Items filtered by date: September 2023

All right, folks! Last week was busy with big news, and this week will be no different.

We’re going to be back with a larger post later this morning to cover it all, but first we wanted to break in here early with official word that James Cameron’s Titanic (1997) is now available for pre-order on Amazon!

This fulfills at least part of a promise made to us by producer Jon Landau and first reported here at The Bits all the way back in March (see our report from the time here, complete with video we shot of Landau breaking the news). Note that we’ve included the video I shot at Lightstorm that day below the break as well.

Paramount’s street date is 12/5, just as we’ve been predicting for a while now. According to the packaging, which you can see at left and also below the break, the release will be a 2-disc set that includes the film in 4K Ultra HD, along with a Blu-ray disc of bonus features.

The set will include over 15 hours of content (most of it on the Blu-ray), including a new documentary, Titanic: Stories from the Heart, featuring new interviews with James Cameron, Jon Landau, and Kate Winslet, as well as a new fan art gallery. [Read on here...]

[10/13/23 Update: Variety and Media Play News have now confirmed my reporting that Best Buy is phasing out physical media in the new year, following the 2023 holiday shopping season. The company will apparently still continue to sell videogames. A Best Buy spokesperson provided this statement to Variety: “To state the obvious, the way we watch movies and TV shows is much different today than it was decades ago. Making this change gives us more space and opportunity to bring customers new and innovative tech for them to explore, discover and enjoy.” So... there you have it. Longtime readers of The Digital Bits can rest assured of two things: First, no this does not spell the end of physical media. And second, I’ll have a great deal more to say on this topic here at The Bits on Monday and all next week. See you back here then.]

All right, folks... we’ve got a little bit of a whopper for you today. And so as not to bury the lede, let’s get right to it...

The Digital Bits has learned from industry sources—and we’ve confirmed it with multiple sources now—that Best Buy plans to exit the physical media business for good next year, possibly as soon as the end of Q1 2024.

This includes not just their in-store Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD sales, which the retailer has been gradually phasing out for a couple of years now in their many store locations nationwide, but online sales as well. This means no more Best Buy-exclusive Steelbook titles, and no more titles from Best Buy period.

The fact that Best Buy is discontinuing physical media sales in their retail locations should come as no surprise; anyone who’s visited a Best Buy store location on a Tuesday recently will be all too aware that the retailer’s disc sections keep getting moved around and have gotten smaller and smaller. Our own experience here at The Bits is that some store locations don’t even bother to stock new-release titles on the sales floor anymore—even their exclusive ones. More than once, in their Southern California locations, I’ve had to ask for the titles and wait while a clerk checks the storeroom.

But the idea that Best Buy would discontinue online sales too comes as a bit of a surprise... though perhaps it shouldn’t. We’ve noted in recent months that Paramount has quietly shifted their Blu-ray and 4K Steelbook exclusive titles—titles that would normally have been released at Best Buy—to Amazon instead. And it seems very likely that other studios will follow Paramount’s lead in the months ahead. [Read on here...]

All right, we’ve got some ground to cover today here at The Bits, so first things first. We have a trio of new disc reviews for you to enjoy this afternoon, including...

Tim’s take on Amando de Ossorio’s Tombs of the Blind Dead (1972) on Blu-ray from Synapse Films.

And Dennis’ thoughts on William A Wellman’s Westward the Women (1951) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection, as well as James Foley’s After Dark, My Sweet (1990) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

Don’t forget, Amazon’s Prime “Big Deal” Days Sale continues until the end of the day today, so be sure to take advantage of all the great prices on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD titles, box sets, and collections. Click here and here to see what’s on sale and act fast!

For the record, some of today’s deals include...

• Universal Classic Monsters: Icons of Horror 4K UHD (regularly $79.99) Now $29
• The Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection 4K UHD (regularly $69.98) Now $38
• The Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection #2 4K UHD (regularly $69.98) Now $38

• Game of Thrones: The Complete Collection 4K UHD (regularly $219) Now $94
• Batman: The Complete Animated Series Blu-ray (regularly $79) Now $24
• Superman: The Complete Animated Series Blu-ray (regularly $69) Now $19
• The Last of Us: The Complete First Season Blu-ray (regularly $49) Now $26
• Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series Blu-ray (regularly $99) Now $49
• Bonanza: The Complete Series DVD (regularly $244) Now $159

• Back to the Future: The Ultimate Trilogy 4K UHD (regularly $55) Now $23
• The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy (Extended & Theatrical) 4K UHD (regularly $89) Now $39
• Harry Potter: 8-Film Collection 4K UHD (regularly $178) Now $59
• Mission: Impossible 6-Movie Collection 4K UHD (regularly $83) Now $50
• The Godfather Trilogy 4K UHD (regularly $90) Now $54
• The James Bond Collection 24-Films Blu-ray (regularly $144) Now $54

So be sure to act fast if you’re interested.

