Displaying items by tag: Kino Lorber

In reviews this morning, Dennis has taken a look at Raphael Sbarge’s 2022 Laemmle Theatres documentary Only in Theaters on DVD from Kino Lorber. The film chronicles the 80+ year history of the family-owned cinema chain, which is based in L.A., and looks at the family’s efforts to see it survive the current challenges facing the industry.

More reviews are coming, so be sure to watch for them.

Now then... the big news today is two-fold: First, Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment has just revealed that Babylon 5: The Complete Series is coming to Blu-ray Disc for the first time ever on 12/5! Of course, the series was originally produced and finished in SD resolution only. But its live-action footage was shot on film, so that’s been scanned in 4K and downsampled to HD, while the CGI and VFX shots have been upsampled to HD from SD. But if you’ve seen the series recently as it appears on the Max streaming app, you’ll be familiar with the quality. (Note that it’s presented in the original 1.33 broadcast aspect ratio, and will include English SDH subtitles.) All 110 episodes of the show will be included, along with the 1993 pilot film, The Gathering. It appears that this title will be available via online retailers only, so don’t expect to find it at your local brick-and mortar shop. SRP is $99.99. You can see the cover artwork at left and also below. (Oddly, it doesn’t actually include an image of the Babylon 5 space station itself, which.. ahem... seems like very strange marketing choice.)

And second, here’s some exciting news for fans of 1980s animation: The great Ralph Bakshi has announced on his Facebook page that American Pop (1981) is finally coming to Blu-ray Disc from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on 8/22! [Read on here...]

We’ve got a bunch of news, rumors, and official announcements to cover for you today here at The Bits, so let’s get right to it...

First up, Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment has just made Enter the Dragon official for 4K Ultra HD and Digital release on 8/8. Extras will include the previous introduction by Linda Lee Cadwell and the audio commentary by Paul Heller and Michael Allin. This release is happening in honor of the film’s 50th anniversary. The 4K disc will include both the theatrical cut and the 3-minute-longer special editon with HDR10 high dynamic range.

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment and Adult Swim have just set the all-new animated movie Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar for release on Digital and Blu-ray on 8/22 (SRP $19.99 and $29.98). This will be accompanied by two full-length album release by Dethklok: Dethalbum IV and the soundtrack for Army of the Doomstar on 8/25. These will be released widely via WaterTower Music and you’ll be able to get them on actual vinyl from Mondo.

WBDHE and HBO have also just announced Succession: The Complete Series for DVD only release on 9/12, including all 39 episodes with the previously released special features. Also coming that day on DVD will be Succession: The Complete Fourth & Final Season. [Read on here...]

Welcome to a new week, Bits readers! And the theme of this week is all about disc reviews. We’ve posted no less than SEVEN of them over the weekend, and we have lots more coming in the next few days, including some MAJOR and long-awaited 4K titles. But more on that in a minute.

To start today, we’ve got new reviews of the following titles...

My take on Scott Beck and Bryan Woods’ 65 (2023) in 4K Ultra HD from Sony, along with William Hanna and Joseph Barbera’s feature-length animated classic Hey There, It’s Yogi Bear! (1964) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection), as well as John Frankenheimer’s classic actioner Ronin (1998) in 4K Ultra HD from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

All three titles are worth a look, and Ronin looks absolutely spectacular—it’s mastered from a recent 4K scan, and both the Blu-ray and the 4K disc in the package are a major improvement over the previous Arrow Blu-ray release, which was certainly good for its day. You definitely don’t want to miss that one.

Also today, we have Stephen’s review of Patrice Leconte’s Man on the Train (2002) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber.

We have Dennis’ thoughts on Raymond Griffith: The Silk Hat Comedian on Blu-ray from Undercrank Productions, which includes Paths to Paradise (1925) and You’d Be Surprised (1926).

And we close things out with Tim’s look at James Wan’s Dead Silence (2007) in 4K Ultra HD from Scream Factory, as well as Kevin Reynolds’ Waterworld (1995) in 4K Ultra HD from Arrow Video! [Read on here...]

