Items filtered by date: May 2025

Morning, everyone! We’ve got some REALLY great stuff for you today.

Kicking things off, the good Dr. Jahnke has turned in his next installment of The Hell Plaza Oktoberfest 666 with a review of Ken Russell’s The Devils on Region 2 DVD. And be sure to check back in the wee early hours of Friday morning for his look at the long awaited Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection on Blu-ray!

Now then… I had the good fortune yesterday to attend Warner’s official press event at which they unveiling their plans for next year’s 90th Anniversary celebration. Suffice it to say that the studio has a very nice slate of titles and releases on the way, all of which will be branded with the official Anniversary logo seen here.

It all starts on 1/29/13 with the release of the largest multi-film Blu-ray and DVD box sets from any major studio, including Best of Warner Bros.: 100 Film DVD Collection and Best of Warner Bros.: 50 Film Blu-ray Collection (SRP $597.92 each) .

The 100 Film DVD Collection will include: The Broadway Melody (1929), Cimarron (1931), The Public Enemy (1931), Grand Hotel (1932), 42nd Street (1933), Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), A Night at the Opera (1935), The Great Ziegfeld (1936), The Life of Emile Zola (1937), The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), Dark Victory (1939), The Wizard of Oz (1939), Gone with the Wind (1939), The Philadelphia Story (1940), Citizen Kane (1941), The Maltese Falcon (1941), Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942), Mrs. Miniver (1942), Casablanca (1942), Gaslight (1944), Anchors Aweigh (1945), Mildred Pierce (1945), The Big Sleep (1946), The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948), A Streetcar Named Desire: The Original Director’s Version (1951), An American in Paris (1951), Singin’ in the Rain (1952), A Star Is Born (1954), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954), East of Eden (1955), Rebel Without a Cause (1955), The Searchers (1956), Giant (1956), Around the World in 80 Days (1956), A Face in the Crowd (1957), Gigi (1958), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), North by Northwest (1959), Ben-Hur (1959), How the West Was Won (1962), What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962), Viva Las Vegas (1964), Doctor Zhivago (1965), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), The Dirty Dozen (1967), Cool Hand Luke (1967), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Bullitt (1968), The Wild Bunch: The Original Director’s Cut (1969), Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971), Dirty Harry (1971), A Clockwork Orange (1971), Cabaret (1972), Enter the Dragon (1973), The Exorcist: Extended Director’s Cut (1973), Blazing Saddles (1974), Dog Day Afternoon (1975), One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), All the President’s Men (1976), Superman: The Movie (1978), The Shining (1980), Caddyshack (1980), Clash of the Titans (1981), Chariots of Fire (1981), The Outsiders (1983), National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983), Risky Business (1983), The Right Stuff (1983), Amadeus: Director’s Cut (1984), The Goonies (1985), The Color Purple (1985), Lethal Weapon (1987), Full Metal Jacket (1987), Batman (1989), Driving Miss Daisy (1989), GoodFellas (1990), Unforgiven (1992), The Bodyguard (1992), The Fugitive (1993), Natural Born Killers: The Director’s Cut (1994), The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994), Seven (1995), L.A. Confidential (1997), The Matrix (1999), Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), The Notebook  (2004), Million Dollar Baby (2004), The Departed (2006), 300 (2007), The Dark Knight (2008), The Hangover (2009), The Blind Side (2009), Sherlock Holmes (2009) and Inception (2010).

The 50 Film Blu-ray Collection will include: Grand Hotel (1932), Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), The Wizard of Oz (1939), Gone with the Wind (1939), The Maltese Falcon (1941), Mrs. Miniver (1942), Casablanca (1942), The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948), A Streetcar Named Desire: The Original Restored Version (1951), An American in Paris (1951), Singin’ in the Rain (1952), Gigi (1958), North by Northwest (1959), Ben-Hur (1959), How the West Was Won (1962), Doctor Zhivago (1965), Cool Hand Luke (1967), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Bullitt (1968), Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), Dirty Harry (1971), A Clockwork Orange (1971), The Exorcist: Extended Director’s Cut (1973), One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), Superman: The Movie (1978), The Shining (1980), Chariots of Fire (1981), Risky Business (1983), Amadeus: Director’s Cut (1984), The Color Purple (1985), Lethal Weapon (1987), Full Metal Jacket (1987), Driving Miss Daisy (1989), GoodFellas (1990), Unforgiven (1992), The Bodyguard (1992), Natural Born Killers: The Director’s Cut (1994), The Shawshank Redemption (1994), The Matrix (1999), Million Dollar Baby (2004), Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), The Departed (2006), The Dark Knight (2008), The Hangover (2009), The Blind Side (2009), Sherlock Holmes (2009) and Inception (2010).

