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 Region 1 US/Can - Season 1 *  Season 2 *  Season 3 * Season 4  * Season 5 * Season 6

Latest US/Canada Region 1 DVD News

3 July 2005

 

The XENA 10th Anniversary DVD Collection
(Previously called The Best of Xena)
To be released: 26 July 2005

Ten years have past since XENA: Warrior Princess first aired on TV. Since then, its surprising success has influenced and changed the lives of so many around the world. The XENA 10th Anniversary DVD Collection commemorates this occasion. In order to do this we enlisted the help of the die hard Xena fan by asking them to assist the producers with selecting the “Best Of” episodes through convention interviews and an online poll. Additionally, the new set will features footage submitted by fans reenacting memorable scenes and competing for the title of The XENA Fanatic.

Click here to find out more | Click here to place an order through Amazon.com

 

 

8 April 2005

The Best of Xena DVD has been announced and will be released in July 2005. The episodes selected were voted on by the fans (that's us <g>) with some extra goodies. The episodes are:

SINS OF THE PAST (S.1)
CALLISTO (S.1)
IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE (S.1)
A DAY IN THE LIFE (S.2)
BEEN THERE DONE THAT (S.3)
THE BITTER SUITE (S.3)
ONE AGAINST AN ARMY (S.3)
THE IDES OF MARCH (S.4) FALLEN ANGEL (S.5)
LYRE, LYRE HEARTS ON FIRE (S.5)
AMPHIPOLIS UNDER SIEGE (S.5)
MOTHERHOOD (S.5)
OLD ARES HAD A FARM (S.6)
WHEN FATES COLLIDE (S.6)
MANY HAPPY RETURNS (S.6)
A FRIEND IN NEED PART 1&2 (S.6)
 

The 7-Disk set also includes:

• 17 episodes
• Audio Commentary by Rob Tapert & Lucy Lawless & Renee O'Connor
• Interviews with Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, Bruce Campbell, Ted Raimi, Hudson Leick, Alex Tydings and more
• Convention Footage
• Fan Pieces
  • Xena Fanatic
  • Xena Reenactments
• Hong Kong influences on the creators of Xena
• Extras Documentary
• & More!

 

26 September 2004

IGN.com has a review of the Region 1 Season 5 DVD - can't say I disagree with the reviewer about Season 5.

Xena: Warrior Princess - Season Five

Ending with a scream or a whimper?

September 24, 2004 - Xena: Warrior Princess pounded through its fifth season like a fullback aiming for the end-zone against an stacked line - determined to make it through, preferably as brutally and painfully as possible. Was there something you liked about the characters besides the fight scenes? Hope you didn't get too attached to those traits, because most of them were gone in this cycle.
Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) has no more innocence or naivete. Xena drags around with a swollen belly, thanks to star Lucy Lawless' real-life pregnancy. Lovable, goofy Joxer (Ted Raimi) turns into a mean-spirited SOB in at least one episode. Even the baddest of Xena's foes turns into smiling angel.
Read more of the review
 

