.

It’s therefore sad news to confirm that R2 Producer Entertainment In Video has dropped the DTS track, dropped some of the extras and Cropped the film from 2.35:1 to 1.85:1″

Sega ready to dump Dreamcast…?

Thanks to Stuart Ledger of Bell Pottiger PR for the following press release.

ClickHEREfor the full Sega ready to dump Dreamcast? press release.

Bob Tomalski’s funeral arrangements…

Thanks to Home Cinema Choice Onlinefor the following news, which is replicated here to inform anyone who wouldlike to attend.

The funeral of broadcaster and journalist Bob Tomalski will take place onFriday 2nd February, at 12.45, at the Surbiton and Merton Cemetery, Garth Road,Lower Malden Surrey.

Bob, a founder member of the Home Cinema Choice team and popular commentator on consumerelectronics, passed away on Saturday 13th Jan, of natural causes. He was 47.

A group of close friends have taken over the running of Bob Tomalski’s website (click on picture to access).Over the years, Bob hadacquired much of interest to those interested in the history of consumer electronics, including many rarephotographs and historically significant interviews. The group plans to make as much of this resourceavailable online, as part of a long-term project.

January 24th :Angry? Don’t get cross, get Motocross Mania on PC…

Get your motor runnin’, but you won’t be out on the highway but a dirt-trackin a number of different game styles such as Motocross, Supercrossand Baja/Enduro.

Motocross Maniais online and out on PC now.

Got something to say about this game ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

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 include: Pay It Forward, Women on Top, Traffic and Sexy Beast.A review of The 6th Dayis online now, but while it’s finished its run at Showcase, it’s probablystill showing at UCI at the Trafford Centre where I saw it.

January 23rd :Join Gary Oldman and the rest of The Firm on DVD…

Released this week :

“Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting”, so sang Elton John,but estate agent Bex (Gary Oldman) thinks Saturday afternoon’s not badeither when the football’s on and “you’re gonna get yer you-know-whatkicked in!”

The Firmis online and out on DVD now.

Got something to say about this DVD ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

Barrysworld calls in the receivers…

Thanks toCTW.co.ukfor the following info.

ClickHEREfor the full Barrysworld calls in the receivers press release.

The Tripods descend upon DVD in March…

Thanks to Chin Udezue for the following press release which I receivedrecently.

ClickHEREfor the full The Tripods Series 1 press release.

January 22nd :Alan Parker helms the Director’s Chair for Angel Heart on DVD…

For the new range of “Director’s Chair” series DVDs from Momentum Pictures,one of the first titles is a film noir-ish thriller starring Robert De Nirowho pays private eye Mickey Rourke to track down musician Johnny Favourite,but he won’t like what he finds.

Angel Heartis online and out on DVD now.

Got something to say about this DVD ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

Never forget who you are: ID on DVD…

If there’s one thing some sections of the British public tend to excel in, it’sfootball hooliganism. They can also make an excellent film out of it witha first-rate performance from Reece Dinsdale as Police Constable JohnBrandon.

IDis online and out on DVD now.

Got something to say about this DVD ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

COMPETITION TIME: The Cranberries Live on DVD…

Check out the competition page (by clicking on the picture) for a chance towin one of three copies of The Cranberries Live on DVD.

You have until January 26th to enter this competition.

A copy of the DVD has now arrived for review and it shall appear onlinelater in the week.

Who’s rollin’ into the top slot this week…?

To find out – and to see last week’s chart – visit mymusic chart analysis page

What do you think of the state of the charts? Why not discuss it onthe newTalk Talk Forum.

E4 schedules now available on Digiguide…

The channel started last Thursday night with a double-header of Friendsand ER and soon I shall provide my insights into the channel as itbegins to establish itself, but for now it’s worth noting the header ofthis topic.

You can download version 4.02 of DigiguideHERE

PS. I don’t have an E4 logo yet and the E4.com website restricts anyonewho isn’t running IE5 on a HIGH res window, with no less-flashy alternative.

