2006 DVD Releases Thread

[jokabofe]

That box set is going to be awesome. It even includes two discs of the POTA cartoon that have never been available before. I can't wait for it...

[Rob]

So the one in the picture on the last page is also an upcoming set?  Or is it some older out of print set?

[Matt]

From the HTF:

The single movies are available separately and there is a legacy box set (first five movies and sixth bonus disc). The animated TV series will also be available separately.

They have been remastered. And yes, the remastered versions will be available for those not purchasing the ape head.


========== Press Release Follows ==========


KONG MAY BE KING, BUT APES RULE THE PLANET!

PLANET OF THE APES

The Ultimate DVD Collection

Get Your Stinking Paws On The Ultimate Planet Of The Apes
Collection, On DVD March 28 From Fox Home Entertainment

The Planets Will Align for a Massive Takeover to Give Apes Fans What they’re all Grunting For!

CENTURY CITY, Calif. – King Kong conquered New York, but The Apes control the Planet! Charlton Heston (Soylent Green, The Ten Commandments) stars as the alpha-male omega man ushered in the age of the ape when he crash lands on a mysterious planet amongst an entirely simian society… only to discover that the “madhouse” was closer to home than he could have dreamed. On March 28, 2006, Fox Home Entertainment unleashes all-new DVD Singles of the Original Planet of the Apes Series Mastered in Anamorphic Widescreen and featuring THX Certified 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound. Planet Of The Apes stunned audiences with its now-iconic conclusion and shockingly dystopian view of humanity’s fate, as well as with one of the most famous performances from larger-than-life Oscar-winner® Heston (Ben-Hur, 1960). From an age of film when science-fiction served as allegory in addition to providing thrilling spectacle and edge-of-your-seat adventure, the Planet Of The Apes began a franchise that set the gold standard of Sci-Fi films

The subsequent sequels in the Apes franchise follow the downfall of the planet and its succeeding resurrection by time-traveling chimpanzees. Each of the Planet Of The Apes films offers a unique examination of social, political and cultural mores, from race issues to anti-nuclear messaging. And each features astounding special effects and action, as well as performances from silver screen luminaries such as Roddy McDowall (Fright Night), Ricardo Montalban (Star Trek II), Sal Mineo (Rebel Without A Cause) and John Huston (Chinatown).

In addition to the original film series – Planet of the Apes, Beneath The Planet Of The Apes, Escape From Planet Of The Apes, Conquest Of Planet Of The Apes and Battle For Planet Of The Apes – the collection is also available in an all-new Planet of the Apes: Legacy Edition Box set which includes a 6th bonus disc loaded with extras - Documentary “Behind the Planet of the Apes,” Original Theatrical Trailers of all 5 movies, TV Spots and much more.



And to Celebrate the Rule of the Great Apes, Fox is Unleashing the Planet Of The Apes: The Ultimate DVD Collection, a 14-disc set in a Limited Edition collectable ape-head packaging based on the designs that earned make-up artist John Chambers an honorary Oscar®. The Ape –head is modeled after Roddy McDowall’s character Caesar, the son of the late simians Cornelius and Zira who leads the apes to revolution in Conquest of the Planet of the Apes. The Ultimate Collection includes all five Original movies (1968-1973), the complete series of the Planet of the Apes (1974) TV Show and the Never-Before-Released Saturday Morning Cartoon TV series: Return to the planet of the Apes (1975) as well as the 2001 re-imagining of the Planet Of The Apes mythology. The Planet Of The Apes franchise stars such silver-screen luminaries as Ricardo Montalban (Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan), Sal Mineo (Rebel Without A Cause), John Huston (Chinatown), Mark Wahlberg (Boogie Nights), Michael Clarke Duncan (Daredevil) and Tim Roth (Reservoir Dogs). Bonus features include audio commentaries, featurettes, image galleries, outtakes and much more.

The fantastic Planet Of The Apes: The Ultimate DVD Collection box set will be available for a suggested retail price of $179.98 U.S./$249.98 Canada. Each of the Planet Of The Apes movies will be available singly for $14.98 U.S./ $16.98 Canada and the Legacy Edition Boxset for $49.98 U.S. / $59.98 Canada. Prebook is March 1.