4 July

Xena Season 5 DVD Content

Disc# 1 FALLEN ANGEL (Audio Commentary/Video Commentary - Eric Gruendemann, RJ Stewart) (Interviews - Hudson Leick, Jane Holland, RJ Stewart) CHAKRAM (Interviews - -Doug Lefler, Chris Manheim, Lucy Lawless & Renee O'Connor) SUCCESSION Photo Gallery Credits Crawl Weblink Disc# 2 ANIMAL ATTRACTION (Interviews - Rick Jacobson, Chris Manheim, Donald Duncan) THEM BONES, THEM BONES (Interviews - Eric Gruendemann, Donald Duncan, Rob Field) PURITY Disc# 3 BACK IN THE BOTTLE (Interviews - Rick Jacobson, Jane Holland, John Cavill) LITTLE PROBLEMS SEEDS OF FAITH (Audio Commentary/Video Commentary - Lucy Lawless & Renee O'Connor) (Interviews - Hudson Leick, Robert Tapert, Donald Duncan) Disc# 4 LYRE, LYRE, HEARTS ON FIRE (Interviews - Lucy Lawless & Renee O'Connor, Ted Raimi, Adam Armus & Kay Foster) PUNCH LINES GOD FEARING CHILD (Interviews - Lucy Lawless & Renee O'Connor, Phillip Sgriccia, Donald Duncan) Disc# 5 ETERNAL BONDS (Interviews - Chris Manheim) AMPHIPOLIS UNDER SIEGE MARRIED WITH FISHSTICKS (Interviews - Rob Tapert, Eric Gruendemann, Donald Duncan, Jane Holland) Disc# 6 LIFEBLOOD (Interviews - Rob Tapert, Michael Hurst, RJ Stewart, Jane Holland) KINDRED SPIRITS ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA (Audio Commentary/Video Commentary - Renee O'Connor, Rob Tapert, Lucy Lawless, Michael Hurst) (Interviews - Josephine Davison, RJ Stewart, Donald Duncan) Disc#7 LOOKING DEATH IN THE EYE LIVIA (Interviews - Adrienne Wilkinson, William Gregory Lee, Rick Jacobson, Chris Manheim) EVE (Interviews - William Gregory Lee, Adrienne Wilkinson, RJ Stewart, Chris Manheim) Disc# 8 MOTHERHOOD (Audio Commentary/Video Commentary - Rob Tapert & Lucy Lawless & Renee O'Connor) (Interviews - Josephine Davison, Rick Jacobson, Adrienne Wilkinson, Rob Field, William Gregory Lee) Gabrielle Wardrobe - Renee O'Connor costume fitting (Approx. 5 min.) Bringing Monsters to Life at K.N.B. EFX Group - Special Effects make up house K.N.B. EFX Group takes the viewer on a ride through monsters, blood and makeup exposing the secrets behind creating some of the most memorable TV monsters and make up effects moments. (approx. 10min) Disc #9 100th episode B-Roll - See behind the scenes raw footage of all the cast and crew while shooting Seeds of Faith, the monumental 100th Xena episode. (Approx. 30 min.) Alternate Cuts - Director's and Editor's cuts of the episodes; Motherhood and Animal Attraction (approx. 30 min.) "Best Buy" Interviews - Exclusive bonus interviews with cast and crew including Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, Robert Tapert, Bruce Campbell, Ted Raimi, Eric Gruendemann, Liz Friedman and many more. (Approx. 30 min.) Disc# 10 CD-ROM: Chronicles Trivia Bios Mythology (Ares, Athena, Aphrodite, etc...)

