Items filtered by date: November 2012

All right, we have official word from Disney on the extras you’ll find on those new animated Blu-rays set for release on 3/12…

The Who Framed Roger Rabbit?: 25th Anniversary Edition BD will include 3 animated shorts (Tummy Trouble, Roller-Coaster Rabbit and Trail Mix-Up) all digitally remastered along with the Who Made Roger Rabbit? documentary, audio commentary, 5 featurettes (On Set! Benny the Cab, Behind the Ears: The True Story, Before & After Split-Screen, Toon Stand-Ins and The Valiant Files) a deleted scene, a gallery and the theatrical trailer.

The Mulan: 2 Film Collection BD (Mulan and Mulan II) will include audio commentary, 11 deleted scenes, 15 featurettes and 6 music videos.

The Brother Bear: 2 Film Collection BD (Brother Bear and Brother Bear 2) will include Rutt & Tuke’s commentary, a deleted song, deleted scenes, outtakes, Bear Legends, Sing-Along Songs, a music video and 2 featurettes (The Making of Brother Bear and Behind the Music of Brother Bear 2).

And The Hunchback of Notre Dame: 2 Film Collection (The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Hunchback of Notre Dame II) will include audio commentary, a multi-language reel and 3 featurettes (The Making of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Behind the Scenes with Jennifer Love Hewitt and A Gargoyle’s Life).

Also today, Warner Home Video has set The Factory for release on DVD and digital download on 2/19.

Drafthouse Films has set Wake in Fright for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 1/15.

Magnolia Home Entertainment will release Nature Calls and Nobody Walks on Blu-ray and DVD on 1/22.

Shout! Factory has set MADtv: Season 2 for DVD only release on 3/26.

And finally, Trek Core has posted a few details about the extras you’ll find on CBS’ Star Trek: Enterprise – Season One Blu-ray release which is tentatively expected to hit stores in March. All of the previous DVD content will carry over. New bonus features will include a 3-part making of documentary on the process of launching Enterprise and making the first season, all-new audio commentaries including one with executive producer Brannon Braga and actors Connor Trinneer and Dominic Keating on the episode Shuttlepod One, and video of an in-depth discussion between Braga and fellow executive producer Rick Berman. As with The Next Generation Blu-rays, Roger Lay Jr. and Robert Meyer Burnett are crafting the new documentary material. Sounds terrific!

Stay tuned…

- Bill Hunt

All right, kicking things off today, our own Russell Hammond has once again updated the Release Dates & Artwork section with all the latest Blu-ray, DVD and Video Game cover artwork and Amazon.com pre-order links. As always, a portion of absolutely anything at all that you order from Amazon in the same session after clicking through to them from our links goes to help support our work here at The Bits and we really do appreciate it!

The big release news today is that Criterion has announced their March Blu-ray and DVD slate, including Terrence Malick’s Badlands (Cat #651 - BD and DVD - due 3/19), Charlie Chaplin’s Monsieur Verdoux (#652 - BD and DVD - due 3/26), Robert Bresson’s A Man Escaped (#650 - BD and DVD - due 3/26), Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (#173 - BD and DVD - due 3/19), Fritz Lang’s Ministry of Fear (#649 - BD and DVD - due 3/12) and Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr’s cult classic The Blob (#91 - BD only - due 3/12)! Check out some of the cover art below.

Also, Paramount has set Paranormal Activity 4 for release on Blu-ray/DVD Combo and DVD on 1/29. It will include both the theatrical cut and an unrated cut of the film, along with The Recovered Files which is described as "nearly 30 minutes of found footage" (SRP $39.99 and $29.99).

Lionsgate and Summit will release The Cold Light of Day on Blu-ray and DVD on 1/29 as well.

And 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has just made Taken 2 available in digital HD streaming on Amazon Instant Video, CinemaNow, Google Play, iTunes, NOOK Video, PlayStation, VUDU, Xbox Video and YouTube. Note that the Blu-ray and DVD versions street on 1/15.

Here’s a look at the Blu-ray cover art for some of Criterion’s March BD slate as well as Disney’s Brother Bear: 2 Movie Collection (due 3/12)...

Stay tuned!

- Bill Hunt

All right… just a couple quick items today but they’re good ones!

First up, Disney has officially set the Who Framed Roger Rabbit?: 25th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray for release on 3/12 (SRP $26.50). Not only will you find the cover artwork below, the title is already up for pre-order on Amazon.com!

