""Saving Private Ryan"" DVD In DTS Digital Surround Format
After a wonderfully produced LaserDisc edition of ""Saving Private Ryan"" in Dolby Digital 5.1 discrete, enthusiasts have been greatly anticipating a possible arrival of Steven Spielberg's of this epic film on DVD. DreamWorks has saved the day with the announcement, reported yesterday, September 15, in Todayís News, that the DVDs will be released day-and-date with the VHS Special Edition on November 2. DVDs? Yes, there are two DVD editions, one a Special Edition in the Dolby Digital Surround format with a message from Steven Spielberg, a thirty-minute documentary ""Into The Beach,"" produced by documentarian Laurent Bouzereau, two trailers and other supplementals such as cast and crew bios and production notes; and a film-only version in the DTS Digital Surround format. Both versionsí picture is sourced from an anamorphic widescreen high-definition transfer using the new C-Reality telecine, a rival telecine to Philips Spirit high-definition technology. The DTS version represents the first simultaneous release of a DTS DVD title with the Dolby Digital version of that title day-and-date and day-and-date with VHS. The DTS version will have all the extras except the documentary and will be priced possibly $5 to $10 over the Dolby Digital version, possibly $35-$40. A DTS version is exciting, especially in light of the intense holosonicô soundfield engagement in the first 24 minutes of the battle at the beach. As you may know Steven Spielberg was the first filmmaker to advocate the quality of DTS format to the extent he has personally invested in the company. DreamWorks believes that the DVDs will compete with ""Titanic,"" and ""The Matrix"" and other upcoming releases to become the formatís best-selling title, with consumer purchases of about 1 million copies. The title is expected to capitalize on the multimillion-dollar advertising campaign created for the VHS edition, as well as the expectation that DVD-Video playersí penetration will dramatically increase for the remainder of the year, which will create heavy demand for the title from first-time DVD owners. But still there is no formal word on Spielbergís intent to release his other blockbusters such as ""Jurassic Park,"" ""ET The Extra Terrestrial,"" ""Jaws"" or the ""Indiana Jones"" series on DVD, though Amblin has suggested that releases are likely in 2000.