Xena Season 6 DVD Content

Disc# 1 COMING HOME (Interviews - Adrienne Wilkinson, Melissa Good, Lucy Lawless & Renee O'Connor & Rob Tapert) THE HAUNTING OF AMPHIPOLIS HEART OF DARKNESS (Interviews - Adrienne Wilkinson, William Gregory Lee) Photo Gallery Credits Crawl Weblink Disc# 2 WHO'S GURKHAN? (Interviews - Michael Hurst, Adrienne Wilkinson, William Gregory Lee, Rob Field) LEGACY (Interviews - Eric Gruendemann, Jane Holland, Rob Field, Melissa Good) THE ABYSS Disc# 3 THE RHEINGOLD (Interviews - RJ Stewart & Eric Gruendemann, Rob Tapert) THE RING (Interviews - RJ Stewart & Eric Gruendemann, Joel Metzger) (Audio Commentary/Video Commentary - Joel Metzger) RETURN OF THE VALKYRIE Disc# 4 OLD ARES HAD A FARM (Interviews - Rob Tapert, Jane Holland) DANGEROUS PREY (Interviews - Joel Metzger, Renee O'Connor & Lucy Lawless & Robert Tapert, Rob Field) THE GOD YOU KNOW Disc# 5 YOU ARE THERE (Interviews - Adrienne Wilkinson, Michael Hurst, Rob Tapert, Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, Jane Holland) PATH OF VENGEANCE (Interviews - Joel Metzger, Adrienne Wilkinson, Kirstie O'Sullivan) TO HELICON AND BACK (Audio Commentary/Video Commentary - Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, Rob Tapert, Michael Hurst) (Interviews - Liz Friedman) Disc# 6 SEND IN THE CLONES LAST OF THE CENTAURS (Interviews - Joel Metzger) WHEN FATES COLLIDE (Audio Commentary/Video Commentary - Lucy Lawless & Renee O'Connor & Rob Tapert) (Interviews - Katherine Fugate, Rob Field) Disc#7 MANY HAPPY RETURNS (Interviews - Lucy Lawless & Renee O'Connor, Liz Friedman) SOUL POSSESSION (Interviews - Melissa Blake, Jane Holland) A FRIEND IN NEED - PART 1 Disc# 8 A FRIEND IN NEED - PART 2 (Audio Commentary - Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, Robert Tapert) In the Beginning… - A behind the scenes look at Xena Season One including interviews with Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, Rob Tapert and Eric Gruendemann. See how far they and the show has come. Bloopers To Helicon and Back Dailies Xena Season One Promo K.N.B. EFX Group piece - Special Effects make up house K.N.B. EFX Group takes the viewer on a ride through monsters, blood and makeup exposing the secrets behind creating some of the most memorable TV monster and make up effects moments. (approx. 10min) A FRIEND IN NEED - PART 1 & 2 Director's Cut (Approx. 100 min.) Disc# 9 Xena Fan/Burbank Convention Piece - Experience the excitement and fun of the January 31st 2004 Xena Burbank Convention. The fans get a chance to speak about what they love and hate about Xena. (Approx 15 min.) "Best Buy" Interviews - Exclusive bonus interviews with cast and crew including Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, Robert Tapert, Bruce Campbell, Ted Raimi, Eric Gruendemann, Liz Friedman and many more. (Approx. 30 min.) Final episode B-Roll - See behind the scenes raw footage of all the cast and crew while shooting the two part series finale episodes A Friend in Need. (Approx. 30 min.) Alternate Cuts - Director's and Editor's cuts of the episodes; Dangerous Prey, Legacy and To Helicon and Back (Approx. 30 min.) Disc# 10 CD-ROM: Chronicles Trivia Bios Mythology (Ares, Athena, Aphrodite, etc...)

13 May

The following is from Sharon Delaney at Creation

(The "&" sign means people were together) (These are the interviews that I wrote the questions for and conducted in LA. There were other interviews conducted in New Zealand.)

Xena Season 5

Fallen Angel -- audio commentary by RJ Stewart, interviews with RJ Stewart, Hudson Leick
Chakram -- interviews with Lucy & Renee, Chris Manheim, Doug Lefler

Animal Attraction -- interviews with Chris Manheim, Rick Jacobson
Them Bones, Them Bones -- interviews with Eric Gruendemann, Rob Field

Back In The Bottle -- interview with Rick Jacobson
Seeds Of Faith -- audio commentary by Lucy & Renee, interviews with Rob Tapert, Hudson Leick

Lyre, Lyre, Hearts On Fire -- interviews with Lucy & Renee, Armus & Foster
God Fearing Child -- interviews with Lucy & Renee, Philip Sgriccia

Eternal Bonds -- interview with Chris Manheim
Married With Fishsticks -- interviews with Rob Tapert, Eric Gruendemann

Lifeblood -- interviews with Rob Tapert & Michael Hurst
Antony & Cleopatra -- audio commentary by Lucy & Renee & Rob Tapert & Michael Hurst, interview with RJ Stewart

Livia -- interviews with Adrienne Wilkinson, William Gregory Lee, Chris Manheim, Rick Jacobson
Eve -- interviews with Adrienne Wilkinson, William Gregory Lee, RJ Stewart

Motherhood -- audio commentary by Lucy & Renee & Rob Tapert, interviews with Adrienne Wilkinson, William Gregory Lee, Rick Jacobson, Rob Field

NOTE: The Ted and Bruce session covered Lyre, Eternal Bonds and Livia.


