Displaying items by tag: The Abyss

Afternoon, Bits readers! It’s been a few days since we’ve done a major news update here on the site, and the reason is that we’ve been very focused on completing new disc reviews for you guys. This is the time of year when all of the big fourth quarter titles start arriving for review, and we’re right in the thick of it now. So today we’re pleased to offer you...

My reviews of James Mangold’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023), along with The Mandalorian: The Complete First Season (2019) and The Mandalorian: The Complete Second Season (2020), all in 4K Ultra HD from Lucasfilm via Disney, as well as my review of James Cameron’s Titanic: 25th Anniversary Limited Edition in 4K Ultra HD from Paramount.

We also have Stephen’s reviews of WandaVision: The Complete Series (2021) in 4K Ultra HD from Marvel via Disney, as well as Tommy Wirkola’s Violent Night (2022) in 4K UHD via Universal, and Michael Crichton’s The Great Train Robbery (1978) on Blu-ray from MGM via Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

And Stuart has weighed in on Henry Decoin’s Strangers in the House (1942) on Blu-ray from Gaumont via Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

Rest assured, we have many more new disc reviews on the way as well, so be sure to watch for them. [Read on here...]

We’ve got more disc reviews for you today, along with another great film retrospective column, a bit more release news, and some news that... well, I’m not sure what to think of it. But you’ll understand what I mean in a minute. First, those disc reviews...

Tim has checked in over the last couple of days with no less than four new reviews, starting with his thoughts on Mei-Chun Chang’s Revenge of the Shogun Women (1982) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, a disc that includes both polarized 3D and anaglyph 3D presentations (as well 2D) thanks to our friends at The 3-D Film Archive. It’s a good disc and a rare 3D treat for those who love that format, so do give it a look.

Tim has also reviewed Arrow Video’s Giallo Essentials: Red Edition – Volume One and Yellow Edition – Volume Two, each of which includes three classics of the genre on Blu-ray.

And Tim has posted his thoughts on Brian Trenchard-Smith’s Stunt Rock (1978) on Blu-ray from Umbrella Entertainment (#8 in their Ozploitation Classics line-up) ad well. All are worth your time. [Read on here...]

All right, we’re working on FOUR more 4K Ultra HD reviews for the next couple of days, at least of the first of which we hope to have posted later this afternoon.

In the meantime, we’ve just launched our second giveaway on The Digital Bits’ Facebook page, offering readers the chance to win one of Paramount’s three new Tom Cruise 4K Ultra HD titles – Top Gun, Days of Thunder, or War of the Worlds. All you have to do to enter is follow The Bits’ Facebook page and reply to this post (linked here) with your answer to the question you’ll find. Entries will be accepted until 11 AM Pacific tomorrow (Thursday, May 21). The contest is open to US residents only (due to COVID shipping restrictions—sorry!). THREE winners will be selected at random from the list of those who enter and will be announced tomorrow afternoon. Good luck!

Meanwhile today, we have a bit more announcement news... [Read on here...]

“The Abyss does something that every single Cameron film does: explores new frontiers in the technology of film making. And that’s important.” — Matthew Kapell, editor of The Films of James Cameron: Critical Essays

The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective commemorating the 30th anniversary of the release of The Abyss, James Cameron’s (The Terminator, Titanic) underwater sci-fi adventure starring Ed Harris (The Right Stuff) and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (The Color of Money).

Also starring Michael Biehn (Aliens) and featuring groundbreaking visual effects, The Abyss opened thirty years ago this past summer. For the occasion The Bits features a package of statistics and box-office data that places the movie’s performance in context, along with passages from vintage film reviews, a reference/historical listing of the movie’s showcase presentations, and, finally, an interview segment with a film historian who reflects on the film three decades after its debut. [Read on here...]

We’ve got just a quick update for you today, but we’ve got a bit of release news and some new reviews too.

First up those reviews... Tim has checked out National Lampoon’s Class Reunion on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, and David has posted his thoughts on Black Widow (1954) from Twilight and The [Rec] Collection from Scream Factory.

