DVD players continue to sell at an amazing pace with units sold in the U.S. during the year 2002 exceeding 15 million. The total number of players sold since the format's launch nearly six years ago has topped 40 million. And for those keeping score on the number of titles released on DVD, the number of Region 1 DVDs released has reached 20,000.

By the time you read this, a handful of new D-VHS D-Theater™ titles will have been announced and/or released. Many new titles are expected to be announced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 9-12, 2003, including "Basic Instinct" and "Reservoir Dogs" from Artisan and "The Hurricane" from Universal. We've been informed that Artisan is also considering releasing the "Rambo" series of movies on D-Theater. Other titles are expected to be announced from 20th Century Fox, including several titles intended to be released day-and-date with their DVD counterpart. DreamWorks and Universal also have new titles on the horizon. No word yet on other studios jumping on board, though more manufacturers are expected to offer players in the coming year.

We've learned that Joe Kane Productions is nearing completion of production on "Digital Video Essentials," a high-definition update to the popular Video Essentials calibration/set-up disc, and is due to be released in D-Theater format sometime in January. The plan is to offer the title in two editions: 720p and 1080i, with a 1080p version offered down the road.

In addition, HDNet has made available a number of special interest programming in D-VHS (but not D-Theater-encrypted), including the "Bikini Destinations" and "Smart Travels" series. All D-VHS and D-Theater titles can be ordered at WSR's DVHSMovie Guide.com Web site.

Moving on to DVD...

Anchor Bay

Anchor Bay Entertainment has plenty in store for 2003. Over the course of the year the company will continue to release its usual assortment of horror, foreign, and genuinely oddball titles the major studios can't or won't touch. Some of the many releases you can expect will be "Escape 2000," "Michael Nesmith's Elephant Parts," "Fear No Evil," Peter Jackson's "Meet The Feebles," "Winter Kills," and "Powwow Highway." The company will also be releasing numerous multi-disc DVD collections. Some Special Edition releases with remastered DTS®-ES Discrete 6.1 and Dolby® Digital Surround EX™ soundtracks will include "Dawn Of The Dead," "Day Of The Dead," and "The Man Who Fell To Earth."

Artisan

Fans of "Stargate" will be pleased that Artisan is planning another - and hopefully definitive - version of this popular science-fiction adventure. Scheduled for release on February 18, this latest two-disc DVD of "Stargate" will include a new anamorphic widescreen transfer, newly remixed DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 and Dolby Digital Surround EX soundtracks, and some new supplemental material. SRP is $19.98

Buena Vista

On February 4, "Sweet Home Alabama" will be released on the Touchstone label. The romantic comedy with Reese Witherspoon will feature anamorphic widescreen and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, and will retail for $29.99. Extras are scheduled to include an audio commentary track by director Andy Tennant, eight deleted scenes, an alternate ending, and a "Mine All Mine" music video. Also due on the 4th is the Large Format film, "Ultimate X."

On the Miramax and Dimension labels, Steven Soderbergh's "Full Frontal" will arrive February 11, as well as "Spy Kids 2: Island Of Lost Dreams" the following week. The Dimension Collector's Series (SRP $29.99) will include audio commentary with director Robert Rodriguez, deleted scenes, outtakes, "Isle Of Dreams" music video, stills gallery, "Spy Kids School," featurettes, and DVD-ROM content. The 18th will also see the release of the director's cut edition of Giuseppe Tornatore's well-loved "Cinema Paradiso." The DVD-18 will include both the original cut and the extended director's cut in the original Italian language Dolby Digital 5.1 and anamorphic widescreen.

As for catalog and direct-to-video releases, Tornatore's 1995 effort "The Star Maker" will street February 4. The same day will see the release of "Citizen Ruth," "Into The West," "Jane Eyre" (1996), and "The Night And The Moment," (all anamorphic widescreen and Dolby Digital 2.0).

On the Walt Disney label, "Tuck Everlasting" is scheduled for release on February 25 featuring anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1, audio commentary and featurettes.