Both will also include a pair of brand new documentaries Tales from the Warner Bros. Lot (which was entirely shot on the studio lot and features interesting stories from various actors, directors and studio employees) and Warner Bros. Lot Tour (which is just what it sounds like).

A set of additional Best of Warner Bros.: 20 Film DVD Collections (SRP $99.92 each) will be released throughout the year including Best Picture Winners (1/29), Musicals (2/5), Romance (4/2), Comedies (7/2) and Thrillers (9/1).

Actor/director Clint Eastwood will be the special focus of a pair of new box sets (due Q2, sometime in mid-May), including a Clint Eastwood 40 Film DVD Collection and a Clint Eastwood 20 Film Blu-ray Collection. Details of the BD set weren’t available, but the DVD will include Where Eagles Dare, Kelly’s Heroes, Dirty Harry, Magnum Force, The Outlaw Josey Wales, The Enforcer, The Gauntlet, Every Which Way But Loose, Bronco Billy, Any Which Way You Can, Firefox, Honkytonk Man, Sudden Impact, Tightrope, City Heat, Pale Rider, Heartbreak Ridge, The Dead Pool, Bird, Pink Cadillac, White Hunter Black Heat, The Rookie, Unforgiven, A Perfect World, The Bridges of Madison County, Absolute Power, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, True Crime, Space Cowboys, Blood Work, Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, Letters from Iwo Jima, Gran Torino, Invictus, The Eastwood Factor documentary, Hereafter, J. Edgar, Trouble with the Curve and Eastwood: Directs: The Untold Story (an all new documentary directed by Richard Schickel).

TV and animated titles will feature in new DVD collector’s sets including Best of Warner Bros.: Superman TV Collection (May 2013 – SRP $100), Best of Warner Bros. : Hanna-Barbera 25 Cartoon Collection (May), Best of Warner Bros. : Looney Tunes 25 Cartoon Collection (July) and Best of Warner Bros. : DC Comics 25 Cartoon Collection (August). SRP on the 25 Cartoon Collections will be $26.99 each.

For Blu-ray fans, among the films that will be released for the first time ever on the format in 2013 are Mrs. Miniver, Grand Hotel and Driving Miss Daisy (already announced for release on 1/8), The Jazz Singer and Cabaret (Q1 2013), Little Caesar, Public Enemy, Petrified Forest and White Heat (Q2 – as part of an Original Gangsters Collection: Volume 2 or BD singles), House of Wax Blu-ray 3D (Q3), East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause and Giant (TBA - available as BD Book singles or together in a James Dean: Ultimate Collector’s Edition), The Big Parade (Q4), The Right Stuff: 30th Anniversary Edition (Q4) and The Best Years of Our Lives, A Star is Born (1976), Sommersby, Easter Parade, Westworld, Best in Show and The Nativity Story (all TBA).

Note that the James Dean: Ultimate Collector’s Edition will be a 9-disc set that includes all three films remastered with a trio of new documentaries (James Dean: Forever Young, James Dean: Sense Memories and James Dean: TNT Biopic), plus a book and more.

A few previously released catalog films will also be revisited during 2013. Among them are:

The Dark Knight Trilogy: Ultimate Collector’s Edition Blu-ray box set (Q3) which includes all three films plus exclusive collectables and nearly an hour of all new material.

The Mad Max Collection (Q2) that includes Mad Max, The Road Warrior and Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome.

The Enter the Dragon: 40th Anniversary Edition (Q2).

The complete Ocean’s Collection (Q3) including all three films plus new special features on the making of each film and the legacy of the franchise.

The Exorcist: 40th Anniversary Edition (Q3).

A Christmas Story: 30th Anniversary Edition (Q4).

Here’s an interesting one: The Wizard of Oz: 75th Anniversary Edition on Blu-ray 3D (Q4)! The film will also return to theatres for the anniversary.

Note that there will also be a Contemporary Gangsters: Volume 1 set that includes Goodfellas, Heat, The Departed and The Town (Q2).

Of course, all of the film’s catalog releases on Blu-ray and DVD will be rebranded with the 90th Anniversary logo.

And finally, among the new films you can expect on Blu-ray and DVD in 2013 are The Wachowskis’ Cloud Atlas and Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (both TBA).

