Jackson working on original "Kong" DVD

Along with directing his own remake of the classic "King Kong," Peter Jackson is helping out with the bonus materials for a new DVD of the original film, says the Hollywood Reporter.

Jackson is working on a new documentary, "RKO Production 601: The Making of Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World," a two-hour, seven-part feature included in the two-disc "King Kong" set, which Warner Home Video will release on Nov. 22.

...In addition to the seven-part documentary, the "King Kong" DVD set includes such extras as a documentary on "Kong" director (and creator) Merian C. Cooper, a trailer gallery of Cooper's other films, and a commentary from stop-motion animator Ray Harryhausen, actress Terry Moore ("Mighty Joe Young") and special effects master Ken Ralston ("Star Wars").

Pop Artifact! Forbidden Planet movie poster

Diverse lineup fetes "Rubber Soul" 40th

Any music fan with a shred of self dignity knows to give "tribute" albums a wide berth, but This Bird Has Flown - A 40th Anniversary Tribute to the Beatles' Rubber Soul features a fairly promising lineup:

01 Drive My Car - The Donnas
02 Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) - The Fiery Furnaces
03 You Won't See Me - Dar Williams
04 Nowhere Man - Low
05 Think for Yourself - Yonder Mountain String Band
06 The Word - Mindy Smith
07 Michelle - Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals
08 What Goes On - Sufjan Stevens
09 Girl - Rhett Miller
10 I'm Looking Through You - Ted Leo
11 In My Life - Ben Lee
12 Wait - Ben Kweller
13 If I Needed Someone - Nellie McKay
14 Run for Your Life - Cowboy Junkies


It's out Oct. 25.

Details on "Batman vs. Dracula"

Warner has released some details on the direct-to-DVD flick, including pictures of the "gift set" version of the release which includes figures of the title characters.

Credits:

Written by Duane Capizzi
Directed by Michael Goguen
Starring the Voice Talents of: Rino Romano, Peter Stormare, Tara Strong, Tom Kenny, Kevin Michael Richardson, Alastair Duncan
Executive Producers: Benjamin Melniker, Michael Uslan, Sander Schwartz, Alan Burnett
Supervising Producers: Duane Capizzi, Michael Goguen
Producers: Jeff Matsuda, Linda M. Steiner
Art Director: Jeff Matsuda
Associate Producer: Kimberly A. Smith
Sequence Directors: Seung Eun Kim, Sam Liu, Brandon Vietti
Casting and Voice Direction by Ginny McSwain
Music by Thomas Chase Jones


Extras include:

• "Science vs. Superstition": Batman's computer gives light to the legend of Dracula and all its rumors.
Other
• 1) "City of Knight": Click on a map of Gotham and discover behind the scenes and hidden buttons with short video clips of the making of.
• 2) "Voices in Close Up": Multi-window montage with pop-up trivia boxes and interview footage give intimate interview looks at the voices behind Batman vs. Dracula.


The disk is out Oct. 18, with the gift version out a month later.

Quick hits

Directors Robert Rodriquez and Quentin Tarantino plan to team on a 1970s-style, drive-in-type exploitation flick titled "Grindhouse," says MTV.

"Alias" has started production on its fifth season. SciFi Wire has details you might not wanna read depending on your spoiler tolerance. On the other hand, if you're like me and think the show has become a car wreck of silly plot lines and squandered potential, then you can read it. And weep.

The Big Bad "Buffy" Box

A 40-disk, limited-edition, signed-by-Joss Whedon set will collect every episode of the show plus a new documentary on the series, DVDAnswers reports. It'll be out Nov. 15 and will set you back a list price $199.98.

Aparo book heads up Twomorrows goodies for October

Here's a look at October solicitations from Twomorrows Publishing:


THE BRAVE AND BOLD ART OF JIM APARO
by SCOTT BEATTY ERIC NOLEN-WEATHINGTON

For a generation of comic-book readers, JIM APARO is considered the
greatest Batman artist of them all. Aparo—with his strong, dynamic
style, well-grounded in realism—together with Batman made a team worthy
of the title, The Brave and the Bold. But while the Batman team-up book
was where fans could most commonly find Aparo’s work, he first made his
name on such series as Aquaman, the controversial “Spectre,” and the
mysterious Phantom Stranger, and is considered by many to be the
definitive artist for each. Now, Scott Beatty (writer of Batman and The
DC Comics Encyclopedia) along with Eric Nolen-Weathington
(editor/designer of the Modern Masters book series) turn the Bat Signal
onto the life and work of one of comics’ finest: Jim Aparo. From his
time in the world of advertising art, through the heyday of the ’70s,
and beyond the death of Robin, Aparo’s career is finally given the
attention it so richly deserves. The book is lavishly illustrated with
Aparo’s work—including many rare and previously-unpublished pieces.
Introduction by award-winning comic book artist Alan Davis!