Also today, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has set Seven Psychopaths for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 1/29 (SRP $35.99 and $30.99). Extras will include 6 featurettes (Martin McDonagh’s Seven Psychopaths, Colin Farrell is Marty, Woody Harrelson is Charlie, Crazy Locations, Seven Psychocats and Layers).

Sony has also set Smashed for Blu-ray and DVD release on 3/12 (SRP $35.99 and $30.99). Extras will include audio commentary with director James Ponsoldt and actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead, a “making of” featurette, footage of the Toronto Film Festival Red Carpet and Q&A and deleted scenes.

And Amazon.com is now taking pre-orders for Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master on Blu-ray and DVD from The Weinstein Company. Street date is TBA, but SRP is $39.99 and $29.99 respectively.

Here’s a look at the Blu-ray cover artwork for Disney’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit?: 25th Anniversary Edition, the Mulan: 2 Movie Collection and The Hunchback of Notre Dame: 2 Movie Collection (street date for all 3/12). All are now available for pre-order on Amazon by clicking on the covers…

Back tomorrow morning with more. Stay tuned…

- Bill Hunt

All right, given the tragic news of the day I’m sure many of you are about as interested in BD/DVD news as I am in reporting it. Nevertheless, there’s a bit of news. So here goes…

Lionsgate has added a couple more titles to its February release slate, including Weeds: Season Eight and Nurse Jackie: Season Four, both due on Blu-ray and DVD on 2/12.

Disney has set Michael Mann’s The Insider for release on Blu-ray on 2/19. And for you Disney animation fans, look for Brother Bear, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and a Mulan: Special Edition all on Blu-ray on 3/12.

Paramount is releasing the classic Sampson and Delilah on DVD on 3/12. No word yet of a Blu-ray release.

20th Century Fox is bringing The Bible to Blu-ray sometime in early 2013, probably right around Easter. Watch for an official street date shortly. Not sure if this is a new edition or a re-solicit of the 1966 John Huston film on BD that first came out in 2011.

And finally Cohen Media Group has set Farewell, My Queen for Blu-ray and DVD release on 1/15.

Finally today, as all of you know The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is now playing at your local cineplex. I had to good fortune to catch an early screening of it in HFR 3D yesterday afternoon, and it’s well worth your time. However, I would suggest that if you’re planning on catching the 3D presentation, make sure it’s not one that uses active shutter glasses. That’s what I saw and while the film looked great, the active shutter glasses gave me a serious headache. I’ve heard that RealD 3D is the way to go, so I’m going to check it out again that way over the weekend hopefully to compare.

Anyway, have a great and safe weekend everyone. And our hearts go out to all those who've been affected by today’s sad events in Connecticut. Peace out.

- Bill Hunt

All right, we’ve got a rundown of new announcements related to indie, deep catalog, genre, music and documentary titles for you today…

First up, Paramount has officially confirmed the Blu-ray 3D Combo release of Top Gun 3D on 2/19. Extras will include everything on the standard 2D release – you’ll get a BD3D disc, the existing 2D BD and an UltraViolet digital copy.

Hen’s Tooth Video will release the classic The House That Dripped Blood on DVD on 2/26 (SRP $19.95). The video will be anamorphic widescreen. The film stars Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing.

Magnolia Home Entertainment will release Compliance on Blu-ray and DVD on 1/8.

Universal will release Hercules: The Legendary Journeys - Season Four and Xena: Warrior Princess - Season Four on DVD on 3/12.

I think we’ve mentioned this one before, but just in case: Image Entertainment will release Spike Lee’s Red Hook Summer on Blu-ray and DVD on 12/21 (SRP $29.97 and $27.97). Image has also set the horror film Cherry Tree Lane for DVD only release on 1/29.

Cartoon Lagoon studios has just released Captain Cornelius’ Cartoon Lagoon on DVD on Amazon.com (SRP $12.99). It includes Episode One (32 minutes), the 90-minute bonus show Captain Cornelius Cartoon’s Cartoon All-Star Revue, skits, classic cartoons, new cartoons (Superjail director Mike Carlo’s animated short President of the Universe and Gabe Swarr’s Life in the Analog Age shorts), musical guests The Gregory Brothers and a special guest star interview with Butch Hartman (creator of Fairly OddParents).

