Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment is launching a high-resolution line of DVDs offering enhanced video and audio but no extra features

The first titles in the new SuperBit Collection being introduced Oct. 9 are ``Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,'' ``Johnny Mnemonic,'' ``The Fifth Element,'' ``Air Force One'' and ``Desperado.'' The SuperBit versions of the films, using digital space on the disc usually set aside for special features, are being offered as a choice to consumers who want to test the full capabilities of their high-end home theater systems, the studio said. The titles will retail for $27.96, about the same price as new DVD releases such as ``Crouching Tiger,'' but higher than the current price on the older titles with extra features.

``If you're not interested in the in-depth information but you want the movie to look as good as it can, this format gives you that option,'' project manager Marshall Starkman said. ``The big difference is that there is twice as much (digital) information dedicated strictly to the film on the new editions, and that translates to being able to see a lot more of the subtle details.

``You will see lovely costuming details that high-def can capture. In addition, if they're using strings to fly around the screen, all those details will be there.''

The discs will offer a choice of DTS and Dolby 5.1 audio and will be compatible with a standard DVD player, Starkman said. A three-pack SuperBit selection of ``Crouching Tiger,'' ``Desperado'' and ``Fifth Element'' also will be released and priced at $73.95.