VideoHound's Dvd Guide, Vol. 1

SYNOPSIS

Today's hottest video format -- DVD. The stats are eye opening: more than four million homes will have DVD by 2000 with 40 to 50 million homes expected to have a player by 2007. Blockbuster Video recently elected to carry DVDs, bringing the total number of video stores carrying the format to more than 8,000 in the U.S. alone. Sizzling sales have prompted studios to release many movies ahead of schedule, while experts expect the DVD rental market to grow explosively to more than $1billion by 2002. With DVD catching on this fast, VideoHound is leading the way with in-depth DVD reviews in VideoHound's DVD Guide.

Want to know what kind of content, sound, and video quality you'll receive on a particular DVD? VideoHound's DVD Guide provides the low-down in that inimitable VideoHound style. While DVDs potentially offer better picture and sound quality than VHS -- the ability to jump to particular scenes, multiple-language soundtracks and subtitles, and other VHS-defying features -- quality varies significantly. Consumers are rightly mystified as to what they may be buying or renting. How does the DVD release compare to the VHS? Is screen resolution and sound quality a dramatic step up? What kind of "extras" does the disc contain? And apart from all the technology, is the movie itself any good? With his patented bone rating and a multitude of DVD players blasting away, VideoHound takes the mystery out of the medium.

VideoHound's DVD Guide is the first complete reference to what is quickly becoming the format of choice for film fans everywhere. With 5,000 in-depth reviews and 100 photos to make it even more interesting, VideoHound's DVD Guide will become the video guide of choice as well.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal

This is the book DVD fans have been waiting for. Mayo (author of VideoHound's excellent horror, war, and video premiere guides) and his team have reviewed over 3000 films, significant television shows, and cartoon collections available in U.S.-compatible DVD format as of June 2000. Following the style of other VideoHound volumes, the DVD guide lists movies alphabetically by title. Each entry features a brief plot synopsis, cast/credit and production information, often biting commentary, the "bone" rating system (four bones through "woof!"), and remarks on the technical details of the film's transfer to DVD. There is also a list of "extras," which is often extraordinary--who knew that Stand By Me on DVD features Korean subtitles? Eight indexes, including a distributor's index, make for excellent cross-referencing. The VideoHound's "Category Index," a personal favorite, is extremely useful, even for patrons not interested in DVDs but who need a topical film. Mayo's brief introduction is well worth reading for anyone interested in this new technology. Preferred over the informative but smaller Doug Pratt's DVD-Video Guide (Harbor Electronic, 1999), this is an essential purchase.--Anthony J. Adam, Prairie View A&M Univ. Lib., TX Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

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