Just when there's no more room in you're DVD collection, Anchor Bay Entertainment will release yet another version of George A. Romero's zombie classic Dawn of the Dead. Filtering into stores just in time to cash in on the much-ballyhooed, big-budget remake, this release seems little more than a precursor to Anchor Bay's heavily touted three-disc Special Edition -- set for release in the fall of 2004. Mastered in the high-definition Divimax process and letterboxed at the correct theatrical exhibition aspect ratio of 1.85:1 (previous releases were often matted and released in 1.66:1), the image as presented on this release is the best that Dawn of the Dead has ever looked on home video. In addition to the corrected aspect ratio, the remarkably clean image sports solid, vibrant colors, even skin tones (for the living), and no evidence of edge-enhancement. As for audio, Anchor Bay has seen fit to include a multitude of choices that should please both purists and those looking to push the limits of their home theater systems. In addition to an effective mix in the original Mono, mixes in DTS, Dolby Digital 5.1, and Dolby Digital Surround expand the terror by surrounding viewers with the blood-chilling moans of the undead. Of course, the audio feature that most viewers will jump for is the commentary track, featuring director Romero, makeup effects artist Tom Savini, and assistant director Chris Romero -- and moderated by Perry Martin. It's great to hear Romero comment on the origins of the story and the events that set the sequel into motion, and the enthusiasm of Savini when Romero told him to start thinking of various inventive ways to kill people is palpable. With virtually no dead air, the commentary is both entertaining and informative. Outside of the commentary track, the extras are fairly standard -- a seeming warm-up for the massive Special Edition that lies ahead. A pair of theatrical trailers are in top condition, as are a trio of television spots -- and with no less than nine radio spots, fans will no doubt get the gist of the advertising campaign that ushered audiences into theaters. A poster and advertising gallery offers various posters, newspaper clippings, and black-and-white stills for the film, and a deeply informative biography explores Romero's motivations as a filmmaker while scrutinizing his macabre body of work. Rounding things out is a somewhat disappointing preview of the upcoming comic-book adaptation. Overall, you have a pretty tantalizing release that would be a great addition to the old DVD collection -- until that massive Special Edition blows this one out of the water, that is.

After years of waiting for a video release of any kind, the fans of Beyond the Valley of the Dolls have had their prayers answered with this fantastic double-disc set from Fox. The first disc presents a pristine letterboxed, anamorphically enhanced transfer of the film that offers eye-popping colors and razor-sharp detail. The audio is equally sharp, offering Dolby 2.0 stereo and mono mixes of the film; the stereo track has the edge, but the reams of campy dialogue and killer psych-pop tunes come through loud and clear on either track. The first disc also offers a pair of commentary tracks, one from co-writer Roger Ebert and the other featuring a collection of cast members. Ebert's track offers an all-around combination of historical detail, behind-the-scenes material, and critical perspective on the film, while the cast commentary offers plenty of dishy stories about the making of the film. The second disc offers just over an hour's worth of featurettes that discuss the making of the film, its context within the era, the film's catchy pop music score, its enduring cult following, and the somewhat controversial lesbian angle to its storyline. All of the segments are well-produced, offering plenty of interviews with cast and crew as well as authorities like Russ Meyer biographer Jimmy McDonough and various film critics. These featurettes also make imaginative use of computer graphics to bring the tales of the participants to life. Elsewhere on disc two, viewers can find "Z-Man's Far Out Party Favors" (a collection of trailers and screen tests) and a comprehensive series of image galleries that include stills, ad materials, and countless on-the-set photos. In short, this is the dream package that all Beyond the Valley of the Dolls fans have been waiting for and a must for anyone with a serious interest in classic cult cinema.