New DVDs out this week…

• Armour Of God (19.99, Medusa)
• Assault On Precinct 13 (17.99, Universal)
• Cannibal Ferox (19.99, Vipco)
• Celine Dion: All The Way… A Decade Of Song Live (19.99, Sony)
• Chet Atkins: A Life In Music (19.99, Quantum Leap)
• Cream: Farewell Concert (14.99, Disc)
• Day Of The Jackal (19.99, Columbia TriStar)
• The Digital Devil / The Cockpit (19.99, Revelation)
• Eastern Condors (19.99 sub, Medusa)
• Elephant Juice (19.99, Metrodome)
• Fatboy Slim Featuring Macy Gray: Demons (5.99, Pinnacle)
• The Firm (1987) (15.99, Second Sight)
• Flying Without Wings: Karaoke: Westlife (12.99, Disc)
• High Fidelity (rental, Buena Vista)
• Hitman In The Hand Of Buddha (15.99 sub, Eastern Heroes)
• Hotel New Hampshire (15.99, Second Sight)
• Iron Monkey Strikes Back (15.99 sub, Quantum Leap)
• Isn’t She Great (19.99, Columbia TriStar)
• Love And Basketball (19.99, Entertainment in Video)
• Miranda (15.99, Arrow)
• Mistress Of Frankenstein (15.99, Planet)
• Modulations: Cinema For The Ear (14.99, Disc)
• Nosferatu SE (Silent) (19.99, Eureka)
• Once Upon A Time In China (19.99, Medusa)
• One False Move (19.99, Columbia TriStar)
• Penthouse: Pet Of The Year 2000 Winner (19.99, Pinnacle)
• Penthouse: Pet Of The Year Play-Off 2000 Vol. 1 (19.99, Pinnacle)
• Penthouse: Working Women (19.99, Pinnacle)
• Playboy: Jenny McCarthy: The Playboy Years (15.99, Medusa)
• The Presidio (19.99, Paramount)
• The Pretenders: Greatest Hits (19.99, Warner Music Vision)
• Randy Housewives (14.99, Mistique)
• Sanctimony (19.99, Metrodome)
• Scarface (19.99, Columbia TriStar)
• The Sex Bath (14.99, Mistique)
• Sexy Scary Movie (15.99, Planet)
• Smokey Robinson: Greatest Hits Live (12.99, Disc)
• Space Precinct Vol. 7 (14.99, Digital Entertainment)
• Space Precinct Vol. 8 (14.99, Digital Entertainment)
• Space Precinct Vol. 7 & 8 (24.99, Digital Entertainment)
• Superstar (19.99, Paramount)
• Those Who Love Me Can Take The Train (19.99 sub, Artificial Eye)
• Tremors (19.99, Columbia TriStar)
• U-571 (19.99, Entertainment in Video)
• Uncle Buck (19.99, Columbia TriStar)
• When Passions Collide (15.99, Medusa)

New widescreen videos out this week…

• La Nouvelle Eve (15.99 sub, Tartan)

January 20th :Will you entertain a Night at the Roxbury on DVD…?

Following on a trend set by The Blues Brothers and Wayne’s World, that of spawning a film from aSaturday Night Live sketch, Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan are the hapless Butabi brothers: wannaberomeos looking for babes, booze, more babes. Would YOU want to bump into them ona Saturday night?

A Night at the Roxburyis online and out on DVD now.

Got something to say about this DVD ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

The Great-Grocer Debate and other stories…

I didn’t get chance to update this story earlier in the week, but on TuesdayI related the news story about greengrocer Steven Thoburn who’s defying themetric laws of the European Union and will only sell his fruit and veg inpounds and ounces only.

After three days in the dock, the stupid judges still couldn’t agree to lethim off and are delaying their decision until April!

Last week a man was arrested and fined £20 for eating a biscuit in hiscar while driving. They said it was because he didn’t have both hands on thewheel at the same time and wasn’t in full control of his car, but I don’tsee them prosecuting anyone for smoking and always having one hand containinga cig butt!

When are the police going to do some proper work like finding out who brokeinto my car TWICE in the last year? £200 it cost to get the bloodylocks changed each time!

Got something to say about this item ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

January 19th :Generally, there’s an Election on DVD…

Everyone at school knew a do-gooder – Someone who they’d love to see take atumble and knock them off their smug perch just for once. Everyone’s tired ofTracey Flick (Reese Witherspoon), the Christian girly swot who’strying her best to win the forthcoming election for student president…

Electionis online and out on DVD now.

