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Columbia Tri-Star Re-issuing DVD’s without Widescreen
06/29/2004

I think it’s time to address something that Columbia Tri-Star has been doing for quite some time now. Apparantly, the studio has discontinued many DVD’s that have been previously availale as wide/full flipper discs. They silently re-issue the DVD’s as fullscreen only discs. They are doing so without changing the UPC, so retailers aren’t being made aware of the change. These discs have shown up in Wal-Mart bargain bins over the course of the last year, and they will eventually be replacing stock at other retailers as well. We have a partial list of titles that have shown up to date, and we will be adding more to the list as we are notified of omissions. Please beware of this when buying Columbia Tri-Star DVD’s from Wal-Mart and other retailers.

I consider this practice consumer fraud. It would be one thing if they were just re-issuing new fullscreen only DVD’s, but they are not changing the UPC, nor are they notifying the retailers of the change, and that constitutes consumer deception. I find that to be deplorable! I urge you to use our Studio & Retailer Watchdog to contact Columbia Tri-Star and tell them what you think of this new policy.

Partial list of fullscreen only re-issues:

And Justice For All
3 Ninjas Kick Back
3 Ninjas Knuckle Up
About Last Night
Annie (previously released with both formats on a dual-layer disc, replaced by a “special edition” with ONLY fullscreen)
The Bear
The Beast
Bite The Bullet
Blankman
Blue Thunder
Body Double
Chances Are
Cruel Intentions 2
Dance With Me
The Deep
Desperate Measures
Excess Baggage
The Eye of the Beholder
The Fan
Frankenstein
Hero
High School High
Hush
Idle Hands
Iron Eagle
Johnny Mnemonic (Superbit edition available separately)
Josie and the Pussycats
Last Action Hero
The Mirror Has Two Faces
Mixed Nuts
Mortal Thoughts
Moscow On The Hudson
My Life
My Stepmother Is An Alien
No Mercy
Peggy Sue Got Married
The Principal
School Daze (new special edition available 2/1)
Sheena
Spice World
Still Crazy
Stuart Little (previously released as seperate widescreen and fullscreen editions, replaced by a fullscreen only special edition)
Suspect
The Toy
Universal Soldier: The Return
Whatever It Takes
Wild Things- Theatrical Version (Unrated version is available separately in widescreen)

Posted by: Joshua Clinard @ 3:00 pm

Ella Enchanted will be OAR!
06/24/2004

Laser’s Edge now has the widescreen version of Ella Enchanted up for presale, and the cover art includes the widescreen banner, so this confirms that there will be a widescreen version of Ella Enchanted!

Posted by: Joshua Clinard @ 11:10 am

Giget to be Released Full Screen Only?
06/18/2004

It is getting harder and harder to know for sure whether a DVD will be presented in it’s original aspect ratio before it’s release day. This is the case with Gidget, which will be released by Columbia Tri-Star on August 3. The theatrical feature, as well as the two televsion sequels will be released as a collection on a two-disc set. Although the press release and the back cover art state, that the collection will be released in full screen only, Columbia Tri-Star’s own web site states that Gidget has been remastered in high defintion. This suggests that the theatrical film may be released in widescreen, and that the television sequels will be released in full screen. Hopefully this will be the case. When an early review of the DVD is posted online, we’ll let you know.

Posted by: Joshua Clinard @ 10:50 am

Ella Enchanted May Possibly Be OAR!
06/15/2004

Disney’s Movie Finder has been updated to include the DVD release information for Ella Enchanted. It says that the movie will be released in anamorphic widescreen! This seems to confirm the rumor that the original press release information was incorrect.

To further confirm this, DVD Empire has both versions up for pre-order.

Posted by: Joshua Clinard @ 3:20 pm

There is Hope that Darby O’Gill may be OAR!
06/13/2004

File this in the unconfirmed news department: DVDFile says that Darby O’Gill and the Little People will be released with a remastered anamorphic widescreen video transfer. DVDFile has been pretty accurate lately, and press releases have been known to be wrong, so it seems there is still some hope for this title. But since it’s unconfirmed, don’t get your hopes up too high.

Posted by: Joshua Clinard @ 12:15 am



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