Marketing Support:
This April, Apes Rule with comprehensive Marketing Support including tactically placed Radio promotions, Consumer and Trade Print Ads and Extensive PR and Online Marketing campaigns.


DVD Features:
Planet Of The Apes (1968):
Charlton Heston and Roddy McDowall star in this 1968 science fiction masterpiece. Astronaut Taylor (Heston) crash lands on a distant planet ruled by apes who use a primitive race of humans for experimentation and sport. Soon Taylor finds himself among the hunted, his life in the hands of a benevolent chimpanzee scientist (McDowall). Winner of an Honorary Academy Award® for Outstanding Makeup Achievement and nominated for two Oscars, its grand entertainment from its visually arresting beginning to the chilling last moment. Frank Schaffner (1970 Academy Award® winner for Patton) directed this film written by Rod Serling (TV's "The Twilight Zone") and
Michael Wilson (Lawrence of Arabia).
Bonus materials include:
• Commentary by actors Roddy McDowall, Natalie Trundy, Kim Hunter, composer Jerry Goldsmith, make-up artist John Chambers and Eric Greene, author of “Planet of the Apes as American Myth”
• A Second Disc is also available in Ultimate DVD Collection which includes:
• Behind the Planet Of The Apes documentary
• Behind the Planet Of The Apes promo (1998)
• Roddy McDowall home movies
• Planet Of The Apes dailies and outtakes
• “Planet Of The Apes” featurette (1968)
• “A Look Behind the Planet of the Apes” (1972) featurette
• “Planet Of The Apes Make-up Test with Edward G. Robinson” featurette (1966)
• Theatrical trailers
• Theatrical posters
• TV Spots
• Film Reviews (1968)
• Image gallery
• Planet Of The Apes timeline – A DVD-Rom feature
• Mego Toy Commercial
• One Easter Egg

Beneath The Planet Of The Apes:
In the acclaimed 1970 sequel to Planet of the Apes, Charlton Heston returns as Taylor and
James Franciscus is Brent, who crashes through the time barrier searching for the missing astronaut. The daring rescue mission leads to a subterranean city where mutant humans who practice mind control worship a weapon capable of destroying the entire planet. Both an action-oriented
science-fiction adventure and a wry commentary on today’s world, its imaginative entertainment for fantasy buffs of all ages.
• Behind-The-Scenes Photo Gallery

Escape From Planet Of The Apes:
Roddy McDowall and Kim Hunter reprise their roles from the original Planet of the Apes in this third chapter of the Apes saga. Two intelligent simians from the future, Cornelius (McDowall) and Zira (Hunter) travel to present-day earth. They become instant sensations, wined and dined and treated like celebrities - until a high-level plot forces them to run for their lives! Featuring Ricardo Montalban and Sal Mineo, this 1971 release is a delightful blend of humor, social commentary and suspense.

Conquest Of Planet Of The Apes:
Colorful, futuristic sets, a relentless pace and an action-packed climax highlight the 1972 fourth episode of the legendary Apes saga, starring Roddy McDowall and Ricardo Montalban. The time is the near future. Apes have supplanted dogs and cats as household pets and replaced servants as personal assistants - until their continual mistreatment provokes one advanced ape from the future, Caesar (McDowall), to lead a spectacular revolt. It’s thrilling science-fiction that offers both a serious message and stirring entertainment.

Battle For The Planet Of The Apes:
The final confrontation? Roddy McDowall and Claude Akins star in the fifth and last chapter of the original legendary Apes saga. Set in 2670 A.D., an idyllic society of man and ape is threatened by both a militant gorilla (Akins) and a tribe of still-intelligent mutant humans. Finally, simmering tensions dividing the primates erupt in an apocalyptic climax. When the smoke clears the carnage is everywhere, but there is hope for a new beginning for man and ape. John Huston, Paul Williams and Lew Ayres co-star in this 1973 release.