Also today here at the site, we’ve got word on some long-awaited 4K Ultra HD catalog titles... [Read on here...]

If you’re a longtime reader of TheDigitalBits, you’ll know that we’re an Amazon affiliate, which means that when you purchase physical media titles (as well as literally anything else from Amazon) after clicking to them from one of our links, a bit of that sale helps to support our work here at the site.

Well, if you’d like to show your support for The Bits—and get great deals on movie and TV titles in the process, Amazon is currently holding a massive Prime “Big Deal” Days sale on all kinds of products, from laptops to power tools and everything in between—including Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K titles.

So for your shopping convenience, here’s a link to their sale page that shows all the different categories of Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD titles available for sale, including popular films, TV titles, Box Sets, and Collections: https://amzn.to/48KoJQz

And here’s a direct link to browse the individual Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD titles that are currently part of the sale: https://amzn.to/46Bu8HW

There are LOTS of great deals, featuring significant and popular titles, so be sure to give it a thorough look, thanks for helping to support The Digital Bits in the process, and good hunting!

(You can follow Bill on social media at these links: Twitter and Facebook)

All right folks, here’s an announcement we know some of you have been waiting for…

ON DECEMBER 5, THE FINAL ADVENTURE COMES HOME!

INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY ARRIVES ON 4K, BLU-RAY & DVD WITH OVER 2 HOURS OF EXTRA CONTENT!

Lucasfilm’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Comes to Physical Media December 5 with bonus features including an exclusive new score-only version of the movie!

Also Available: Exclusive Best Buy Steelbook Design and a Walmart Exclusive Including Enamel Pin

BURBANK, CA (October 10, 2023) – From Academy Award–nominated writer-director James Mangold (Logan, Walk the Line) comes the final chapter in the saga of one of cinema’s greatest heroes. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny sees Harrison Ford reprise his iconic role as the whip-smart archaeologist one last time for a “rip-roaring adventure” (Maureen Lenker, Entertainment Weekly) full of “exciting action, wonderful banter and fantastic twists and turns” (Germain Lussier, Io9). [Read on here...]

We’ve got some interesting release news for you today, as well as updates on forthcoming 4K catalog titles we’ve been tracking for a while, and of course more new disc reviews. So let’s get to the latter first...

Our own Stephen Bjork has posted his in-depth review of Loki: The Complete First Season in 4K Ultra HD Steelbook from Marvel Studios and Disney. The short version is that the studio really does seem to have done this title right, in terms of AV quality, which bodes well for forthcoming Disney+ streaming series in 4K UHD.

Stephen has also turned in a look at Barry Levinson’s Rain Man (1988) in 4K Ultra HD from the MVD Marquee Collection.

And Stuart has delivered his take on Kino Lorber Studio Classic’s Audie Murphy Collection II on Blu-ray, which features Sierra (1950), Kansas Raiders (1950), and Destry (1954).

In terms of new release news, we’re hearing from retail sources that Universal’s forthcoming Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD release of David Gordon Green’s The Exorcist: Believer (2023) will arrive in stores on 12/19.

Lionsgate has also delayed their 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray release of Jean-Luc Godard’s Contempt (1963) from 9/26 to 10/24. Adjust your plans accordingly. [Read on here...]

Afternoon, Bits readers!

As some of you might recall, several weeks ago here at the site we mentioned that Lionsgate was going to be bringing Christopher Cain’s ever-popular western Young Guns (1988) to the 4K Ultra HD format on 12/5.

Well... low and behold, the studio has now officially announced it!

So here are all the confirmed details, including the complete disc A/V specs as well as a list of the special features that you’ll find in the package.

Note that you will also find both the wide release 4K UHD cover artwork, and your first look at the Best Buy-exclusive 4K UHD Steelbook art, below the break.

Timed to celebrate the 35th anniversary of this iconic modern western, Young Guns will be released in a wide 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital edition—as well as a Best Buy-exclusive 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital Steelbook—on December 5th by Lionsgate. The Steelbook edition will feature original artwork by graphic designer and illustrator Grzegorz Domaradzki.

This is the first time the film will be available in 4K, with a brand-new 1.85:1 transfer featuring Dolby Vision HDR. Included will be a new Dolby Atmos audio mix, as well the original 2.0 stereo original theatrical mix. Additionally, this is the first time the film will be available on Digital. Note that the Blu-ray in the package also includes the remastered presentation. [Read on here...]

