In case you haven’t already guessed, this isn’t going to be a selection of recently announced “60’s early 70’s grind-house flicks that added enough fuel to the fire that was a young QT’s imagination to produce Kill Bill.” What it will concern however is the end result of a rather sneaky practice of the studios wherein, they more often than not tend release slates of sometimes previously unknown catalogue items in order to capitalize on the success of its genre and or players. This is how the world wound up with both a beautiful Special Edition of Legend and an ill-fated theatrical release for Knock Around Guys by the by -- so its pretty hard not to consider the phenom a pretty mixed blessing guys . . .

First off, New Line has confirmed that the extended edition of Return of the King will hit the mean streets of your local DVD retailer this December 17th. The four-disc set’s slated to include atleast fifty-minutes of additional footage, and stacks of extra material -- including cast and crew audio commentaries, multiple behind the scenes documentaries and featurettes. The box will be retailing for about $39.99.

...Which couldn’t possibly have anything at all to do with Anchor Bay Entertainment’s announcement that Peter Jackson and Costa Botes’ “mockumentary” Forgotten Silver; the remarkable, though not entirely true story, of a fellow named Colin McKenzie, who "is" supposedly the greatest unknown cinema genius of all time? It’ll hit the ground running on October 16th, with a $19.98 price tag. The film itself will be presented in anamorphic widescreen and English Stereo track, the disc will include the twenty-one minute documentary Behind The Bull: Forgotten Silver featuring interviews with Directors Peter Jackson and Costa Botes and deleted scenes and an audio commentary with director Costa Botes.

Not wanting to short-shrift their own monthly allotment of release-date-coincidences Warner Brothers Home Entertainment has announced a December 14th street date for its’ suspense/thriller Blessed which just happens to star Heather Graham, James Purefoy and (yep, you guessed it) Lord of the Ring's Andy Serkis. No details on potential extras has emerged, but the film will be presented in anamorphic widescreen and English Dolby Digital 5.1. This one will be setting you back around $24.98.

Without giving a single thought to the renewed religious fervor inspired by Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ, MGM Home Entertainment has announced that it will be relasing its Protestant Reformation era bio flick Luther (starring Joseph Fiennes, Alfred Molina, Claire Cox and Sir Peter Ustinov in his final role) on November 30th. The will be presented with an anamorphic widescreen transfer and an English Dolby Digital 5.1 track, the disc will include four 'interview featurettes' Sir Peter Ustivov as "Frederick The Wise", Joseph Fiennes as "Martin Luther", Alfred Molina as "Johann Tetzel" and Claire Cox as "Katherine Von Bora." It’ll retail for about $25.95.

Meanwhile, the folks over at Dimension Home Video have announced plans to release their Keira Knightley headlined horror-fest The Hole this October 19th. (doubtless without even realizing that as a result of having gotten painted up for summer’s King Arthur, the lithe starlet’s been dubded this year’s “it girl” by the press) Retail will be set at around $19.99. And the film in question will be presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen with an English Dolby Digital 5.1 track. Extras will include an image gallery, the films “theatrical” trailer, an audio commentary with the director, deleted scenes, and cast & crew bios.

Perfectly timed to coincide with the release of the Joel Schumacher film of the same name, MGM Home Entertainment will release its 1989, Robert Englund top-lined The Phantom of the Opera on December 7th. The film will be presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen with an English Mono track. The only extra will be the film’s theatrical trailer. It’s retail price has been set at a paltry $14.95 with ease of digestion, no doubt, firmly in mind.

And lastly, Warner Brothers has announced a November 2nd street date for Wendy Crewson, Robin Wright-Penn, Matt Frewer and Sissy Spacek’s A Home at the End of the World —which also happens to star Alexander’s Colin Farrell. (but, I pretty sure that didn’t have anything at all to do with the coinciding release date) The film itself will be presented in anamorphic widescreen, with an English Dolby Digital track. English, French and Spanish subtitles will also be included. No details on extra materials at the moment, but it’s definitely gonna retail for about $27.95.

Have a great weekend people.