We’ve got a bunch of new disc reviews for you all to enjoy here at The Bits today, but first I wanted to let you know that Amazon.com is currently running a pretty great deal for 4K titles: You can buy 3 4K titles for just $33, which is a great way to fill holes in your collection. The selection of titles is pretty good too (lots of titles from Warner, Universal, and more), so click here to take advantage if you wish.
All right, today’s new disc reviews here at The Bits start with Stephen’s two cents on David Fincher’s Se7en (1996) on 4K Ultra HD from Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment, Richard Attenborough’s A Bridge Too Far (1977) in 4K UHD from Imprint, and Woo-Ping Yuen’s In the Line of Duty IV (1989) on Blu-ray from 88 Films.
Stuart’s look at Marco Bellocchio’s Slap the Monster on Page One (1972) and Seijun Suzuki’s Tattooed Life (1965) on Blu-ray from Radiance Films, John Farrow’s California (1947) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, and Fernando Méndez’s El Vampiro: Two Bloodsucking Tales from Mexico Blu-ray box set from Powerhouse Films, which includes The Vampire (1957) and The Vampire’s Coffin (1958).
Dennis’ thoughts on Matthew Ryan Hoge’s The United States of Leland (2003) on Blu-ray from Imprint Films.
And finally, Tim’s take on Randall Lobb and Robert McCallum’s Power of Grayskull: The Definitive History of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2017) documentary on Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome, as well as Irving Klaw’s Teaserama (1955), Varietease (1954), and Buxom Beautease (1956) on Blu-ray from Kino Cult.
As always, lots more reviews are on the way in the coming days, so be sure to keep checking back.
Now then, in announcement news today, Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment has revealed that they’re releasing Shane Black’s The Nice Guys (2016) and Shaka King’s Judas and the Black Messiah (2021) on 4K UHD on 2/18. [Read on here...]
Good evening, friends! We’ve got three new disc reviews for you today, including...
Dennis’ look at Michael Gordon’s For Love or Money (1963) on Blu-ray.
Stuart’s review of Otto Preminger’s The Court-Martial Billy Mitchell (1955) on Blu-ray.
And Tim’s thoughts on Joseph Sargent’s The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) on Blu-ray.
All of them are newly released by our friends at Kino Lorber Studio Classics.
Speaking of Kino Lorber Studio Classics, the company has just announced that Miguel Sapochnik’s Repo Men (2010) and Tomas Alfredson’s The Snowman (2017) are both coming soon in 4K Ultra HD. And they’ve also set Patrice Leconte’s Half a Chance (1998) will arrive on Blu-ray on 3/18. [Read on here...]
We have a lot of ground to cover today to close out the first partial week of 2025, starting with more new disc reviews...
First up, Tim has taken a look at Russ Meyer’s Vixen! (1968) in 4K Ultra HD from the good folks at Severn Films, and he’s also reviewed Marco Brambilla’s Demolition Man (1993) in 4K from Arrow Video.
Dennis has turned in his thoughts on Alan Crosland’s The Beloved Rogue (1927) on Blu-ray from Kino Classics.
Stuart has checked in with his take on Ted Hooker, Jack Cardiff, and Freddie Francis’ Cruel Britannia (1971-1974) on Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome, as well as Kinji Fukasaku’s The Threat (1966) on Blu-ray from Arrow Video, and Jules Dassin’s Topkapi (1964) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.
And finally, Stephen has offered his reviews of Corey Yuwn’s Yes, Madam! (aka In the Line of Duty II) (1985) and Arthur Wong and Brandy Yuen’s In the Line of Duty III (1988) each on Blu-ray from 88 Films, as well as Michael Schaack’s animated but rarely-seen classic Felidae (1994) in 4K Ultra HD from Deaf Crocodile Films.
As always, more reviews are on the way next week, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for them.
Now then, we have a bunch of release news and official title announcements to share with you today, so let’s dive right in...
First, Universal Studios Home Entertainment has officially set Jon M. Chu’s Wicked: Part One (2024) for Blu-ray, DVD, 4K Ultra HD, and 4K Steelbook release on 2/4. The 4K disc will feature Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio, and all the SKUs will include over an hour of bonus features, including deleted and extended scenes, audio commentary with the director, a second audio commentary with stars Cynthia Ervio and Ariana Grande, the Making Wicked documentary, and a sing-along viewing option for the film. You can see the final cover artwork at left and also below the break. [Read on here...]
