From the January issue, Peter Putman lights up the <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/showarchives.cgi?92">Epson America PowerLite TW100 LCD front projector</A> to see if real home theater projectors exist at under five grand. As Putman notes, "Epson's entrance into the home-theater projector arena has long been anticipated."
<A HREF="http://www.philips.com">Philips Electronics</A> has often tested the market for new products by introducing them under its Magnavox brand. In late February, the Dutch industrial giant announced that it would follow that tradition with the release of a $499 DVD+RW recorder wearing the Magnavox badge.
When he agreed to direct a sequel to his megahit Men In Black, Barry Sonnenfeld was determined not to repeat himself. "We had to bring back Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, because so much of what made that first movie work was the relationship between them," he explains. "They're like Abbott and Costello. You can't have one without the other . . . there's a karmic thing between these two. The audience likes to see them bicker. The first movie takes place over three days and MIIB over two, so they only know each other for five days—but it looks like they've been together for 30 years!"
<I>Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Lara Flynn Boyle, Johnny Knoxville, Rosario Dawson, Tony Shaloub, Patrick Warburton, Jack Kehler, Rip Torn. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld. Aspect ratio: 1.85:1. Dolby Digital 5.1 (English, French). Two discs. 88 minutes. 2002. Columbia TriStar Home Video 39940. PG-13. $28.96.</I>
The first thing I noticed about the new Marantz DV-8300 DVD player was its weight. You won't confuse the 24-pound Marantz with a Krell power amp, but with so many DVD players today weighing less than the boxes they came in, the DV-8300's comfortable heft, metal front panel, and smooth mechanical operation suggest quality.
DVD: The Color Purple Special Edition—Warner Brothers Audio: 4 Video: 4 Extras: 4 Although many critics criticized The Color Purple as a "safe" version of Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel at the time of its theatrical release, the film still garnered 11 Academy Award nominations in 1985. Inexplicably, it managed to lose in every single category. To make matters worse, Steven Spielberg wasn't even nominated for best director, despite the film's nomination for best picture. There were rumors at the time of a Hollywood conspiracy against the ultra-successful Spielberg, and, after watching the new two-disc special-edition DVD of The Color Purple, I almost believe them. Perhaps best known for the powerful big-screen debuts of Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey, The Color Purple boasts superb acting performances across the board.
Home Cinema Accessories It's often the only thing missing when Uncle Bob busts out the camcorder. A tripod might make his masterpieces easier to watch later, but we're talking about the verisimilitude that only a clapper can offer. The Professional Studio Clapboard from Home Cinema Accessories measures 11 inches tall and 12 wide, and it offers plenty of room to write and change your scene and take numbers. The Professional Studio Clapboard also comes with a wall-mounting cord for those who'd rather admire than direct, and it's a great value at just $15. Home Cinema Accessories (800) 346-8575 www.homecinemaaccessories.com
<I>Mike Meyers, Beyoncé Knowles, Michael Caine. Directed by Mike Meyers. Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 (anamorphic). DTS ES 6.1, Dolby Digital EX 5.1, Dolby Surround 2.0. 95 minutes. 2002. New Line N6078. PG-13. $29.99.</I>
I've always appreciated the quality of Yamaha receivers; in fact, my very first "serious" stereo receiver was a Yamaha. So it was with eager anticipation that I agreed to review the company's current flagship receiver, the Rx-Z1.