Displaying items by tag: Dazzler Media

We’ve got two new disc reviews for you to enjoy this afternoon, both of them Blu-ray titles…

First, Stephen has taken a look at John Dahl’s Red Rock West (1993) on Blu-ray, which is one of the first titles in Vinegar Syndrome’s new Cinématographe line, curated by our friend (and producer) Justin LaLiberty.

And I’ve reviewed Umbrella Entertainment’s recent Frank Herbert’s Dune Complete Collection Blu-ray box set, which includes John Harrison’s Dune (2000) miniseries along with Greg Yaitanes’ Children of Dune (2003) miniseries, as well as a ton of great special features and swag, all in super-deluxe packaging.

More reviews are forthcoming, including—in the next day or two—my take on Francis Lawrence’s The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) from Lionsgate and Ronald F. Maxwell’s Little Darlings (1980), both of them in 4K Ultra HD. Little Darlings, I should note, is the other debut title in Vinegar Syndrome’s new Cinématographe line. So watch for those very soon.

We’ve also updated our 4K Ultra HD Release List here at The Bits, along with our Release Dates & Artwork section, both of which now include all the latest announced titles, with Amazon pre-order links.

And over on The Digital Bits’ Patreon, we’ve shared a new piece by Stephen on the ethics of altering films for release in other forms (for example B&W), and the challenges in trying to determine how films should look sometimes years later on home video, as well as some fun content from our friends over at The Bigger Pictures Film Restoration (more on that in a minute). As always, we really appreciate your support of The Digital Bits, which helps us to continue our work here at the site in support of physical media. And becoming a Patreon member is a great way to do that. We’re working to build a pretty terrific little community over there where Bits readers can hang out and share their thoughts and experiences. So you’re all welcome to join us there! [Read on here...]

Published in My Two Cents

All right, we’ve got a big week ahead of us here at The Digital Bits. As all of you know, the new James Cameron catalog 4K titles—The Abyss, True Lies, and Aliens—all drop via 4K Digital tomorrow. And we’ve got some big announcement news to share with all of you today as well. But first, we’ve got a new disc review for you...

Stephen has just turned in his thoughts on Kathryn Bigelow’s Point Break (1991) in 4K Ultra HD from Shout! Factory. Enjoy!

Now then... there’s big news today, more big news, and yet another piece of big news. So let’s start with that first one...

Paramount Home Entertainment has just officially set Herbert Ross’ original Footloose (1984) for release on 4K Ultra HD on 2/13/24. We’re awaiting confirmation of the A/V specs on this one, but the title will come in both Amaray and Steelbook packaging, and will have a Blu-ray and Digital copy code. All of the legacy extras from the Blu-ray will carry over. You can see the cover artwork at left and also below. [Read on here...]

Published in My Two Cents

All right, I certainly hope you all had a lovely weekend. We’ve got some great new disc reviews for you to enjoy today, as well as some terrific release news.

Before we get to that, however, I wanted to make another pitch for those of you who’ve long read and enjoyed our work here at The Digital Bits to consider supporting the site via our new Patreon (or PayPal, if you prefer). We’re up to 127 subscribers now (with nearly 50 more followers), and we appreciate each and every one. (Next stop… 200!) So if you value what we do here—if you find that our work regularly brings a little bit of joy into your life as a fan of physical media—please consider subscribing to help us keep The Bits going indefinitely. I’m making regular—really almost daily—blog posts on Patreon, most of which are exclusive to our backers, and I’m trying to ensure that those complement what we do here on the website. So please consider joining us, and we thank you for the support!

Now then, let’s get to those reviews...

First, I’ve posted my thoughts on Apple TV’s For All Mankind: Season One, which is new on Blu-ray from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, as well as For All Mankind: Season Two, which was released on Region B Blu-ray by Dazzler a few months ago. This is shaping up to be one of the great science fiction series, one that’s worthy of the legacy and spirit of optimism about the future that we all loved about classic Star Trek. It’s well worth your time.

Also, Dennis has turned in his thoughts on Tod Browning’s Sideshow Shockers on Blu-ray from the Criterion Collection, a disc that includes Browning’s Freaks (1932), The Unknown (1927), and The Mystic (1925).

And Stuart has delivered his take on Dan M. Kinem and Levi Peretic’s Adjust Your Tracking: The Untold Story of the VHS Collector (2013) on Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome.

Note that I’m also working on a review of Sony’s new Rudy 4K Ultra HD Steelbook release, which is pretty great. More on that here soon. [Read on here...]

Published in My Two Cents

We’re kicking off the new week today with three more disc reviews from The Bits review team, including...

Tim’s thoughts on Martin Brest’s Midnight Run (1988) in 4K Ultra HD from Shout! Factory via their Shout Select line.

Stephen’s take on Mizuho Nishikubo’s animated Giovanni’s Island (2014) on Blu-ray from GKids.

And Dennis’ look at John Cromwell’s Caged (1950) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.

More reviews are forthcoming all this week, so be sure to check back every day for them.