The big collectible in March will no doubt be the VISTA Series edition of "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," due on the 25th ($29.99). Fans of this landmark 1988 production will be treated to many highlights including new anamorphic widescreen and full screen transfers, remastered Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 audio (it was learned since the last issue that a DTS track would also be included), and supplements including the three Roger Rabbit shorts: "Tummy Trouble" (which played theatrically with "Honey, I Shrunk The Kids"), "Roller Coaster Rabbit" ("Dick Tracy"), and "Trail Mix-Up" ("A Far Off Place") which were previously available on a "Best Of Roger Rabbit" LaserDisc that, well, never quite got officially released. Additional extras include an audio commentary track featuring director Robert Zemeckis and producer Frank Marshall, a newly-produced documentary "Behind The Ears: The True Story Of Roger Rabbit," split-screen comparisons, some additional featurettes, and games.

Due on March 4 will be the first season of "The Osbournes." The two-disc set will feature the entire first season's episodes, along with clips from some unaired episodes, blooper reel, audio commentary tracks, and more. "The Osbournes" will be available for $29.99 and in a choice of censored or uncensored versions. Not to out-do the heavy metal madman and his crazy family, Disney has their direct-to-video sequel to "Inspector Gadget" arriving in stores a week later. Fans of Disney's classic animated titles will be pleased to learn that "Sleeping Beauty" and "The Lion King" are next in line to be released on DVD and will appear later in the year. And "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea" is in production as a deluxe edition and should get released sometime in 2003.

Buena Vista also has dozens of catalog titles set to be released throughout the spring, including Krzysztof Kieslowski's long-awaited "Three Colors" trilogy: "Blue," "White," and "Red," as well as many others including "Scenes From A Mall," "Tom & Viv," "Stella," and "My Father The Hero." And finally, expect winter or spring DVD arrivals of "Moonlight Mile, "Naqoyqatsi," and "Spirited Away," among other releases.

Columbia TriStar

"Formula 51" (aka "The 51st State") will arrive February 4 with anamorphic widescreen and full screen versions, Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, and a featurette. On February 11, the studio will release the latest Madonna turkey, "Swept Away," which will include both anamorphic widescreen and full screen, Dolby Digital 5.1, deleted scenes, audio commentary, and a featurette. Also due in February are second season sets of "All In The Family" and "Sanford And Son," and a first season set of "Good Times," as well as a "Most Outrageous Episodes" set of "Married...With Children."

"Half Past Dead" is scheduled to be released on March 4, as is "Born Free" and its sequel "Living Free." Another round of Superbit™ titles have been scheduled for release on March 4. This batch will include "The Dark Crystal," "Das Boot," "Heavy Metal," "Labyrinth," "Legends Of The Fall," "Seven Years In Tibet," and the first non-widescreen Superbit: "From Here To Eternity." Those "Das Boot" fans who have hoped to get rid of your "flipper" version may be pleased to know the title is getting the Superbit treatment but may be equally disappointed to learn that this new edition is scheduled to be spread over two separate discs.

Late-winter/spring releases may include "I Spy," "Adaptation," "Punch-Drunk Love," "Stealing Harvard," and "Adam Sandler's Eight Crazy Nights."

Criterion

DreamWorks

Frank Darabont's "Road To Perdition" is set for release on February 25. The sure-to-be-nominated for many awards film starring Tom Hanks will be offered in three separate editions: anamorphic widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, anamorphic widescreen with DTS soundtrack, and full screen with Dolby Digital soundtrack. (Despite the DTS edition including only the one discrete soundtrack, the bit rate is set to be 754 kbps rather than the full 1509 kbps.) Extras include audio commentary, deleted scenes, and (except on the DTS edition) a featurette. MAP for each will be $19.95.

DreamWorks will also release "The Tuxedo" on the 25th. MAP is $19.95, and the disc will include both anamorphic widescreen and full screen, DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio tracks, and deleted and extended scenes, bloopers and outtakes.

