Category: Home Entertainment

The RUGRATS have been reborn as a straight to DVD fairy tale spinoff, starting with TALES FROM THE CRIB: SNOW WHITE (Nickelodeon Home Ent., $19.99). Released Sept. 27, 2005, This RUGRATS twist finds Angelica Pickles taking on the role of the Evil Queen, as the beautiful princess (Susie Carmichael) and her adorable dwarf-babies (the Rugrats gang) show the entire kingdom that friendship conquers all. Featuring the celebrity voices of Amanda Bynes, Kenan Thompson and Jeffrey Licon.

Bonus features include:* Two new Bonus specials

As with the earlier BAMBI, CINDERELLA (1950) gets the complete digital treatment for its DVD debut on Oct. 4, 2005 as part of the select Disney Special Platinum Edition (Buena Vista Home Ent., $29.99), including 4K scanning of the original negative. The results are razor-sharp image and 5.1 audio. Voice work included Ilene Woods as Cinderella, Lucille Bliss as Anastasia and June Foray as Lucifer. Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson and Hamilton Luske, with standout color and styling contributions from famed illustrator Mary Blair.

KING KONG: PETER JACKSONS PRODUCTION DIARIES, which have been posted on the KONG website (www.kongisking.net), will be released Dec. 13 as a special two-disc pre-release (Universal Home Ent., $39.98), reports THE DIGITAL BITS.

The set will include 54 production diaries (in anamorphic widescreen with Dolby Digital 2.0 audio), an 80-page scrapbook, four exclusive art prints, "collectible packaging" and more. Jacksons highly anticipated remake opens Dec. 14.

ROBOTS, Foxs latest 3D-animated feature from Blue Sky Studios and director Chris Wedge and production designer/producer William Joyce makes its way to DVD (Fox Home Ent., $29.98) on Sept. 27, 2005. Whether or not the comedy or emotions connect with you, ROBOTS is pure CG eye candy and tailor made for 3D animation. The DVD transfer, therefore, is quite stunning and shows off the design quite well.

In anticipation of the first WALLACE & GROMIT theatrical feature, WALLACE & GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT, a collection of Aardmans three acclaimed shorts has been reissued on DVD Sept. 20, 2005, along with some new goodies.

WALLACE & GROMIT IN THREE AMAZING ADVENTURES (DreamWorks Home Ent., $19.99) contains:

The WAR OF THE WORLDS remake by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Cruise, which grossed $582 million worldwide, is bound for DVD on Nov. 22, 2005 (DreamWorks Home Ent., $30). The limited edition, two-disc set will include interviews with Spielberg and Cruise recounting their on-set experiences and revealing their approach to telling the personal story at the heart of this epic odyssey.

Tim Burtons CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, which collected a sweet $205 million at the box office with the help of vfx from Moving Picture Co., Framestore CFC, Cinesite (Europe), Digital Domain, Darkside Effects Ltd. and Neal Scanlan Studio, makes its DVD debut on Nov. 8 (Warner Home Video, $30.97 two-disc deluxe edition, $28.98 single disc).

Special edition bonus features include:

* Five making-of featurettes:

Chocolate Dreams: Learn about Burton's vision for the film and how he adapted the story.

Pixars landmark TOY STORY, the one that started it all, as they say, returns in a new and improved two-disc set in honor of its 10th anniversary (Buena Vista Home Ent. $29.99), Sept. 6, 2005.

For those who already own THE ULTIMATE TOY BOX, rest assured: theres still plenty of new material available, in addition to improved picture (increased bitrate of 7.5mbps) and audio (including the first DTS track for a Pixar DVD along with Dolby Digital 5.1 EX) both remixed by master sound designer Gary Rydstrom, now a Pixar staffer.