Xena Season 6

Coming Home -- interviews with Lucy & Renee & Rob Tapert, Missy Good, Adrienne Wilkinson
Heart of Darkness -- interviews with Adrienne Wilkinson, William Gregory Lee

Who's Gurkhan -- interviews with Rob Tapert & Michael Hurst, Adrienne Wilkinson, William Gregory Lee, Rob Field
Legacy -- interviews with Missy Good, Eric Gruendemann

The Rheingold -- interviews with RJ Stewart & Eric Gruendemann, Rob Tapert
The Ring -- audio commentary by Joel Metzger, interviews with RJ Stewart & Eric Gruendemann, Rob Tapert
The Return Of The Valkyrie -- interviews with RJ Stewart & Eric Gruendemann, Rob Tapert

Old Ares Had A Farm -- interview with Rob Tapert
Dangerous Prey -- interviews with Renee & Lucy & Rob Tapert, Joel Metzger, Rob Field

You Are There -- interviews with Michael Hurst & Rob Tapert, Adrienne Wilkinson
Path Of Vengeance -- interviews with Adrienne Wilkinson, Joel Metzger
To Helicon And Back -- audio commentary by Lucy & Renee & Rob Tapert & Michael Hurst, interview with Liz Friedman

The Last Of The Centaurs -- interview with Joel Metzger
When Fates Collide -- audio commentary by Lucy & Renee & Rob Tapert, interviews with Katherine Fugate, Rob Field

Many Happy Returns -- interviews with Lucy & Renee, Liz Friedman
Soul Possession -- interview with Melissa Blake

A Friend In Need Part 2 -- audio commentary by Lucy & Renee & Rob Tapert

 

28 April 2004

The following is from the Season 4 DVD Press Release:

The remarkable ten-disc boxed set of XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS - SEASON FOUR, the largest collection yet from Anchor Bay, contains the exciting "complete and uncut" fourth season from the Emmy Award-winning series, highlighted by the fan-favorite episodes "Adventures in Sin Trade," "Paradise Found" and "Déjà vu All Over Again." The smash-hit fourth season riveted fans with gripping episodes that unveiled secrets of Xena's tumultuous past, revealed heroic triumphs and tragic failures destined in her future, and in the end, left them stunned beyond words by the events of the electrifying season finale, "The Ides of March."

With hours of exhilarating bonus features, the Season Four DVD release includes the following exclusive supplemental materials:
 

Interviews with Actors, Producers, Writers, Directors and Costume Designers including: Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, Michael Hurst, Rob Tapert, Hudson Leick, Ted Raimi, R.J. Stewart, Steven L. Sears, Donald Duncan, Robert Field, Jane Holland, Rick Jacobson and many more!
Video & Audio Commentaries with Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, Executive Producer Robert Tapert and Co-Producer Chris Manheim
Director's cuts of the episodes: "Between the Lines," "A Good Day" and "Locked Up and Tied Down"
Special Featurettes
Bringing Monsters to Life at K.N.B. EFX Group
"Adventures in Sin Trade": An Exploration
Bruce & Ted "Cabin Fever"
Bloopers / Outtakes
Photo Gallery
CD-ROM features including:
Actor, Director and Writer Biographies
Series Trivia
Xena Chronicles
Extensive Original Production Designs and Sketches

Click here to read entire press release

23 April 2004

The cover for the Season 4 DVD has been released and I'm very happy to see that Gabrielle is on the cover with Xena - as it should be and about time.

Click on the thumbnail for the larger image

 

15 March 2004

Season 4 is now available to Pre-Order From Amazon.com Price is $48.99 with a release date of June 15, 2004. If you buy from Amazon.com and you are from the US or ship to a US address there is free shipping.

