Displaying items by tag: Michael Coate

“Fantasia went so far beyond the standards of the day that it was well and truly ‘ahead of its time,’ and ‘one of a kind.’” — Disney Historian Jeff Kurtti

The Digital Bits is pleased to present this retrospective commemorating the diamond anniversary of the release of Fantasia, Walt Disney’s innovative and acclaimed third feature-length animated production (after Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Pinocchio) featuring Leopold Stokowski conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra over the memorable fusion of image and music.  [Read on here...]

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With Paramount’s long-awaited (and lovingly-restored) My Fair Lady: 50th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray finally arriving in stores today, our own Michael Coate has published a look back at the film’s original theatrical release along with a new roundtable interview with historians about the film’s legacy. You can find that in his History, Legacy & Showmanship column today. Enjoy!

Also today, Tim Salmon’s Halloween Hangover Blu-ray review for the day is Shout!/Scream Factory’s Gravy. There are just four reviews left, so be sure to check back each day between now and Saturday.  [Read on here…]

[Editor’s Note: This article was originally scheduled to appear a year ago for the film’s 50th anniversary. The article was delayed so that it could be published to coincide with the delayed but now available Blu-ray Disc release.]

“My Fair Lady is probably the greatest popular smart musical ever made. The melodies soar, the characters endear and engage, and the wit of so much pointed commentary on social class, gender, money, and surface appearances never lapses into self-conscious cleverness.” — film historian and author Matthew Kennedy  [Read on here...]

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All right, today’s Halloween Hangover review from Tim is a look at the Region B release of Killer Klowns from Outer Space on Blu-ray from Arrow Video in the UK. That’s an old favorite of ours here at The Bits and it sounds like the disc improves on MGM’s US Blu- ray release a good deal. Do check it out.

Also today, we’re highlighting Michael Coate’s look back at Back to the Future on this the semi-official “Back to the Future Day” on the Internet (a.k.a., the day in the future Marty visits in the film). Everybody start hydrating your pizzas and drinking Pepsi Free. [Read on here…]

“Four Stars! One of the most endearing and accomplished of entertainments. The writing here is really the star. It would be a classic even in Hollywood’s golden era.” — Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune/At the Movies

The Digital Bits is pleased to present this retrospective commemorating the 30th anniversary of the release of Back to the Future, Robert Zemeckis’s “comedy adventure science fiction time travel love story” starring Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd.  [Read on here…]

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We’ve got a couple good things for you here at The Bits today, plus some good new release news too...

First up, Michael Coate has posted a nice look back at Stanley Kubrick’s Spartacus in honor of the film’s newly-remastered Blu-ray re-release by Universal. You’ll find that today in Michael’s History, Legacy & Showmanship column.

And Tim has posted the next installment of his Halloween Hangover, featuring a review of Manos: The Hands of Fate on Blu-ray from Synapse Films.  [Read on here…]

“This was the world of Spartacus…when Antoninus traded the luxury of Rome’s most palatial household to battle by the side of Spartacus…and learned that a slave can live, fight, die better than any Roman!”

The Digital Bits presents this retrospective on Spartacus, commemorating the 55th anniversary of its original release and the recent release of the film on Blu-ray.  [Read on here...]

[Editor’s Note: Be sure to like TheDigitalBits.com page on Facebook for breaking news, site updates on the go, discussion with our staff and other readers, giveaways and more!]

I’m busy working on Blu-ray reviews here at The Bits today, so today’s update is going to be quick. That said, we’ve got a couple cool things for you, plus some interesting release news.

First, our very own Michael Coate has turned in yet another great History, Legacy & Showmanship column today, featuring a look back at TV’s classic Get Smart in celebration of the show’s 50th anniversary! The column offers a great roundtable interview with historians Carl Birkmeyer, Lee Pfeiffer, Paul Scrabo, and Nate Sears. We hope you enjoy it!  [Read on here…]

“The fact that we aren’t preparing an anniversary celebration of My Mother the Car or Captain Nice is an indication of how many shows are deemed dispensable while a handful of others such as Get Smart resonate for generations to come.” — Lee Pfeiffer

Would you believe… Get Smart has turned 50? The Digital Bits is pleased to commemorate the golden anniversary of the premiere of Get Smart, the classic 60s era comedy series that spoofed the popular secret agent genre. Starring Don Adams as the unforgettable Maxwell Smart and Barbara Feldon as the beautiful and brilliant Agent 99, the series originally ran in prime time from 1965 to 1970 (four seasons on NBC plus an additional season on CBS) and since then has enjoyed a steady syndication and home-video afterlife.  [Read more here...]

“I think the insane nature of the material pushed everyone to really innovate and react with their most deft artistic muscle.” — Glenn Kenny

The Digital Bits is pleased to present this retrospective commemorating the silver anniversary of the release of GoodFellas, Martin Scorsese’s revered crime drama starring Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, and Joe Pesci in an Oscar-winning role.

The film, based upon Nicholas Pileggi’s book Wiseguy and which also starred Lorraine Bracco and Paul Sorvino, opened 25 years ago this week.

For the occasion The Bits features a Q&A with a trio of film historians and authors who offer their recollections and insight into the acclaimed film. [Read more here...]