Displaying items by tag: My Two Cents

We’re finishing out the week here at The Bits beginning with two more new disc reviews, including...

Tim’s look at Martin Campbell’s No Escape (1994, aka Escape from Absolom) on Blu-ray from Unearthed Films.

And Dennis’ take on Joseph Anthony’s The Rainmaker (1956) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

And we definitely have some significant news to report today, both in terms of titles and more general industry goings-on...

First up, Imprint Films has just announced their very first 4K Ultra HD title and it’s an upgrade of their debut Imprint Collection Blu-ray release... Byron Haskin’s The War of the Worlds (1953). The street date is 12/15. The 2-disc set will feature both a 4K UHD and the previous Blu-ray edition in Steelbook packaging, housed in a 3D lenticular hardcase with a 44-page collector’s booklet. You can see the packaging below. [Read on here...]

We have four new disc reviews for you to enjoy today, along with some release news...

First, I’ve taken a look at the long-awaited physical 4K Ultra HD release of Joseph Kosinski’s Top Gun: Maverick from Paramount. You’ll be glad to know that the disc’s A/V quality is demo worthy, though the extras are somewhat wanting and you have to buy the Blu-ray version separately.

Stephen has offered up a review of Tobe Hooper’s Poltergeist, also in 4K Ultra HD from Warner Bros. And he’s got a review of Rob Zombie’s The Munsters on regular Blu-ray as well from Universal.

Finally, Tim has reviewed a film that was thought to be lost but has now been re-discovered and restored for Blu-ray release: George A. Romero’s The Amusement Park (1975) from Shudder and RLJ Entertainment.

More reviews are definitely on the way, so be sure to watch for them.

And we’ve also posted a major update of our Release Dates & Artwork section here at The Bits (listed as Cover Art in the navigation bar above), featuring a ton of new Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD cover images and Amazon.com pre-order links. As always, anytime you order literally anything from Amazon after clicking through to them from one of our links, you’re helping to support our work here at The Bits and we really appreciate it! (Thanks to our own Russell Hammond for his work on that section.) [Read on here...]

Welcome to a new week, Bits-ers! And we’re starting with the week with some great new release news...

The big headline is that the Criterion Collection has just announced their January 2023 release slate, and it’s got something for everyone.

It starts on January 3rd with Terry Gilliam’s The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988) (Spine #1166 – 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo and Blu-ray), featuring a new 4K restoration approved by the director with Dolby Vision HDR. The set will also include the film on Blu-ray along with a third Blu-ray of special features.

Among those are many legacy extras along with a new video essay by critic/filmmaker David Cairns and Gilliam’s 1974 animated short Miracle of Flight.

Next up is John M. Stahl’s Imitation of Life (1934) on January 10th, staring Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers (Spine #1167 – Blu-ray and DVD). You’ll get a new 4K digital restoration, along with new interviews with author Miriam J. Petty and Imogen Sara Smith, and the trailer. [Read on here...]

Today’s news update here at The Digital Bits is a quick one, with one new disc review and a couple pieces of release news to close out the week. First, that review...

Tim has turned in his in-depth thoughts on The Outer Limits: Season Two (1964-65) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics. And don’t forget that he reviewed Season One on Blu-ray just yesterday. Both are great box sets, packed with audio commentaries and rare extras, and are well worth a look.

Now then, the only major piece of announcement news we have today is that Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has just set P.J. Hogan’s romantic comedy My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997) for release on 4K Ultra HD on 12/13.

The 4K presentation has been remastered from the original camera negative and will feature Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio. All of the legacy Blu-ray features will be included, and—just for this release—the studio had added an alternate ending and nearly 20 minutes of deleted scenes, all never-before-seen. You can see the cover artwork above left. [Read on here...]

We’ve got a number of new disc reviews up on The Bits today for you all to enjoy, including...

Dennis’ take on Frank Capra’s Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) on Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.

Stephen’s thoughts on Michael Lehmann’s Hudson Hawk (1991) and Frank Borzage’s Little Man, What Now? (1934) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

And Tim’s look at Peter Traynor’s Death Game (1977) on Blu-ray from Grindhouse Releasing, The Outer Limits: Season One (1963-64) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, and George A. Romero’s classic Night of the Living Dead (1968) on 4K from Criterion.