Below titles are available in Ultimate DVD Collection:

Planet Of The Apes TV Series (1974):
After their spacecraft travels through a time warp, two astronauts (Ron Harper, James Naughton) from 1981 crash-land back on Earth in the year 3085-a time when intelligent apes rule and humans have been reduced to servants or pets. Captured by the apes and sentenced to death, they are saved by a curious chimpanzee named Galen (Roddy McDowall). But now all three are on the run, trying to keep one step ahead of the gorilla army led by General Urko (Mark Lenard), who is determined to kill the renegades.
On four discs, DVD specifics include:
• Episodes: Escape From Tomorrow, The Gladiators, The Trap, The Good Seeds, The Legacy, Tomorrow’s Tide, The Surgeon, The Dragoons, The Horse Ride, The Interrogation, The Tyrant,
The Cure, The Liberator (Never aired during original show run on TV), Up Above The World So High
• TV Spots
• Still Photos

Return To The Planet Of The Apes Animated TV Series (1975):
From the Oscar®-winning creators of “The Pink Panther” (David H. DePatie & Friz Freleng) comes this high-concept 70s cartoon that returns you to the heart of mankind’s greatest adventure! Populated by familiar characters from the Planet of the Apes films and TV series – including Cornelius, Zira and General Urko – this classic animated series pits humans against a world of apes who are more advanced than ever!
Three astronauts – Bill Hudson, Jeff Carter and Judy Franklin – find themselves stranded in a future where apes drive the cars, fly the planes…and wage an epic war on their primitive human neighbors. Attempting to keep one step ahead of the apes and protect the other humans, the astronauts search for the reason their world went so awry, hoping one day to find their way back home.
On two discs, DVD specifics include:
• Episodes: Flames Of Doom, Escape From Ape City, The Unearthly Prophecy, Tunnel Of Fear, Lagoon Of Peril, Terror On Ice Mountain, River Of Flames, Screaming Wings, Trail To The Unknown, Attack From The Clouds, Mission Of Mercy, Invasion Of The Underdwellers, and Battle Of The Titans

Planet Of The Apes (2001):
In the year 2029, interstellar reconnaissance missions are relegated to chimpanzee pilots from the Space Station Oberon in deep space. On such a mission, a chimp loses communication and vanishes from the radar. Fearless astronaut Leo Davidson launches a rescue mission and, following a malfunction, lands on a jungle-like planet not unlike the Earth. To Leo's astonishment, English-speaking apes and primitive humans inhabit the planet. Following his capture by the apes and subsequent escape, Leo assembles a small band of defiant humans and empathetic apes in an attempt to re-establish contact with Oberon, but his focus changes following an unexpected discovery. Armed with this new information, Leo leads a rebellion against an overpowering ape force that will result in freedom or complete annihilation.
On two discs, bonus materials include:
• Feature includes enhanced viewing mode with interactive examinations of make-up, special effects, cast/crew and location shooting
• Six Documentaries – Ape School, Make-Up Testing, Costume Testing, Shooting On Location, Scoring The Film and Ape Movement
• Eight interactive multi-angle sequences
• Four quadrangle audio split vignettes of make-up testing, reactive testing, costume testing and apes movement/stunt testing
• Five extended scenes
• HBO “The Making Of” Special
• TV Spots
• Theatrical trailers
• Music Video

Street Date: March 28, 2006
Prebook Date: March 1, 2006

Single Disc Titles: Run Time Catalog #: Price:
Planet Of The Apes 112 min. 2232974 $14.98 U.S./$16.98 Canada
Beneath The Planet Of The Apes 100 min. 2232808 $14.98 U.S./$16.98 Canada
Escape From The Planet Of The Apes 98 min. 2232813 $14.98 U.S./$16.98 Canada
Conquest Of The Planet Of The Apes 88 min. 2232818 $14.98 U.S./$16.98 Canada
Battle For The Planet Of The Apes 86 min. 2232803 $14.98 U.S./$16.98 Canada

Planet Of The Apes: Legacy Edition Box Set 484 min. 2232836 $49.98 U.S./$59.98 Canada
U.S. Rating: Planet Of The Apes (1968) – G
Beneath The Planet Of The Apes – G
Escape From The Planet Of The Apes – G
Conquest Of The Planet Of The Apes – PG
Battle For The Planet Of The Apes – G
Bonus Disc (Not Rated)
Canadian Rating: All Movies – PG
Closed Captioned: Yes

Planet Of The Apes: Ultimate DVD Collection 1564 min. 2233133 $179.98 U.S./$249.98 Canada
U.S. Rating: Planet Of The Apes Anniversary Edition (2-Disc)(1968) – G
Beneath The Planet Of The Apes – G
Escape From The Planet Of The Apes – G
Conquest Of The Planet Of The Apes – PG
Battle For The Planet Of The Apes – G
Planet Of The Apes (4-Disc)TV Series – NR
Return to the Planet Of The Apes (2-Disc)Animated TV Series – NR
Planet Of The Apes (2-Disc) (2001) – PG-13
Canadian Rating: All Movies – PG
TV Series – NR
Closed Captioned: Yes

[Angry Ewok]

That box set is orgasmic... Beautiful.

