Jackson working on original "Kong" DVD
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").
Diverse lineup fetes "Rubber Soul" 40th
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"
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
"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
Aparo book heads up Twomorrows goodies for October
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.
New CD releases of note
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
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
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.
"Flash" TV series coming to DVD
DVD new releases for August
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"
"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.
King Kong remake coming to DVD
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
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.