On this the final day of 2024, it’s only natural for us to take a look back and reflect on the many amazing Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD releases we’ve been blessed with over the past year. And it’s certainly been a tremendous year, especially for the 4K format.
So with that in mind, we’ve asked our team members here at The Digital Bits to weigh in with their favorite picks and honorable mentions.
The mandate to our team was simple: Pick your ten favorite discs of the year, and fell free to include some additional honorable mentions if you wish. Present them in any order you like, and say as much or as little about them as you like.
Any title—Blu-ray, DVD, or 4K Ultra HD—released in the calendar year 2024 qualified for consideration, and we extended that just a tad to include any title we received for review in 2024 period (so you’ll note that a couple of the titles mentioned technically street in January). Given how many discs are shipping late (or are getting delayed due to high demand), we felt this was a reasonable allowance.
So without further ado, here (below the break) are our picks for The Best Discs of 2024! [Read on here...]
This is a quick post to let you all know that our Release Dates & Cover Artwork section here at The Digital Bits has just been updated with all the latest Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD cover artwork and Amazon.com pre-order links. Don’t forget that you can select to see just the Blu-ray, DVD, 4K Ultra HD, or even Criterion titles seperately if you like, to help you find exactly the ones you’re looking for. Just click on RELEASE DATES & ART on the menu bar above to visit the page, and use the search options in the red bar (at the top) to sort by format and date. Once you find a title you like, just click on the cover art and you’ll be taken right to the Amazon.com pre-order page. Thank you for shopping through our links and don’t forget that anytime you order from Amazon through our links, you’re helping to support our work here at The Bits and we really appreciate it! And thanks to our own Russell Hammond for the update work!
- Bill Hunt
We’ve got a couple of good things to share with you today, starting with new discs reviews. Among them are…
My look at John Ford’s legendary Western classic The Searchers (1956) in 4K Ultra HD from the Warner Archive, an absolutely stunning title that I think deserves to be considered the 4K Disc of the Year.
Stephen’s review of Sydney Pollack’s Tootsie (1982) in 4K Ultra HD from Sony via their excellent Columbia Classics: Volume 5 box set, as well as David Chung’s Royal Warriors (1986) on Blu-ray from 88 Films.
And Dennis’ review of Buster Keaton’s Seven Chances (1925) and Sherlock Jr. (1924) on Blu-ray from Kino Classics.
All three are well worth a look, and we’re going to have more new disc reviews here on Wednesday.
Also today, our own Michael Coate has just shared a new History, Legacy & Showmanship column today featuring film historian and author Nat Segaloff as they celebrate the 50th anniversary of John Guillermin’s The Towering Inferno (1974). It’s a short read, but still well worth your time. [Read on here...]
All right, we have just a few final items of business to cover on this short Christmas week...
The very first VistaVision film ever has been fully restored from the original camera negative and it’s simply gorgeous. It’s a holiday classic that stars Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen, and it’s well worth a look on 4K disc for cinephiles.
Also, in a bit of release news today, our friends over at Kino Lorber Studio Classics have revealed that Penelope Spheeris’ Black Sheep (1996), starring Chris Farley and David Spade, is set for release on 4K Ultra HD on 3/25. [Read on here...]
Afternoon, everyone! We’re starting the short Christmas week here at The Bits with more new disc reviews as always. Today, we’ve got...
Tim’s review of Shawn Levy’s Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) in 4K Ultra HD from 20th Century Studios and Marvel, via Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
Stephen’s review of Roman Polanski’s The Tenant (1976) in 4K Ultra HD from Paramount via Vinegar Syndrome.
And Dennis’ take on Vincent Sherman’s The Return of Doctor X (1939) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.
We also have a few more new disc reviews for you from late last week, in case you missed them, including...
Tim’s review of Monk: Season Six (2007-2008) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.
Stuart’s review of Richard Thorpe’s Three Little Words (1950) on Blu-ray from Warner Archive.
Dennis’ look at Umberto Lenzi’s Battle of the Commandos (1969) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.
Stephen’s review of William Friedkin’s The Hunted (2003) on 4K Ultra HD from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.
Stuart’s look at Claude Autant-Lara’s Enough Rope (1963) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.
And finally, my review of Robert Meyer Burnett and Max Allan Collins’ True Noir: The Assassination of Anton Cermak 10-part audio drama from Imagination Connoisseurs Unlimited.
Also, just so you know, we’re not done yet: Look for at least one more new disc review tomorrow before the Christmas holiday, and lots more after we get back from the break next week. [Read on here...]