Audio Video News

You wouldn't necessarily know it by looking at Amazon or bestbuy.com, but Warner Home Video is in fact releasing two more movies on HD DVD this Tuesday, May 23rd. Mel Brooks' comedy classic <I>Blazing Saddles</I> and the better-than-average Harrison Ford action flick <I>The Fugitive</I> are rolling into stores on Tuesday. Both HD DVDs are listed as having the same bonus features as the standard definition versions of each film, which in the case of <I>Blazing Saddles</I> is a 30th anniversary SE that's fairly loaded.

The amount of news relevant to home theater enthusiasts that came from last week's E3 gaming trade show is striking evidence that whether we want it or not, some form of convergence is happening. As <I>UAV</I> <A HREF="http://ultimateavmag.com/news/051406ps3">reported earlier</A> , Sony announced pricing and availability for its eagerly anticipated PlayStation3 gaming console, and Microsoft followed suit in its own way by announcing that its HD DVD add-on for the Xbox 360 will be available in time for Christmas this year. Although no pricing or dates are yet established, the rumors are flying.

<I>The Home Entertainment Show 2006, running June 1&ndash;4 at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Los Angeles, is only weeks away. Here is a sampling of some of the giveaways and special events that will take place at the Show. Several of these should be of particular interest to home theater enthusiasts.</I>

<B>The Force Will Be With You- For Three Months</B>
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The Lucasfilm Empire has announced that on September 12th of this year it will release the "original unaltered" <I>Star Wars</I> Trilogy- <I>Star Wars</I>, <I>The Empire Strikes </I>, and <I>Return of the Jedi</I>- on DVD. Each film will be available as a two-disc set with the 2004 digitally remastered DVD versions that have already appeared. Taking a page from Disney, these original trilogy releases will only be available until December 31st.