Last week we announced that the THE IRON GIANT laser disc release will have
a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, whereas the film was released with a 2.35:1. In
addition, when we announced the DVD and VHS releases three weeks ago, we
neglected to mention that the DVD, as well as the widescreen VHS release,
will also be 1.85:1. It's unfortunate that none of these will be 2.35:1
because Brad Bird designed THE IRON GIANT partly in homage to the
CinemaScope films of the 1950s, and he even wanted to include "CinemaScope"
on the movie poster as a gag, but Fox, owner of the trademark, refused
permission. Here is the information about the releases again, which
includes some new information. The VHS will come in three versions. One
version will be pan & scan, another will be pan & scan in a clamshell box
with an IRON GIANT action figure, and there will also be a widescreen
version. THE IRON GIANT DVD will include letterboxed (1.85:1) and pan &
scan versions of the movie, be 16X9, have AC3 and 5.1 surround sound, and
be region 1 (North America) encoded. It will also include the following
extras: THE MAKING OF THE IRON GIANT, the 22-minute documentary that was
shown on television the week before the film was released; a "Cha Hua Hua"
music video; a theatrical trailer; and for DVD-ROM players: screen savers,
posters and games. Also, we are now being told that the DVD will "possibly"
include an audio commentary, deleted scenes and gags. THE IRON GIANT DVD
and VHS will be released on November 23, 1999. Each VHS version will retail
for US$22.99 and the DVD will retail for US$24.99. For definitions of DVD
technical terms such as "16X9" and "aspect ratio" visit the DVD Lexicon at
www.dvdjournal.com.