There will be 6 disks See below for list of Interviews on the Season 4 DVD set

11 March 2004

The following information is from Sharon Delaney about the interviews/commentaries for the release of Season 4. The "&" sign means people were together. These are the interviews that I wrote the questions for and conducted in LA. There were other interviews conducted in New Zealand.

 

The list is not complete - there will be more interviews and will be announced before the release

Adventures In The Sin Trade 1 and 2
interviews with RJ Stewart & Eric Gruendemann, Lucy & Renee & Rob Tapert

A Family Affair
 -- interviews with Chris Manheim, Liz Friedman, Doug Lefler

In Sickness And In Hell
-- audio commentary by Lucy & Renee

A Good Day
-- interviews with Steve Sears, Rick Jacobson, Liz Friedman & Eric Gruendemann

A Tale Of Two Muses
 -- interviews with Rob Tapert & Michael Hurst

Locked Up And Tied Down
 -- interviews with Rick Jacobson, Rob Tapert

Crusader
 -- interviews with RJ Stewart & Eric Gruendemann, Liz Friedman

If The Shoe Fits
 -- interviews with Lucy & Renee

Paradise Found
 -- audio commentary by Rob Tapert & Chris Manheim, interviews with Chris Manheim, Rob Tapert

Between The Lines
 -- interviews with Steve Sears, Rick Jacobson

The Way
 -- interviews with RJ Stewart, Eric Gruendemann

The Convert
 -- interviews with RJ Stewart, Chris Manheim

Endgame
 -- interviews with Steve Sears, Eric Gruendemann

Ides Of March
 -- audio commentary by Lucy & Renee, interviews with RJ Stewart, Hudson Leick, Rob Field

Deja Vu All Over Again
 -- audio commentary by Renee, interviews with Lucy & Renee & Rob Tapert

NOTE: Ted Raimi and Bruce Campbell filmed a Q&A session on their own covering
A Tale Of Two Muses,
In Sickness And In Hell,
Key To The Kingdom,
Deja Vu All Over Again,
If The Shoe Fits
 

19 February 2004

The celebrity Cafe.com has a very nice review of the Season 3 (Region 1) DVD set http://thecelebritycafe.com/movies/full_review/325.html

 

14 February 2004

More on the Best Buy Online Vs Store Bought Season 3 DVD sets

The following is from Iseqween

I ordered online.  I'd opened the set, as well as the envelope with the CD.  I called BB customer service and said I had not received what I expected, based on BB's claim that it had exclusive material.  I said the info on their online site was irrelevant, that they had advertised on the internet the "exlusive bonus content" with no suggestion whatsoever that pre-ordering would actually be a disadvantage.  The customer service rep said I could take the set back to a store.  I did.  I showed them the difference between what I'd received and what was in the store.  They said they'd send a credit notice to my card company.  I then purchased the bonus version. 

Make sure that the  front cover of the box has a violet-colored strip at the top that says "Exclusive Bonus Content -- All New Interviews With Cast and Crew."  On the back cover, the first bullet under "Features" will refer to the exclusive material.   The extra 30 minutes cover the whole third season, XWP's origins and how the "rift" came about.  There are quick bits from Lucy, Renee, Sears, Hudson, and other key Xenastaff.  Some comments are repeated on other commentaries.  The new stuff is interesting, but probably won't be a big surprise to long-term fans.

When I went online a few hours after returning the set, I had the following note from BB:

"We have received the items you returned on 02/12/2004. Your return details are listed below.

Our records indicate that this item was returned because the product did not meet expectations. Your credit card and any Digital Dollars used for this purchase have been credited. " 

Also from Laurie Ann:

Suncoast was once affiliated with Best Buy.  But have since been sold.  They do not
have the extra bonus DVD. 
 

 

12 February 2004

Season 3 DVDs Box Set from Best Buy

For those that have bought the Season 3 DVD Set from Best Buy ONLINE please check your box to see if you have received the bonus 30 minute directors / cast interview. The box should have a purple banner stating it has exclusive material.