The 128 page (plus cover), squarebound, 8 1/2" x 11" Trade Paperback
with a full color cover and black-and-white interiors retails for
$15.95
in the U.S. and ships 19 October 2005.


ALTER EGO #53
edited by ROY THOMAS

ALTER EGO #53 is our HELLZAPOPPIN’ HALLOWEEN ISSUE— plus MIKE (“MR.
MYSTERY”) ESPOSITO, PART 1! Behind a direful all-new cover in
red-white-&-black by DICK GIORDANO, we’ve got Three Decades of
Dracula—and Counting! Artist DICK GIORDANO, writer ROY THOMAS, & editor
MARK BEAZLEY rap about the 1974-2005 dark genesis of Marvel’s Halloween
hit Stoker’s Dracula, with behind-the-scenes stories and art! Plus DICK
BRIEFER’s funny Frankenstein of the 1950s, a never-before-seen
complete-story sequence from the awesome artist’s proposed newspaper
strip! Then, it’s Our Gallery of Gruesomeness, a hunk of Halloween
comic
art by GENE COLAN, BERNIE WRIGHTSON, MIKE MIGNOLA, FRANK BRUNNER, STEVE
BISSETTE, MICHAEL W. KALUTA, RUSS HEATH, JOE MANEELY, BILL EVERETT,
STEVE DITKO, ERNIE SCHROEDER, and others! Also, fabled Golden/Silver
Age
inker MIKE ESPOSITO on his 1940s/1950s work with peerless partner ROSS
ANDRU on Mr. Mystery, Mr. Universe, Get Lost!, etc.—with more amazing
anecdotes than you can shake a Styx at—in the first part of a 2-tier
interview by JIM AMASH! And—FCA with MARC SWAYZE, et al.—BILL
SCHELLY—ALEX TOTH—MICHAEL T. GILBERT’s Comic Crypt—& MORE!!

The 100 page (plus cover), saddle-stitched 8 1/2" x 11" magazine with a
full color cover and black-and-white interiors retails for $6.95 (New
Price) in the U.S. and ships 11 October 2005.


JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR #44
edited by JOHN MORROW

Mythadventures rule in JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR #44, focusing on KIRBY’S
MYTHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS, including THE DEMON, THOR, ATLAS, ETERNALS,
and
others! There’s a rare interview with KIRBY, never-seen by most comics
enthusiasts! MARK EVANIER answers Frequently Asked Questions about Jack
in his regular column, while our other regular columnists give their
take on all things Kirby! There’s also two Kirby pencil art galleries;
one of THE DEMON, and another featuring some of his other classic
mythological characters (both at whopping TABLOID SIZE)! Just in time
for Halloween, there’s a never-reprinted BLACK MAGIC story from the
1950s! Also, we present an interview with Kirby Award winner and family
friend DAVID SCHWARTZ (with tons of little known anecdotes and info
about Jack and Roz), a new Kirby Demon cover inked by MATT WAGNER, and
more! Edited by John Morrow.

The 80 page (plus cover), saddle-stitched TABLOID SIZE (10” x 14”)
magazine with a full color cover and black-and-white interiors retails
for $9.95 in the U.S. and ships 26 October 2005.

Pop Artifact! Barbarella movie poster

New CD releases of note

Aug. 9

The Fleshtones Beachhead
The Plimsouls One Night in America (live)
Stephen Stills Man Alive (guests Neil Young, Graham Nash and Herbie Hancock)

Aug. 16

Cannonball Adderley Domination and Money in the Pocket
Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass Ninth, Sounds Like and The Beat of the Brass
The Blasters 4-11-44
Johnny Cash The Legend
June Christy June's Got Rhythm
The Damned The Stiff Years
Bill Frisell East/West
Madness The Dangerman Sessions Vol. 1
The Stooges Fun House and The Stooges
Jimmy Webb Twilight of the Renegades

More info on "The Adventures of Superman" season one DVD

Warner Home Video has released a back cover pic from the set's package which reveals some more info about what's included. Here's the back cover copy:

The first superhero created for comic books, Superman leaped from radio to television when Adventures of Superman debuted in 1952. Produced by Robert J. Maxwell (who also produced the radio version) and Bernard Luber (a veteran of Hollywood serials), each First Season Episode screens like a classic crime movie, where danger and death lurk in the shadows. Working with some of the industry's best character actors, George Reeves plays the Man of Steel with a genuineness that captivates viewers of all ages. Now Enjoy this legendary series as never before, digitally mastered from original film elements, in a soaring deluxe 5-disc set with exciting extras.

