Items filtered by date: January 2014

All right, sorry for the last of an update here at the site yesterday. We’ve got some stuff we’re working on that’s kept us pretty busy. And honestly, there hasn’t been a ton of new announcement news anyway. But we’ve got some good stuff to make it up to you today...

First, I’ve tuned in a review of Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity, which is newly available on Blu-ray Disc from Warner Home Video. Our own Jeff Kleist has also added his thoughts on Warner’s Blu-ray 3D version of Gravity. The film is definitely worth your time and the discs are surprisingly great, both in terms of video and audio quality and also extras.  [Read on here…]

What follows is a completely thought through and double checked top ten list for the year 2013 and, and, like those who write for Film Comment magazine, I usually don’t create this puppy until I have seen just about every movie which might, in fact, be good.  

Here are the top ten, in no particular order:  [Read on here…] 

If it can be difficult to remember who won the Academy Award for Best Picture, it’s downright mind-bending trying to remember everything else it was up against. In An Honor To Be Nominated, I’ll be taking a look back at some of the movies the Oscar didn’t go to and trying to determine if they were robbed, if the Academy got it right, or if they should ever have been nominated in the first place. [Read on here…]

All right, we’ve got more great stuff for you here at The Bits today…

First, our own Michael Coate has turned in a new History, Legacy & Showmanship column looking back at The Blue Max, including the film’s original roadshow release and also composer Jerry Goldsmith’s work on the score. This is, of course, in honor of the new Twilight Time Blu-ray release of the film today, as well as La-La Land Records’ excellent new 2-disc soundtrack CD release! Michael even includes an interview with our old friend (and film music historian) Jeff Bond, who wrote a track-by-track analysis of the score for the CD. It’s another great column, so definitely don’t miss it!  [Read on here…]

“There Was No Quiet On The Western Front!”

The Digital Bits presents this retrospective on The Blue Max, the World War I adventure-drama starring George Peppard, James Mason and Ursula Andress and highlighted by aerial dogfighting and music by acclaimed composer Jerry Goldsmith. Directed by John Guillermin (The Towering Inferno, the 1976 remake of King Kong) and based upon the novel by Jack D. Hunter, The Blue Max was hailed by Newsweek as “Magnificent!” and characterized by The New York Times as, “Devil-may-care dogfights in the skies... devil-may-care love affairs on the ground.” Recently released on Blu-ray Disc from Twilight Time and soundtrack CD by La-La Land Records, The Bits celebrates this classic war film with a detailed listing of its original, major-market roadshow engagements in the United States and Canada as well as an interview with film music authority Jeff Bond, who discusses Jerry Goldsmith’s musical contribution to the film. [Read on here...]

MOD is all about the classics this week, with the long-awaited DVD debut of an early musical favorite, three new James Cagney favorites and more. Click on the Warner Archive banner (below) when you’re ready to spend your money. [Read on here...]

All right we’ve got a couple things for you today...

First, Todd has delivered his weekly Doogan’s Queue look at tomorrow’s Blu-ray and DVD releases. Some good stuff coming tomorrow, Gravity and several great Criterion titles included. Don’t miss it.

Also today, Russell Hammond has updated his weekly Release Dates & Artwork update with all the latest Blu-ray and DVD cover art, and Amazon.com pre-order links.  [Read on here…]

Two major big budget releases, some Oscar nominees and a whole slew of Criterion titles populate this week’s release schedule. Let’s check ‘em out.

Shill Notice: If you’re planning to purchase any of these titles, please do so by hitting the releases title click-thrus in the links below – your purchases keep money coming in and let’s face it, money can’t buy love – but it can pay for serve space.  [Read on here…]

Okay, just a couple quick things for you guys today as I’m fighting off a wicked cold recently visited upon our household by travelers from Iowa. LOL.

Our own Jeff Kleist has turned in a review of Ender’s Game on Blu-ray from Summit Entertainment & Lionsgate.

And in announcement news today, Scream Factory has set David Cholewa’s “international apocalyptic sci-fi film” Dead Shadows for Blu-ray and DVD release in the States on 4/29. Extras will include a special effects featurette, delete scenes, an interview with the director, and the film’s teaser and theatrical trailers.

Entertainment One has set Monsters: The Complete Series for 9-disc DVD release on 3/18. This is the 3-season/72-episode series that ran on the Sci-Fi Channel in the 1990s.

And CBS and Paramount have set Californiacation: The Sixth Season for DVD only release on 3/25.

That’s it! Have a great weekend and we’ll see you back here on Monday. Peace out...

- Bill Hunt

We’ve got a couple of new Blu-ray Disc reviews for you today...

The good Dr. Jahnke has given Thomas Vinterberg’s The Hunt a look. The film stars Mads Mikkelsen and is available now from Magnolia. Meanwhile, Tim has given Taika Waititi’s Boy a spin. The indie release hails from New Zealand and is available now on BD from Kino Lorber.

Also today, our own Mario Boucher has turned in a new Inside Cinema column today, in which he goes behind the scenes at Digital Domain on the making of Gavin Hood’s Ender’s Game, which is newly-available on Blu-ray from Lionsgate. Watch for our review of the disc in the next couple of days. Enjoy! [Read on here...]