DVD SOFTWARE

Finally there are some information regarding the types of software that is going to be released on DVD. However at the current moment there has been several difficulties in getting the software together in terms of selection and pressing facilities. There have been only a few studios that are willing to invest in the DVD titles and only tentative first release has been given.

Software is one of the most important transport median that makes the hardware such as DVD work. There are a few titles that are going to be release on DVD that are recent releases, the other titles are previous releases. Therefore laserphilis can be rest assure that laserdisc will not go up in smoke or a puff when DVD is released. Laserdisc and VHS are going to exist for quite some time until DVD can prove itself worthy and is able to provide recent release as well as VHS and laserdisc can.

Currently I have only seen two DVD titles that are available in Australia that is The Fugitive and Assassins however I was not able to view the because there was no DVD player available. These DVD was imported for Japan and it was quite costly around US$100 and AUS$130. I presume that this DVD was one of the first generation prototype DVD but cannot confirm that information.

MGM/UA Home Video DVD titles as well as the forthcoming Warner Home Video titles, are scheduled to be released on March 24th in a limited number of markets. These markets are:

• Chicago
• Dallas
• Los Angeles
• New York
• San Francisco
• Seattle
• Washington D.C.

This limited rollout is being done by Warner and MGM/UA to allow them greater control of the initial distribution of DVD; a wider release will follow. Further details will be announced as they become available.

Also, please take notice of the so-called "multiple aspect ratios" when you are looking at the announcements. How can they call a scope movie like GOLDENEYE Letterboxed when the aspect ratio is 1.77:1?! Please notice that the largest ratio is 1.85:1, even on Scope films.

Example:

Goldeneye (DVD/LBX/P&S)
906035 MGMD
US$24.99
130 MIN. PG13
Street Date: 03/24/97
Contains both LBX 1.77:1 and P&S versions

All of these Columbia TriStar titles are expected to be priced between VHS and Laserdisc list prices, and to be released during the first 12 months of DVD availability.

• Bad Boys
• Bram Stoker's Dracula
• Cliffhanger
• Close Encounters of the Third Kind: The Special Edition
• Desperado
• First Knight
• Fly Away Home
• Ghostbusters
• Glory
• In the Line of Fire
• Jumanji
• The Last Action Hero
• A League of Their Own
• Legends of the Fall
• Matilda
• The Net
• Philadelphia
• Sense and Sensibility
• Sleepless in Seattle
• Taxi Driver

All of these Learning Company titles are expected to be released in early 1997. Pricing to be announced.

• Battles of the World
• Digital Library: Infopedia and Multipedia
• The Genius of Edison

All of these MGM/UA titles are expected to be priced at sell through list prices, and to be released in April.

• The Birdcage
• Casablanca
• Doctor Zhivago
• Get Shorty
• Goldeneye
• Gone with the Wind
• Midnight Cowboy
• Raging Bull
• Rocky
• Singing in the Rain
• Species
• The Wizard of Oz

All of these New Line titles are expected to be priced at sell through list prices, and to be released at the time of DVD's launch.

• Dumb and Dumber
• The Mask
• Mortal Kombat
• The Player
• Rumble in the Bronx
• Seven

All of these Sony titles are expected to be priced between VHS and Laserdisc list prices, and to be released at the time of DVD's launch.

• Beavis and Butthead's Final Judgment
• Odyssey into the Mind's Eye
• Sesame Street's 25th Birthday: A Musical Celebration
• Street Fighter 2
• Tony Bennett Unplugged

All of these Warner titles are expected to be priced at sell through list prices, and to be released in March or April unless otherwise noted.

• Batman
• Blade Runner: The Director's Cut
• The Bodyguard
• Bonnie & Clyde
• The Bridges of Madison County
• The Color Purple
• Eraser
• The Exorcist
• The Fugitive
• The Glimmer Man
• Goodfellas
• Interview with the Vampire
• JFK: Special Edition Director's Cut
• Lethal Weapon
• Mars Attacks! (Day & date with VHS)
• Michael (Day & date with VHS)
• Michael Collins (Day & date with VHS)
• My Fellow Americans (Day & date with VHS)
• The Road Warrior
• Sleepers (Day & date with VHS)
• Space Jam
• A Streetcar Named Desire
• A Time to Kill
• Twister
• Unforgiven
• Woodstock: The Director's Cut

In addition, Warner Home Video has just acquired the rights to the National Geographic library of videos for DVD. Further information to be announced.

(Tentative releases courtesy of Laser Edge)