Obviously there’s always the possibility of additional catalog releases as yet unannounced. But there you go: The gems of Warner’s 2013 home video release slate on Blu-ray and DVD. More specific details and cover art will follow in the weeks and months ahead.

Start saving your money, folks.

- Bill Hunt

Okay, we've got a couple of quick updates for you this morning and some cool new cover art to show you as well.

First, Disney has just announced a slate of new catalog Blu-rays for release on 12/11 and you’ll be happy to learn that the long-awaited Dick Tracy is among them.

SRP is $26.50 for Dick Tracy and it will feature an all new digital restoration. No word on extras. Other titles coming on 12/11 are Babes in Toyland, Heavyweights and The Joy Luck Club.

Also, Universal has set Smash: Season One for DVD only release on 1/8/13. The 4-disc set will include deleted scenes, a gag reel and 2 featurettes (A Dream Come True and Song & Dance).

Here at the site this morning, Dr. Jahnke's Hell Plaza Oktoberfest review for the day is none other than Lionsgate's new Mad Monster Party on Blu-ray - an oft-overlooked Rankin/Bass classic. Don't miss it!

And in other news, a number of you have reported that neither Target or Best Buy seems to have their exclusive Bond BD singles in stock yet, and Walmart’s stock is thus far limited. With any luck more will appear in the coming weeks. It could be that shipments were initially held low so as to favor sales of the complete Bond 50 box set. If you start finding them in stores, drop us an e-mail to let us know.

Speaking of e-mail, we’re getting a TON of messages from readers with reaction to the new site design, overwhelmingly positive I’m pleased (and relieved!) to say. Some of you have offered good suggestions on subtle ways to adjust things for easier reading and we’re looking into them. In any case, if you’ve e-mailed us we surely do appreciate it. But given the volume of messages we’re getting please be patient – we’re trying to respond to all of them but it’s going to take time.

Finally today, I wanted to make note of the passing of actor Michael O’Hare last week, who some of you may recall as Commander Sinclair from the first season of Babylon 5. He was 60.

All right, I promised you some cool cover artwork. Here’s a look at both versions of Fox’s Prometheus (due on this coming Tuesday, 10/9), along with Disney’s Dick Tracy and some hot new art from our friends at Kino Lorber including Die Nibelungen (due 11/6), D.W. Griffith’s Abraham Lincoln (11/13) and The David O. Selznick Collection (also 11/13)...

Stay tuned...

- Bill Hunt

All right, we're getting settled into the new site nicely. The old site has been archived for your browsing pleasure - just look in the menu under FEATURES for THE ORIGINAL BITS. Also, those of you who enjoy Russell Hammond's weekly Release Dates & Artwork update can now find it in its new location here at the site - just click the RELEASE DATES option in the menu above. More updates are coming so keep checking back.

Here at the site today, we're pleased as punch to offer you the next in Jahnke's Hell Plaza Oktoberfest 666 line-up of reviews: a look at Lionsgate's Cabin in the Woods on Blu-ray. Enjoy!

In release news this morning, we've got a few more details for you on Warner Home Video's 3-disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo release of The Dark Knight Rises due on 12/4 (SRP $35.99). Extras will include the Batmobile documentary, the feature-length multi-part Ending the Knight documentary (includes The Prologue: High Altitude Hijacking, Beneath Gotham, Return to the Batcave, Batman vs. Bane, The Bat, Armory Accepted, Gameday Destruction, Demolishing a City Street, The Pit, The Chant, The War on Wall Street, Race to the Reactor, The Journey of Bruce Wayne and Gotham's Reckoning), 2 character featurettes (A Girl's Gotta Eat and Shadows & Light in Large Format), The End of a Legend, trailers and a gallery of artwork.

There will also be a 5-disc The Dark Knight Trilogy Limited Edition Blu-ray Giftset (SRP $52.99) and a 3-disc The Dark Knight Trilogy Limited Edition DVD Giftset (SRP $38.99). Each will include Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises. The DVD only version of The Dark Knight streets on 1/1/13 (SRP $22.97). There's also The Dark Knight Rises: Limited Edition on Amazon that comes with a replica of Batman's cowl, and there are likely to be retailer-exclusives too so be sure to watch for them.

Warner Home Video has also officially set The Notebook: Ultimate Collector's Edition Gift Set to arrive on Blu-ray/DVD Combo on 1/15 (SRP $49.99). In addition to Blu-ray, DVD and UltraViolet digital versions of the film, you'll also get exclusive swag including a collectible golden locket, a set of postcards with scenes from the film and a "vintage leather-style blank journal with gold edging and ribbon marker; pages designed with watermarked letters and images from the film". So there you go.