Look for "The Ring" to be released sometime in the spring.

HBO

The big news from HBO Video is that they've secured the home video rights to what is now the most successful independent film of all time. That's right..."My Big Fat Greek Wedding." The hugely popular comedy is set for release on February 11 (SRP $27.95) and will include both anamorphic widescreen and full screen versions on the same disc, along with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio and a director and cast audio commentary track.

A week earlier HBO will release "Six Feet Under: The Complete First Season" in a four-disc DVD collection for $99.98. Included will be 13 hour-long (1.33:1) episodes, Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, cast and creator interview segment, a featurette, and the difficult to explain supplement: "audio commentaries of a deleted scene and two episodes delivered by Alan Ball."

Look for additional season sets of "Sex And The City" and "The Sopranos" later in the year.

Image Entertainment

Image Entertainment has plenty to offer in February. The February lineup includes, on the 11th: "The Shape Of Things To Come," "Contamination" (remixed into DTS-ES and Dolby Digital Surround EX), "The Windsnatchers," "Fritz Lang's Indian Epic," "King Of The Streets," "Arsenal," and "The Cook And Other Treasures" (with Buster Keaton and "Fatty" Arbuckle). Also on the 11th will be releases of Michael Powell's "The Edge Of The World," the 1973 television production of Tennessee Williams' "The Glass Menagerie," and "Pass The Mic!" On the 18th will be "Rock Masters: AC/DC" and "Rock Masters: The Cure," as well as another entry in the "Music In High Places" series: "Angie Stone Live In Vancouver." Also on the 18th will be "Cradle Of Fear," "Island Of Death," and three films by Nico Mastorakis: "Grandmother's House," "The Time Traveller," and "Nightmare At Noon." Image also has scheduled for the 18th "The Return Of Swamp Thing" and "Edie & Pen." On the 25th expect Volumes three and four of "Rockthology" and "Drive: My Life In Skateboarding," as well as "Michael Winslow: Comedy Sound Slapdown!" and "Rich Little Starring In The Presidents." "Collection 5" of "The Twilight Zone" series will also arrive on the 25th and will complete the DVD collection of Rod Serling's classic 1959-1964 anthology series.

MGM

A Special Edition of Ridley Scott's "Thelma & Louise" will finally become available on February 4 ($24.98). Extra features will include a commentary by Ridley Scott, a second commentary by stars Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis and screenwriter Callie Khouri, four new documentaries, 30 minutes of deleted scenes, the original, alternate ending (with optional commentary), storyboards for "The Final Chase," and a Glenn Frey music video. Presentation specs will be anamorphic widescreen and Dolby Digital 5.1.

MGM will offer numerous catalog titles throughout February and March. On February 4 seven movies featuring Charles Bronson will arrive on DVD: "10 To Midnight," "Assassination," "Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects," "Messenger Of Death," "Mr. Majestyk," "Murphy's Law." All will be $14.95, anamorphic widescreen, and Dolby Digital 2.0; a Charles Bronson DVD Action Pack set will also be available. Look for "A Prayer For The Dying" (non-anamorphic widescreen), "No Man's Land" (1987 with Charlie Sheen; full screen), and the DVD debut of "Road House" (anamorphic widescreen)—also on the 4th. Look for "Larger Than Life" and "Joey" on the 4th , as well. Both will be full screen, Dolby Digital 2.0 editions.

February 18 catalog titles will include Mel Brooks' "Life Stinks" (which will include a commentary and featurette), "Maxie," "The Meteor Man," and "Mr. North" (all anamorphic widescreen), and "How To Beat The High Cost Of Living," "Bank Shot," and "Basic Training" (all full screen). All the MGM catalog titles will have an SRP of $14.95.