Got something to say about this DVD ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

The Boyz are in da hood – again – for Next Friday on DVD…

Last time round, Chris Jones (Ice Cube) got high, was shot at andfinally kicked Debo’s ass all for the first time, sending him tojail for four years – all on a Friday – and now he’s coming out “next Friday”.

Next Fridayis online and out on DVD now.

Got something to say about this DVD ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

January 18th :Spook yourself silly with Fright Night on DVD…

Fright Night is the name of the TV show hosted by tired oldschlock-horror film star Peter Vincent (the late Roddy McDowall).Charley Brewster (William Ragsdale) finds a vampire, Jerry Dandrige(Chris Sarandon) has moved in next door so who’s he gonna call? NotGhostbusters,but the aforementioned media man.

Fright Nightis online and out on DVD now.

Got something to say about this DVD ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

The rookies get the point in Memphis Belle on DVD…

After 25 missions they get to go home. They’ve completed 24, but it doesn’tmake the last one any easier – traversing the bomb run over Bremen, Germany.

Memphis Belleis online and out on DVD now.

Got something to say about this DVD ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

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 include: Beautiful Creatures, Bounce and VerticalLimit. A review of The 6th Dayis online now, but while it’s finished its run at Showcase, it’s probablystill showing at UCI at the Trafford Centre where I saw it.

January 17th :HCC’s Bob Tomalski is dead…

I first read this on the newsgroup uk.media.home-cinema last nightand learned the following sad news, which has been reported on Home CinemaChoice Online, which you can access by clicking on Bob’s picture. This shallbe today’s only post to DVDfever as a mark of respect.

Quoted from HCCO:

“Bob Tomalski, journalist and broadcaster, was found dead in his flat on the evening of January 15. Hehad been unwell for several weeks, complaining of a chest infection.

Cause of death is not yet known.

Bob, a founder member of the Home Cinema Choice team and senior contributor to WVIP, was wellknown for his love of technology and was often referred to as ‘inspector gadget’ on his frequent TV andradio spots on the subject.

One of the industry’s true originals, he will be sorely missed.”

I can only echo the sentiments of many others who have posted onto HCCO’sforum and in uk.media.home-cinema. I feel stunned by this and he wascomparitively young (Bob was in his early 40s I think?). I guess none of usknow when it’s our time to go.

I’d known him by email for about 6-7 years and it’s thanks to him that I wasintroduced to write for What Video/Home Cinema Choice. It was inresponse to a completely unrelated newsgroup post in 1994 when I detailed thechain of hassles I had centred around getting money out of a cashpoint nearhome.

I mentioned the widescreen video list I’d done at the time and it thenappeared over three months at the start of 1995 in What Video after heintroduced me, again by email, to Steve May, then-editor of WV and now ofcourse HCC editor. I met Steve when I went for a job interview at HCC butsadly didn’t get to meet Bob.

When I saw this thread title in uk.media.home-cinema I thought it wassomeone’s idea of a sick joke as it just didn’t seem real. Makes me feel likeI want to email him to ask him if it’s true, however bizarre that sounds.

It’s been suggested on the HCCO forum that a Bob Tomalski Award for TechnicalExcellence should be made available and I, for one, support this.

With so many technological advancements always on the horizon, I only hopethat on the other side he’s having the chance to try them all out before wecan.

My condolences to all his family and friends.

RIP Bob. You will be missed.

January 16th :Dolores Claiborne has a secret to hide on DVD…

Nearly twenty years ago, the eponymous female in the film escaped convictionfor the murder of her abusive husband. Detective John Mackey (Christopher Plummer)is still smarting over his failure to lock her away, so when Dolores (Kathy Bates)is found standing over the dead body of Vera Donovan, the lady for whom shehousesits, after the corpse has gone for a tumble down the stairs, things arenot looking up for his haggard and insolent old crone.

But is it a hit flick or a clumsy King killer thriller?

Dolores Claiborneis online and out on DVD now.

Got something to say about this DVD ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

Fancy a couple of juicy plums…?

Time for another bit of a soapbox rant, this time about a greengrocer who’sdefying the metric laws of the European Union and will only sell his fruitand veg in pounds and ounces only.

Never mind juicy plums, it’s a complete load of bollocks that Sunderland CityCouncil are prosecuting trader Steven Thoburn for refusing to convert toEU-approved metric measures.

