News from CES 2014, Mike Vraney RIP, some new announcements & Criterion’s 2014 tease

Monday, 06 January 2014 15:05

News from CES 2014, Mike Vraney RIP, some new announcements & Criterion’s 2014 tease

by Bill Hunt

All right, CES is off and running in Las Vegas this week, so we’ll be posting interesting news over the course of the week. Although it seems as if Blu-ray is passé at the show this year. 4K TV, streaming and wireless everything seems to be all the rage this year.

First though today, our own Adam Jahnke has posted a new Bottom Shelf column that’s well worth your time. This time around he celebrates the like (and acknowledges the passing) of a fellow to whom movie enthusiasts owe a debt – Mike Vraney, founder of Something Weird Video. We all off our caps here at The Bits today in his honor. Don’t miss Jahnke’s piece. [Read on here...]

While we’re on the subject, we have to acknowledge the passing (over the weekend) of musician Phil Everly and veteran film producer Saul Zaentz. Phil was, or course, one half of The Everly Brothers. And Zaentz produced such films as One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Amadeus and The English Patient. Both will be missed.

Now then... in announcement news today, Lionsgate has set Escape Plan for Blu-ray, DVD and digital release on 2/4. Extras include audio commentary from the director and writer, 3 featurettes and deleted scenes (SRP $39.99 and $29.95 for the discs).

Paramount has set Laverne & Shirley: The Seventh Season for DVD release on 2/4, along with Gentle Ben: Season Two (SRP $42.99 each). They also have Joanie Loves Chachi: The Complete Series coming to DVD that same day (SRP $29.99).

PBS is releasing Chasing Shackleton on DVD on 2/4.

Cinedigm has set the documentary Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer for DVD release on 2/11.

Eagle Rock Entertainment has set The Secret Policeman’s Ball: USA for Blu-ray and DVD release on 2/25.

And Criterion released their annual teaser image for upcoming 2014 Dual Format titles over New Year’s, and speculation as to the clued titles includes Scanners, Deer Hunter, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Red River, Buena Vista Social Club, Let it Be, an M. Hulot box set and more. Here’s a look – see what you can spot…

Also today here at the site, Russell Hammond has posted the weekly Release Dates & Artwork section update featuring all the latest Blu-ray, DVD and Video Game cover artwork and Amazon.com pre-order links. As always, a portion of anything you order from Amazon in the same session after you click to them through our links goes to help support our work here at The Bits and we surely do appreciate it.

Finally, back to CES news... Panasonic has announced a new line-up of Blu-ray players, including the Smart Network DMP-BDT360 Blu-ray 3D player and a pair of more basic Blu-ray units, the DMP-BD91 and DMP-BD81. The BDT360 will play a wide variety of media content over a network connection and will upscale to 4K.

And here’s a little more new cover artwork. We have the final cover art for the BBC’s Sherlock: Season Three (due 2/11), plus New Video’s 22 Bullets (also due 2/11) and Eagle Rock’s The Secret Policeman’s Ball: USA...

Stay tuned...

- Bill Hunt

Published in My Two Cents

Tagged under

News from CES 2014, Mike Vraney RIP, some new announcements & Criterion’s 2014 tease

Contact Bill Hunt