Here is a viewers guide to the notable animation and special effects releases on DVD and VHS for the month of November, 2001:
November 2
SHREK
The number one box office film this year is coming to DVD, featuring an all-new, never-before-seen extended ending. Developed exclusively for the home video release, the new footage picks up where the movie left off and shows viewers what goes on after the fairy tale ending. Created directly from its original digital format, the SHREK double disc DVD offers more than 11 hours of viewing including pan and scan and widescreen versions of the movie, film maker commentary, Shreks ReVoice Studio, a DVD-ROM program that enables viewers to voice the lines of their favorite characters, a behind-the-scenes featurette that shows how the characters and movie were brought to life, a look into the production of SHREK, a sneak peek trailer of DreamWorks' upcoming animated release SPIRIT: STALLION OF THE CIMARRON and much more. Suggested retail price: DVD (2-disc set) $19.95; VHS $15.95.
Meet the co-director of SHREK in Animation Worlds interview with Victoria Jenson.
November 6
RECESS CHRISTMAS: MIRACLE ON 3RD STREET
In this straight to video release, the RECESS kids convince the Third Street Elementary School teachers that miracles really do come true. Suggested retail price: DVD $29.99; VHS $22.99.
MICKEY'S MAGICAL CHRISTMAS - SNOWED IN AT THE HOUSE OF MOUSE
Disneys most popular characters including Pooh, Piglet, Belle, Snow White and Ariel visit Mickey at The House of Mouse to help Donald Duck mend his tattered Christmas spirit. Suggested retail price: DVD $29.99.
SOUTH PARK: TIMMY (3 EPISODES)
SOUTH PARK: WINTER WONDERLAND (4 EPISODES)
Trey Parker and Matt Stone unleash more of their warped world-view on the unsuspecting public when these new collections of SOUTH PARK episodes hit the shelves. Suggested retail price DVD $19.98 (each).
STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE DIRECTOR'S EDITION
Look out for that cloud! An evil weather front is moving toward Earth, demolishing federation ships in its wake. Admiral James T. Kirk teams with his crew and boldly goes aboard the starship Enterprise to intercept the menacing force. Features group commentary by the film director, special photographic effects director Douglas Trumbull, special photographic effects supervisor John Dykstra, music composer Jerry Goldsmith and actor Stephen Collins, text commentary by Michael Okuda, co-author of THE STAR TREK ENCYCLOPEDIA, three new retrospective documentaries with cast and crew interviews, original teaser and theatrical trailer, new directors edition trailer, five additional scenes (from the 1979 theatrical version), plus outtakes and more. Suggested retail price: Anamorphic widescreen DVD (2-disc set) $29.99.
November 13
OSMOSIS JONES
Frank (Bill Murray) ingests the evil virus Thrax and has 48 hours to live. White blood cell Osmosis Jones (voiced by Chris Rock) and his cold pill side kick Drix must save the day. Special features include commentary from the writer, animation director and producer, deleted scenes and the HBO First Look special UNDER THE MICROSCOPE. Suggested retail price: DVD $24.98; VHS $22.96.
Meet the creatives behind OSMOSIS JONES now by reading Osmosis Jones Cops Anatomy Award by J. Paul Peszko.
LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER Special Collectors Edition DVD
Based on Eidos Interactives top selling video game, wealthy and sophisticated Lara Croft is in constant search of rare artifacts and lost crypts and indulges her desire for adventure by packing some large guns and wearing some short shorts. Lara finds an ancient object with the power to control time and takes on a dangerous secret society to make sure the powerful artifact doesnt fall into the wrong hands. Bonus features include commentary by director Simon West, the visual effects of TOMB RAIDER: eight shot-by-shot featurettes, including cast and crew interviews, an overview of the TOMB RAIDER game phenomenon, including the background of Lara, the evolution of the game (using footage from each game to date) and interviews with the creators of the game and the film's cast and crew. DVD-ROM features include access to a special TOMB RAIDER Website. Suggested retail price: Widescreen DVD $29.99.
November 20
THE MATRIX REVISITED
This companion to THE MATRIX, has new behind-the-scenes footage from the original film and an exclusive look into the sequels, background on the origins of THE MATRIX, how Academy Award-winning special effects were developed and a sneak peek of behind-the-scenes footage from THE MATRIX's upcoming sequels and a preview of THE MATRIX anime project including a first look at sketches, storyboards, interviews and footage with the animators. Suggested retail price: DVD $19.98; VHS $14.95. Also available will be a 2-pack containing THE MATRIX REVISITED and THE MATRIX. Suggested retail price DVD $39.98; VHS $29.97.
PLANET OF THE APES Special Edition DVD
Mark Wahlberg monkeys around on a planet dominated by intelligent apes. Features include an enhanced viewing mode that enables the viewer to choose when to go behind the scenes, search cast and crew biographies or view the special effects, an audio track by composer Danny Elfman, DVD-ROM with screenplay/script/storyboard comparison, NUON-enhanced features such as Viddies and Cool Zooms, animated menus, a gallery of multi-angle features that lets the viewer climb into the director's chair for several key scenes, a concept art and design gallery and more. Suggested retail price: Anamorphic widescreen DVD (2-disc set) $29.98.
DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS
All the Whos down in Whoville couldnt wait for last years live-action Christmas hit to be available on video and DVD. Collector's Edition DVD features include a featurette on the making of the film with cast and crew and behind-the-scenes footage, deleted scenes and featurettes on Whoville, Grinch make-up application and special effects. Suggested retail price: DVD $26.98; VHS $24.98.