Artsploitation Films has the Japanese gangster flick Hard Romanticker coming to DVD on 1/22 (SRP $24.99). It’ll include a trailer for the film and a 12-page booklet.

Dark Sky Films will release Sleep Tight on Blu-ray and DVD on 1/8.

Timeless Media is releasing The Loretta Young Show: The Best of The Complete Series – 100th Birthday Edition on DVD on 2/12. It’s a 17-disc box set with episodes from the show and a ton of rare, vintage bonus content.

Shout! Factory has set Mike Judge’s The Goode Family: The Complete Series for DVD release on 1/8.

The History Channel’s The Men Who Built America documentary series will arrive on 3-disc Blu-ray and DVD on 1/22 from Lionsgate Home Entertainment (SRP $39.99 and $29.98). Lionsgate will also release Duck Dynasty: Season 2, Volume 1 on DVD on 3/5.

Well Go USA Entertainment has set director Jin-ho Hur’s re-imagined Chinese version of Dangerous Liaisons for Blu-ray and DVD release on 2/12. Look also for director Dong-hoo Choi’s Korean heist film The Thieves on Blu-ray and DVD on 2/12.

Viva Pictures has set the animated Back to the Sea for DVD only release on 12/31, featuring the voice talents of Christian Slater, Mark Hamill, Tom Kenny and Tim Curry.

And finally, Maston films will release director Bruce McDonald’s recent documentary Music from the Big House on Blu-ray and DVD on 1/8 (SRP $19.98 each).

Here’s a look at the BD cover art for Shout! Factory’s Futureworld (due 2/26), temp/retail art for Paramount’s Flight (TBA) and Disney’s retail art for Wreck it Ralph (also TBA)…

For all those of you heading out to brave long lines to see The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey tonight at midnight shows around the country, have a great time! There’s a pretty good meteor shower going on tonight as well, so while you’re standing in line or on the way home, be sure to look up. Stay tuned!

- Bill Hunt

All right, our own Russell Hammond kicks this off today with the usual weekly update of the Release Dates & Artwork section. As always, a portion of anything you order from Amazon after clicking through to them from our links goes to help support our work here at The Bits and we really appreciate it!

Now then… here’s something exciting for you catalog fans: 20^th Century Fox is bringing Willow to Blu-ray/DVD Combo on 3/12 in honor of the film’s 25th anniversary. The film has been given a new digital transfer and restoration by Lucasfilm and contains all-new extras including deleted scenes with commentary by Ron Howard, the Willow: An Unlikely Hero diary of Warwick Davis, the original 1998 The Making of an Adventure featurette with all-new Ron Howard introduction, the From Morf to Morphing: The Dawn of Digital Filmmaking documentary with all-new Dennis Muren introduction, a gallery of matte painting artwork and Easter eggs. See the cover artwork below.

Fox has also set The Sessions for Blu-ray and DVD release on 2/12, featuring 5 featurettes (John Hawkes Becomes Mark O’Brien, Helen Hunt as the Sex Surrogate, The Women Who Loved Mark O’Brien, Writer/Director Ben Lewin Finds Inspiration and A Session with the Cast) and deleted scenes.

Warner Home Video and the BBC have set the documentary Africa for Blu-ray and DVD release on 2/26 (SRP $34.98 and $29.98). Also, The House of Cards Trilogy: Special Edition is due on Blu-ray and DVD on 1/15 (SRP $49.99 and $39.98) and David Attenborough’s Life Stories is due on Blu-ray and DVD on 2/12 (SRP $29.98 and $24.98).

And Universal has set Silent Hill: Revelation for release on Blu-ray 3D Combo, Blu-ray Combo and DVD on 2/12. Extras will include the A Look Inside Silent Hill: Revelation featurette.

Here’s a look at the Blu-ray cover artwork for Fox’s Willow and The Sessions, and Summit’s Alex Cross (street date 2/5). Only Alex Cross is currently available for pre-order on Amazon but we’ll update the links when the others go live…

As always, stay tuned!

- Bill Hunt

All right, we’ve got a couple more interesting title announcements for you, mostly on the catalog front.

First, Olive Films has set the 1958 version of Les Miserables for BD release on 2/19 (SRP $29.95) along with Don Giovanni (1979). On 1/22, look for The Quiet Man: 60th Anniversary Edition (1952) and It’s in the Bag (1945).

