Apollo 13, the one with Tom Hanks and Kevin Bacon, etc. Universal currently has a collector's edition and a DTS version.

It has disappeared from a lot of the major stores online, like:
DeepDiscountDVD
Best Buy
Circuit City
Columbia House
Walmart

and others. Just recently it seems. I've been tracking it for future purchase, and now stock seems to be diminishing.

Although Overstock and Amazon still have it listed and apparently in stock, it seems weird that all those other places don't even have it listed anymore.

Is this title going OOP? Is there any reason Universal would release a newer version to replace this, hence the disappearance of the current versions? Is there an anniversary coming up or something?

One thing I did notice was a new Apollo 13 documentary coming out in september. I wonder if that's somehow related.

Any thoughts?

The 10th Anniversary of Apollo 13's theatrical release is coming up next year, so I'd bet on a re-release at that time.

I can't believe 1995 and the movie Apollo 13 was almost ten years ago. Damn I feel old.

I would agree with Randy on this one. That is exactly what I thought as well. The current SE release is a great one (minus the DTS track), so I will not be double dipping if and when a new anniversary SE comes out.

I noticed the same thing. I joined Columbia, and they told me it was unavailable now.

So now I have to decide if I should pick up the current one, or wait.

I think I'm going to wait for an inevitable re-release.

2005 will mark the 35th anniversary of the historic event and the 10th anniversary of the theatrical release.

Seems like a good candidate! I'm waiting for an announcement

I dunno, it'll be hard to beat the original release. Two commentaires, documentary, and the musical score as an easter egg.

Knowing Universal, they will most likely re-release it as "Apollo 13: Spaced Out Edition"

It would be good to have a release with DTS (although it would be half-bitrate of course) and the commentaries so there's no confusion over which one to get. A new transfer would be nice too.

I thought we would get a new release shortly after the IMAX version came out, but I was wrong.

Extra features include crummy packaging and 15 trailers that you can't skip!

...Along with at least one technical screw-up.

It will timed to coincide with the sequel, Apollo 14.

2 DISC Coming out

Nah, just wait till the sequal, Apollo 26: 2 Mars We Go - Special Tricked Out Edition

so true.. oh so true

It's not going out of print.

Is is out of print, along with a number of other titles, like 12 Monkeys.

Not that Universal dropped a press release - they just made stock replenishment unavailable.

I picked this up as well as Casino used when I found out they were discontinued a while back (on one of the websites that lists OOP titles). I certainly wish studios would put out press releases when something is going out of print.

If they were to do that, they'd have to explain why the movie's being taken out of print. You really think Universal's going to put out a press release saying, "Apollo 13 is being taken out of print in order to artificially build up demand so that more copies will be sold when we unveil the exact same DVD with a new cover in 18 months?"

Damn, a lot of people have no tact when commenting on other member's statements around here. No wonder so many arguments are started on this board.

Anyways, no more comment on that.

No, I don't expect studios to do that. A simple blurb on their website or something could list soon-to-be-OOP's. Criterion does a pretty good job of letting people know a title is going out of print. But it's probably a bad idea to group a class company like Criterion to problem-ridden Universal.

If there is another release, I don't think I'll double dip either, the current release is pretty good.

OK, cool. So my mystery is solved. It's out of print. Thanks guys!

Now, what sites list oop titles? That would be a great resource to have.

Cheers!

Since I love Apollo 13 so much, I'd definitely double dip even though the Collector's Edition is incredible. My very first DVD, plus it has two great commentaries, a documentary, and great picture and sound (though I heard the DTS really blows the DD 5.1 out of the water).

Glad I did get it before it went out of print, at least.

Didn't mean to be tactless, and my apologies if my response came off that way.

The difference between Criterion and Universal is that Criterion DVDs only go out of print when it loses the rights to produce them or is replacing them with better transfers (from newly discovered prints). Universal, on the other hand, takes movies out of print to build up artificial demand and then put out ridiculous "Double Secret Probation Editions" and whatnot.

But, like you said, Criterion is a class company; Universal isn't.

No prob. I was in a bad mood, anyways, sorry.

I was trying to think of another studio that gives some kind of announcement about OOP titles but could only come up with Disney. Of course, they announce them to drum up sales - "Hurry, because these titles will go on moratorium until the next home video medium comes out".

Oh, but you see, the technical screw-up in this case is... um... paying HOMAGE to the movie! Yeah, that's right!

http://www.hometheaterinfo.com/disconti.htm