Also due on February 4 will be "Igby Goes Down" (anamorphic widescreen and Dolby Digital 5.1). And "Women Vs. Men" will surface on the 11th, and "All Or Nothing" on the 18th. MGM has ten catalog releases scheduled for March 4, including Special Editions of "Salaam Bombay!" and "Of Mice And Men." "Salaam Bombay!" will retail for $24.98 and will include anamorphic widescreen, remastered Hindi Dolby Digital 5.1 and original Hindi mono, plus two audio commentary tracks (one by the director, the other by the cinematographer), six featurettes, and a photo gallery. The 1992 edition of "Of Mice And Men" will retail for $19.98 and will include anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, and audio commentary with director/star Gary Sinise, two featurettes, deleted scenes, and makeup tests. Rounding out the March 4 batch of releases will be "C'est La Vie," "A Doll's House," and "Nineteen Eighty-Four" (all anamorphic widescreen), and "Equus," "Europa Europa," "Otello" (1986 with Placido Domingo), "Pauline At The Beach," and "Women In Love" (all non-anamorphic widescreen). SRP for each will be $19.98, and all will include original language Dolby Digital 2.0 mono or surround audio (depending on the title).

The 20th official "007" adventure "Die Another Day" is expected to appear on DVD in the spring, along with a rerelease of an additional wave of "007" catalog titles. Some MGM Special Edition DVDs known to be in various stages of production include "The Howling," "The Pink Panther," "A Fish Called Wanda," "Dances With Wolves," "A Bridge Too Far," "The Great Escape," and John Carpenter's "Escape From New York." Note that release dates have not been announced, and some of the titles may not appear during 2003 or may appear only in other regions.

"Knockaround Guys" has been given a February 25 release date. Specs will include a $26.98 retail price, anamorphic widescreen and full screen viewing options, Mi Casa Studio-remixed DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 and Dolby Digital Surround EX audio tracks, audio commentary, deleted scenes, and DVD-ROM content.

Look for "Friday After Next" sometime in the spring and perhaps a DVD release sometime soon of the already-released-overseas, maybe-it-will-get-released-to-theatres-domestically "Unconditional Love" (or is it "Who Shot Victor Fox?"). And expect big things in 2003 with part two in the epic "Lord Of The Rings" trilogy: "The Two Towers." Stay tuned for more on that!

Paramount

After being shuffled around a couple times, Paramount has settled on a February 18 date for the German import "Mostly Martha." "The Four Feathers" is also scheduled for release on the 18th ($29.99, anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1). Extras will include audio commentary by the director and eight featurettes. The catalog release "Lady Jane" is also due on the 18th.

On February 25, the first season of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" will arrive, with future seasons released over the course of the year similar to the studios' approach with the previous "Trek" series DVDs. We're informed the SRP will be "under $100." The six-disc set will include several featurettes and a photo gallery, and will be presented in its original 1.33:1 broadcast ratio. More on "Star Trek" in a moment.

March 18 will see the release of "Abandon" and "Just A Kiss." Each will retail for $29.99 and will include anamorphic widescreen transfers. Audio will be Dolby Digital 5.1 for "Abandon" and 2.0 for "Just A Kiss." "Abandon" will include audio commentary by the director and cinematographer, a featurette, as well as deleted and extended scenes. Also due on the 18th will be the direct-to-video sequel "Charlotte's Web 2: Wilbur's Great Adventure."

Catalog releases in March will include three baseball-themed titles (just in time for Spring Training!), and another "Star Trek" feature receiving the Special Edition treatment. "Bang The Drum Slowly," "Fear Strikes Out," and "Talent For The Game" will arrive March 4 and will retail for $19.99 each, and will include anamorphic widescreen. ("Talent" will include a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack; the other two will be 2.0.) No supplements are scheduled to be included.

The top-grossing of the cinematic "Star Trek" adventures (and the only one to clear $100 million domestically), "The Voyage Home," will be released on March 4th in a two-disc Collector's Edition. Trekkies and Trekkers alike will be treated to an audio commentary track featuring both Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner, a text commentary, no less than a dozen featurettes, some interview segments, and a storyboard and production gallery. SRP is $24.99, and presentation specs are anamorphic widescreen and Dolby Digital 5.1, and it will be the 118-minute theatrical version.