Not to be outdone, Disney has revealed that the Peter Pan: Diamond Edition will soon be released on Blu-ray/DVD Combo and DVD. No street date is yet available, but retailer materials reveal a Spring 2013 release and sources are telling us to expect the street date to be sometime in February.

Meanwhile, Sony has set the 1998 Les Miserables for Blu-ray Disc release on 12/11 (SRP $19.99). Extras will include the A First Look at Les Miserables featurette.

Sony has also announced more new MOD DVD titles for release on 11/6, including Caught, The Vertical Ray of the Sun, The Endurance, Camp on Blood Island, Don't Panic Chaps, All Ashore, The Boogieman Will Get You, Men Without Law, Hannah's Law and Breaking In: The Complete Series.

Anchor Bay and The Weinstein Company have Lawless coming on Blu-ray and DVD on 11/27 (SRP $39.99 and $29.98). Extras will include audio commentary with director John Hillcoat and author Matt Bondurant, 2 featurettes (The True Story of the Wettest County in the World and Franklin County, VA: Then and Now), Willie Nelson's Midnight Run music video and deleted scenes.

And WWE Studios and Anchor Bay will release the horror film The Day on Blu-ray/DVD Combo and DVD on 11/17 (SRP $29.99 and $26.98). Extras will include audio commentary with executive producer/director Doug Aarniokoski, producer Guy A. Danella and writer Luke Passmore.

Also today, a lot of fans have asked us about the differences between Fox's 2-disc Prometheus Blu-ray/DVD Combo ($39.99 - Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Copy) and the Prometheus 4 Disc Collector's Edition (SRP $49.99 - Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Copy). The 4-disc edition includes the movie in Blu-ray 3D, the movie in 2D (with commentary by director/producer Ridley Scott and a second commentary by writer Jon Spaihts and writer/executive producer Damon Lindelof, The Peter Weyland Files, deleted and alternate scenes and the Weyland Corp Archive Second Screen with app functionality), a third Blu-ray of extras (including the The Furious Gods: Making Prometheus documentary, scores of Enhancement Pods, more Weyland Corp Archive, Pre-Viz material and screen tests) and finally the DVD/Digital Copy disc. Here's the key - the 2-disc set includes only the 2D movie disc and the DVD/Digital Copy disc. You don't get the bonus disc of supplements. So if you want absolutely everything, you have to get the 4-disc set. Both versions street next week on 10/9. Just so you know.

In other news today, we highly recommend that you Trekkers check out this radio story from KPCC's Off Ramp program - it's a feature on CBS' Star Trek: The Next Generation Blu-ray remastering effort. And you'll definitely want to stick with it right to the end, because for the first time in public (to our knowledge) there's the suggestion made that - provided demand is there and the TNG Blu-rays all sell well - CBS may continue their BD remastering/upgrade effort on to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine! Cool news indeed. This jives with what we've been hearing from our own industry sources. Keep your fingers crossed.

Also today, any fans of the raunchy 80's comedy Porky's? Bits reader Doc D. tells us that Walmart currently has an exclusive BD version in stores.

Finally, we'd like to take a moment to acknowledge the passing of actor Herbert Lom, who died last week at the age of 95. You'll best know him as Inspector Dreyfus from the Pink Panther series.

Here's a look at the Blu-ray artwork for Warner's The Dark Knight Rises and The Dark Knight Trilogy Limited Edition Blu-ray Giftset, as well as Disney's art for the Peter Pan: Diamond Edition (TBA)...

Stay tuned!

- Bill Hunt

No… your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. At long last, we’ve finally gone and done it. You are now looking at the all-new, fully-modernized Digital Bits. We’ve entered the 21st Century at last! That’s right, The Bits no longer looks like it was designed in the late 1990s. And this is just the beginning.

So what took so long? Well… a funny thing happened over the decade and a half since we first launched The Bits. The site grew so big so fast that it just because a monstrous chore to try and update it! I mean, seriously daunting. It didn’t help that I was always too busy talking to industry sources, taking calls, tracking down release news, reviewing discs and dealing with not one but two format wars. Add to that hundreds of daily reader e-mails in need of answering, and more than a few readers who needed help with defective discs or hardware… you get the idea. The idea of completely redesigning The Bits became completely overwhelming.

