The Joker & Maleficent: Mistress of Evil official, plus a guide to the changes in Star Wars 4K on Disney+
Once again today, we have some big news for you and a major new special feature piece here at The Bits.
But first, our own Tim Salmons has another new Blu-ray review for you, this one of Terence Fisher’s The Devil Rides Out (1968) from Scream Factory. Enjoy!
Now then, the new special feature piece we have is nothing less than a complete visual guide to all the changes, fixes, and tweaks to be found in the new Disney+ 4K version of Star Wars: A New Hope! Our old friend Drew Stewart—who is a longtime Digital Bits reader—is also the webmaster of Star Wars Revisited and also the curator of the Star Wars Visual Comparisons blog.
Drew has been hard at work in recent weeks, diligently cataloging all of the changes in this new version of the film. He’s created a set of comparison images—nearly 40 in all—and he’s kindly allowed us to compile them here in a 7-page gallery on The Bits for you to see. So click here for that. We’re pretty certain you’ll enjoy it. (And special thanks again to Drew for his efforts!) [Read on here...]
Two Things Today: 1) Aladdin. 2) Gojira! GOJIRA! GOJIRA!!!
All right, we have a quick post for you this morning with breaking release news...
First, Disney has just officially announced not only the Blu-ray, DVD, 4K Ultra HD, and Digital release of Guy Ritchie’s live-action Aladdin, but also the Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD, and Digital release of the original 1992 animated Aladdin as a new Walt Disney Signature Collection release, both on 9/10. Note that the Digital releases are due on 8/17. Let’s break it down...
Aladdin (2019) will include Dolby Atmos audio and the following extras: Aladdin’s Video Journal: A Fantastic New Point of View, Guy Ritchie: A Cinematic Genie, A Friend Like Genie, the Desert Moon deleted song, 6 deleted scenes (Falling Petals Into OJ, Jafar’s Magic Orrery, Anders’ Gift, Wrong Wishes, Silly Old Fool, and Post Yam Jam Debrief), bloopers, and 3 music videos (Speechless, A Whole New World, and Un Mundo Ideal).
Aladdin (1992) will include Dolby Atmos audio, most of the classic extras (from the previous Blu-ray release) and the following new extras: Sing Along with the Movie, Aladdin on Aladdin, Let’s Not Be Too Hasty: The Voices of Aladdin, and Alternate Endings. [Read on here...]
- Batman Beyond: The Complete Series BD
- Godzilla: The Showa Era
- The Criterion Collection
- My Two Cents
- The Digital Bits
- Bill Hunt
- Criterion
- Gojira
- Aladdin (1992) 4K
- Aladdin (2019) 4K
- Walt Disney Signature Collection
- Pixar 4K Ultra HD
- Inside Out 4K
- Amazon preorders
- Ratatouille 4K
- Finding Nemo 4K
- Finding Dory 4K
- Cars 4K
- Cars 2 4K
- Brave 4K
- The Good Dinosaur 4K
Criterion’s Godzilla box set is near, plus Simpsons: S19, Addams Family Values, and Rutger Hauer RIP
We’ve got some quick but interesting release news for you today, but first...
Our own Michael Coate has posted his History, Legacy and Showmanship retrospective on the James Bond film Licence to Kill, in honor of its recent 30th anniversary. The piece includes a roundtable discussion with film historians Thomas A. Christie, John Cork, and Andrew McNess. Enjoy!
Now, let’s get right to that news...
It appears that Criterion is about to announce their long-awaited Godzilla: The Showa Era Blu-ray box set, based on a leaked listing that appeared on Target.com (see link here). SRP for the set is expected to be $149.99. The Showa Era (1954-1975) would include essentially the first 15 films in the series, including Godzilla, Godzilla Raids Again, King Kong vs. Godzilla, Mothra vs. Godzilla, Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, Invasion of Astro-Monster, Ebirah, Horror of the Deep, Son of Godzilla, Destroy All Monsters, All Monsters Attack, Godzilla vs. Hedorah, Godzilla vs. Gigan, Godzilla vs. Megalon, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, and Terror of Mechagodzilla. This could be Spine #1000, but we’ll have to wait and see when Criterion makes their official announcement. [Read on here...]
- History Legacy & Showmanship
- Michael Coate
- Criterion
- Quartermass and the Pit BD review
- Bill Hunt
- The Digital Bits
- My Two Cents
- The Criterion Collection
- Godzilla: The Showa Era
- The Simpsons: The Nineteenth Season DVD
- The Simpsons: Season 19
- Addams Family Values
- The Addams Family
- Paramount
- Rutger Hauer RIP
- Roy Batty
- Blade Runner
- Licence to Kill: 30th anniversary
- Batman Beyond: The Complete Series BD
Daybreakers 4K, upcoming street dates, a new Stanley Kubrick Collection, Shout!’s Space: 1999 5.1 update & more
All right, we’ve got more interesting news for you today...
