Displaying items by tag: Olive Films

We’ve got lots more announcement news for you today…

Lionsgate has just set The Hitman’s Bodyguard for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 11/21. We’ve updated our 4K Ultra HD Release List accordingly. The studio has also set Marc Webb’s The Only Living Boy in New York for Digital HD release on 10/20. There’s no word yet of a physical release. Lionsgate will also release The Glass Castle on Blu-ray and DVD on 11/7, with the Digital HD release set for 10/24.

Warner Bros Home Entertainment is releasing Justice League Action: Season 1, Part 1 and Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas on DVD on 10/10. [Read on here…]

Published in My Two Cents
Tuesday, 28 March 2017 15:03

Here’s What’s Wrong with Movies...

I’ve figured out what’s wrong with movies.

This thesis prevailed on me as I went to see the 3-D Imax version of a new picture called The Great Wall. This picture opened to dismal reviews, but the previews had made it look righteous and the effects, I knew, would be fun, and they were and the whole experience wasn’t bad.

And on the way out, I was thinking of all these feckless movie reviewers who get published and why they would trash this movie. I thought to myself: “Why were they so hard on this movie? It’s just a fun “B” picture?”

And then I figured it out. They all are. 90% of what we see in the theaters are “B” pictures with “A” budgets.

Let’s discuss... [Read on here...]


Afternoon, folks. We’re starting off the new week with a pair of new Blu-ray reviews for you to enjoy. Tim Salmons has turned in his look at Scream Factory’s The Legend of Hell House and longtime Bits veteran Todd Doogan has returned with a look at Kino Lorber’s terrific new One Million Years B.C. Blu-ray. Both are well worth your time, so be sure to check them out.

In release news today, first up a biggie: 20th Century Fox’s Logan is now available for Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD pre-order on Amazon (via the links in this sentence and also the temp cover artwork below). We hear it’s pretty damn good, so go check it out in theaters and use our links to pre-order (we appreciate it!) if you enjoy the film. [Read on here…]

Published in My Two Cents

Afternoon, folks! I hope you all had a fine weekend. My wife and I have had family visiting for the past few days, so it’s been a nice to catch up. And it seems to have finally stopped raining here in Southern California, so we’ve had nice weather in which to do it.

We’ve got a bunch of interesting new announcement news for you this afternoon, as well as some interesting leaks and pre-order listings for titles that have yet to be announced but could be soon. Let’s get right to it...  [Read on here…]

Published in My Two Cents
Wednesday, 30 November 2016 16:30

Movie Begats and More

I’ve about decided that a full book could be written regarding just about every produced movie – Lord knows there’s always enough behind the scenes drama to fill a daytime soap. But I love it. Who was supposed to be in what? Who wrote the script? That stuff. The success of X movie produced Y.

OLIVE FILMS

And here’s a story about a Robert Redford motorcycle picture called Little Fauss and Big Halsey, recently released for the first time on home video by Olive Films.

Al Ruddy came to Hollywood in the early 60s and as a young pup sold what has become a classic sitcom called Hogan’s Heroes. Ruddy and Charles Eastman wrote the script for Little Fauss and sold it to Paramount with a then hot director named Sidney Furie (who was bankable because of The Ipcress File and The Naked Runner). Redford was brought on board in the process as was my friend and lifelong Ruddy partner Gray Frederickson. [Read on here...]

All right, we have two more Blu-ray Disc reviews for you this afternoon. Tim has checked out Theatre of Blood (1973) with Vincent Price, new on Blu-ray from Twilight Time. And Jim has looked at another new Twilight release in the form of Richard Marquand’s WWII spy thriller Eye of the Needle (1981). Both are pretty great releases and well worth a look if you’re interested.

In announcement news today, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has set The Girl on the Train for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on 1/17, with a Digital HD release due on 1/3. Bonus features will include audio commentary with director Tate Taylor, deleted and extended scenes, and 2 documentary featurettes (The Women Behind the Girl and On Board the Train).  [Read on here…]

Published in My Two Cents

All right, we’ve been busy here at The Bits these last couple days. Just a quick note first: Tomorrow is my birthday, so I’m not working. I turn 49, if you can believe it, which I can’t. But that’s how these things go. In any case, to make up for it, we’ve got a bunch of good stuff for you all to enjoy today. So let’s get to it...

First, I’ve just spent the last six months putting Samsung’s launch 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player, the UBD-K8500, through its paces and I have my full review for you to check out today. Suffice it to say that there’s never been a debut player for any format (that I know of) that offers so much quality and performance for such a low price. If you’re thinking about upgrading to 4K Ultra HD and you’re looking for the best value for your dollar, this is the player for you. [Read on here…]

Published in My Two Cents

I think it’s time we caught up. Walking outside during this Oklahoma summer is like tasting something after it’s been in the microwave about eight minutes. The heat and stupidity started even before Memorial Day and has not abated. It’s like we’re living on Mars – I’ve been pricing those spacesuits which protected Matt Damon.

But thank goodness for the movies. Especially the kind one watches in the comfort of one’s own home. Let’s discuss.

Here’s a serious complaint – as I learned over the years, watching a great film is a multi-sensory experience – you see, you listen, you emote. And for me, always a major component of that experience is the music score. For those who pay attention, music is usually the heart of the movie – name a classic up through about 1990 or so for which you can’t hum a main theme. Or name a dud or two with a score that is better than the picture. [Read on here...]

First up today, our own Russell Hammond has updated the Release Dates & Artwork section with all the latest Blu-ray and DVD, and 4K Ultra HD cover artwork and Amazon.com pre-order links. As always, whenever you order items from Amazon after clicking through one of our links you’re helping to support our work here at The Bits and we truly appreciate it.

Now then… a quick Lord of the Rings update: We’ve learned from sources that it’s unlikely Warner has created much in the way of new disc-based content for these new Middle Earth Blu-ray box sets that have appeared on Amazon. We’re going to have to wait for official announcements, but more likely these are just repackages of existing discs in new packaging, probably with all-new swag items – a typical Warner move on Ultimate Collector’s Edition catalog releases in recent years. But we’ll see soon enough.  [Read on here…]

Published in My Two Cents
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