A Collector's Edition of "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier" will be beamed our way not too far from now. It was reported in the last issue that there was some speculation that "Trek V" would be revisited by its filmmakers and DVD producers and have substantial content changes made to it. Not so, confirms Paramount. I'll leave it to you "Trek" fans out there to decide if that was a good decision or not.

And, expect the latest "Trek" adventure now in theatres, "Nemesis," to get released on DVD in the spring or early summer.

Okay, here's that "Indiana Jones" update that was promised. It's not exactly the update I was planning for, but at least it's...something. "Indiana Jones" series director Steven Spielberg was recently interviewed by the Wall Street Journal and when asked about a DVD release of the "Indy" adventures, his reply was optimistic. "We're aiming for next fall," said the successful filmmaker. "[Executive Producer] George Lucas and I are having an argument with Paramount. Paramount wants to come out with all three movies in one package. George and I want to come out with one film at a time and then come out with all three movies in one package." The interview also mentioned editorially that Paramount's position is that there is no "argument" and that discussions about a DVD release are ongoing. With hope, we may see Indy by the end of the year! Oh, and Spielberg also revealed that he is hoping to begin production on a fourth "Indiana Jones" big-screen adventure in 2004 for a 2005 theatrical release.

The studio will be jumping on the television bandwagon and will offer several episodic series on DVD throughout the year, including "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," which is expected sometime this spring.

20th Century Fox

The big highlight for many of you will be the long-rumored Special Edition DVD for "X-Men." Well, it's here! "X-Men Version 1.5," and just in time for "X-Men 2" hitting theatres in May. This new Special Edition will arrive February 11 with an SRP of $26.98. The disc will be anamorphic widescreen and will also include both DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio tracks. The loaded DVD will include a branched enhanced viewing mode allowing you to see and hear behind-the-scenes commentary while watching the movie, a new audio commentary track featuring director Bryan Singer and actors Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan, and Hugh Jackman, new deleted scenes, and several featurettes ("Mutant Watch," "The Uncanny Suspects," "X-Factor: The Look Of X-Men," "The Special Effects Of The X-Men"). There will also be three scenes with a multi-angle capability, Internet interstitials, footage from the international premiere, image gallery and an "X-Men 2" sizzle reel. And the disc promises an Easter Egg. And lastly, the DVD will include a Movie Money coupon worth up to $12 for admission to either "Daredevil" or "X-Men 2" in theatres.

Also on February 11, Fox will release "Brown Sugar" ($27.98, anamorphic widescreen and full screen, Dolby Digital 5.1). The disc will include audio commentary, deleted scenes and two music videos. A Season One set of "Angel" is also expected on the 11th.

"One Hour Photo" had originally been set for release on January 28. Recently, the title was rescheduled for February 18. Available in separate anamorphic widescreen and full screen versions, either will include Dolby Digital 5.1, audio commentary by the director, a Sundance Channel Anatomy Of A Scene, interviews from a Charlie Rose Show, and a Cinemax featurette.

Robert Wise's classic science-fiction film "The Day The Earth Stood Still" can be yours March 4. Presented in its original 1.33:1 format and with Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo, the extras will include a 70-minute documentary, audio commentary by Wise and Nicholas Meyer, an original Movietone newsreel, and a restoration comparison segment.

On March 11 the company will release four family titles: "Bushwhacked," "Far From Home: The Adventures Of Yellow Dog," "Lucas," and "My Friend Flicka." The first three titles will include both anamorphic widescreen and full screen versions while "My Friend Flicka" will be in its original full screen format. All will include Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtracks, and have an SRP of $14.98.

"Sordid Lives" is scheduled for March 18. The $34.99-priced release will include anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1, multiple audio commentary tracks, deleted scenes, and an interview segment.