Thanks for sharing the info. Much love.

[Rob]

Good God...

So was the $125.00 number that Corey dropped the price WITH the head?  It looks like the set will be sold without the head too - I wonder what that will run.

[Matt]

Yeah, if only the pricing information was included in all that stuff I quoted. . .

The fantastic Planet Of The Apes: The Ultimate DVD Collection box set will be available for a suggested retail price of $179.98 U.S./$249.98 Canada. Each of the Planet Of The Apes movies will be available singly for $14.98 U.S./ $16.98 Canada and the Legacy Edition Boxset for $49.98 U.S. / $59.98 Canada. Prebook is March 1.

The real-world prices:

Legacy set:  $34.99 at Amazon

Big-ass monkey head set: $125.99 at Amazon

Looks like the other sequels will be $9.99 separately.

[Rob]

Okay so I was skimming.  I'll admit it.

[Cory Chaos]

I'm not really wanting to read into it, but, does the POTA in the new set make the latest 2 disc anniversary set obsolete?

Also, been picking up some..totally..bizarre titles as of late, on a whim, namely because they're cheap. Check it.

[Commander Cody]

Whoa! Talk about a blast from the past! I didn't know you posted here, Cory!

[Matt]

I'm not really wanting to read into it, but, does the POTA in the new set make the latest 2 disc anniversary set obsolete?

According to the Digital Bits, no.

First of all, we have the official skinny from 20th Century Fox on their upcoming celebration of all things Planet of the Apes on DVD. The centerpiece of the affair will be the 3/28 release of the 14-disc, THX-certified Planet of the Apes: The Ultimate DVD Collection (SRP $179.98). Here's a disc by disc list of the extras, as confirmed by the studio:

Disc One - Planet of the Apes (1967 - anamorphic widescreen video, with Dolby Digital 5.1 & DTS 5.1 audio, audio commentary by composer Jerry Goldsmith, commentary by actors Roddy McDowell, Natalie Trundy and Kim Hunter, and make-up artist John Chambers, text commentary by Eric Greene, author of Planet of the Apes as American Myth) - note that this is the same as Disc One from the 35th Anniversary Edition.

Disc Two - Planet of the Apes Bonus Disc (includes the 1998 Behind the Planet of the Apes documentary, trailers for all of the classic Apes films, promo spots, a make-up test with Edward G. Robinson from 1966, Roddy McDowall's original home movies, dailies and outtakes, the 1967 N.A.T.O. presentation, 4 vintage featurettes (Planet of the Apes, A Look Behind the Planet of the Apes, Don Taylor Directs Escape from the Planet of the Apes and J. Lee Thompson Directs Conquest of the Planet of the Apes), original film reviews and galleries of poster art, production photos and costume sketches) - note that this is the same as Disc Two from the 35th Anniversary Edition and is also the same basic content as was included on Image Entertainment's Behind the Planet of the Apes: Special Collector's Edition.

Disc Three - Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970 - newly remastered in anamorphic widescreen video with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, plus a cast page, theatrical trailers for this and all of the other Apes films and a behind-the-scenes photo gallery) - same extras as on the previous release.

Disc Four - Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971 - newly remastered in anamorphic widescreen video with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, plus a cast page, theatrical trailers for this and all of the other Apes films and the Don Taylor Directs Escape from the Planet of the Apes featurette).

Disc Five - Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972 - newly remastered in anamorphic widescreen video with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, plus a cast page, theatrical trailers for this and all of the other Apes films and the J. Lee Thompson Directs Conquest of the Planet of the Apes featurette).

Disc Six - Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973 - newly remastered in anamorphic widescreen video with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, plus a cast page, theatrical trailers for this and all of the other Apes films and the Fox Interactive's Behind the Scenes of the Planet of the Apes videogame promo).