But about a year ago, I finally got the bug to get it done. I started playing with various new looks and new layouts, designing new graphics… an all-new Bits logo. The rest of The Bits staff got cautiously excited about it, though to be fair I’m not sure most of them believed it was ever really going to happen. And given all of the personal difficulties I’ve experienced in the last year – the death of my grandmother and father, the death of Sarah’s mom, the loss of a beloved cat and most recently the passing of our dear friend and colleague Barrie Maxwell – well, frankly even I’m not quite sure how I managed to get this done. But here it is and we’re pretty pleased with it. We hope you are too.

Today, we’re essentially ‘soft launching’ the new Bits. I really wanted to get it up and running in time for Adam’s Hell Plaza Oktoberfest to kick off today… and up and running we are. But you’ll notice that there are several features that aren’t fully working or updated yet. Only a few of the most recent column entries are here on the new site. We have a few brand new columns that we’ve yet to launch. Reader comments aren’t yet enabled. And less than a hundred of our many disc reviews – mostly Blu-rays – are in the database at the moment. It’s going to take time to add our entire current review catalog – thousands of titles in all – into the new database. Our immediate goal is to work out the various bugs in the new design (and there are sure to be a few, so your patience is appreciated) and to update and add all the usual features over the coming month or so. We’ll gradually add older Bits content to the new design in the weeks and months ahead. Meanwhile, the original Bits site has been permanently archived here, so you can go back and look through it any time you like. (You can always find it in the main menu bar under Features for future reference)

If you’d like to e-mail me or any of The Bits’ staff, all you have to do is go to Meet the Staff under the About section and you’ll find bio pages for each of us. On each bio page is a Contact e-mail form for that person. Don’t hesitate to use these forms to let us know what you think.

So there you go! It’s a whole new Bits! Updated. Shinny. Easier to use. Links up nice with Facebook and other social media sites so you can share content. It should look good on mobile devices. You can finally search for stuff. We have RSS feeds! And best of all, it’s 100% less unattractive. We hope you like it.

Back tomorrow with the usual. Stay tuned…

- Bill Hunt

Afternoon, folks!

Warner Home Video has officially announced the Blu-ray Combo and DVD release of The Campaign on 10/30 (SRP $35.99 and $28.98). The Blu-ray will include Line-O-Rama, deleted scenes and a gag reel. The film will be an extended cut with 11 minutes of scenes not seen in theatres.

Warner Bros will also release Dallas: The Complete First Season on DVD only on 1/8 (SRP $39.98). You'll get all 10 episodes, plus 6 featurettes, commentary on the pilot and deleted scenes. 

Look for a Chuck: The Complete Series - Collector Set on Blu-ray and DVD from Warner as well on 10/30 (SRP $179.98 and $149.98). We don't know if these sets will include the 3D version of the Chuck Versus the Third Dimension episode (that was a Best Buy BD exclusive), but we'll try to find out.

And Warner has set Steven Spielberg Presents Tiny Toon Adventures: Volume 3 for DVD only release on 1/8/2013.

Meanwhile Lionsgate has a Francis Ford Coppola 5-Film Collection coming to Blu-ray on 12/4 (SRP $39.99). It will include Apocalypse Now, Apocalypse Now Redux, Tetro, The Conversation and One from the Heart. We believe this is the first time that final film will be available in high-def. (One suspects it will be released separately on Blu-ray next year.)

Drafthouse Films has set The Ambassador for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 10/23.

Paramount is releasing the classic "western comedy" Something Big on DVD only on 10/9 (SRP $19.99). The film stars Dean Martin and Brian Keith.

Danger After Dark will release the Japanese horror (or "J-horror") film X-Game on DVD only on 11/13. SRP is $17.99.

Shout! Factory will release Simon & Simon: Season Seven on DVD only on 10/16 (SRP $29.99). All 16 episodes from the season will be included.

Any of you guys remember the Nickelodeon classic You Can't Do That on Television? Shout! is also releasing a feature-length documentary on the series, You Can't Do That on Film, on DVD only on 10/16. The disc will include a rare interview with show creator Roger Price, extended cast and crew interviews, recaps of the SlimeCon and SlimeCon 2004 fan conventions and cast reunions, outtakes, behind-the-scenes footage from The Official Reunion Episode Titled Project 131 and more.

Image Entertainment has set the documentary The Clintons: An American Odyssey for DVD only release on 10/2.

The Cinema Guild has the indie film Natural Selection coming on Blu-ray and DVD on 11/13 (SRP $29.95 and $24.95). The discs will include interviews with the cast and crew and the film's theatrical trailer.