Also on March 18, Fox will release a DVD set of the Emmy award-winning TV series "NYPD Blue." The six-disc set will include all 22 first season episodes, presented in their original 1.33:1 broadcast aspect ratio, remastered Dolby Digital 4.0 sound, audio commentary on selected episodes, as well as three featurettes and bios. SRP is $59.98.

Also in March, look for "Swimfan" and "Quest For Fire." "Swimfan" is expected to include audio commentary, a featurette, deleted scenes, and a music video. "The Transporter" and the Steven Soderbergh remake of "Solaris" are expected in the spring, along with a DVD set of "Family Guy" containing all first and second season episodes.

Other DVDs in production or completed and nearing announcement include "All That Jazz," "Cemetery Man," "One Million Years B.C.," "Predator 2," "Terror Train," Mel Brooks' "To Be Or Not To Be," and "Valley Of The Dolls," as well as Special Editions of "The Fly" (1986), "True Lies" and "Predator." Also expect to see the "Alien" series get revisited sometime in 2003. In addition, Fox plans to license out selected titles to other labels for release, including "Kagemusha" and "Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls." And you Coen Brothers fans out there will be pleased to hear that the studio plans to release "Barton Fink" and "Miller's Crossing" this year.

As for TV product, expect to see additional TV season sets of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer," "The Simpsons," "M*A*S*H," "24," "The Shield," "Malcolm In The Middle," and "The X Files." DVD debuts will include "Futurama," "Millennium," "King Of The Hill," and "Dark Angel," and other series TBA.

Universal

On February 11, Universal plans to release "8 Women." Specs include an SRP of $29.98, anamorphic widescreen, and original French-language Dolby Digital 5.1. The same day the studio will release "Possession," Neil LaBute's ("In The Company Of Men," "Your Friends & Neighbors") latest starring Gwyneth Paltrow. SRP is $26.98, with the presentation details being anamorphic widescreen and Dolby Digital 5.1.

February catalog releases include "Casual Sex," "Cold Comfort Farm," "A Little Sex," and "The Money Pit." All are scheduled to include anamorphic widescreen transfers and Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo or mono soundtracks (depending on the title, except for "The Money Pit" which will include both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 tracks). "The Money Pit" will also include a featurette.

In March, the studio plans to roll out several more catalog titles, including the music-heavy "Sweet Charity," "Thoroughly Modern Millie," and "Zoot Suit." No word at press time on disc specs or whether "Sweet Charity" would include as an option both the "happy" and "sad" endings.

Television series from Universal expected to get released on DVD during 2003 include season sets and/or selected episode compilations of "Baretta," "Battlestar Galactica," "Dragnet," "Emergency," "Magnum P.I.," "Quantum Leap," "The Rockford Files," and "Sliders."

As for new day-and-date theatrical releases, expect "Red Dragon," "8 Mile," "The Emperor's Club," and "The Truth About Charlie," to be released this spring.

Warner

On February 4, the studio plans to release "Mildred Pierce" and "The Red Badge Of Courage" (both 1.33:1) and "A Patch Of Blue" and a new Special Edition of "Driving Miss Daisy" (both anamorphic widescreen).

February 18 will see the release of "City By The Sea" and a new two-disc Special Edition release of Steven Spielberg's "The Color Purple" (enthusiasts can now retire their "flipper" version).

On the 25th, "King Of Kings" and Otto Preminger's "The Cardinal" will be made available. "King Of Kings" will retail for $19.98 and will include anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, a featurette, and a vintage newsreel. "The Cardinal" will retail for $26.99 and will include, on two discs, anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 2.0, a newly-produced documentary and a vintage featurette. On March 18, look for three foreign films from three highly-regarded international filmmakers: "Akira Kurosawa's Dreams," Claude Lelouch's "A Man And A Woman," and one of my personal all-time favorite foreign films, Francois Truffaut's "Day For Night." All will be anamorphic widescreen and in their original languages, and will retail for $19.98. "Day For Night" is set to include three featurettes, and interviews, while "A Man And A Woman" will include two featurettes.

