• Could we be seeing that Chasing Amy DVD in 2000, maybe even this summer, after all? Over at the Home Theater Forum Sean Anderson (Director Of DVD Development at Criterion) posted this little gem regarding the Criterion release of the disc:

There ya have it, folks! We’ll keep ya posted.

• Quite a few of you noticed that Criterion has indeed posted an update on the webpage that used to just host info on their Chasing Amy laserdisc — The page now states that the Special Features on the new DVD will be as follows:

• Widescreen digital transfer, supervised by cinematographer David Klein and enhanced for 16×9 televisions
• Discrete 5.1 channel Dolby® Digital soundtrack
• New video introduction to the DVD edition from director Kevin Smith Screen-specific audio commentary by Kevin Smith, producer Scott Mosier, actors Ben Affleck and Jason Mewes, associate producer Robert Hawk, Miramax executive Jon Gordon and View Askew historian Vincent Pereira
• Ten deleted scenes, plus outtakes
• Theatrical trailer
• Video introductions from the cast and crew
• Special poster insert, The Askewniverse Legend: a guide to the characters in the “New Jersey Trilogy”
• English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired
• Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition

No big surprises there, as we’d heard about the new intro and widescreen transfer (YES!!!) a few weeks back, but it’s nice to see it all confirmed officially. And it’s nice to see they remembered to list Vincent in the commentary, too. 🙂 We’ll have a new release date for the Chasing Amy DVD as soon as it’s announced. Stay tuned. You can find the official Amy Criterion page HERE.

And by the way, Jason Lee‘s “Mumford” was also announced for DVD on April 18th. Pick it up or at least rent it.

• Rumor has it that the Chasing Amy is indeed delayed, folks. We have no new date for release at this time. Word came down to video distributors from Disney. We assume the delays can be attributed to the addition of extra material and the new transfer, so the disc WILL be worth the wait in the long run. In the meantime, don’t be surprised if the agency you pre-ordered from cancels your disc, it’s common practice. As soon as we know more about the delay, including the new release date, we’ll let you know. Rest assured, the disc has NOT been canceled.

• Well folks, here they are. Right from the distributors come the release details on the Chasing Amy DVD. It certainly looks like Disney/Miramax has somehow gotten the rights to ALL of Criterion’s stuff, since this disc will be a Miramax Collectors Series disc but contain every bit of the Amy laserdisc content. Click the scan above for a description, though, if you’ve seen the laser stats, it’s a mirror copy. The only new item we expect, at this point, is a new 16:9 transfer which, strangely, this clipping does NOT mention. Amy streets on DVD this April 18th. Finally!

• Notifications are starting to surface to customers of several online DVD websites that the Amy DVD will street on April 18th! This is much earlier than expected, and fantastic news. From what we’re heard so far, the disc will not only contain the features the announcement listed below, but also 16:9 enhancement, deleted scenes, running commentary, and more. Check out the emailer that went out today. We’re no longer promoting one DVD place over another here, but as always, most online outlets allow you to preorder, and the Stash will likely have signed copies as well:

Again, sorry for the short and late update…We’ll make up for it tomorrow. Oh, and one more thing…GO FLYERS!!! We’ll see ya next time.

• As promised, we’ve got some scans from the Chasing Amy Manga comic available ONLY in Japan. It’s not the best work we’ve seen, by far, but it’s still pretty neat to look at these things. Hopefully VA doesn’t sue these guys over copyright or anything, since we’re unsure of the legality of it all…But anyway, take a look right HERE or click the pic!

• A pretty cool double bill’s happening at the New Beverly Cinema out in Los Angeles on June 12th and 13th…“Chasing Amy” & “Swingers”! $5 gets you into both films…Now, who wants to buy our plane tickets?

• Many of you have been looking forward to the chance of completing the Jersey trilogy video collection on your shelves…Well, we’ve finally heard the first rumblings of a Chasing Amy sell-through release date. Our scooper spotted the date of AUGUST 25th on the Coming Soon board in a Coconuts Video/Music store. Won’t be long now, folks. Be sure to buy your copy when it’s released (most likely for $19.95 or less). We’ll have more information as soon as we can confirm the date.

• Here’s the Chasing Amy laserdisc erview from Criterion. It’s definitely worth the read, whether you own the disc or not. Check it out.

Chasing Amy

The Criterion Collection
(1997)

• Audio Commentary by Cast and Crew
• Ten Deleted Scenes and Outtakes
• Dolby Digital (AC3) Surround Sound
• Original Theatrical Trailer

Notes: The third installment in director Kevin Smith’s “New Jersey Trilogy,” “Chasing Amy” follows the tumultuous love affair between a young comic artist (Ben Affleck) and the beautiful woman he loves (Joey Lauren Adams). There’s one little hitch however…she’s gay. Best known for his critically-praised indie feature “Clerks”, Kevin Smith has become one of Hollywood’s most influential young filmmakers (even though he lives in New Jersey). The strength of his writing compelled many to proclaim him the upcoming king of independent filmmaking.

That is, until a little sophomore picture called “Mallrats” hit theaters. To say the film was lambasted is to go easy on it. The Prince of Indie was quickly chastised as a disgrace to the throne and dismissed by many of the same people who had built him up.

When “Chasing Amy” beamed onto the screen at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival, it was obvious that the East Coast filmmaker did, in fact, have a special gift for storytelling. Though some were critical of the message that a gay woman could be turned straight by the right guy, most found the writing and acting to be on an above average par.

The performances by Joey Lauren Adams and Ben Affleck are more than just a little bit responsible for the high praise. Both put a great deal of passion and emotion into a pair of roles that could very easily have fallen short of the mark in the hands of less able actors.

The inevitable return of Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (director Smith) is among the film’s many great gems. After spicing up “Clerks” and taking their lumps in “Mallrats,” many were happy to see the stoner pair back in top form–spouting obscene and thought-provoking tales while eating bagels and smoking cigarettes.

At its heart, however, is a tale of insecure love through the eyes of three very different people. Smith has called the film his most personal project and, in many ways, it shows. Moreover, perhaps, it shows that Smith’s filmmaking is something special and can shine under the right circumstances for the right studio.

The Criterion Collection special edition of “Chasing Amy” is one of the good ones. Besides a total of 10 deleted scenes, there are outtakes, the original trailer and commentary by director Smith and Co. The package also contains a map of the “New Jersey Trilogy” — complete with detailed info on the players of all three features.