I've been told that this 30 minute bonus is NOT included in the sets ordered online. If you went into the store and bought the set, it will have the bonus item.
If you bought the online version and you don't have the bonus item DO NOT OPEN the package. If you have a store nearby go into the store for an exchange.

Also be aware that their customer service person will tell you:

According to our information, there has been no mention of exclusive content for the Xena Season 3 box set in our weekly store ads or on BestBuy.com.

This is false. There is bonus material and fans who have bought from the store have the bonus material.
If you don't have a store nearby go to their contact page and email them that you did not get what you ordered (or thought you were ordering):

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=cat12104&type=page

Or call them on 1 888 2378289

or write to them at:

Web Site Inquiries
BestBuy.com
Customer Care
P.O. Box 949
Minneapolis, MN 55440

Store Inquiries
Best Buy
Corporate Customer Care
P.O. Box 9312
Minneapolis, MN 55440

 

11 February 2004

Region 1 News

The Detroit Free Press - 10 February 2004 has a small mention of the release of Season 3 for Region 1

• Other releases
  The week's big TV box is "Xena Warrior Princess -- Season Three" (THREE STARS out of four stars, Anchor Bay, $69.98), a 9-disc affair collecting the entire season of this campy action-fantasy series starring Lucy Lawless, and produced by former suburban Detroiters Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi, scored by present suburban Detroiter Joe LoDuca, and featuring that other Raimi brother Ted in a very special dual role in the fan- favorite episode "The King of Assassins."

The New York Post - 10 February 2004 has a small mention of the release of Season 3 for Region 1

XENA, WARRIOR PRINCESS": SEASON THREE
For a while, "Xena," the Sapphic spinoff to "Hercules," was even more popular thanks to the stalwart Lucy Lawless and a general air of silliness. Season Three ($69.98, Anchor Bay) has one of their best cliffhangers, "Sacrifice I and II," and loads of extras.
 

9 February 2004

The following is from The Beacon Journal

• The Xena package (Anchor Bay, 22 episodes, 8 discs, $69.98) also included print pitches for things like commemorative Xena coins and a coin holder, and no informational booklet. But as with previous sets, it's a beautiful presentation, containing a separate CD-ROM of extras along with commentaries and introductory segments to episodes and a blooper reel. And the audio is fabulous.

 

1 February 2004

• There is a great review on the IGN site of the Season 3 DVD set. They give it 10/10 which is pretty cool. http://dvd.ign.com/articles/476/476051p1.html?fromint=1

29 January 2004

• There is a review of the Season 3 DVD for Region 1 on tvshowsondvd.com which lists the various interviews
  
  Anchor Bay Home Entertainment has provided us with a disc-by-disc breakdown of the nine-disc third season DVD release of the series, which is set to hit stores on February 10.
  
  Disc one includes the episodes "The Furies" (with audio/video commentary by R.J. Stewart, Robert Tapert and Liz Friedman), "Been There, Done That" and "The Dirty Half Dozen";
  
  Disk two features "The Deliverer," "Gabrielle's Hope" and "The Debt, Part 1" (with audio/video commentary by Lucy Lawless and Robert Tapert);
  
  Disk three includes "The Debt, Part 2," "The King of Assassins" (with audio/video commentary by Ted Raimi);
  
  Disk four has "The Quill Is Mightier," "Maternal Instincts" and "The Bitter Suite" (with audio/video commentary by Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor);
  
  Disk five has "One Against Army" (with audio/video commentary by Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor), "Forgiven" and "King Con";
  
  Disk six includes "When In Rome" (with audio/video commentary by Steve Sears), "Forget Me Not" and "Fins, Femmes & Gems";
  
  Disk seven features "Tsunami," "Vanishing Act" and "Sacrifice, Part 1" (with audio/video commentary by Hudson Leick);
  
  Disk eight includes the season finale "Sacrifice, Part 2" (with audio/video commentary by Hudson Leick) as well as bonus video material;
  
  Ninth disc, a CD-ROM, includes screensavers, chronicles, trivia, bios, mythology and a timeline.
   

