We’ve got more new disc reviews for you this week, with still more on the way...
Tim has reviewed Scream Factory’s new 4K Ultra HD releases of Halloween (1978) and Halloween II (1981), along with Arrow Video’s Deep Red 4K UHD, and Synapse Films’ recent Demons I & II: Limited Edition 4K Ultra HD release.
Meanwhile, Stephen has checked out Free Guy in 4K UHD from 20th Century Studios and Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, along with Bluebeard (1963) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.
And Dennis has offered his thoughts on Jack Arnold’s The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957) on Blu-ray, as newly-released by the Criterion Collection.
We’ll have more reviews over the next few days, including more of the Halloween sequels in 4K,Scream in 4K, Old, the Universal Classic Monsters: Icons of Horror Collection and more, so be sure to stay tuned for them. [Read on here...]
This is a quick post to let you all know that Russell Hammond has just posted the weekly update of our Release Dates & Cover Artwork section here at The Digital Bits with all the latest Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD cover artwork and Amazon.com pre-order links. As a NEW feature, the section now lets you search for upcoming Blu-ray titles, DVD titles, AND 4K Ultra HD titles seperately 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!
- Bill Hunt
Let’s have a quick round-up of Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD release news, and then I must dive back into my own review work over the next several days...
First up, it does indeed appear that Disney is preparing a 4K Ultra HD release of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. I’ve now got multiple retail and industry sources confirming this. However, don’t expect the sequels to be announced anytime soon. It’s possible that the studio is planning to release more films in the series next year if this first one sells well (and possibly promoted by the success of the films in streaming on Disney+) but for now Curse of the Black Pearl seems to be the only film immediately in the offing.
Also, while we’re on the topic of Disney, it seems that the Heat 4K release continues to be in limbo, but is still expected to arrive on the format sometime next year.
Meanwhile, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune is definitely shaping up for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD in early January sometime. Info some retailers suggests that the studio is targeting 1/11/22 as the street date. And for those of you who have been waiting, not only does it finally arrive in theaters tomorrow (with sneak peek preview screenings tonight in many US cities), the film premieres IN JUST TWO HOURS in 4K with HDR and Dolby Atmos on HBO Max. So get ready to enjoy a helluva good cinematic experience. [Read on here...]
We’re starting off the week with a trio of new Blu-ray reviews...
Stephen has taken a look at Nadia Tass’ Malcolm (1986) on Blu-ray from Umbrella Entertainment, along with Ralph Thomas’ Percy (1971) on the format from Code Red via Kino Lorber Studio Classics.
And Dennis has given Jonathan Mostow’s Breakdown (1997) a thorough going-over on Blu-ray via the new Paramount Presents release. As most of you know, the film stars Kurt Russell, J. T. Walsh, and Kathleen Quinlan.
More reviews are on the way all this week, so be sure to check back for them.
Now then, in announcement news today, our friends at Kino Lorber Studio Classics have revealed that they’re prepping a new 4K Ultra HD release of the 1963 John Sturges classic The Great Escape for release sometime in January. [Read on here...]
We’re closing out the week today here at The Bits with a bit of announcement news, word of a few 4K title delays, and more new disc reviews.
First up, Tim has turned in reviews of Stephen King’s Children of the Corn (1984), directed by Fritz Kiersch and newly released on 4K Ultra HD by Arrow Video, as well as Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds which is new on 4K Ultra HD from Universal.
Also, Stephen has reviewed Nick Murphy’s The Awakening (2011) on Blu-ray from the Cohen Media Group, along with Nadia Tass’ Malcolm (1986) on Blu-ray from Umbrella Entertainment.
More reviews are on the way, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for them.
Now then, the big announcement news today is that Criterion has just revealed their January 2022 release slate, which is set to include Thomas Vinterberg’s The Celebration (Spine #1108 – Blu-ray) on 1/11, Garrett Bradley’s Time (Spine #1109 – Blu-ray and DVD) and Richard Lester’s A Hard Day’s Night (Spine #711 – Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K) on 1/18, and Kirsten Johnson’s Dick Johnson Is Dead (Spine #111 – Blu-ray and DVD) and Jane Campion’s The Piano (Spine #1110 – Blu-ray and 4K) on 1/25. We’ve updated our 4K Ultra HD Release List and Criterion Spines Project pages accordingly. [Read on here...]