Extras:

  • Retrospective Documentary Adventures of Superman: From Inkwell to Backlot featuring Jack Larson, Leonard Maltin and others
  • 1951 theatrical features Superman and the Mole Men, later to be televised as the 2-part "The Unknown People"
  • Pony Express Days: Vintage Warner Bros. historical short starring George Reeves
  • Commentary on 4 key episodes by Superman chroniclers Gary H. Grossman and Chuck Harter
  • Original Kellogg's Cereal Commercials

The five-disk set is out Oct. 18. You can pre-order it now from Amazon.


Quick hits

Dancing in the streets: Martha Reeves, of Martha and Vandellas fame, is running for mayor in Detroit.

Al Aronowitz, the rock journalism pioneer who introduced Bob Dylan to the Beatles, has passed away.

Two reissues showcasing the power pop mastery of Emitt Rhodes are due out soon from the Rev-Ola label, ICE reports. The Merry-Go-Round — Listen, Listen: The Definitive Collection features both the debut effort of Rhodes' first band and his first solo outing.

George Harrison's "Concert for Bangladesh" coming to DVD

The 1971 show that pretty much invented the concept of benefit concert will be out on disk Oct. 25, Reuters reports.

A new version of the soundtrack CD, featuring a previously unreleased Bob Dylan performance, will be out the same day.

Along with Harrison and Dylan, the show features performances by Ringo Starr, Billy Preston, Eric Clapton and Leon Russell.

According to Reuters:

The DVD will boast the original 99-minute film and 72 minutes of extras, including a 45-minute documentary and previously unseen footage: Harrison and Dylan rehearsing "If Not For You," Harrison, Clapton and Russell performing "Come On In My Kitchen" during sound check, and Dylan performing "Love Minus Zero/No Limit" during the afternoon show. That track also will be added to the remixed two-CD album.

Pop Artifact! 2001 movie poster

"Flash" TV series coming to DVD

According to TV Shows on DVD, the 1990 series starring Wesley Shipp will be out...sometime...in a "complete series" set.

DVD new releases for August

Aug. 2


The Complete Thin Man Collection

Alexander-Director's Cut

The Cosby Show Complete First Season

The Boatniks

Johnny Tremain

Toby Tyler


Aug. 9


John Cleese - Wine for the Confused

The Muppet Show Complete First Season

McMillan and Wife Complete First Season

Roswell Complete Third Season

Dallas Complete Third Season

Columbo Complete Third Season

Thundercats: Season One Vol. 1


Aug. 16


Sin City

The Simpsons Season 6

Will and Grace Complete Fourth Season

I Love Lucy Complete Fifth Season

The Andy Griffith Show Complete Third Season

Dick Cavett - Rock Icons


Aug. 23


The OC Complete Second Season

The Ring Two

Emergency! Complete First Season

Alf Complete Second Season

Kung Fu Complete Third Season

21 Jump Street Complete Third Season

Six Feet Under Complete Fourth Season


Aug. 30


Nip/Tuck Complete Second Season

Curb Your Enthusiasm Complete Fourth Season

Combat Complete Fifth Season

House Complete First Season

Roseanne Complete First Season

Whedon getting hopped up on "Wonder Woman"

Director Joss Whedon is working out the fine details for his upcoming Wonder Woman flick:

"I do not believe she will be flying. I think we have a guy who flies. I don't see her flying. She might jump. There could be some hopping. And there may in fact be an invisible plane. But if there is, it will be because it came out really cool."

More here.

Pop Artifact! Psycho movie poster

"Aeon Flux" posters revealed

JoBlo has posted two variations on this new one:

King Kong remake coming to DVD

The 1976 remake by Dino de Laurantis anyway. You'll need to wait a bit for Peter Jackson's.

Featuring Jessica Lange and, rather unfortunately now, the World Trade Center, the flick is due out Nov. 22. DVDAnswers posted this pic of the cover.

Quick hits

A host of previously unreleased tracks by lounge music genius Esquivel are due out Sept. 6, Billboard reports. The album, The Sights and Sounds of Esquivel, is available for pre-order from Amazon now.

David Lynch wants to spread the good word on Transcendental Meditation, reports the Associated Press.

The New York Daily News has a roundup on the 75th anniversary of "Blondie."

Katie Holmes gives a behind-the-scenes report on the humiliation involved in creating her "Batman Begins" action figure.

Brittany Murphy will be back as Shellie in "Sin City 2," according to Superhero Hype.

There's a second trailer for Joss Whedon's "Serenity" here.

Bedazzled presents a whole buncha radio ads for blaxploitation flicks.