But first, Tim Salmons has posted some new Blu-ray reviews here at the site (yesterday and this afternoon), including his own thoughts on Weird Science from Arrow Video and Quartermass and the Pit from Scream Factory, as well as Dennis’ take on Michael Radford’s 1984 from the Criterion Collection.
We’ve also updated the Release Dates & Artwork section with all the latest Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K cover artwork and Amazon.com pre-order links. As always, anytime you order literally anything from Amazon after clicking through one of our links, you’re helping to support our work here at The Bits and we really do appreciate it.
And tomorrow morning, be sure to watch for a new History, Legacy and Showmanship column from Michael Coate here at The Bits, this one honoring the recent 30th anniversary of the James Bond film License to Kill. [Read on here...]
- My Two Cents
- The Digital Bits
- Bill Hunt
- Scream Factory
- Release Dates & Artwork update
- Tim Salmons
- Dennis Seuling
- Weird Science BD review
- Arrow Video
- Quartermass and the Pit BD review
- 1984 BD review
- Criterion
- Michael Coate
- History Legacy & Showmanship
- License to Kill 30th anniversary
- Daybreakers 4K
- Men in Black International 4K
- SpiderMan: Far From Home 4K
- 007: The Daniel Craig Collection 4K
- Aladdin (2019) 4K
- Toy Story 4 4K
- Scarface 4K
- American Gangster 4K
- Yesterday 4K
- Stanley Kubrick Collection (2019)
- Warner Bros Home Entertainment
- Network Distributing
- Monty Python's Flying Circus: 50th Anniversary BD
- Shout! Factory
- Space: 1999 51 audio statement
Casino Royale turns 10, plus Max Steel, Kevin Hart, 2016 World Series & new Amazon BD Deals of the Day
We’ve got a great feature column for you today, along with some announcement news, and a couple more great Amazon Blu-ray deals to mention. Let’s start with that feature...
Our own Michael Coate has just posted a new History, Legacy & Showmanship column, offering a great look back at the James Bond film Casino Royale on its 10th anniversary. The column features another excellent roundtable discussion with film historians John Cork, Bill Desowitz, Lisa Funnell, Lee Pfeiffer, and Bruce Scivally. Don’t miss it! [Read on here…]
- Black Friday Deals Week
- Criterion
- Bluray
- My Two Cents
- The Digital Bits
- Bill Hunt
- Bluray Disc
- BD
- Michael Coate
- History Legacy & Showmanship
- Casino Royale 10th Anniversary
- Max Steel
- Kevin Hart: What Now?
- 2016 World Series Chicago Cubs
- Kino Lorber
- No Highway in the Sky
- Prince of Foxes
- The Sopranos: The Complete Series Amazon BD Deal
- The Wire: The Complete Series Amazon BD Deal
- Dredd Amazon BD Deal
- Star Wars: Rogue One
- Lupita Lovar RIP
- Deepwater Horizon 4K
The Girl on the Train, Homeland: S5, Justice League Dark, Arrival in 4K, Olive’s January & more
All right, we have two more Blu-ray Disc reviews for you this afternoon. Tim has checked out Theatre of Blood (1973) with Vincent Price, new on Blu-ray from Twilight Time. And Jim has looked at another new Twilight release in the form of Richard Marquand’s WWII spy thriller Eye of the Needle (1981). Both are pretty great releases and well worth a look if you’re interested.