Here’s something cool for you genre fans: Shout! Factory has announced the Blu-ray release of Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann on 3/19 (SRP $19.93). Shout! has also just set Futureworld for Blu-ray release on 3/26 (SRP $19.93). Recall that Warner has Westworld coming on Blu-ray on 3/5 (SRP $19.98). In addition, Shout! has From Beyond and Phantasm II set for BD release on 3/5 (see cover artwork below).

Also, Sony has set Here Comes the Boom for Blu-ray Combo and DVD release on 2/5 (SRP $35.99 and $30.99).

Entertainment One has set War of the Dead for Blu-ray/DVD release on 1/8 (SRP $24.98 and $19.98).

Millennium Entertainment and Action Slate have Dead Sushi on Blu-ray and DVD on 1/22 – the BD is exclusive to Best Buy.

And Blue Underground will release Fifty Shades of De Sade on BD on 4/23.

In other news today, Warner has just released a new trailer for Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel (see below). Looks pretty good. I’m cautiously optimistic.

Back on the Star Trek into Darkness topic, there’s a bunch of new spoilers for the film that are leaking out around the net today, so take care when you go searching around. If you’re trying to go into the film with a fresh slate with it hits theatres next year, be careful what you read!

Here’s a look at the BD cover art for Shout!’s Timerider and Phantasm II and Fox’s Life of Pi (BD3D - TBA)…

Stay tuned…

- Bill Hunt

Morning, folks! Hope you all had a fine weekend as we head toward the Christmas holiday. Sarah and I spent much of last week in Philadelphia visiting her step-father, which was nice but obviously a bit sad as well given the events in our lives of the last year. We did manage to take a quick day trip by train to New York City. What a great place that is! I had to drop by the Hayden Planetarium and the American Museum of Natural History – two of my favorite places in NYC. Sadly there was no time to visit The Strand bookstore, but we walked the length of The High Line park, got a slice of pizza at Grand Central Station, took in the Christmas lights at Rockefeller Center and went to a Christmas show at Radio City Music Hall. I even managed to drop my Midtown Comics on the way back to the train, where George Takei was about to do a signing. Pretty cool. All in all, not bad for 12 hours!

Anyway, somehow I managed to get updates posted all last week except for Friday, which was our travel day back to California. As I’m sure you’re all aware, the first teaser trailer for Star Trek into Darkness broke late on Thursday. Pretty interesting. A second trailer is supposed to be unveiled this week sometime, and then 9 minute of film will be shown in front of select IMAX screenings of The Hobbit starting later this week. Based on the teaser – and comments from friends who are (or are connected to) Star Trek production insiders – I’m fairly certain I know who the villain is. I have to say I’m cautiously excited. Hard not to be – it’s Star Trek for heaven’s sake! No it’s not the same as classic Trek of old, but then nothing could be. And I enjoyed the first of the reboot films, so fingers crossed this one will be at least as enjoyable.

Speaking of fingers crossed, this is obviously Hobbit week – the first film in the planned trilogy, An Unexpected Journey – opens on Thursday. Matt and I have our plans all lined up to see the film in 48fps 3D. We’re pretty excited about it. In fact, we’d planned to start out the week by attending a digital screening of The Lord of the Rings: Extended Edition marathon on Saturday. But fate was not on our side – about 40 minutes into The Fellowship of the Ring, a power transformer blew outside the theater we were in (the Edwards Spectrum 21 & RPX in Irvine) and the entire theater went dark. Power company estimated the repair time at 6-8 hours so the whole screening was cancelled! It was a total bummer. The films sure looked and sounded great – what little we saw of them anyway. We’re hopeful Regal and Fathom Events will reschedule the screening this week… we’ll see.

All right, so let’s run down the latest announcement news…

Amazon.com is now showing Warner’s Argo for Blu-ray/DVD Combo release on 2/19 (SRP $35.99 but Amazon has it for just $25.19). There’s no cover art or official announcement yet but we’d expect one soon.  Same drill with Warner’s Cloud Atlas Blu-ray - it’s available for pre-order on from Amazon with a 2/5 street date (SRP $35.99 but Amazon again has it for just $25.19). Amazon also has Fox’s Life of Pi Blu-ray 3D and Paramount’s Flight Blu-ray available for pre-order with no street date listed.

