Displaying items by tag: Michael Coate

Afternoon, folks! We’ve got a couple things for you today...

First up, Michael Coate has been busy again, this time with a new retrospective piece on John McTiernan’s Predator, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, which celebrates its 30th anniversary today. The piece features a great interview with film historian Eric Lichtenfeld. You’ll find it today in History, Legacy & Showmanship on The Bits. Enjoy!

In announcement news today, Shout! Factory has set Michael Schultz’s Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band for Blu-ray release on 9/26. On 9/19, they’re also releasing Dudes and The Moderns on Blu-ray as part of their Shout! Select series. [Read on here…]

“It’s an amazing accomplishment for a director’s first studio film.” – Action movie authority Eric Lichtenfeld

The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective commemorating the 30th anniversary of the release of Predator, John McTiernan’s sci-fi/action/horror film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers and Kevin Peter Hall and featuring Saturn Award-winning music, Golden Reel Award-winning sound effects and Academy Award-nominated visual effects. [Read on here...]

All right, we’re back here at The Bits with another great film retrospective column from our own Michael Coate, who’s celebrating the 35th anniversary of Tobe Hooper’s Poltergeist today in History, Legacy & Showmanship. As always, Michael details the film’s initial theatrical release and he’s got an interview with film historian Michael Matessino as well. Enjoy!

In new release news today, Paramount has set a John Wayne Double Feature on Blu-ray on 8/8, featuring Rio Lobo and Big Jake. Both films have been available on BD individually for a few years now.

HBO has set Crashing: The Complete First Season for Blu-ray and DVD release on 8/1. [Read on here…]

“It knows what scares you.”

The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective article commemorating the 35th anniversary of the release of Poltergeist, Tobe Hooper and Steven Spielberg’s acclaimed horror film starring Jobeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson and Zelda Rubinstein and featuring Academy Award-nominated Visual Effects, Music and Sound Effects Editing. [Read on here...]

All right, I hope you all had a great long holiday weekend – those of you in the States at least. And for the rest of you, I hope you had a great weekend plus Monday.

Here at The Bits today, we’ve got a few things for you to enjoy. First, reviews: We have four new Blu-ray reviews for you to check out, including Tim’s take on Universal’s Split and Smokey and the Bandit: 40th Anniversary Edition, as well as Paramount’s Saturday Night Fever: Director’s Cut. And I’ve taken a look at Madman Entertainment’s Region Free import Blu-ray of Frank Capra’s Lost Horizon – well worth checking out if you’re a fan of the film. [Read on here…]

“What we have here is a total lack of respect for the law!”

The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective article commemorating the 40th anniversary of the release of Smokey and the Bandit, the popular action comedy starring Burt Reynolds as Bo (aka Bandit), Sally Field as Carrie (aka Frog), Jerry Reed as Cledus (aka Snowman), and Jackie Gleason as the unforgettable Sheriff Buford T. Justice of Portague County. [Read on here...]

All right, I shouldn’t have tell any of you what today is... it’s Towel Day!

And also, of course, the 40th anniversary of a little film called Star Wars. Not Episode IV. Not A New Hope. Star Wars.

To recognize the occasion, we’ve got a couple things for you here at The Bits today.

First up, our very own Michael Coate has updated and expanded his excellent History, Legacy & Showmanship retrospective column, A Force to Be Reckoned With: Remembering “Star Wars” on its 40th Anniversary. He’s combed newspaper archives all across North America to produce a definitive history of the film’s debut theatrical release back in 1977-1978. Every theater that showed the film, the day it opened in that theater, all of it. Trust me, I’ve learned from personal experience that one’s memory of seeing the film back in 1977 is not as accurate as Michael’s exhaustive research – he’s sent me the vintage microfilmed newspaper clippings to prove it. [Read on here…]

“Star Wars is a landmark film, a work of such soaring imagination that it will set standards for years to come.” — Bob Thomas, Associated Press

[This is a revised and updated version of a previously published article.]

The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective article commemorating the 40th anniversary of the release of Star Wars, George Lucas’ legendary space opera that introduced the world to The Force and a host of memorable planets, spaceships and characters. [Read on here...]

We’ve got a bunch of good stuff for you today here at The Bits so let’s get right to it...

First up, Tim has just posted his review of Tibor Takacs’ The Gate from Lionsgate, part of their new Vestron Video Collector’s Series. The disc is now available in stores.

Meanwhile, Michael Coate has chimed in with a new History, Legacy & Showmanship column, celebrating today’s 40th anniversary of the hit ABC sitcom Three’s Company. It features an interview with author and series authority Chris Mann. Do give it a look. [Read on here…]

“It’s amazing how such a silly sitcom can help refuel the spirit by helping us appreciate life’s absurdities. Three’s Company constantly reminded that such a shift in perspective can help us tackle the not-so-funny stuff in life.” — Come and Knock on Our Door author Chris Mann

The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective article commemorating the 40th anniversary of Three’s Company, the farcical situation comedy television series starring John Ritter as Jack Tripper which showcased his comedic exploits with his two female roommates, friends and nosy landlord. [Read more here...]