Items filtered by date: October 2021

All right, we hope you all had a great Thanksgiving holiday, and that you were able to take advantage of some good Black Friday Week and Cyber Monday deals on discs and whatnot.

We’ve got some big announcement news for you today, and a few follow-ups on previously-mentioned titles and issues too. But let’s get to a couple new reviews first...

First up, Dennis has posted his thoughts on Michael Showalter’s The Eyes of Tammy Faye on Blu-ray from Fox Searchlight.

And Stephen has checked in with this thoughts on Imprint/Via Vision’s The Harry Palmer Collection, which stars Michael Caine as a working-class spy. The set includes The Ipcress File, Funeral in Berlin, and Billion Dollar Brain on region-free Blu-ray Disc.

More reviews are forthcoming, so be sure to watch for them over the coming days. [Read on here...]

All right, we’ve some big announcement news for you today, as well as a couple of updates on titles we’ve mentioned recently, and a pair of new disc reviews. Let’s start with the latter first...

I’ve just posted my thoughts on Destin Daniel Cretton’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in 4K Ultra HD from Marvel and Disney. The disc streets on 11/30. The good news is that it looks and sounds great, though some of you may be disappointed that it doesn’t include the 1.90 IMAX aspect ratio for select scenes that’s now available via streaming on Disney+. Anyway, you can read my thoughts here.

Also, I’ve taken a look at a classic: Ingmar Bergman’s stunning B&W masterpiece The Seventh Seal (1957) as lovingly restored on 4K Ultra HD from the British Film Institute. It’s an import disc that’s worth your time, though keep in mind that the Blu-ray included in the packaging is Region B only (The 4K disc will work on all UHD players worldwide).

Now then... the big news today is that Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures have officially set Denis Villeneuve’s Dune for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 1/11/22, as expected. The Digital release arrives on 12/3. Both the Blu-ray and 4K discs will include Dolby Atmos audio, and retail sources are suggesting that the 4K disc will include HDR10 and Dolby Vision high dynamic range. [Read on here...]

We’ve got a few more interesting pieces of release news for you all today, as well as more new disc reviews. Let’s get to the latter first...

Stephen has reviewed Robert Schwentke’s Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins (2021) on 4K Ultra HD from Paramount, along with Norman Z. McLeod’s It’s a Gift (1934) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, and William A. Fraker’s A Reflection of Fear (1972) on Blu-ray from Imprint.

Also, Dennis has turned in his thoughts on Mark Robson’s Isle of the Dead (1945) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection and Stuart Heisler’s Among the Living (1941) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

More reviews are on the way over the next several days, so be sure to watch for them.

Now then... in announcement news today, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has just officially set Andy Serkis’ Venom: Let There Be Carnage for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 12/14, with the Digital release due on 11/23. The 4K disc will include HDR10 high dynamic range and Dolby Atmos audio. Extras on both the Blu-ray and 4K will include outtakes & bloopers, 6 deleted scenes, and 4 behind-the-scenes featurettes (Eddie & Venom: The Odd Couple, Sick and Twisted Cletus Kasady, Concept to Carnage, and Let There Be... Action). You can see the cover artwork above-left and also below. [Read on here...]

Today’s update here at The Bits will be a quick one, as we have one major title announcement to report, plus what appears to be an audio problem on a key forthcoming 4K catalog title that we’re tracking.

First though, we have a few new disc reviews for you...

Tim has posted his thoughts on Wes Craven’s The Hills Have Eyes (1977), as released in 4K Ultra HD by our friends at Arrow Video.

Meanwhile, Stephen has checked in too with his thoughts on Wes Craven’s Scream (1996), newly released in 4K Ultra HD by Dimension Films via Paramount.

And Dennis has weighed in as well with his two cents on Liesl Tommy’s recent Aretha Franklin biopic, Respect, new on Blu-ray from MGM via Universal Pictures. [Read on here...]

All right, we’ve got a couple things for you today, but first more reviews...

On Friday I posted my in-depth thoughts on Warner’s Middle-Earth 31-Disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray box set, which includes the previous 4K discs of both The Hobbit Trilogy and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (both the theatrical versions and Extended versions), along with the previous Hobbit Trilogy Blu-rays (again both versions) and newly-remastered Lord of the Rings Trilogy Blu-rays (sourced from the new 4K remasters, again both versions of each film). It also has a new bonus disc of content, but omits almost all of the previous content save for the audio commentaries. It’s actually a nice set for those who don’t already have any or all of the previous disc releases, but for diehard fans it’s going to be pretty frustrating. Anyway, click here for a lengthy and detailed review.

