We’ve got some big release news for you today here at The Digital Bits.  First though, a couple new Blu-ray reviews…

First up, I’ve checked out CBS’ new Star Trek: The Next Generation – Redemption Blu-ray – the next in their series of cliffhanger episodes turned movie releases.  And watch for my review of Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season Four in the next few days as well.

Also this afternoon, Todd Doogan has given Kino’s The Living Dead Girl a look for you.  It’s a classic Jean Rollin horror title from their Redemption label and it’s well worth your time if you dig the genre.  […]

All right, we’ve got a couple good things for you here today at The Bits…

First, our own Mario Boucher has turned in a new Inside Cinema column looking behind the scenes on the making of Universal’s sci-fi film Oblivion, featuring director Joseph Kosinski and production designer Daniel Simon, among others.  It’s an interesting piece that we think you’ll really enjoy.

Speaking of which, I’ve also got a review of the Oblivion Blu-ray for you today as well – the title arrives in stores tomorrow.  […]

What began as an idea in the Middle East transformed into a visual story on the big screen.  Oblivion took shape inside the mind of director Joe Kosinski, leaped onto the pages of a graphic novel and ended up as a science-fiction movie with Tom Cruise.

THE BIRTH OF OBLIVION

“It came at a time where I was having trouble getting my foot in the door in the commercial music video business,” said Kosinski.  Out of frustration, he wrote the story of a man digging into the past, our present, to find his humanity.  “I had this idea of what would it be like to be the last man on Earth, to be kind of the one looking back at the world we know,” he said. […]

The big news today, I suppose, is that Paramount has just officially announced the Blu-ray 3D Combo, Blu-ray Combo and DVD release of World War Z on 9/17, with the digital streaming versions available online on 9/10.  Both Blu-rays will feature the unrated version of the film, while the DVD will include the theatrical version.  Extras on the Blu-rays will include the Origins and Looking to Science featurettes and the 4-part WWZ: Production documentary (includes Outbreak, The Journey Begins, Behind the Wall and Camouflage).  Audio will be DTS-HD 7.1 MA on the Blu-rays and standard Dolby Digital 5.1 on DVD.  You’ll find the cover artwork below… […]

We’ve got a couple of new Blu-ray Disc reviews for you this afternoon.  Our own Tim Salmons has given RLJ’s Barrymore a good looking over for you and found it worth your attention, while Doogan’s saved you all the trouble of watching Anchor Bay’s The Amazing Adventures of the Living Corpse Blu-ray by taking the hit to his intelligence of your behalf.  So there you go.

Also today, Michael Coate has turned in a new installment of his History, Legacy and Showmanship column featuring a look back at George Lucas’ American Graffiti on the occasion of its 40th anniversary today.  Enjoy!  […]

“It’s designed primarily for fun, to be entertaining, a warm movie about what it’s like to be a teenager.  But it’s also about the end of a political era, a sociological era and a rock era.” —  George Lucas

The Digital Bits is pleased to present this retrospective article to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the release of American Graffiti, George Lucas’s classic 1973 film that nostalgically asked, “Where were you in ’62?”

This article features a chronological list of the movie’s original theatrical engagements in the major cities of North America, plus a collection of historical information and quotes from critics.  The article is also an attempt to clarify some misconceptions about the movie’s distribution and box-office performance. [...]

As The Bits’ resident champion for the release of obscure and forgotten films on DVD, I naturally pay a lot of attention to smaller, independent labels like Shout! Factory, Olive Films, Kino, Synapse and, of course, Criterion. These companies and many others like them are doing important work, taking on projects that the major studios are no longer interested in producing. I support these companies both by writing about their work on this site and, more importantly, by purchasing their products as often as I can. [...]

Okay… you guys have been waiting for this news for a long while:  Warner Home Video has just officially announced the Blu-ray and DVD release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – Extended Edition on 11/5!

The release will be available as a 5-disc Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray set (SRP $54.98), a 3-disc Blu-ray set (SRP $35.99) and a 5-disc DVD set ($34.99).  All will include Ultraviolet.

The film itself has been extended by 13 minutes (total running time 184 minutes), and the set features nearly 9 hours of new special feature content, produced by Michael Pellerin and the same team who created the bonus content on The Lord of the Rings: Extended Edition sets.

Here’s a look a the packaging for all three (extras details follow)…  [...]

All right, first up today we’ve got a pair of new Blu-ray Disc reviews for you…

Our own Dr. Jahnke has looked at Scream Factory’s fine new Blu-ray Collector’s Edition of John Carpenter’s The Fog.  The disc is now available in stores, and the release is pretty darned nice, as you’ll see in the review.

Also, Tim Salmons has checked out Charlie Chapin’s classic Monsieur Verdoux courtesy of Criterion’s fine new Blu-ray release.  Don’t miss it!  [...]

We’ve got a couple of new announcements for you today, and word of major new titles now available for pre-order on Amazon.com…

First up, Warner Home Video will release Mike and Molly: The Complete Third Season on DVD only on 8/20.

The BBC has set The Thick of It: Seasons 1-4 for DVD release on 8/6, followed by Doctor Who: The Complete Seventh Series on Blu-ray and DVD on 9/24.

PBS is releasing a Downton Abbey: Seasons 1, 2 & 3 – Limited Edition box set on Blu-ray Disc and DVD on 10/1 (SRP $99.99 and $89.99).  It will include a bonus disc featuring the Secrets of Highclere Castle documentary.