The UK Independence Party have said that the case could decide the future ofthe nation’s “traditional weights and measures”. Steven Thoburn, on the otherhand, says that he didn’t have a metric machine, denies breaking EU laws andhis lawyers say he has a legal right to use Imperial measures.

Those idiots who are prosecuting say they think it’s confusing that he’snot listing the same measures in kilos and grams, leaving customers to docomplex calculations in their heads – but that only happens if it’s in kilosonly.

I don’t see them coming down on burger joints for selling “Quarter Pounders” !

Whoever grassed him up to trading standards deserves to spend 30 days in acell and those prosecuting deserve to lose their jobs.

The trial started yesterday and is expected to last until the end of Wednesday.Why doesn’t the judge just laugh the case out of court?!

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Her body’s worth $1bn, but is La Lopez No.1…?

To find out – and to see last week’s chart – visit mymusic chart analysis page

What do you think of the state of the charts? Why not discuss it onthe newTalk Talk Forum.

January 15th :Matt Damon and Ben Affleck lead the heavenly charge in Dogma on DVD…

Exiled angels Matt Damon and Ben Affleck attempt to re-enterthe pearly gates in a film that also stars Linda Fiorentino, Janeane Garofalo,Jason Lee, Alan Rickman, Chris Rock, Salma Hayek and has a cameo fromAlanis Morissette.

Dogmais online and out on DVD now.

Got something to say about this DVD ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

Chunkhead Alert! John Wayne in The Searchers on DVD…

“You don’t understand, you chunkhead!” – just one of the many piecesof dialogue uttered during this two-hour western as John Wayne playscivil war veteran Ethan Edwards.

The Searchersis online and out on DVD now.

Got something to say about this DVD ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

COMPETITION TIME: The Cranberries Live on DVD…

Check out the competition page (by clicking on the picture) for a chance towin one of three copies of The Cranberries Live on DVD.

You have until January 26th to enter this competition.

We are still expecting a copy of the DVD to arrive for review and shallgive it a spin once it arrives.

The charts shall return tomorrow…

Yes, I didn’t have time to get them done for today, so you can indulgein the musical musings tomorrow.

January 14th :The DVD List – 306 DVDs added…

Finally I’ve completed the overhaul of my DVD list with another 306 titlesadded, meaning that the best part of 1000 titles have been put in over thepast month, but it’s the first proper update since about May last year whenI left it for a short while and then the whole thing got on top of me.

Just click on the DVD List option on the left to see which titles havebeen added this time.

I’ve also added a handful of titles to the widescreen video list, but there’sbeen a tendancy lately to stop releasing widescreen films on video,presumably as the film purists are moving towards DVD for their full-onhome cinema entertainment.

Got a comment about this? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum

January 12th :An alternative Dreamcast control method…

“It’s all about control – and I’ve got lots of it”, so spake Janet Jackson on her 1986 debut album,cunningly entitled “Control”, but how much of that do you get with one of these?Find out in this review.

Mad Catz Dream Padis online and out now for Dreamcast.

Got something to say about this item ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

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 include: Castaway, Lost Souls, Under Suspicion, The Criminaland a review of The 6th Dayis online now.

January 11th :Drive time (again) with the Andretti Racing Wheel for PC…

If you play a lot of racing games, this driver’s wheel, emblazoned with the name of and co-designedby racing legend Marco Andretti, may be the thing for you, but will it be racing away with all thetrophies or be stuck at the starting line in neutral?

Andretti Racing Wheelis online and out now for PC.

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January 10th :Drive time with Ridge Racer 5 on Playstation 2…

Get your motor running, get out on the highway, looking for adventure, or whatever comes your way,or so sang Steppenwolf in the seventies. You’d be hard-pushed to findsome adventure though in the fifth game of this bafflingly-successful series.For those who haven’t played before, you are the lucky ones for reasons thatwill become clear during this review.

Ridge Racer 5is online and out now on Sony Playstation 2.

Got something to say about this game ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

David Boreanaz to star in Resident Evil: The Movie…

I’ve enjoyed playing some of the Resident Evil games in the series,particularly the earlier releases, but there was always talk of a filmbeing made and directed by George Romero.

I understand, courtesy of my girlfriend, Clare Dootson, who reviewedthe Angel Season 1 Part 1 VHS Boxsetand whom is besotted with the ugly man (that’s David Boreanaz, not me!),that he has a part in the movie, although his character’s name is not yetknown.

