My Two Cents
Cheers, Bits readers!
We’ve got one last My Two Cents update for you this week with some great new disc reviews, as well as some great new Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD release news. Let’s hit those reviews first…
I’ve just updated our dear late friend Barrie Maxwell’s review of William Wyler’s Ben-Hur (1959) to cover Warner’s stunning new 4K Ultra HD restoration of the film, which streets next week. It’s truly one of the great classic film presentations we’ve seen on this format to date, and certainly not to be missed.
Dennis and Tim have checked in with thoughts on a pair of Agatha Christie film adaptations in 4K Ultra HD from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, including John Guillerman’s Death on the Nile (1978) and Guy Hamilton’s The Mirror Crack’d (1980).
Dennis has also reviewed Michael Winner’s The Mechanic (1972) and Antonia Bird’s Priest (1994) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics and Imprint, respectively.
Tim has posted his own reviews of Alberto Cavalcanti, Charles Crichton, Basil Dearden, Robert Hamer’s Dead of Night (1945) anthology on Blu-ray from KLSC as well as Chor Yuen’s The Jade Tiger (1977) from Arrow’s Shawscope: Volume 3 Blu-ray box.
Stephen has reviewed Emma Seligman’s Bottoms (2023) on Blu-ray from KLSC.
And Stuart has taken a look at Hideo Gosha’s Gate of Flesh (1988) on Blu-ray from Toei via 88 Films.
We have lots more great 4K reviews cooking for next week as well, believe me.
Also here at The Bits today, we’ve posted an update of our Release Dates & Artwork section featuring all the latest Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD cover artwork with Amazon pre-order links. As always, whenever you order anything after clicking to Amazon though one of our links (like this one) you’re helping to support our work here at the site and we appreciate it!
Now then, first things first: Our retail and industry sources have informed us that Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment’s much anticipated 4K Ultra HD release of the Wachowski’s Speed Racer (2008) should street on or about 5/19. So adjust your plans accordingly. Go Speed Go!
Of course, the big news today is that our friends at the Criterion Collection have just unveiled their May slate of Blu-ray and 4K titles. And any slate that includes more Kurosawa in 4K UHD is a good one. [Read on here...]
We’ve got a bunch of new disc reviews to share with you today here at The Bits, including…
My tag-team review (with Tim Salmons) of John Boorman’s Arthurian epic Excalibur (1981) in a long-awaited 4K Ultra HD release from Arrow Video.
Stephen’s thoughts on Jonathan Demme’s Married to the Mob (1988), Rachel Talalay’s Tank Girl (1995), and Satoshi Kon’s Perfect Blue (1997) each in 4K Ultra HD, from Cinématographe via Vinegar Syndrome, Vinegar Syndrome, and GKIDS via Shout! Studios, respectively.
Dennis’ look at Blake Edwards’ The Pink Panther (1963) in 4K Ultra HD from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.
And finally it’s back to Tim again for his thoughts on Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker’s Top Secret! (1984) in 4K UHD from Paramount.
More reviews are coming this week, so definitely be sure to check back for them.
Now then… we’ve got a bunch of great announcement news to cover here today as well!
We’ll start with official word that Lionsgate is distributing Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair widely on Digital next week, on 2/17. In fact, you can find it available for pre-order on Apple TV right now. We’re told the Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD physical release is coming later this year from Lionsgate.
A24 has just announced that Josh Safdie’s Best Picture-nominated film Marty Supreme (2025) is coming soon to Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD. [Read on here...]
We’ve got a few more great new Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD release announcements for you here today to close out the week…
First up, we’ve confirmed that Lionsgate will be dropping both Ric Roman Waugh’s Greenland (2020) and Greenland 2: Migration (2026) in 4K Ultra HD on 3/31. The Greenland 4K release is a US first, and of course the sequel will also be released on Blu-ray.
Imprint Films has announced three new Limited Edition Blu-ray box sets for release in April, including Essential Film Noir: Collection 6—with Naked Alibi (1954), Ring of Fear (1954), Hell’s Island (1955), and Flame of the Islands (1956)—Tales of Adventure Collection 10—featuring The Magic Carpet (1951), Sudan (1945), Salome (1953), The Sword of Ali Baba (1965), and the bonus film 1001 Arabian Nights (1959)—and Tales of the Wild West Collection 2—with 5 Card Stud (1968), Will Penny (1968), Something Big (1971), The Revengers (1972), and Posse (1975). The street date for all three is 4/29, and they’re limited to 1500 copies each.
Kino Lorber Studio Classics has set the Abbott and Costello film Hold That Ghost (1941) for release on 4K Ultra HD on 3/28.
Also coming from KLSC in 4K UHD for their Kino Cult label is Paul Harrison’s The House of Seven Corpses (1973). This is in conjunction with Dark Force Entertainment. Look for that on 4/21.
Speaking of which, the other day we mentioned Deaf Crocodile’s 4/21 release of Marcell Jankovics’ Song of the Miraculous Hind (2002) on Blu-ray—it’s actually a 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray release, which is even better! [Read on here...]
We have a little bit more 4K and Blu-ray release news for you today…
Lionsgate is going to be re-issuing Ric Roman Waugh’s Greenland (2020) on Blu-ray and—for the first time in the States—releasing the film on 4K Ultra HD as well on 3/31. The film was previously available on Blu-ray, but the 4K was only available from Leonine in Germany.
This is obviously tied to the forthcoming Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K UHD release of the sequel, Greenland 2: Migration (2026) from Lionsgate. The street date for that is TBA, but it would be a reasonable guess to assume that it could also be on 3/31 or shortly thereafter.
In other news today, Arrow Video is teasing another volume of their Enter the Video Store Blu-ray box set on social media today. Very nice.
Kino Lorber Studio Classics has set John Guillermin’s House of Cards (1969) for Blu-ray release on 4/21. They’ve also just revealed Louis Feuillade’s 12-chapter film serial Tin Minh (1918) for Blu-ray release on 4/14.
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is preparing to release Greg Harrison’s Groove (2000) in 4K Ultra HD on 3/24 for Sony Classics. [Read on here...]
Welcome, disc fans, to a new week and the start of a new month!
We’ve got some good 4K Ultra HD release news to share with you today.
First up, Universal and Focus Films have set Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet (2025) for Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD release on 3/3.
Our friends at Vinegar Syndrome are now taking orders for Emmett Alston’s Demonwarp (1988), Tonino Ricci’s Bakterion (1982, aka Panic), Uli Edel’s Body of Evidence (1993) (starring Madonna and Willem Dafoe), and Martin Scorsese’s Boxcar Bertha (1972) in 4K.
These are all in stock and now shipping.
Shout! Studios has set a 4K Steelbook edition of Michael Cimino’s The Deer Hunter (1978) for release on 4/7, followed by similar editions of Kerry Conran’s Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004) and John Carpenter’s Ghosts of Mars (2001) and Prince of Darkness (1987) for 4/21.
The company also has another HK Cinema Classics title— Lau Kar-leung’s Tiger on the Beat I & II (1988-1990)—coming to 4K UHD + Blu-ray on 4/28.
And I’ve confirmed with industry sources that Shout is also working on 4K Ultra HD releases of George Romero’s Day of the Dead (1985) and Joe Dante’s The ‘Burbs (1989). Street dates are TBA for later this year. [Read on here...]