 

19 December 2003

More about what's in the Region 1 release of Season 3

• The Special Collector’s Edition Boxed Set includes 8 DVD discs re-mastered from state-of-the-art studio-quality digital video and upgraded with a totally cool blend of new and exciting supplemental material, and one CD-ROM with even more extras.

Season Three Bonus Material includes:

• Season 3 Photo Gallery Official Xena photographers shooting on set and on location created this spectacular gallery of action and portrait shots of all your favorite Xena characters, beasts and demons.
• Direct Access Scenes Gain instant access to your favorite battles, fights, love and hot tub scenes.
• Director and Actor Bios Get personal and career information on Lucy Lawless, Renee O’Connor, Kevin Smith, Executive Producer Rob Tapert, and the whole cast and crew!
• Xena Chronicles An interactive guidebook to all the characters of Xena with video clips, biographies, and photos.
• Series Trivia Xena mavens reveal a world of little known details, secrets and pranks from the cast and crew!
• Interactive Games Test your mettle in Xena’s world with these fun and challenging digital games.
• Interactive Animated Menu Screens
• Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
• Newly discovered alternative scenes
• Commentary with Lucy Lawless and Renee O’Connor
• Sacrifice - One and Two Retrospective featuring interviews with cast and crew
  Over 700 Original productions sketches and drawing
  
  
  Click here to order via Amazon.com - Price: $48.99 with free shipping in the US
   

 

- Newsday - 31 August 2003
XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS (six discs plus informational PC/Mac CD- ROM, $70 list price, Anchor Bay) looks perhaps too similar in its second-season set to its first, released in April. Each is a fold-out package lined with dark photos from the syndicated action hit. This time, though, the 22-episode package also lists scene-by-scene chapter stops separately for each disc. And along with the Dolby 5.1 audio, there's commentary available on three episodes from stars Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor as well as producer Rob Tapert.  Like its "Hercules" sibling, the latest "Xena" set offers its commentary two ways - as audio underlying the entire chosen episode, or as audio/video over a 20-minute digest of the hour. You can see how Lawless and O' Connor look now as they screen footage together in a studio. Both here and in a 36-minute "Warrior Tales" documentary, which combines interviews with action clips, we get that behind-the-scenes feeling that was missing from the plain- Jane first release. Unfortunately, we still don't get closed-captions or a Spanish-language dialogue option.

*

The ancient world's baddest babe kicks some more butt as Xena (Lucy Lawless) and her little blond friend (Renee O'Connor) strive to make the land safe from warlords and ill-tempered gods. The seven-disc set features 22 episodes, with interviews and commentary by Lawless and O'Connor, plus a CD-ROM disc packed with series background.
http://www.timesstar.com/Stories/0,1413,125~1549~1612788,00.html

 

The following is from the IGN.com site on it's review of the Season 2 DVD release

• In honor of the season two launch and to celebrate Lawless' participation, the publisher, Anchor Bay, is donating a portion of the proceeds from each DVD sold to
  The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund
   

 

An update on the news about the commentary for Season 1 episodes by Lucy, Renee & Rob. Anchor Bay have indicated they won't be re-releasing Season 1 with the commentary (see below)

Sharon Delaney has responded to this by saying: that she was told by Rob that Lucy, Renee & Rob DID record the commentary. So at this point it's a wait and see job about whether we will get to see/hear the commentaries for the three episodes of Season 1:

Sins Of The Past -- Lucy, Renee
Callisto -- Lucy, Renee, Rob
Is There A Doctor -- Lucy, Renee, Rob

What's interesting to note is that Anchor Bay is the distributer rather than the company creating these DVDs.