The only cast names confirmed on theInternet Movie Databaseare Milla Jovovich and Michelle Rodriguez and the directoris Paul Anderson, director ofEvent Horizon.

When is a Post Office not a Post Office,,,?

When it’s called Consignia, that’s when.

In May, the Post Office is to change it’s name at the cost of £500,000as that was the ridiculous cost of the marketing research to decide on thenew name.

Consignia was chosen because it comes from the verb “to consign”,which apparently gives the feeling of trust.

Although Post Offices have nothing to do with DVDs, I’m mentioning this herebecause it really got my goat when I heard it on the news yesterday and theonly thing that would give ME more trust in the Post Office is if they tookthat £500,000 and spent it on more staff so I didn’t have to queueup for ages for a first class stamp at lunchtime behind pensioners who haveall day to go in there!

The even more stupid thing is that all the Post Offices themselves… get this…WON’T be changing their name! They’ll still be called “Post Offices”, as it’sjust the name of the company that’s changing, so it won’t make the public feelany more trusting and just proves what a bloody waste of money that wholeescapade is!

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January 9th :Have a sparkling time with Fantavision on Playstation 2…

In a twist on Tetris and Bust-A-Move – and a game that firstresembles Missile Command to a degree – scores of fireworks will belaunched from the ground into the air for you to link and then explode allin one go.

Fantavisionis online and out now on Sony Playstation 2.

Got something to say about this game ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

January 8th :Mel Gibson leads the charge in The Patriot on DVD…

A 2½hr+ epic, Mel Gibson leads the charge against those nastyEnglish army types who want to send the Americans packing, but will us Britsbe kindly or will we take a few of his family first?

The Patriotis online and out on DVD now.

Got something to say about this DVD ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

Ewan MacGregor in Eye of the Beholder on DVD…

Regular DVDfever reviewer Jason Maloney returns with a look at thisthriller starring Ewan MacGregor and Ashley Judd, but is hestalking her or does he have another agenda?

Eye of the Beholderis online and out on DVD now.

Got something to say about this DVD ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

Les Miserables PAL laserdisc most definitely was miserable…

Thanks to Paul Ronchetti for pointing out that the PAL Laserdiscreleased sometime ago was actually fullscreen and not the widescreenversion the sleeve apparently promised as they copied the NTSC sleeveby mistake.

Although I never got to play the PAL LD, I did see the sleeve and uponwatching the DVD released a while back, I berated VCI for releasingthe cropped version when the widescreen laserdisc was apparentlyavailable.

A widescreen DVD should be out by the time you read this. For now you’llhave to make do with my fullscreen DVD review.

Les Miserablesis online and out on DVD now.

Got something to say about this DVD ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

So, did Steps make No.1 after all…?

To find out – and to see last week’s chart – visit mymusic chart analysis page

What do you think of the state of the charts? Why not discuss it onthe newTalk Talk Forum.

A Tom Cruise-less ‘The Firm’ comes to DVD soon…

From the director of ‘Scum’, one of the most controversial football films ofall time brought to DVD and Video.

Read all about it on theThe Firm: Gary Oldman (DVD)page.

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January 7th :The DVD List – 239 DVDs added…

The DVD list is still in the process of overhaul, but the second part of theupdate is another 239 increase in the number of titles on the list, with manymore to come soon.

Just click on the DVD List option on the left to see which titles havebeen added this time and more shall be added shortly.

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January 5th :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 include: Bless The Childand reviews of Coyote UglyandThe 6th Dayare online now.

January 4th :Juicy Jac meets Nasty Nick…

So goes the name of the thread in uk.media.tv.misc as one of itsresident contributors, Jac (right), gets to meet Big Brother‘s”Nasty Nick” Bateman on this afternoon’s Esther (BBC2, 3.30pm).

Miss it, miss out.

January 3rd :Julia Roberts is Erin Brockovich on DVD…

Blending material based on actual events with the many and varied demands ofmodern mainstream cinema is a task beset with potential difficulties. Thechallenge is to find the right balance between an honest interpretation of -and reflection upon – the subject and the adherence to pace, structure anddramatic intensity that makes the finished product both watchable and effective.

Jason Maloney finds that director Steven Soderbergh has donejust that with this film.

Erin Brockovichis online and out on DVD now.

