DVD Now for the Future

Remember that scene in George Pal's THE TIME MACHINE where George goes to the library and listens to the Talking Rings? Just spin 'em on the magic mirror and they tell a story. That seemed pretty far fetched in 1960, but not anymore. Let me whip out my crystal balls (patent pending) and peek at what's coming up in home video for 2005:
HD Just as 16x9 enhanced formats were eased into the medium as more folks bought widescreen TVs (take that, Blockbuster!), more and more labels are gearing up for High Definition discs to move in. Even the primarily anime-centric label ADV Films recently announced they'll be reissuing their most popular series on HD sets.
More choices Labels are trying to figure out how to put more of their discs in your hands. In the past year, we've seen a lot of major releases divided into different editions (screen formats, unrated director's cuts, special editions) giving you a choice of how to buy that glossy new flick depending on your budget and/or level of devotion. Expect that to continue as more movies are released on no-frills mini-discs alongside 2-disc deluxe editions.
More space Did I just say "2-disc deluxe editions"? That trend may come to a close as techies figure out how to fit more material on each disc. At the same time, we're finding that people really like their box sets in those slim cases, so look for the bulkier boxes to disappear along with the more unruly accordion digipacks.
DVR & DVD-R Lots of folks got in on Tivo this Christmas, and a bunch of you may be transferring the Xmas home movies to disc right now. Expect that trend to explode this year, as prices drop and nobody wants to watch TV that they can't pause, rewind, or save.
Of course, in the far flung future, we'll have DVDs or equivalent media that comes with its own playing device built in. Watch the movie on a small screen built into the disc, or use it to project onto any surface. For extra privacy, just jack the thing into the base of your skull.

Slim pickings this week, so the spotlight choice is easy:

(O) TROY (Warner Bros.) Exciting all star big budget sword & sandal epic directed by Wolfgang Peterson, starring Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Sean Bean, Peter O'Toole and Orlando Bloom. Which ones hide inside a horse? Which one plays Troy? In 2-disc widescreen and narrowscreen editions that include extensive Making-Of featurettes

(O) CSI: Complete Second Season (Paramount) Is it just me, or is this one of the funniest series on network TV? Includes seven commentraks and four featurettes.
(O) ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND: Collectors Edition (Universal) [IMG2R]Jim Carrey chooses not to remember his ex. Includes commentrak, interviews, deleted scenes and more, plus a second disc with lots more extras.
(O) FOREVER KNIGHT: THE TRILOGY, Part 2 (Columbia TriStar) Second season of the adventures of a Toronto vampire cop. With commentrak, featurettes and more.
(O) GHOSTS FROM WITHIN (York) The ever-popular Mexican Crying Woman legend hits America once again.
(O) HAROLD & KUMAR GO TO WHITE CASTLE (New Line) [IMG3L]Nutty comedy in which two college students have adventures on their way to a fast food meal. Has definite 1970s National Lampoon flavor to it. R-rated edition includes two commentraks, deleted scenes, featurettes, storyboards and more. Unrated edition includes all that plus more outtakes, music video, and an additional commentrak.
(O) ISOLA: PERSONA 13 (Adness) A mind reader tries to help a girl with 13 personalities before the hostile 13^th kills them all.
(O) MAGIC IN THE WATER (Columbia TriStar) Mark Harmon takes a working vacation at a lake in British Columbia, where his kids befriend a legendary lake monster.
(O) MILLENNIUM: Complete Second Season (Fox) When his wife is kidnapped, Frank Black finds out that the Millennium Group is hiding things from him. With commentraks, Making-Of and more.
(O) MIRACLE AT OXFORD (Buena Vista) The Boston Globe says this is the best rowing movie ever made, and I'm inclined to take their word for it.
(O) SLAPPY & THE STINKERS (Columbia TriStar) A gang of kids befriends a runaway sea lion that turns on them and devours them.
(O) SUPERBABIES: BABY GENIUSES 2 (Columbia TriStar) Smart infant sequel. I mean the infants are smart, not the sequel. Also available bundled with the original flick.

And finally, we close off each weekly list with a rundown of the constant stream of anime from around the world:

(O) ANIMALAND (Image) Nine [IMG4R]cartoon shorts made by former Disney animator David Hand in the late 1940s, most of which were thought lost for 50 years.
(O) AURA BATTLER DUNBINE Volume 11: Secrets of Byston Well (ADV) The penultimate volume.
(O) THE CAMERAMAN'S REVENGE AND OTHER FANTASTIC TALES (Image) Shorts from throughout the career of amazing model animator Ladislaw Starewicz.
(O) DNANGEL Volume 2: Double Helix (ADV) More nutty split personality romantic adventures. Includes commentrak.
(O) DRAGON DRIVE Volume 3: Friend in Need (Bandai)
(O) DRAGON KNIGHT Volume 1: Wheel of Time (ADV) Epic fantasy, based on the RPG.
(O) GATEKEEPERS Volume 7 (Geneon) The team faces the holiday season.
(O) GOD, THE DEVIL & BOB: Complete Series (Fox) God quickly canceled this 2000 series voiced by (respectively) James Garner, Alan Cummings and French Stewart,
(O) HANAUKYO MAID TEAM Volume 1: How Do You Do, Master? (Geneon) An orphaned student faces the challenge of inheriting a huge estate with the help of a cadre of expert maids.
(O) IKKI-TOUSEN Volume 3: Water Wars (Geneon) Hakufu is trained at a hot spring.

(O) KAZE NO YOJIMBO Volume 6: Mystery Unveiled (Bandai)
(O) MEGAMAN: Upon A Star (ADV) A villain escapes from a game world.
(O) MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM SEED Volume 6: Momentary Silence (Bandai)
(O) MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM SEED Volume 7: Suspicious Motives (Bandai)
(O) MUCHA LUCHA: Return of El Malefico (Warner Bros.) Hit TV cartoon inspired by Mexican wrestling heroes. With featurettes, deleted scenes and more.
(O) PLEASE TWINS! Volume 2:Sibling Rivalry (Bandai)
(O) SAILOR MOON SUPER S: Pagasus Collection 6 (Geneon) Six uncut episodes.
(O) SD GUNDAM FORCE Volume 9: Last Hope for Victory (Bandai)
(O) SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: Home Sweet Pineapple (Paramount) 8 episodes.
(O) STAR OCEAN Volume 1: The Inception (Geneon) Interplanetary fantasy adventure based on the PlayStation game.
(O) TENCHI UNIVERSE COLLECTION 7: Space 3 (Geneon) Needing funds to repair the spaceship, the girls stage a swimsuit competition.
(O) WOLF'S RAIN Volume 5: War of the Soul (Bandai)