Rest assured that lots more reviews are on the way as well, so be sure to keep checking back for them.

In announcement news today, Eureka! has just revealed a new 4K Ultra HD release for the UK, this one featuring Robert Wiene’s landmark horror classic Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari (1920). Look for it to street on 5 December in a limited edition of just 3000 units, complete with a hardbound slipcase and a 100-page booklet. You can see the cover artwork above left and also below the break. [Read on here...]

We start today with two more new disc reviews...

Stephen has taken a look at Adrian Lyne’s Indecent Proposal (1993), as recently released in 4K Ultra HD by Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

And Tim has given Paramount’s controversial new 4K Ultra HD release of Sean S. Cunningham’s Friday the 13th (1980) an in-depth look.

That last title has unfortunately caused some debate and division among reviewers and fans of the film for what appear to be revisionist remastering and grading choices, particularly compared to the recent Scream Factory release (which was highly rated by all).

In any case, both titles—and these reviews—are worth your time and attention if you’re a fan of these films.

Also today, we have a bit of 4K Ultra HD release news, first from HBO... [Read on here...]

All right, there’s some big catalog announcement news today, though it won’t come as a surprise to anyone who reads The Bits regularly. But first...

We’ve posted a new Blu-ray review here at The Bits, featuring my take on Akira Kurosawa’s 70 mm masterpiece Dersu Uzala (1975), which is new on Blu-ray from Imprint Films.

It features a best-yet-on-disc 1080p image presentation mastered from a recent 2K restoration of the film. And it adds a bounty of special features, including two new documentary featurettes and a terrific new audio commentary by Japanese film historian Stuart Galbraith IV.

For English-language speakers who have been waiting to see this film on Blu-ray, this disc is long overdue and highly welcome.

Now then, the big release news today is that Paramount has finally officially announced the 4K Ultra HD release of Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994) on 12/6. It’s available in both Amaray packaging and Limited Edition Collector’s Steelbook packaging—both should be widely available. It appears that both Dolby Vision and HDR10 will be included, along with the previous 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio mix. [Read on here...]

We’ve got two more new disc reviews for you today here at The Bits...

Stephen has taken a look at The Films of Doris Wishman: The Twilight Years on Blu-ray from AGFA, Something Weird, and Vinegar Syndrome, a three-disc set that includes seven exploitation films that Wishman directed between 1970 and 1977.

And Dennis has turned in his thoughts on Gordon Hessler’s The Oblong Box (1969), an American International Pictures film on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

As for today’s release news, let’s start with the big announcement up front: Lionsgate has just officially set Russell Mulcahy’s Highlander: Director’s Cut (1986) for release on 4K Ultra HD on 12/13, just as we expected.

Based on a new restoration done by StudioCanal, the disc will feature Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10 high dynamic range, along with 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio surround sound.

Two versions will be available, a wide release 4K in Amaray packaging and a Best Buy-exclusive Steelbook. Each will include the film on Ultra HD and Blu-ray, along with a selection of four art cards. [Read on here...]

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...]

We’ve got three new disc reviews for you today, starting with my take on Paramount’s new George Pal Double Feature of Byron Haskin’s The War of the Worlds (1953) on 4K Ultra HD and Rudolph Maté’s When Worlds Collide (1951) on regular Blu-ray Disc. Unfortunately, both discs are... problematical... as you may have heard here and elsewhere. (And I should note that we have Paramount’s official position on War of the Worlds in the review text.) But they may still be worth your consideration so do check it out.

Also today, Tim has posted his thoughts on Jack Bender’s Child’s Play 3 (1991) in 4K Ultra HD from Scream Factory.

And Stephen has chimed in with his thoughts on Jeff Kanew’s Natural Enemies (1979) on Blu-ray from Fun City Editions via Vinegar Syndrome.

I’ve also just gotten my hands on Imprint Film’s new all-region Blu-ray of Akira Kurosawa’s Dersu Uzala (1975) and it’s pretty terrific. I’ve never seen the film looking better than it does here, and there are some nice extras on board as well, including a cracking new audio commentary by Japanese film expert Stuart Galbraith IV. I’ll have a full review here on The Bits in the next day or two. [Read on here...]