Afternoon, Bits readers! Thanks for your patience with the lack of a news update yesterday. Sarah and I took the opportunity this past weekend to drive up the Central Coast of California to visit some friends there. And we packed so much in over a couple days that we needed most of Monday to recoup. But we saw elephant seals, otters, and Hearst Castle, so the trip was worth it.

Now then, we’ve got a pair of new disc reviews for you today...

Stephen has turned in his thoughts on Matthew Bright’s Freeway II: Confessions of a Trickbaby (1999) on 4K Ultra HD from Vinegar Syndrome.

And Dennis has offered his take on George Archainbaud’s Thanks for the Memory (1938) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics. The film stars Bob Hope and Shirley Ross.

In announcement news today, Paramount has officially announced Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin’s Scream VI for release on Blu-ray, DVD, 4K Ultra HD, and 4K UHD Steelbook release on 7/11, with the Digital release available today (4/25). Extras will include audio commentary with the filmmakers and 6 behind-the-scenes featurettes (Death Comes to the City, The Faces of Death, More Meta than Meta, Bloodbath at a Bodega, An Apartment to Die For, The Night Train to Terror, and Theater of Blood). A Gag Reel is also included as a Digital exclusive. [Read on here...]

We have new reviews for you today, as always...

Stephen has checked in with his thoughts on Sarah Polley’s Oscar-nominated Women Talking (2022) on Blu-ray from Universal.

Dennis has offered his take on Fritz Lang’s You and Me (1938) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

And Tim has posted his review of John Schlesinger’s Marathon Man (1976) in 4K Ultra HD from KL Studio Classics, as well as Norman Taurog’s Blue Hawaii (1961) on 4K Ultra HD from Paramount, and two more films on Blu-ray from Arrow Video’s excellent Shawscope: Volume One box set—Lau Kar-leung’s Challenge of the Masters (1976) and Executioners of Shaolin (1977). Enjoy!

More reviews are forthcoming, so be sure to keep checking back for them.

In announcement news today, Imprint Films has revealed that they’re announcing their July Blu-ray slate on Friday. Our intel suggests three Blu-ray box sets, two featuring filmmakers Walter Hill and Sidney J. Furie, along with another that looks at several films starring actor Gene Hackman. We’ll let Imprint announce the specific films officially and then bring you the news here when they do. [Read on here...]

We’ve got quite a bit of ground to cover here at The Bits today to wind down the week, starting with a pair of new disc reviews...

Tim has offered his thoughts on Russell Mulcahy’s Razorback (1984) on Blu-ray from Scream Factory.

And Dennis has taken a look at Cecile B. DeMille’s The Crusades (1935) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

As always, lots more new disc reviews are on the way next week, so be sure to check back for them.

Now then, we’ve got quite a lot of great new 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray release news to report today, starting with our friends at The Criterion Collection, who have just announced their July slate. [Read on here...]

All right, there hasn’t been a lot of release news to report over the last couple of days, but we do have a bunch of new disc reviews for you to enjoy...

I’ve taken a look at the Criterion Collection’s new 4K Ultra HD release of Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal (1957), which streets next week.

Tim has reviewed the DreamWorks animated spin-off/sequel Puss in Boots: The Last Wish in 4K Ultra HD from Universal.

Dennis has checked in with his thoughts on Elliott Nugent’s Never Say Die (1939) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

Stuart has offered his take on Fernando Trueba’s Memories of My Father (2020) on Blu-ray from the Cohen Media Group via Kino Lorber.

And finally, Stephen has reviewed Christopher Berkeley and Sam Liu animated Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham in 4K Ultra HD from DC and Warner Bros., as well as Adrian Lyne’s Flashdance (1983) in 4K Ultra HD from Paramount.

As always, more reviews are forthcoming, so be sure to keep checking back for them. [Read on here...]