 

On the 14th August I added information from Creation that the Season 1 and Season 2 DVDS for Region 1 (US/Canada) will have commentary from Lucy, Renee and Rob. Since then Xena Torres has written to Anchor Bay and she received a reply from the President of the company

First and foremost, we appreciate your support of our release.  While we would have liked to been able to include footage from Lucy, Renee and others in the first season release, we were unable to do so for various reasons.  As both fans of the show and the distributor of the DVD series, we recognize the importance of including this material on the release and  are pleased that we are working closely with the stars who have graciously agreed to participate in our upcoming season two.  We are not planning on re-releasing Season One with additional content.  I know the fans will be as excited as we are with the Season Two package and that has been where we have been focusing all of our efforts.

Again, we appreciate your email and support.  Xena is not just one of our titles, it is one of our passions so we always welcome the suggestions and feedback from our fellow fans!

With best regards,

Dave Vasile
President, Anchor Bay Entertainment

 

The 14 August 2003 update said:

Sharon has released information about what episodes will have commentary by Lucy, Renee & Rob.

XENA SEASON TWO DVD SET -- Season Two will have commentary on three episodes.  They will also be re-releasing Seaon One with commentary on three episodes.  On-camera interviews were also conducted.  I don't know how they will be released.  Here are the episodes that will have running commentary and who will be speaking on each.

Season 1
The version without the commentaries are still being sold.

Sins Of The Past -- Lucy, Renee
Callisto -- Lucy, Renee, Rob
Is There A Doctor -- Lucy, Renee, Rob

Season II - Order from Amazon.com

Return of Callisto -- Lucy, Renee
A Day In The Life -- Lucy, Renee, Rob
Destiny -- Rob

-

Updated info about the Season 1 DVDs for Region 1 (US/ Canada)
The Season One DVDs of Xena are going to have 5.1 Dolby Digital Suround Sound, unlike the 2.0 stereo sound on the Region 2/4 DVDs. The 24 episodes will be on six discs, while the seventh disc will contain Scripts. Screensaver, Xena Chronicles, Photo Gallery, Poster Gallery

Many thanks to Matt Savelkoul for submitting the following information.

Anchor Bay will be releasing the Xena season by season boxed sets, I called them up and spoke with Mike Felsher, the Film Information Manager with Anchor Bay. He confirmed that the Anchor Bay DVD releases will be different than the Davis/Panzer mail order releases.

Unlike the D/P releases, these releases are sporting newly remastered transfers of each episode, including brand new Dolby 5.1 surround tracks and bonus features yet to be determined. He gave me an April 2003 release for Xena season 1 and a June 2003 release for Hercules season 1.

Anchor Bay is committed to presenting the show in the original aspect ratio. He said, in part: "We will be presenting the show in the original screen format whatever it may be. If the show legitimately went to 16x9 in future seasons, then that is what will be released to DVD."

Starting with Xena Season 3, episode 3 (since the first two eps of season 3 were shot during the tail end of season 2 and held over), this will be the first time ANYWHERE that the 16x9 widescreen version of the show will be available. (The worldwide sets put out by Universal in regions 2 and 4 were pan and scan, not widescreen.)

Freelance Xena/Farscape music video artist for Creation Entertainment

 

Season 2 on DVD is now available to purchase from the Official Xena & Herc online store. This brand new collection includes 7 discs containing all 24 Season Two episodes remastered from studio-quality digital video. This incredible DVD Collection will also include exciting supplemental material, including: Screensaver, Xena Chronicles, Photo Gallery - Price $99 (US)
http://www.adarastore.com/cgi-bin/xena-herc/X1312?NvG4r6Sa;;2

Season 2 - Region 1 (US/Canada)

The following goodies are with the Season 2 DVDs from Anchor Bay.

• Audio & Video Commentary With Lucy Lawless and Reneé O’Connor

• Director and Actor Bios on CD-ROM

• Series Trivia on CD-ROM

• Season Two Photo Gallery

• Xena Chronicles

Click here to order from Amazon.com

AUSXIP - Australian Xena Information Page
AUSXIP Lucy Lawless - Xena  |  AUSXIP Renee O'Connor - Gabrielle
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