Because they missed their opportunity to distribute the original film the first time around, <A HREF="http://www.cinemanow.com/">CinemaNow</A> and <A HREF="http://www.trimarkpictures.com/">Trimark Pictures</A> announced last week that they have acquired all rights to several spoofs of <I><A HREF="http://www.blairwitch.com/">The Blair Witch Project</A></I>, with negotiations already underway to acquire several more. The original <I>Blair Witch</I> film has been put on a fast-track schedule for release on DVD in time for Halloween, including the requisite "Newly Discovered" footage, Internet links, and other special features.

One of the most respected makers of video projectors is back in action. On August 31, Vidikron of America announced that it has been sold by its parent company, Vidikron Technologies Group, Inc., to a group of international financial investors. Vidikron of America is now an independent company for the first time in its 11-year history. The investment group backing the company has access to funding in excess of $250 million, according to VOA's public relations agency, JB Stanton Communications, Inc.

When we reviewed Pioneer's flagship Elite DV-09 DVD player in our September 1998 issue, it blew us away so much that it garnered an Editors' Choice award (see the February 1999 issue) as the best DVD player we had reviewed up to that time. This opinion has not changed in the intervening months, but at $2000, the DV-09 is more than many home-theater fans can afford (or justify) for a DVD player. The Elite DV-05, introduced earlier this year, provides many of the features and most of performance capabilities of the DV-09 at a more affordable price.

N<I>atalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno, George Chakiris. Directed by Robert Wise. Aspect ratio: 2.20:1. Dolby Digital. 152 minutes. 1961. MGM 906733. NR. $24.98.</I>