I’ve also posted my review of J. Lee Thompson’s The Guns of Navarone in 4K Ultra HD from Sony, which is a fine release of a classic WWII film.

Also, Stephen has posted his thoughts on Tony Randel’s Ticks (1993) in 4K UHD from Vinegar Syndrome.

And Tim has posted his thoughts on the He Came from the Swamp: The William Grefe Collection re-release on Blu-ray from Arrow Video, which includes six classic films from the Florida-based low budget filmmaker. [Read on here...]

All right, we’ve got a little more announcement news for you today here at The Bits. But first, a new feature...

Our own Michael Coate has just posted a new History, Legacy & Showmanship column celebrating the 60th anniversary of The Dick Van Dyke Show. It features a great Q&A with television historian Herbie J. Pilato, who reflects on the series’ appeal, impact, and legacy six decades after its debut. We hope you all enjoy it!

Now then, let’s get to the announcement news...

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has just announced Wes Anderson’s latest film, The French Dispatch, for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 12/28, with the Digital release (including 4K) set for 12/14. Audio will be DTS-HD MA. There’s no indication of special features, but you can reasonably imagine that a Criterion special edition is forthcoming next year. The film stars Benicio Del Toro, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Timothée Chalamet, Jeffrey Wright, Léa Seydoux, Frances McDormand, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Christoph Waltz, Edward Norton, and Jason Schwartzman. You can see the cover artwork at left and also below. [Read on here...]

“The Dick Van Dyke Show is simply superior television with an appeal that remains timeless.” – TV historian Herbie J Pilato

The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective commemorating the 60th anniversary of the television broadcast premiere of The Dick Van Dyke Show, the popular situation comedy starring Dick Van Dyke (Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) and Mary Tyler Moore (The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Ordinary People) as Rob and Laura Petrie.

The award-winning series, which originally aired on CBS from 1961 through 1966, revolved around Rob and his co-workers as the writing staff of a television show and Rob’s home life with wife Laura and son Ritchie.

The series—created by Carl Reiner (2000 Years with Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks, The Jerk, All of Me) and memorably featuring Rose Marie as Sally Rogers, Morey Amsterdam as Buddy Sorrell, Larry Mathews as Ritchie, Richard Deacon as Mel Cooley, and Carl Reiner as Alan Brady—premiered 60 years ago this autumn, and for the occasion The Bits features a Q&A with television historian Herbie J Pilato who reflects on the series appeal, impact and legacy six decades after its debut. [Read on here...]

All right, I’m finally feeling better after my recent brush with an allergic reaction, so I’ve got a good My Two Cents update for you all today with some exciting 4K UHD release news and more new disc reviews as well.

First up is Stephen’s look at Joe Dante’s The Howling, now available in a new 40th anniversary release in 4K Ultra HD from Studio Canal in the UK. The 4K disc in the package will work on any UHD player, but the Blu-ray is Region B only and the DVD is Region 2 only.

Also today, Stephen has taken a look at Anthony Mann’s The Naked Spur (1953) on Blu-ray from MGM via the Warner Archive Collection.

And Tim has reviewed Camillo Mastrocinque’s An Angel for Satan (1966) on Blu-ray from Severin Films, as well as Don Siegel’s Coogan’s Bluff (1968) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics. [Read on here...]

Morning, folks! We’ve got an early Bits news post here today with some big catalog announcement news for 4K Ultra HD fans. But first, we’ve got more new Blu-ray Disc reviews for you…

Tim has posted his thoughts on David Nelson’s Death Screams (1982) from Arrow Video, along with John D. Lamond’s Nightmares (1980) from Umbrella Entertainment.

Meanwhile, Dennis has turned in a look at Kurt Neumann’s The Secret of the Blue Room (1933) from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, as well as M. Night Shyamalan’s Old from Universal.

And Stephen has checked in as well with comments on the Warner Archive Collection’s new Val Lewton Double Feature of The Ghost Ship (1943) and Bedlam (1946), as well as their recent Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 3.

More reviews are on the way throughout the week, so be sure to check back for them! [Read on here...]

Afternoon, folks! Hope you all had a good Halloween weekend.

We’re got some more new disc reviews for you today, starting with the one I posted yesterday: My in-depth look at the Universal Classic Monsters: Icons of Horror Collection, which features Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931), The Invisible Man (1933), and The Wolf Man (1941), along with the Spanish version of Drácula (1931) all in 4K Ultra HD. The set is definitely worth a look for fans of the characters.

Also today, Stephen has reviewed John Huston’s Freud (1962) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

And Dennis has delivered a look at Arthur Lubin’s The Spider Woman Strikes Back (1946) also on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

More reviews are coming over the course of the week, so be sure to check back for them. [Read on here...]