Specs/Info finally released for DREAMGIRLS DVD (May 1, 2007)

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 6:50pm

Dreamworks Home Entertainment announced DREAMGIRLS will be released on Tuesday May 1, 2007!

The Academy Award winning musical arrives in a single disc featuring an anamorphic widescreen transfer and a Dolby Digital 5.1 track. The disc will also include 12 extended musical numbers and alternate scenes, a never-before-seen performance by Jennifer Hudson, and Beyonce's "Listen" music video. Also available will be a two-disc "Showstopper Edition" which adds 12 never-before-seen musical numbers, a "Building the Dream" featurette, behind-the-scenes footage, auditions and screen tests, and more. Retail is $29.99 for the single-disc and $39.99 for the double-disc. Also, look for the HD-DVD and Blu-ray disc editions on this same date.

Finally we'll be able to see Anika Noni Rose performing "Ain't No Party" -- though it was never incorporated nor filmed for the actual film, she did perform it as part of her singing audition.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 6:58pm

"12 never-before-seen musical numbers"

12?

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 7:03pm

"Building the Dream" is much more than a featurette. It's a long-form full documentary chronicling the making of Dreamgirls.

And some poor schmuck paid over $200 for an advance copy of it recently on eBay.

Lordy!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 7:04pm

figures.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 7:06pm

What is the difference between this one and the DVD being released in December.

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 7:11pm

The one in December is a new extended version of the film.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 7:14pm

I wish they'd do that with The Producers. Put "King of Broadway", "In Old Bavaria", and the other deleted scenes back in...

[CapnHook]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 7:14pm

The one in December is a Director's cut. It will be the film edited the way Bill Condon wants. This means he doesn't have to worry about several things:

- Length
- Censorship
- Pleasing the studios
- Pleasing the producers
- Pleasing the average movie-going audience

It's a cut of the film that will include scenes not in the theatrical release, alternate scenes than the theatrical release, and in addition more special features, such as a director's commentary and more.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 7:26pm

I was corrected on this Director's Cut/Extended Version discrepancy by his boyfriend several months ago.

The current theatrical IS Bill Condon's version -- he had full control over the film in every aspect. It is the version HE wanted as it's initial release. It is exactly how he wanted the film to be released from the onset. It's his version 101%.

The version being released solely on DVD for Christmas 2007 is being called the Extended Version (not Director's Cut -- since version 1 and this extended version are both 'director's cuts') is simply an extended version he wants to also release. Both versions are his versions.

Also, due to scheduling conflicts, Bill Condon was not able to record an audio commentary for this May 1, 2007 DVD release. One will be included on the Extended Version DVD.



Updated On: 3/2/07 at 07:26 PM

[folkyboy]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 7:34pm

somehow i knew they'd wanna dick us around by releasing a bazillion copies of this film.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 7:36pm

So the version that is in theaters right now won't be on the Extended Version?

[CapnHook]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 7:52pm

Brody,

True, but it's essentially the same thing. The theatrical cut is exactly what Bill Condon wanted, but wanted according to what would be tolerated by audiences. In filmmaking, there are several guidelines you have to follow. You have to please the MPAA to get the rating you want; you have to have a watchable length; you have to have acceptance content; you have to keep the story moving; etc. Of course Condon could have made any decision he wanted for the theatrical release - but he wanted to make the best "suitable" cut possible. A cut that would eliminate everything that isn't neseccary.

This "Extended Edition" (which, to me, is a Director's Cut - even though it's true both are director's cuts) will include a) scenes that weren't neseccary to tell the story, and b) scenes that couldn't be included for sub-plots due to the film's pace.

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 8:04pm

Bill was invited to do the second version by Paramount/DreamWorks.

This is a Marketing strategy following in the footsteps of the success of "The Lord of the Rings" who profited greatly from their extended releases. Some maybe not so much, as with King Kong and The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe extended editions.

But the "extended versions" for Christmas is what home entertainment Marketing seems to want now, and Bill is happy to revisit the material again and create an extended cut of Dreamgirls.

But both are the "director's cuts," as BrodyFosse pointed out, so they will not distinguish the holiday release as a "director's cut" implying that the theatrical version wasn't.

I wouldn't look for this to be an "ash can" of all things dumped from the movie. He'll still be judicious with what's included and what isn't.

And I'll be very interested to see how consumers and critics respond to it... So will Bill.

Updated On: 3/2/07 at 08:04 PM

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 8:26pm

So excited for DVD release. I can't wait to add the film to my collection!

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 8:32pm

Do any of you have $39.99 I can borrow?

[CapnHook]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 8:33pm

That's just the suggested retail price. I'm sure it will be at least $10 cheaper in stores.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 8:46pm

So what are these 12 deleted musical numbers?

I think the DVD should have the Tony performance!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 8:52pm

I remember when they released a movie, and that was the movie and several years later it played on TV with commercials. The end.

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 9:13pm

And that's better than now why?

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 10:10pm

Namo--I remember when movies used to say "The End."

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 10:36pm

I remember when they had intermissions!

Well, I wasn't around then. But the oldie movie musicals sure had intermissions.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 10:39pm

I wish I was around to remember when people went to see movies for its dialogue.

[Parks]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 11:12pm

I am also curious about these 12 new numbers. Lots of new music!

Why so expensive? That will be the most I've ever paid for 2 DVDs. Crazy!

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 11:15pm

Haha, ljay. I remember being little and watching Sound of Music, then the intermission came on. I was so confused.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 3/4/07 at 1:04pm

VERY disappointed that we will only be getting the Dolby Digital 5.1 mix... considering many filmmakers (David Lynch, Martin Scorsesse, Quentin Tarantino among others) have gone back to their old films and supervised new surround sound mixes EXPRESSLY for dvd release (whether the original was in 2.0 or quadraphonic or 5.1, as an aside: Tarantino just supervised the RESEVOIR DOGS re-release that has DTS EX which improves upon the original DTS which improved upon the original DD5.1 and the film may have been originally shown in 2.0), why is it that Paramount/Dreamworks can't even give us the same mix we got in the theater, the MUCH superior DTS? Or, even better yet, what about a DTS EX or a Dolby Digital 6.1 or 7.1 EX? It's a MUSICAL for God's sake and many would argue the sound is THE MOST IMPORTANT PART and judging from the mix in the theater, if the 5.1 mix is every bit as good as the DTS (which is almost impossible) than I'd understand, but it isn't as this is a very bass-heavy soundtrack and thus OPTIMAL for DTS over DD5.1.

For those of you unacclaimated with all these terms, basically DTS surround has a wider range of sounds allowing lower and more dynamic bass and clearer and higher pitched treble sounds than DD5.1. Oftentimes it's hard to tell the difference, but a discerning ear can differentiate quite easily with most films and in a movie musical it's VERY obvious what mix is being used.

I REALLY hope that the Extended Edition will have better sound options.


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