Got something to say about this DVD ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

The Terminator DVD delayed until 19th March…

Thanks to Kate Tilley from CDP for the following press release.

“I’LL BE BACK.” and this time he is – for the first time on DVD!

Next year sees the release of one of DVD’s ‘most wanted’ as the classicTHE TERMINATOR arrives on the new format in March.

This ground-breaking movie, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger in hisdefinitive role, is the ultimate example of an action thriller. And itstransfer to DVD signifies a new landmark for the exciting new technology.

This stunning DOUBLE-DISC DVD will contain many essential and exciting extras -AND the premium packaging will make sure that this is an outstanding additionto any DVD collection.

One of the most influential movies ever made THE TERMINATOR is a dark andgripping sci-fi shocker. The original film is the pre-cursor to the highlysuccessful sequel. A grim view of the future full of superb performances,thrilling cat and mouse chases and relentless horror THE TERMINATOR on DVDwill be a ‘must-have’ for all real lovers of film.

The DVD will include up to ten added extras on a separate disc including:deleted scenes, features and commentaries. As well as some rather temptingextra features guaranteed to get all Terminator fans excited – but we wouldn’twant to give too much away now would we?

“A non-stop Odyssey of perpetual motion with vivid characterisation,unflagging tension, superb stunts and a meaty storyline” – Empire.

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The Complete Bod DVD released on 12th February…

Thanks to Andrew Wishart from The Contender Entertainment Group for thenews that The Complete Bod (featuring Alberto Frog and his Amazing AnimalBand) will be released on the Kult Kidz label on 12th February.

As I understand it, unlike the previously available video releases, thiswill actually contain all the “Mmm… I think I’ll have a strawwwwwberrymilkshake!” routines too.

You can also catch two episodes of Bod, without these bits, as part of theKult Kidz All-Time FavouritesDVD.

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Father Ted DVD set for release in 2001…

Thanks to Bardo in the newsgroupuk.media.home-cinema whoemailed VCI asking if any episodes of Father Ted will be released onDVD now that the complete Series 3 has been released on a single VHS tapeinstead of splitting it across two or more tapes as they did with the othertwo series.

The reply was: “Father Ted is likely to appear on DVD at some point in2001. I have passed your comments onto the Product Manager for theseproducts.”

Woohoo!

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Why Steps got down to 72…

Thanks to Mike Dixonwho answered my question set in this week’s music chart analysisas to why Steps‘ new single, The Way You Make Me Feel,only reached No.72 in its first week out and I queried if it was an import,which would explain the low entry.

Mike tells me that the single was given to shops early last week in caseit didn’t get there in time and that they were told not to sell it untilMonday this week.

Clearly they didn’t and sold it early, hence the chart entry last week.

Got a comment about this? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum

January 1st 2001 :The Playstation 2 – is it the best console ever…?

Launched in Japan on March 4th last year, the PS2 sold 980,000 units in threedays. It can’t manage that here – yet – because demand has outstripped thesparse supply, but when you can buy one, are they worth the money? Yes!

Playstation 2is online and out now, if you can find one…

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Arnie finds The 6th Day a clone-tastic movie…

The 6th Day is the day stated as the one when God created man in his own image.It’s just that each of us were only meant to be pieced together once and afteryou’ve had your prescribed measure of life, you shuffle off your mortal coiland someone else gets your soul. Not so here as cloning is the order of theday and Arnold Schwarzenegger gets more than he bargained for…

The 6th Dayis online and out now in the cinema.

Got something to say about this film ? Have your say on theTalk Talk Forum.

COMPETITION WINNERS: Supernova and Buffy Season 1 Boxset on DVD…

Thanks to those who entered the competition. The answers were that James Spaderappeared in the David Cronenberg film Crash and the TV channel thathas been slicing up “Angel” is Channel 4.

The winners have been notified and I’ve passed their details onto the PRcompany who shall send the prizes out after the Xmas break.

Sadly we can’t bring you a review of Supernova as MGM’s PRdept haven’t sent us one for review. We’re expecting a copy of the BuffyBoxset for review too, but nothing’s turned up as yet.

Can Bob the Builder be the first No.1 of the New Year…?

To find out – and to see last week’s chart – visit mymusic chart analysis page

What do you think of the state of the charts? Why not discuss it onthe newTalk Talk Forum.

News Archive: April 1999 to last month Back to top of page