Discs Seven-Ten - Planet of the Apes: The Complete TV Series (1974 - includes all 14 episodes in the original full frame video with Dolby Digital mono audio, plus photo galleries and TV spots) - this is basically the same as the previous 4-disc DVD release of the TV series, but the photo galleries and TV spots are new to this edition.

Discs Eleven-Twelve - Return to the Planet of the Apes: The Complete Animated Series (1975 - includes all 13 episodes in their original full frame video with Dolby Digital mono audio).

Disc Thirteen - Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes (2001 - anamorphic widescreen video with Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 audio, plus extras) - note that this is identical to Disc One of the previous DVD release of this film.

Disc Fourteen - Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes Bonus Disc (with additional extras) - note that this is identical to Disc Two of the previous DVD release of this film.

As you can see, what's new in The Ultimate DVD Collection are the new anamorphic transfers of the four classic Apes films that have previously been available in letterboxed widecreen only, along with the complete animated TV series (its first appearance on DVD and exclusive to The Ultimate DVD Collection) and a couple new extras on the 1974 live-action TV series. All of this comes with a special "ape" display case designed to replicate the original mask designs from the classic films. This is the kind of packaging that Fox has previously released in Japan only (with I, Robot and The Alien Quadrilogy), so you've got to at least give the studio credit for making it available to U.S. fans as well (expensive though it is). Here's a picture of the packaging...

 For those not quite ready to part with $180, Fox is also releasing a 6-disc Planet of the Apes: The Legacy Boxset (SRP $49.98), which will include all five of the original Apes films, along with a bonus disc containing the Behind the Planet of the Apes documentary, trailers for all of the other Apes films and the Fox Interactive's Behind the Scenes of the Planet of the Apes  videogame promo. We believe the classic films will all be the newly remastered anamorphic widescreen versions.

And for those simply wanting to add the later films to their libraries in better quality one at a time, Battle for the Planet of the Apes, Beneath the Planet of the Apes, Conquest of Planet of the Apes and Escape from the Planet of the Apes will all be re-released as stand-alone versions on 3/28 as well (SRP $14.98 each). These will each be the same as the movie discs contained in The Ultimate Collection, with newly remastered anamorphic widescreen video and the same extras.

[Matt]

This is kind of a confusing release, so I'll try to simplify it up a bit.  I could be wrong, but this is what it looks like to me from the press releases:

Legacy Boxset / 6 Discs / Around $35:

Disc 1:  Planet of the Apes (1968) (same as 35th Anniversary Edition Disc 1)
Disc 2:  Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)
Disc 3:  Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)
Disc 4:  Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
Disc 5:  Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
Disc 6:  Behind the Planet of the Apes (same as 35th Anniversary Edition Disc 2)

(All four sequels feature brand new, anamorphic transfers, and will also be made available separately for around $10 each)


The Ultimate DVD Collection / 14 Discs / Around $125 / Limited to 10,000 copies

Discs 1-6: Same as above
Discs 7-10:  The Complete TV Series (1974) (Same as previous 4-disc release, but with new photo galleries and TV spots)
Discs 11-12: Return to the Planet of the Apes: The Complete Animated Series (1975) (BRAND NEW TO DVD)
Disc 13:  Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes (2001) (Same as previous Special Edition Disc 1)
Disc 14:  Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes Bonus Disc (Same as previous Special Edition Disc 2)
Big-ass monkey head case

According to the HTF thread below, Fox has indicated that there will be a separate release of the animated series:

PLANET OF THE APES Update - SEE POST #98 FOR PRESS RELEASE & FOX ADDRESSING MEMBER QUESTIONS

If that pans out, then everything in the Ultimate set will be available separately, except for the new photo galleries and TV spots on the TV series discs, along with that freaky monkey head.

[Matt]

Oh, and just in case the whole POTA thing hasn't gotten silly enough yet:

[Commander Cody]

I want the head, but I also want the DVD cases too.

[Cory Chaos]

I think I may bite on the $35 box set, and flip the Ann. edition of POTA, just for uniform..ity..yeah.

[Rob]

I'll pass on the giant head that wouldn't fit on my shelves anyway.  I'll go for this one: