Displaying items by tag: Vinegar Syndrome

We start today with three more new disc reviews.

First up is my look at Random Space Media’s recent Breaking Bad: The Complete Series Blu-ray box set, an all region release that includes the Netflix streaming sequel El Camino. Note that this set is currently selling for the same price on Amazon as Sony’s wide-release Blu-ray set that does not include the sequel film.

Also today, Tim has posted his thoughts on Roland Klick’s Deadlock (1970), a fascinating film newly released in 4K by Subkultur Entertainment via Vinegar Syndrome.

And Stephen has turned in a new 4K review as well, this one of Stephanie Rothman’s Terminal Island (1972) on Ultra HD, also from Vinegar Syndrome.

Now then, in announcement news today, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has made their Mad Max Anthology official for release on 4K Ultra HD and Digital on 11/2, just as we’ve been expecting for weeks now. [Read on here...]

We’re closing out the week here at The Digital Bits today with another new disc review and a little bit more release news as well...

First up, I’ve given M. Night Shyamalan’s Unbreakable (2000) a look in 4K Ultra HD from Disney. This was an early Vista Series DVD title that eventually found its way to Blu-ray in 2008. But the good news is that not only has the film gotten a terrific 4K remaster for UHD, the Blu-ray in the package is remastered as well. And both are a major improvement over any previous release. I think fans of the film will be pleased with this one.

As always, lots more new disc reviews are cooking for next week, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for them.

Now then... in announcement news today, our friends at Arrow Video have just revealed their December release slate, which includes the previously announced Shawscope: Volume One Blu-ray box set along with My Stepmother Is an Alien on Blu-ray in the US, UK, and Canada, as well as The Last Matinee and the Rainer Werner Fassbinder Collection: Volume II (includes Fear Eats the Soul, Effi Briest, Fox and His Friends & Chinese Roulette, and The Marriage of Maria Braun) on Blu-ray in the UK only, and the Giallo Essentials Collection (includes What Have They Done to Your Daughters?, Torso, and Strip Nude for Your Killer) on Blu-ray in the US and Canada only. The street date for all seems to be 12/7, save for Shawscope: Volume One and My Stepmother Is an Alien, which appear to be due on or about 12/14. You can see the cover artwork for the Fassbinder set above left. [Read on here...]

We have some new announcement news for you today, but first more reviews...

I’ve posted my thoughts on Marvel’s Black Widow in 4K Ultra HD, directed by Cate Shortland. And surprise, the film is finally available to order from Amazon.com, so there’s that.

Also today, Tim has reviewed Michael Chaves’ The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It in 4K UHD from Warner Bros. Note that the studio is now calling it The Conjuring 3 just to avoid confusion.

And finally, Dennis has turned in his two cents on George Stevens’ A Place in the Sun (1951) as newly-released on Blu-ray as part of the Paramount Presents line-up.

More reviews are coming tomorrow, so keep your eyes peeled for them. [Read on here...]

We’ve got more great new disc reviews for you to enjoy today, as well as more release news too...

First up, Tim has posted his thoughts on Richard Alan Greenberg’s Little Monsters (1989), coming on 9/15 to Blu-ray from Lionsgate via their Vestron Video Collector’s Series.

Tim has also given William Witney’s Master of the World (1961) a look on Blu-ray, a hybrid adaptation of a pair of classic Jules Vern novels (Robur the Conqueror and Master of the World). That arrives on Blu-ray on 8/31 from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

And finally, Tim has taken Roger Corman’s The Raven (1963) out for a spin on Blu-ray, starring Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, and Boris Karloff. That’s also coming from Kino Lorber Studio Classics on 8/31.

In terms of announcement news today, the big one is that Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has officially revealed a title we’ve had on our 4K List here at The Bits for a while now: J. Lee Thompson’s The Guns of Navarone. Look for it to arrive on 4K Ultra HD on 10/12 in honor of the film’s 60th anniversary. [Read on here...]

All right, it’s been a busy last several days here at The Bits. For one thing, just personally, I had my mother visiting from North Dakota all last week for the first time in over two years given the pandemic. And that was great, but of course it set me back on 4K review work (which I intend to catch up on this week).

I’ve also just spent most of today on the phone with industry sources, gathering information for our big preview of 4K Ultra HD catalog releases that are coming in the second half of 2021. And that’s the crux of today’s post here at The Bits, but more on that in a minute.

First, we have a couple more new disc reviews to share with you...

Dennis has posted his thoughts on Andrew V. McLaglen’s 1965 Civil War drama Shenandoah, which stars Jimmy Stewart. The film arrives on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics on 7/27.

And Stephen has offered a look at John Sturges’ acclaimed 1959 western Last Train from Gun Hill, a VistaVision classic newly released on Blu-ray as part of the Paramount Presents line-up. [Read on here...]

We’re starting today’s post as always with more new disc reviews...

In anticipation of Zack Snyder’s Justice League (I should have that 4K disc in hand for review sometime in the next few days), I’ve gone back to take a look at the director’s recently-remastered new 4K edition of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice – Ultimate Edition which was released in March by the Warner Archive Collection. The disc includes a revised HDR grade and a new variable aspect ratio presentation that includes 1.43 IMAX framing for select scenes. There’s a new commentary with the director as well, so it’s definitely worth a look if you’re a fan of the film.

Also today, I’ve given Gunpowder & Sky’s new US 4K release of the indie sci-fi film Prospect a look (an Ultra HD release that’s being distributed by Vinegar Syndrome). It offers a higher video bitrate than the German 4K release I’ve reviewed previously here, along with newly-produced extras and a nifty little in-universe booklet in the packaging. It’s highly recommended for fans of the film.

And because we’ve been getting a lot of questions about it: Yes, I will be reviewing Paramount and Lucasfilm’s Indiana Jones: 4-Film Collection in 4K Ultra HD. The disc streets next Tuesday, we should have our review copy in hand sometime over the next several days. Rest assured, as soon as we have it, I’ll get that title reviewed here on The Bits post-haste. [Read on here...]

All right, I trust you all had a fine and long Memorial Day weekend—those of you here in the States at least. We’ve got some good Blu-ray and 4K news to report today, but first more new disc reviews...

Tim has posted his thoughts on John Guillerman’s King Kong (1976), now available as a Collector’s Edition Blu-ray from Scream Factory.

He’s also weighed in on Vincent Robert’s The Fear (1995) on Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome.

Meanwhile, Dennis has turned in a look at George Abbott and Stanley Donen’s Damn Yankees (1958) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.

And Stephen has weighed in as well with a look Michael Ritchie’s Smile (1975) on Blu-ray from Fun City Editions. [Read on here...]

All right, we have some big catalog announcement news to report on today. But first, a few more new disc reviews...

Tim has posted his thoughts on Steve Wang’s Drive (1997), which is newly released on Blu-ray as part of the MVD Rewind Collection.

And Dennis has taken a look at another classic Mae West film, Lowell Sherman’s She Done Him Wrong (1933), which is coming on 6/29 from our friends at Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

Just to let you know, I do expect to have a copy of Zack Snyder’s Justice League in 4K soon, imported from Zavvi, and I will be reviewing it here on The Bits as soon as it comes in, probably next week. And there are more Blu-ray and 4K reviews on the way for later next week after the long Memorial Day holiday here in the States. [Read on here...]

We’re starting off the new week with a brand new review... and a brand new reviewer!

We’re very pleased to welcome Stephen Bjork to The Digital Bits team. Like many of us, Stephen is a lifelong student of film, who worked for many years as a district manager for the Video Update brick-and-mortar movie rental chain, back in the VHS, Beta, Laserdisc and early DVD days, before moving into sales. In that capacity, he attended many industry events—I probably bumped into him without realizing it at the old Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) trade shows. Stephen knows film, and he’s more than fluent with the state-of-the-art in home video technology, up to and including Digital and 4K Ultra HD. He’s also been a Digital Bits reader for many years, and a friend on social media into the bargain. So we’re confident he’s going to fit right in around here.

Stephen will be reviewing both Blu-ray and 4K titles for us, and he’s kicking that work off with his thoughts on an import 4K title that might be new to some of you: Robert D. Krzykowski’s The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot (2018). It’s a surprisingly great little drama starring Sam Elliott that a lot of you might have overlooked a I did. There was a US release of the film on Blu-ray and DVD from RLJE back in 2019, but our friends at Capelight Pictures in Germany actually did a proper physical Ultra HD release. And it turns out, it’s pretty damn good. You can import it from Amazon Germany and a few copies are available on US Amazon as well. The 4K works on all players, but note that the Blu-ray and DVD disc in the package are region locked. In any case, we hope you enjoy the review! And you can look forward to more from Stephen in the weeks and months ahead.

Welcome aboard, Stephen! [Read on here...]

We’re starting the new week off today with a bunch of new disc reviews. I’ve gone on a 4K Ultra HD review spree over the last week, and have completed and posted my looks at the following titles:

Jan de Bont’s Speed in 4K from 20th Century Studios and Disney, which streets tomorrow.

Ric Roman Waugh’s Greenland in 4K, a German import disc that came out earlier this year from Tobis Film and LEONINE Distribution. (It’s worth importing if you like the film, as Universal and STX seem to have no plans as yet to release it in 4K here in the States).

Sergio Leone’s The Good, the Bad and the Ugly in 4K from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, a must-have disc which came out last week but is out of stock almost everywhere at the moment. (Rest assured, the company says more copies are on the way very soon, so do NOT pay scalper prices).

And Don Taylor’s The Final Countdown in 4K from Blue Underground, which streets on 5/25.

Meanwhile, Dennis has just offered his thoughts on Shaka King’s Judas and the Black Messiah on standard Blu-ray from Warner Bros, a disc which also streets tomorrow. [Read on here...]