We’ve got another big title announcement for you here at The Bits today, as well as more new disc reviews. So let’s get to the latter first...

Tim has posted his thoughts on Kevin Reynolds’ The Beast (1988) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, as well as Brian Tenchard-Smith’s Day of the Panther (1988)/Strike of the Panther (1989) double feature from Umbrella Entertainment (via Vinegar Syndrome).

Dennis has shared his take on Jack Conway’s Saratoga (1937) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.

And Stuart has offered his reviews of Russell Rouse’s The Fastest Gun Alive (1956) and Joseph Losey’s The Boy with Green Hair (1948) on Blu-ray from Warner Archive, along with Kino Lorber Studio Classic’s excellent Anna May Wong Collection, a Blu-ray box set that includes the films Dangerous to Know (1938), Island of Lost Men (1939), and King of Chinatown (1939). Enjoy!

Now then, the big piece of announcement news this afternoon is that Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment has just officially set Andrew Davis’ The Fugitive (1993) for 4K Ultra HD and Digital release on 11/21. The 4K disc will include HDR10 high dynamic range, as well as a new Dolby Atmos sound mix. [Read on here...]

The big release news today, of course, is that Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment has announced the Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD release of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie on 10/17. The Digital version is already available. Now the highest-grossing film in Warner Bros’ 100-year history (per the studio’s own press release), the 4K will include HDR10 high dynamic range, along with English Dolby Atmos audio (the Blu-ray will include Atmos as well). Both discs will also offer six behind-the-scenes featurettes (including Welcome to Barbie Land, Becoming Barbie, Playing Dress-Up, Musical Make-Believe, All-Star Barbie Party, and It’s a Weird World). You can see the cover artwork at left and also below.

Warner Bros. has also officially set The Nun II for Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD release on 11/14, with the Digital version set to become available for purchase today (10/3). Extras will include two featurettes (Demons in Paradise and Handcrafter Nightmares). Audio on both the Blu-ray SKUs will be Dolby Atmos.

And in international release news, our friends at Turbine Medien GmbH in Germany have just set Chris McKay’s Renfield for release on 4K Ultra HD Steelbook in December. [Read on here...]

Boy, we’ve got a lot of ground to cover here at The Bits over the next few days! It’s been very busy here around the office these past several days. For one thing, my wife and I have had family staying with us for the weekend. I’ve also finally replaced my defunct Epson 5040UB home theater projector here at The Bits with a brand new JVC DLA-RS1100/NP5, and have spent time installing and calibrating it. (I’ll definitely have more to say about that later this week, though I’ll just note for now that I’m very pleased with the choice.)

But I would like to take this opportunity to thank my good friends John Schuermann (of The Screening Room AV, the fantastic home theater design and equipment retailer well known for their annual Projector Shootouts) and Kris Deering (the outstanding ISF calibrator, formerly of Sound and Vision magazine as well as his own Deep Dive AV) for their help and advice in selecting the RS1100 and getting it up and running. (Your counsel is very much appreciated, my friends!) If you’re ever in the market for home theater hardware or calibration, there’s no better place to start.

Needless to say, while I’ve been occupied with all that, our dedicated team here at The Bits has posted a number of great new disc reviews. So let’s quickly run them all down...

First of all, Stuart has offered his thoughts on Anthony Mann’s A Dandy in Sapic (1968) and Abraham Polonsky’s Force of Evil (1948) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, as well as Suzanna Raes’ documentary Close to Vermeer (2023) on DVD from Kino Lorber.

Dennis has shared his thoughts on Peter Hall’s Three Into Two Won’t Go (1969) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, as well as Luis Valdez’s La Bamba (1987) on Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.

Stephen has delivered his reviews of Jean Renoir’s legendary classic The Rules of the Game (1939) in 4K Ultra HD from Criterion, along with Jiří Barta’s The Pied Piper (1986) on Blu-ray from Deaf Crocodile (via Vinegar Syndrome), and Ulli Lommel’s The Boogey Man (1980) in 4K UHD from Vinegar Syndrome.

And finally, our hard-working reviews editor Tim Salmons has posted his own take on David Lynch’s Lost Highway (1997) in 4K Ultra HD, also from Criterion.

As always, more new disc reviews are forthcoming all week, so be sure to check back for them.

All right… now let’s move on to the latest release news. And there’s quite a lot of it today. In fact, it’s fair to say that it’s going to be a very expensive Q4 for fans of Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD! [Read on here...]