Sony has set Aladdin and the Death Lamp for DVD only release on 2/12, followed by Company of Heroes on Blu-ray and DVD on 3/19. Extras on Company will include deleted scenes and 2 featurettes (In the Trenches: Filming Company of Heroes and Fabricating World War II). Sony also has Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning for Blu-ray and DVD release on 1/22. Included will be audio commentary with director John Hyams and Dolph Lundgren and the 3-part Days of Reckoning documentary (including Coming into Focus, There Is No End and Production Wrap).

Lionsgate has set Alex Cross for Blu-ray and DVD release on 2/4, followed by Sinister on both formats on 2/19.

MTV and Paramount have set Jersey Shore: The Final Season for DVD only release on 3/19.

Nickelodeon and Paramount have Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Rise of the Turtles coming on DVD only on 2/26.

And retail sources tell us that Disney and Pixar are tentatively set to release Monsters, Inc. 3D on Blu-ray 3D Combo on 2/19.

Here’s a look at the Blu-ray cover artwork for Disney’s Monsters, Inc. 3D and Sony’s Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning and the DVD art for Sony’s Robot and Frank (due 2/12)…

Stay tuned…

- Bill Hunt

We're kicking things off here at The Bits today with a new Blu-ray Disc review. Our own Tim Salmons has checked in with his thoughts on Warner's recent Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows: Parts 1 & 2 - 2-Film Ultimate Edition Blu-ray box set. Enjoy!

In release news today, Warner Home Video has begun announcing the DVD release of some of those Samuel Goldwyn they got the rights to last year. On 1/15, look for Wuthering Heights (via HBO), The Best Years of Our Lives, The Bishop's Wife, Guys and Dolls, Hans Christian Andersen and The Pride of the Yankees. There's no word yet of Blu-ray releases, but we're looking into it.

Speaking of HBO (via Warner), look for Veep: The Complete First Season on DVD only on 3/26.

Warner has also begun soliciting many of those catalog titles recently licensed for BD and DVD release from Paramount. Watch for a huge list of them to start arriving in stores on 1/1 on both formats. It doesn't appear to include anything new yet - it look to all be titles that have been previously available.

Image Entertainment has set The Beverly Hillbillies: Collector's Edition (a "Best Of" Set), BMF: The Rise and Fall of a Hip-Hop Drug Empire, Bonanza: Collector's Edition (another "Best of") and The Solomon Bunch for release on 2/5, followed by The Complete Adventures of Flash Gordon (4 pack), The Cyclist, Hitler's Forgotten Nazis and Naked City: 20 Star-Filled Episodes on 2/19, and a David E. Talbert Triple Feature (What Goes Around Comes Around, Love in the Nick of Tyme and Mr. Right Now!), Fast Girls and Nobody Gets Out Alive on 2/26. All are DVD only.

On the Disney front, I'm sure many of you heard about their big digital distribution deal with Netflix from the other day - starting in 2016 Netflix will get exclusive digital rights to the entire Disney library of titles, including Pixar, classic animation and live action, and even the Star Wars and Marvel franchises. In the realm of physical discs, it appears that the studio may be finally getting ready to release The Muppet Movie: Nearly 35th Anniversary Edition on Blu-ray next year - a trailer for the title appears on their new The Odd Life of Timothy Green Blu-ray. This would be in addition to the Who Framed Roger Rabbit?: 25th Anniversary Edition that's already planned for release in HD in 2013. Thanks to Bits reader Bill M. for the update.

Also, we've hard back from 20th Century Fox about that Die Hard: 25th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray box set due on 1/29. It will include the theatrical cut of Live Free or Die Hard only. A LOT of your have been hoping for the unrated cut on Blu-ray and rest assured we've let Fox know this.

And finally today, Bits reader Sidney S. sent us this interesting bit of news: It seems that the BBC have officially remastered the first color Doctor Who story from way back in 1963 – Spearhead from Space – and they're releasing it on Blu-ray in July worldwide as part of the Doctor Who 50th anniversary celebration next year (7/13 is the tentative street date).

That's all for now. Stay tuned...

- Bill Hunt

Welcome to Dailies, a column dedicated to bringing you both the obscure and the mainstream on DVD and Blu-ray. Being that a lot of us seem to have such a large appetite for varying film genres, this column will cover virtually everything I can get my grubby little paws on. Some of it will be good, and some of it not so much, but hopefully it will illuminate a few titles that you might not have seen otherwise, or perhaps just needed a reminder about. Either way, enjoy!

Today I’m going to be covering the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 & 2: Ultimate Edition on Blu-ray.