All right, we’ve got a few new disc reviews to start the day out…
Dennis has taken a look at Jack Smight’s The Screaming Woman (1972) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.
And Stephen has reviewed Edward Dmytryk’s The Sniper (1952) on Blu-ray from Umbrella Entertainment.
More reviews are on the way in the days ahead, so be sure to stay tuned for them.
Now then, Paramount has informed us that their Paramount Presents Blu-ray release of The Sheik has been delayed from 10/19 to 11/2. Adjust your plans accordingly.
Paramount has also set a wide-release of their Indiana Jones 4-Movie Collection 4K Steelbook for 11/2.
GKids (via Shout! Factory) is releasing the Hayao Miyazaki-directed anime series Future Boy Conan: The Complete Series on Blu-ray on 11/16. [Read on here...]
We’re starting out the new week today here at The Bits with a trio of new disc reviews...
First up, Tim and I have taken a look at Arrow Video’s terrific new Limited Edition Blu-ray of Ridley Scott’s Legend. The 2-disc set is absolutely loaded with vintage and new extras, and it includes the US Theatrical Cut newly-remastered from a 4K scan, as well as the Director’s Cut. Legend is a challenging title for a lot of reasons, but Arrow’s done a really great job with this one. If you’re a fan of the film, this is as good as it’s ever looked, and this is essentially a complete archive of all the previous special features and more.
Also today, Stephen has reviewed Chloe Zhao’s first film, Songs My Brothers Taught Me, newly-released on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber. If that name is familiar, it’s because Zhao is the filmmaker who’s just made The Eternals for Marvel Studios. It sounds like this earlier work is pretty terrific.
And finally, Dennis has given Wallace Worsley’s 1923 version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame a look on Blu-ray from Kino Classics. As many of you will already be aware, this version features the great Lon Chaney in the role of Quasimodo. It’s worth a look if you haven’t seen it yet.
While we’re on the subject of Universal Monsters, I’m currently working on a review of the Universal Classic Monsters: Icons of Horror Collection in 4K and should have that up by the end of the week. I’m giving myself the week to work on it, however, because I’m attending a studio screening of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune tomorrow afternoon. And I have a sneaking suspicion that’s going to occupy my mind for the next few days afterwards. I’ll definitely post a few non-spoiler thoughts about that film as well this week, rest assured. [Read on here...]
We’ve got a quick release news update here at The Bits for you today. But first, more new disc reviews...
I’ve just given a pair of titles from Sony’s new Columbia Classics: Volume 2 box set a look in 4K Ultra HD, including Carol Reed’s Oliver! (1968) and Otto Preminger’s Anatomy of a Murder (1959). That last review includes film comments by our dear friend Barrie Maxwell, the late great Digital Bits classic film columnist.
Also, Tim has taken a look at Random Space Media’s recent Resident Evil: Six Movie Collection, which includes the first six films in that series in 4K Ultra HD. It’s very similar in content to Sony’s 2020 release and it’s an all-region Australian import.
And Stephen has reviewed Ari Aster’s Misdommar: Director’s Cut in 4K Ultra HD, which is only available directly from A24 via their online web shop.
All of these releases are well worth a look for cinema fans, so do check out the reviews.
Just to give you a sneak peek at what’s coming next review-wise, I’m going to continue working my way through Sony’s Columbia Classics: Volume 2 4K titles as well as the Universal Classic Monsters: Icons of Horror Collection in 4K. All of those reviews should be posted here at The Bits by mid next week. Tim’s also working on Legend on Blu-ray from Arrow, and Stephen and Dennis are working through a stack of new titles too. So stay tuned for lots more reviews in the week ahead and beyond. [Read on here...]