In announcement news today, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has set The Girl on the Train for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on 1/17, with a Digital HD release due on 1/3. Bonus features will include audio commentary with director Tate Taylor, deleted and extended scenes, and 2 documentary featurettes (The Women Behind the Girl and On Board the Train). [Read on here…]
- Cameraperson
- Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
- Mildred Pierce
- The Tree of Wooden Clogs
- The Before Trilogy
- Before Midnight
- Before Sunset
- Before Sunrise
- BD
- Bluray Disc
- Bill Hunt
- The Digital Bits
- My Two Cents
- Bluray
- Criterion
- Black Friday Deals Week
- Theatre of Blood
- Tim Salmons
- Jim Hemphill
- Eye of the Needle
- Twilight Time
- Olive Films
- Justice League Dark
- The Girl on the Train
- Homeland: Season Five
- Homeland: The Complete Fifth Season
- The Monkey King 2
- Hooperman
- Breaking Bad: The Complete Series BD sale
- Arrival
Criterion’s Feb has Before Sunrise & Mildred Pierce, plus Deepwater Horizon & Man Who Fell to Earth
The big news today is that Criterion has just announced their February slate of Blu-ray and DVD releases. It begins with Kirsten Johnson’s Cameraperson (Cat #853 – Blu-ray and DVD) on 2/7. Ermanno Olmi’s The Tree of Wooden Clogs (Cat #854 – Blu-ray and DVD) follows on 2/14. Pedro Almodóvar’s Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (licensed from Sony – Cat #855 – Blu-ray and DVD) and Michael Curtiz’s noir masterpiece Mildred Pierce (licensed from Warner – Cat #860 – Blu-ray and DVD) arrive on 2/21. And I’m very pleased to say that the slate ends with Richard Linklater’s The Before Trilogy (also licensed from Warner and Sony – includes Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight – Cat #856 – Blu-ray and DVD) on 2/28. Each will have a significant assortment of bonus features, that you can read more about here. Our Criterion Spines Project page has been updated accordingly, and we’ve got a look at the cover artwork that’s available so far below. [Read on here…]
- Black Friday Deals Week
- Criterion
- Bluray
- My Two Cents
- The Digital Bits
- Bill Hunt
- Bluray Disc
- BD
- Before Sunrise
- Before Sunset
- Before Midnight
- The Before Trilogy
- The Tree of Wooden Clogs
- Mildred Pierce
- Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
- Cameraperson
- USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage
- Deepwater Horizon 4K
- The Man Who Fell to Earth: 40th Anniversary Edition
- Ballers: Season Two
- Girls: Season Five
- Masterpiece: Victoria
- 23 Paces to Baker Street
- Animal Kingdom: Season One
- When the Bough Breaks
- The English Patient: 20th Anniversary
New Amazon Blu-ray deals, plus announcement news & a review of Criterion’s McCabe & Mrs. Miller
We’re kicking the new week off today with Tim’s review of Robert Altman’s McCabe & Mrs. Miller on Blu-ray, now available from our friends at The Criterion Collection. And it appears they’ve done a terrific job, as you’d expect. Do give it a look.
It’s a slow news day today, but Sony has started taking pre-orders (via Amazon) for the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release of Inferno. Street date is TBA. [Read on here…]
- BD
- Bluray Disc
- Bill Hunt
- The Digital Bits
- My Two Cents
- Bluray
- McCabe & Mrs Miller
- Criterion
- Black Friday Deals Week
- Inferno 4K
- Unforgiven 4K
- Papa's Delicate Condition
- The Vessel
- Framed
- When Elephants Were Young
- Prison Break: Seasons 1 to 4
- Lego Jurassic World
- The James Bond Collection BD sale
- Star Trek: The Next Generation BD sale
- Miami Vice: The Complete Series BD sale
Sony recently announced its UBP-X1000ES 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player, plus AB Fab movie & Dekalog restoration
All right, we’ve got a couple interesting things for you today. First up, Sony unveiled its first 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player, the UBP-X1000ES, at the CEDIA Expo recently. It’s an ES Series reference unit that supports the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, BD-ROM, DVD Video, DVD Audio, CD, and SACD formats, as well as numerous video codecs compatible with Amazon Video, YouTube, etc. It can upscale content to 4K, features HDR compatibility and offers “a dedicated picture mode for HDR content – when playing 4K HDR content on a 4K SDR television the X1000ES utilizes a unique Sony algorithm to reproduce the proper brightness and color gradations to provide the best picture possible.” It’s compatible with Dolby Atmos and DTS-X, plus has a “32-bit processing DAC compatible with both native DSD (at up to 11.2 MHz) and LPCM (at up to 192kHz) Hi-Res Music files, which are available in a number of different formats.” [Read on here…]
Star Trek Beyond now looks set for 11/1, plus Better Call Saul: Season 2, new Vestron & Twilight's October slate
Afternoon, folks. Hope you had a fine weekend. I’m been busy working on new Blu-ray and 4K reviews, the first of which I’m pleased to offer you now...
Here are my thoughts on Universal’s new Frankenstein: Complete Legacy Collection and The Wolf Man: Complete Legacy Collection, which streeted last week and are now available. Both are good upgrades of the previous DVD box sets of the same name, but the value proposition for each is a little complicated. I should note that in order to review these sets, I had to purchase them at my own expense. Universal chose not to make them available for review. Meanwhile, I’m working on additional reviews for posting later and tomorrow, so stay tuned for those. [Read on here…]
- Bluray
- My Two Cents
- The Digital Bits
- Bill Hunt
- Bluray Disc
- BD
- Star Trek Beyond
- Better Call Saul: Season Two
- Frankenstein: Complete Legacy Collection
- The Wolf Man: Complete Legacy Collection
- Vestron Video Collector's Series
- Return of the Living Dead 3
- CHUD II: Bud the CHUD
- Wild Oats
- Doomwatch
- Invisible Ghost
- Kino Lorber Studio Classics
- Twilight Time October slate
- Criterion
- The Tree of Wooden Clogs
- Boxcar Bertha
- The Chase
- Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte
- Runaway Train
- The Train: Encore Edition