We begin our Friday My Two Cents installment here at The Bits with a trio of new disc reviews…

Stephen has turned in his in-depth thoughts on George Stevens’ 1956 Hollywood classic Giant, starring James Dean, Rock Hudson, and Elizabeth Taylor, as recently released on 4K Ultra HD by Warner Bros.

Also, Dennis has checked in with this thoughts on Lyndall Hobbs’ Back to the Beach (1987) from Paramount and Joe Wiezycki’s Satan’s Children (1974) from AGFA and Something Weird Video.

Now then, the big release news today is that Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has finally officially announced two major catalog titles for 4K Ultra HD...

First, they’ve just set Tobe Hooper’s Poltergeist (1982) for release on 4K UHD and Digital on 9/20. The disc will feature HDR10 high dynamic range, with the previous 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. The package will include the previous Blu-ray extras on disc, including They Are Here: The Real World of Poltergeists, Part 1 – Science of the Spirits, They Are Here: The Real World of Poltergeists, Part 2 – Communing with the Dead, The Making of Poltergeist, and the film’s theatrical trailer.

And of course, the studio has just officially set Joel Schumacher’s The Lost Boys (1987) for release on 4K Ultra HD and Digital on 9/20 as well. Once again, you’ll get HDR10 high dynamic range and the previous 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. Both the 4K disc and the Blu-ray in the package will include audio commentary with Schumacher. [Read on here...]

Let’s have a quick round-up of Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD release news, and then I must dive back into my own review work over the next several days...

First up, it does indeed appear that Disney is preparing a 4K Ultra HD release of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. I’ve now got multiple retail and industry sources confirming this. However, don’t expect the sequels to be announced anytime soon. It’s possible that the studio is planning to release more films in the series next year if this first one sells well (and possibly promoted by the success of the films in streaming on Disney+) but for now Curse of the Black Pearl seems to be the only film immediately in the offing.

Also, while we’re on the topic of Disney, it seems that the Heat 4K release continues to be in limbo, but is still expected to arrive on the format sometime next year.

Meanwhile, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune is definitely shaping up for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD in early January sometime. Info some retailers suggests that the studio is targeting 1/11/22 as the street date. And for those of you who have been waiting, not only does it finally arrive in theaters tomorrow (with sneak peek preview screenings tonight in many US cities), the film premieres IN JUST TWO HOURS in 4K with HDR and Dolby Atmos on HBO Max. So get ready to enjoy a helluva good cinematic experience. [Read on here...]

We’re starting out the new week today here at The Bits with a trio of new disc reviews...

First up, Tim and I have taken a look at Arrow Video’s terrific new Limited Edition Blu-ray of Ridley Scott’s Legend. The 2-disc set is absolutely loaded with vintage and new extras, and it includes the US Theatrical Cut newly-remastered from a 4K scan, as well as the Director’s Cut. Legend is a challenging title for a lot of reasons, but Arrow’s done a really great job with this one. If you’re a fan of the film, this is as good as it’s ever looked, and this is essentially a complete archive of all the previous special features and more.

Also today, Stephen has reviewed Chloe Zhao’s first film, Songs My Brothers Taught Me, newly-released on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber. If that name is familiar, it’s because Zhao is the filmmaker who’s just made The Eternals for Marvel Studios. It sounds like this earlier work is pretty terrific.

And finally, Dennis has given Wallace Worsley’s 1923 version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame a look on Blu-ray from Kino Classics. As many of you will already be aware, this version features the great Lon Chaney in the role of Quasimodo. It’s worth a look if you haven’t seen it yet.

While we’re on the subject of Universal Monsters, I’m currently working on a review of the Universal Classic Monsters: Icons of Horror Collection in 4K and should have that up by the end of the week. I’m giving myself the week to work on it, however, because I’m attending a studio screening of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune tomorrow afternoon. And I have a sneaking suspicion that’s going to occupy my mind for the next few days afterwards. I’ll definitely post a few non-spoiler thoughts about that film as well this week, rest assured. [Read on here...]