Now then, the big release news today is that the Criterion Collection has just announced its October Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD slate, which includes five great new titles. [Read on here...]

Published in My Two Cents

We’ve got three more new disc reviews for you today...

First, I’ve taken a look at Apple TV’s For All Mankind: Season One, as released on Region B Blu-ray in the UK by Dazzler Media. This is one of my favorite series—and alternate history of NASA’s space program in a world where the Soviets beat America to the Moon in the 1960s, co-created by Ron Moore of Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Outlander, which starts as a Mad Men-like period drama and gradually moved into the territory of science fiction with each new season. Dazzler’s release is the only place you can get the series on physical media, and I’ll be reviewing Season Two on Blu-ray shortly as well.

Also, Dennis has reviewed Mike Hodges’ I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead (2003) and Bernardo Bertolucci’s Little Buddha (1993) on Blu-ray from Imprint Films and Via Vision in Australia.

Speaking of Imprint Films, the company has just unveiled its August Blu-ray slate, which is set to include the following... Film Focus: Jennifer Connelly—which includes Career Opportunities (1991), Waking the Dead (2000), and House of Sand and Fog (2003)—Film Focus: Jessica Lange—which includes Frances (1982), Crimes of the Heart (1986), Music Box (1989), and Losing Isaiah (1995)—Alan Rudolph’s Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994), Karen Moncrieff’s Blue Car (2002), and Steven Zaillian’s Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993). [Read on here...]

Published in My Two Cents

All right, we’ve got a lot of ground to cover today. We have several new disc reviews—at least one from each member of the Bits review team—and plenty of announcement news for you as well. First, those reviews...

First, I’ve posted my review of John Huston’s first film, The Maltese Falcon (1941), in a beautiful new 4K Ultra HD restoration from Warner Bros.

Stephen has reviewed Lucio Fulci’s City of the Living Dead (1980) in 4K Ultra HD from Cauldon Films.

Dennis has turned in his thoughts on Jim McBride’s Breathless (1983) in Blu-ray from Fun City Editions via Vinegar Syndrome.

Stuart has offered his thoughts on Joseph McGrath’s The Bliss of Miss Blossom (1968) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, as well as Sam Woods’s Goodbye Mr. Chips (1939) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.

And Tim rounds things out with his reviews of William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist III (1990) in 4K Ultra HD from Scream Factory, as well as Tope Hoper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) in 4K Ultra HD from Turbine Medien in Germany.

More new reviews are on the way as well in the coming days, so be sure to keep checking back for them. [Read on here...]

Published in My Two Cents

We’re starting things off this week with several more new disc reviews and LOTS of announcement news! First up, those reviews...

Stephen has taken an in-depth look at John Carpenter’s supernatural horror classic The Fog (1980) in 4K Ultra HD from Scream Factory, and we have separate reviews for both the wide-release Collector’s Edition and the Steelbook version as well.

Stephen has also offered his thoughts on Taika Waititi’s latest MCU installment, Thor: Love and Thunder, in 4K Ultra HD from Marvel and Disney.

Meanwhile, Dennis has turned in his take on a pair of classic films on Blu-ray, including Sydney Salkow’s Twice Told Tales (1963) starring Vincent Price from Kino Lorber Studio Classics and also John Cromwell’s Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940) from the Warner Archive Collection.

And Tim has delivered a look at Warner and DC’s long-awaited Deluxe Edition of the animated Batman: The Long Halloween (2021) as well as Random Space Media’s import 4K/Blu-ray 3D double feature of Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017).

As always, more reviews are on the way for tomorrow and all this week, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for them. [Read on here...]

Published in My Two Cents

All right, we have big release news to report today, but first we’ve got three more new disc reviews for you all to enjoy…

Stephen has given an in-depth look at Dario Argento’s Tenebrae in 4K Ultra HD, as newly released in a terrific and loaded special edition package from our friends at Synapse Films. If you’re a fan of Argento, the gaillo genre, or this film in particular, this is a great package that you’re not going to want to miss.

Stephen has also taken a look at an under-appreciated Soviet classic by director Alexandr Ptushko, a filmmaker considered by many to be the Russian George Pal… Sampo (1959) new on Blu-ray from Deaf Crocodile and Vinegar Syndrome. This is an interesting piece of cinema that also deserves a look.

Last but not least, Dennis has offered his thoughts on Graham Mason’s Inspector Ike (2020), which presents itself as a “lost 70s telefilm” and detective story spoof, a-la The Naked Gun. That’s available on Blu-ray from Factory 25 via Vinegar Syndrome, so be sure to check it out.

Now then, the biggest box office hit of the year… and what is likely to be the biggest home media title of the year as well… has finally been made official: Paramount Home Entertainment will release Joseph Kosinski’s Top Gun: Maverick on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 11/1 (a date that our sources have been suggesting for a few weeks now). But here’s the real surprise: The Digital release will drop next Tuesday on 8/23! [Read on here...]

Published in My Two Cents