Titles either in production or being considered for future release and/or re-release include "ABBA The Movie," "A Christmas Story," "Empire Records," "Fame," "Giant," "Goodfellas," "The Hunger," "The In-Laws," "The Omega Man," "One Crazy Summer," "The Right Stuff," "Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves," "Soylent Green," "What's Up, Doc?," "Wildcats," and many others.

Television series that can be expected sometime this year include "Smallville" and additional season sets for "Babylon 5" and "Friends." And look for some "Looney Tunes" collections to make an appearance on DVD.

And finally, announcements for "Ghost Ship," "White Oleander," "Femme Fatale," and "Welcome To Collinwood" should be made very soon.

Full Screen-Only Update

As many of you informed enthusiasts know by now there has been a growing trend by the movie studios to release some of their films on DVD in 1.33:1 (4:3) full screen format. That is, movies originally shot and intended to be shown in w-i-d-e screen and instead presented on DVD in a modified 1.33:1 aspect ratio. In fairness, many of the studios have begun offering separate widescreen and fullscreen releases on selected titles, and in other cases offering both versions on the same release. However, many titles are still being released to DVD only in modified form.

What follows is an ongoing list of many of the DVDs released during 2002 or soon to be released with only a "modified to fit your screen" presentation.

"Alaska"
"The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again"
"Baby: Secret Of The Lost Legend"
"Band Of The Hand"
"Bank Shot"
"Basic Training"
"Big Fat Liar"
"Can't Buy Me Love"
"Cats Don't Dance"
"The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes"
"The Country Bears"
"84 Charing Cross Road"
"Ernest Goes To Jail"
"Ernest Scared Stupid"
"Gus"
"Half A Loaf Of Kung Fu"
"Heartbreak Hotel"
"Honey, I Shrunk The Kids"
"Honey, I Blew Up The Baby"
"The Horse In The Gray Flannel Suit"
"How To Beat The High Cost Of Living"
"Joey"
"The Journey Of Natty Gann"
"The Killer Meteors"
"Larger Than Life"
"Little Big League"
"Living Free"
"The Long Walk Home"
"Look Who's Talking Now"
"Max Keeble's Big Move"
"A Midnight Clear"
"Mo' Money"
"The Moon Spinners"
"The Mountain Men"
"Muppet Christmas Carol"
"Muppet Treasure Island"
"Music From Another Room"
"My Neighbor Totoro"
"976-Evil"
"No Man's Land"
"Perfect"
"Piranha Part Two: The Spawning"
"The Powerpuff Girls Movie"
"The Principal"
"Quicksilver"
"Race The Sun"
"Rambling Rose"
"Return To The Blue Lagoon"
"The Road To Wellville"
"The Scent Of Green Papaya"
"The Scarlet Letter"
"Shamus"
"Sleepless"
"Snow Dogs"
"Sweet Hearts Dance"
"Stuart Little" (Deluxe Edition)
"Summer Lovers"
"Sunset Park"
"Taking Care Of Business"
"Three Men And A Little Lady"
"The 3 Worlds Of Gulliver"
"To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday"
"Toy Soldiers"
"True Love"
"2001: A Space Travesty"
"The Villain"
"White Fang"

"Jungle 2 Jungle" and "Indian Summer" previously appeared on the list but after further investigation turned out to in fact be widescreen editions (non-anamorphic) and were mislabeled on their jackets as full screen presentations (nice job, proof readers and QC folks!). And don't be fooled by the sticker proclaiming "Includes New Digitally Remastered Letterbox version!" that appears on the covers of the Jackie Chan adventures "The Killer Meteors" and "Half A Loaf Of Kung Fu." They're in letterbox, all right...the opening credits. Once the credit sequence is completed...pan-and-scan.

An ongoing list of all of the modified DVDs released since the launch of the format is available on our Web site.

Inside DVD & DVHS will be posted regularly on the Widescreen Review Web site (www.Widescreen Review.com) in the DVD Release News and Print Issue Attractions sections, and will occasionally appear in the print edition of the magazine.