Now then, we’ve confirmed with Sony that there are currently no plans to release The Girl in the Spider’s Web on physical 4K Ultra HD in the States. This could change if the title performs unexpectedly well on Blu-ray, but the film’s failure at the box office seems to have put the kabosh on the studio’s initial release plans. It may also have cramped plans to release David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo on 4K and Panic Room on Blu-ray/4K. But we’ll have to wait and see. [Read on here...]

Afternoon, folks. We’re starting off the new week with a pair of new Blu-ray reviews for you to enjoy. Tim Salmons has turned in his look at Scream Factory’s The Legend of Hell House and longtime Bits veteran Todd Doogan has returned with a look at Kino Lorber’s terrific new One Million Years B.C. Blu-ray. Both are well worth your time, so be sure to check them out.

In release news today, first up a biggie: 20th Century Fox’s Logan is now available for Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD pre-order on Amazon (via the links in this sentence and also the temp cover artwork below). We hear it’s pretty damn good, so go check it out in theaters and use our links to pre-order (we appreciate it!) if you enjoy the film. [Read on here…]

[Editor’s Note: Be sure to like TheDigitalBits.com page on Facebook for breaking news, site updates on the go, discussion with our staff and other readers, giveaways and more!]

The big release news today is that Sony Picture Home Entertainment has just set Peter H. Hunt’s classic musical 1776 for release on Blu-ray on 6/2. The film will be the 166-minute Directors’ Cut, recently restored in 4K by Grover Crisp and his team at Sony Pictures Colorworks from the original camera negative and with Hunt’s guidance. According to Hunt: “I’m ecstatic. 1776 is back to where it should be. The work done by Grover and his team is miraculous. It looks better than when it premiered. It’s gorgeous!” In addition to the film, you’ll get all-new audio commentary with Hunt, William Daniels and Ken Howard, a second commentary with Hunt and Peter Stone, deleted and alternate scenes with commentary, 4 never-before-seen screen tests, archival screen tests, and the film’s original teaser and theatrical trailers.  [Read on here…]

First up this morning, our own Dr. Jahnke checks in with today’s Hell Plaza Oktoberfest Blu-ray review in the form of StageFright from our friends at Blue Underground. Do give it a look.

The big announcement news today is that Criterion has just revealed their January Blu-ray and DVD release slate, which is set to include Kihachi Okamoto’s The Sword of Doom (Cat #280 – Blu-ray – SRP $39.95) on 1/6, Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant (Cat #740 – Blu-ray and DVD – SRP $39.95 and $29.95) on 1/13, Guy Maddin’s My Winnipeg (Cat #741 – Blu-ray and DVD – SRP $39.95 and $29.95) and Preston Sturges’ The Palm Beach Story (Cat #742 – Blu-ray and DVD – SRP $39.95 and $29.95) on 1/20, and Lucrecia Martel’s La ciénaga (Cat #743 – Blu-ray and DVD – SRP $39.95 and $29.95) on 1/27. You can see the cover artwork below.  [Read on here…]

Okay… we’ve got a good bit of ground to cover for you guys today as the dust begins to settle from another Comic-Con, so let’s get right to it.

First let’s talk about the titles that were officially announced at (or around) the show, and then we’ll get to the latest rumors and other news on those that weren’t. We’ll start with Batman… [Read on here…]

We’ve got a new Blu-ray Disc review for you today. Dr. Jahnke has given Twilight Time’s new Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia Blu-ray a spin – a Sam Peckinpah classic. The film is great and it sounds as though Twilight’s done a very nice job on the disc’s A/V quality and extras too. Don’t miss it.

Just to let you know, I’ll be back early tomorrow morning with my review of Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug on Blu-ray – the theatrical edition that arrives in stores tomorrow.

Also here at The Bits today, our own Russell Hammond has updated the Release Dates & Artwork section with all the latest Blu-ray and DVD cover art and Amazon.com pre-order links. As always, anything you order from them in the same session after clicking through our links helps support our work here at The Bits and we surely do appreciate it. [Read on here…]