My Two Cents
Good afternoon, folks! We’re starting the week off with four new disc reviews...
Stuart has given Via Vision’s On the Buses Film Collection box set a review, which includes On the Buses (1971), Mutiny on the Buses (1972), and Holiday on the Buses (1973) all on Blu-ray. These of course are based on the popular British TV sitcom from the late 1960s and early 70s.
Dennis has taken a look at Raoul Walsh’s They Drive by Night (1940) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.
Stephen has offered his thoughts on Andrei Tarkovsky’s Nostalghia (1983) in 4K Ultra HD from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.
And finally, I’ve completed an in-depth review of one of my favorite films: Sergio Leone’s magnificent Western epic Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) in 4K Ultra HD from Paramount via their Paramount Presents line. And I’m afraid the disc is... complicated.
In any case, more new disc reviews are on the way this week, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for them! [Read on here...]
We have four new disc reviews to share with you today, as well as some exciting catalog 4K release news! But first those reviews...
Stephen has taken a look at Jack Nicholson’s Goin’ South (1978) in 4K Ultra HD from Paramount and Vinegar Syndrome via their new Cinématographe label.
Dennis has turned in his thoughts on Henry Hathaway’s western 5 Card Stud (1968) on Blu-ray also from Paramount via Vinegar Syndrome.
Stuart has reviewed Franklin J. Schaffner’s Islands in the Stream (1977) on Blu-ray via Imprint Films.
And I’ve just given Peter Gabriel: Back to Front – Live in London (2014) a review in 4K Ultra HD from Real World and Eagle Rock via Mercury Studios.
Now then, the big news today is that StudioCanal has set a new 4K restoration of Francis Ford Coppola’s neo-noir thriller The Conversation (1974) for release on 4K Ultra HD on July 15 in the UK. This is in honor of the film’s 50th anniversary. The film is also returning to theaters in the UK on July 5.
The legendary film stars Gene Hackman as San Francisco surveillance expert Harry Caul, who finds himself confronted with a moral dilemma when his wiretapped conversation recordings reveal a possible murder. The supporting cast includes John Cazale, Allen Garfield, Cindy Williams, Frederic Forrest, Teri Garr, Robert Duvall, and Harrison Ford. [Read on here...]
We’ve got some great release news for you today to start out the new week.
And we’ve also got more new disc reviews for you, so let’s get to the latter first...
Over the weekend, Stephen posted his thoughts on Disney+ and Marvel’s new release of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: The Complete First Season (2024) in 4K Ultra HD. He’s also given Riccardo Freda’s The Horrible Dr. Hichcock (1962) a review in 4K Ultra HD from Vinegar Syndrome.
Not to be outdone, Tim has reviewed Hanna-Barbera’s animated The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones (1987) on Blu-ray from our friends at the Warner Archive Collection, as well as Paul Leni’s The Cat and the Canary (1927) on Blu-ray from Eureka Entertainment.
Lots more reviews are on the way this week, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for them!
Now then, in announcement news, let’s start with the big one first... GKids and Shout Factory have officially set Hayao Miyazaki’s animated The Boy and the Heron (2023) for release on Blu-ray + DVD, 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray, and 4K UHD + BD Steelbook on 7/9! The Digital release expected on 6/25. [Read on here...]
We’ve got just a few items for you this evening to round out the week of release news...
First, Arrow Video has announced their July 2024 slate of Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD titles, which is set to include...
Thomas Sainsbury’s Loop Track (2023) on Blu-ray in the UK only.
Nick Castle’s The Last Starfighter (1984) on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD in the UK only.
Howard Hawks’ Red Line 7000 (1965) on Blu-ray in the US and Canada only.
The Nico Mastorakis Collection on Blu-ray in the UK, US, and Canada, including The Time Traveller (1984) (aka The Next One), Sky High (1985), Terminal Exposure (1987), Glitch! (1988), Ninja Academy (1989), and The Naked Truth (1992).
And Guy Ritchie’s The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015) in both Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD in the UK, US, and Canada.
All of these titles are expected to street on or around 7/30, with the exception of The Last Starfighter which is due on 7/15. [Read on here...]
We’ve got a big new disc review for you all today here at The Bits, and it’s a title that a lot of you have been waiting for: My look at Tony Gilroy’s Andor: The Complete First Season (2023) in 4K Ultra HD Steelbook from Lucasfilm and Disney! All the details are in the review, but suffice it to say that the release absolutely does not disappoint. The video quality is stunning.
We’ve also got a bunch of recent reviews that our staffers have shared over the last few days that I need to round up here for you guys, including...
Stephen’s reviews of Sergio Martino’s The Great Alligator (1979) in 4K Ultra HD from Severin Films, Rod Lurie’s The Last Castle (2001) in 4K Ultra HD from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, John Ford’s 3 Godfathers (1948) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection, and Walter Hill’s The Long Riders (1980) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.
Tim’s reviews of Frank Henenlotter’s Basket Case (1982) in 4K Ultra HD from Arrow Video, Michael Laughlin’s Strange Invaders (1983) on Blu-ray from Imprint, and Hanna-Barbera’s animated Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers (1987) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.
And finally, Dennis’ review of Nancy Savoca’s Dogfight (1991) on Blu-ray from the Criterion Collection.
Meanwhile, we have a couple or housekeeping items to report here at The Bits today... [Read on here...]