Backlog
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©1995-99, To Be Continued...
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June 03, 1999
BTTF Trilogy DVD delayed again
Why 2K?
Yesterday, I decided to follow up with Universal Studios Home Video on the pending release of the Back to the Future Special Edition DVD, and unfortunately, the news wasn't great for fans expecting the disc anytime soon. Our contact within the Home Video division replied with the following brief statement, offering no further details:
“Right now we do not have any firm plans, but the release was pushed back to some time in 2000. Thanks for your interest.”
After receiving the reply, I forwarded the information to our friends over at the DVD File website, who followed up with Universal on the subject. The only additional information they received on the release was confirmation that they're now planning to release the entire trilogy at the same time on DVD, and that they'd rather deliver a quality product rather than rush the project to meet their own self-imposed release date. I, for one, applaud them in their decision to make this a top-quality package, and to hold off its release until they've made the absolute best collection they can make. If they're still working out the details on trying to include the infamous Eric Stoltz footage too, then I'm certainly willing to wait.
But what will waiting until 2000 buy them, other than the obvious factor of additional time to work on the project? Well, for one, they will able to market it as a 15th Anniversary collection — there's no doubt that tacking on an "anniversary" label helps sell new collections. Also, delaying until next year may also give them time to see what Universal Pictures has in store for the next two sequels if they do come about. The delay also may help us get another department at Universal involved with our own much-delayed project, FutureFest. The Home Video division had been interested at one time in helping with the promotion of our event when they thought it was still happening this year. We had proposed to them that they debut the collection at FutureFest, but when our event got delayed another year, the interest passed. Now that the collection will come next year, there may be
hope for a tie-in yet, and our friend Steven Kirk is already hot on the case.
Trilogy CD also delayed
After receiving the news about the DVD release delays, I decided to also email our contact at Varèse Sarabande about their long delayed Back to the Future Trilogy CD, which has continued to get pushed farther into the future as well. Again, a brief reply was received with no additional details:
“Sorry, no news yet. Should be before the end of the summer... hopefully.”
Although I have nothing to back up my theory, I have a sneaky suspicion that the release of the trilogy CD will be tied into Universal's release of the DVDs. It just makes sense for Varèse Sarabande to put the collection out at the same time that the DVD, VHS and LaserDisc come out. No doubt that a 15th Anniversary soundtrack tied into the release of these other formats would bolster sales. The CD could be out by the end of the summer, but I'm not holding my breath — I really don't expect to see it released now until next year either.
While we wait on the Trilogy CD's release, I do want to warn you all about the 1998 bootleg CD floating around these days on auction sites such as eBay. Misinformed sellers everywhere are marketing this as a "limited edition" promo. Believe me — there's nothing promotional about this thing. The CD, which is nothing more than a CD-R recorded from a true promo of the score released previously only on Cassette, is a decent recording and excellently packaged. However, a close look at the color insert will reveal that it was produced on a high quality laser printer. Even the catalog number (85.5591) and recording label (DeLorean) are dead giveaways. Most of the CDs I've seen offered are "still sealed" — primarily so that you cannot see that the CD itself is simply a CD-R covered with a white label that simply reads "Back to the Future". While the CD is still worth adding to your collection, please realize what it really is
before shelling out the bucks for this one. The CDs are regularly selling on average of $50 or more, but in my estimation, they're not worth much more than $10. Don't get taken like I did (I'm too embarrased to reveal how much I paid for mine), so be forewarned. I believe that once all of the music contained on the CD is officially released on the Varèse collection, these will be rendered useless and will be a dime a dozen, so perhaps you're best advice is to wait until that time to pick up this one. Additional details on the bootleg can be found at the Soundtrack.net website.
— Stephen Clark
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