All right, we have a bunch of news to catch you all up on. But first, we have a bunch of new and recent reviews to catch you up on as well...

First up, I’ve taken an in-depth look at J.A. Bayona’s Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. The disc streets on 9/18 from Universal.

Also, David has looked at a few recent Sony MOD Blu-ray titles, including George Schaefer’s Pendulum (1969), Brian De Palma’s Casualties of War (1989), and Michael Haneke’s Happy End (2017).

And Dennis has reviewed Gary Ross’ new Ocean’s 8 on Blu-ray from Warner Bros, along with Peter Markle’s Bat*21 on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics. He’s also updated his review of Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life on Blu-ray from Criterion with details on the new longer cut of the film, so be sure to take a look.

We have LOTS more Blu-ray and 4K reviews on the way for you guys this week, including my review of Solo: A Star Wars Story on 4K Ultra HD. So be sure to watch for them. [Read on here...]

All right, I shouldn’t have tell any of you what today is... it’s Towel Day!

And also, of course, the 40th anniversary of a little film called Star Wars. Not Episode IV. Not A New Hope. Star Wars.

To recognize the occasion, we’ve got a couple things for you here at The Bits today.

First up, our very own Michael Coate has updated and expanded his excellent History, Legacy & Showmanship retrospective column, A Force to Be Reckoned With: Remembering “Star Wars” on its 40th Anniversary. He’s combed newspaper archives all across North America to produce a definitive history of the film’s debut theatrical release back in 1977-1978. Every theater that showed the film, the day it opened in that theater, all of it. Trust me, I’ve learned from personal experience that one’s memory of seeing the film back in 1977 is not as accurate as Michael’s exhaustive research – he’s sent me the vintage microfilmed newspaper clippings to prove it. [Read on here…]