First Run Features has set Chely Wright: Wish Me Away and Nobody Else But You for DVD only release on 10/16.

Wolfe Video has Funkytown coming to DVD on 10/2.

And Anchor Bay and Starz has Magic City: The Complete First Season coming to Blu-ray and DVD on 10/3.

Finally, we've got a couple title updates for you. First, we've learned that Network doesn't currently have the U.K. release rights to Gerry Andersons' UFO and Thunderbirds so they can't release Blu-ray versions there. A&E does have the U.S. rights to both series and is considering releasing them on BD. However it's very early in the process so there's nothing concrete to report yet.

Also, for those of you who are interested in the Target-exclusive version of Warner's Harry Potter: Year 7 - Ultimate Edition, here's what you need to know. It's a Blu-ray/DVD Combo, but only the movies are included on DVD. All the extras are on the Blu-rays. Also, it only includes the 8th book - Growing Up. It's in many Target stores now, but initial shipment quantities were low so many stores have just 1-3 copies until they restock. Some stores aren't getting their copies of the set in until next week. We strongly suspect that when the Target exclusive ends and Warner puts the set into wide release, you'll get at least two different SKUs - separate Blu-ray and DVD versions - to match the ones they've released thus far. It may also be that the wide release versions will be split into separate boxes for the two films, like the U.K. versions. So if you only want Blu-ray and you're dying to get the set now, Target's the place. But if you want the DVD version or want to wait until it's two separate boxes for each film so you get the two different books, all the character cards, etc, hang tight until early next year.

All right, one last note about upcoming reviews. We do have the Bond 50 Blu-ray Disc set on hand. I will be doing a full review, but it's going to take a couple weeks to really get into it all and cover it properly as I only just got my hands on it and there's a LOT of material to go over. Also, Dr. Jahnke will shortly have the Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection Blu-ray set in his hands which means you can definitely expect it to be one of the titles he reviews when we launch his annual Hell Plaza Oktoberfest next week! I know a lot of you have been looking for reviews on those titles, so just know they're coming.

We'll leave you with a look at the Blu-ray Disc cover art for Lionsgate's Francis Ford Coppola 5-Film Collection, Warner's Chuck: The Complete Series and PBS' Downton Abbey: Seasons 1 & 2 (due on 10/2)...

Stay tuned!

- Bill Hunt

All right, we've got a quick early update for you today with some major breaking release news...

You may recall that, back on 9/18, we reported on a leaked WHV promotional video on YouTube that teased the home video release of The Dark Knight Rises with the text "Own it on Blu-ray Combo Pack or Digital Download 12/3." Well, now Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Warner has confirmed to them that the film will arrive on Blu-ray Combo, DVD and digital on 12/4. There will also be a limited and numbered box set edition of the BD Combo that comes packaged with a replica of Batman's cowl. According to their information, the discs will include a documentary on the history of the Batmobile, the 17-part Ending the Knight documentary, The Journey of Bruce Wayne featurette, trailers, galleries and more. Watch for official details shortly. 

Also today, for those of you Bond fans who have the EPIX channel on your cable or satellite system, they'll be showing a documentary on the Bond franchise called Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007. Directed by Steven Ridley, it focuses "on Bond producer Albert R. Broccoli, Harry Saltzman, and author Ian Fleming as they discuss the inception and durability of the longest running film franchise in cinema history." The documentary will debut on Friday, October 5th at 8:00pm ET. Here's the film's listing on the EPIX website.

Stay tuned...

- Bill Hunt

Okay... we've got a couple more little bits of information for you today...

First, here at the site today, we've kicked off a new Giveaway giving each of you the chance to win one of FIVE copies of Fringe: The Complete Fourth Season on Blu-ray Disc thanks to our friends at Warner Home Video. Entries will be accepted until Noon (Pacific) on Sunday, October 7th. Click on the link for instructions on how to enter and good luck!

Speaking of Warner, Warner Home Video has set LEGO Ninjago Masters of Spinjitzu: Rise of the Green Ninja for DVD release on 11/27.

Vanguard Entertainment has set Behold the Lamb, The Last Soul on a Summer Night, Flood Streets and Mama Sweetie for DVD release on 11/27.

And Lionsgate will release Bro' on DVD on 12/18.

Back to Warner again for a moment, there are rumors that Target stores have (or will soon have) a retail-exclusive version of a Harry Potter: Year 7 - Ultimate Edition on Blu-ray and DVD. This is obviously the very box set that many of you (who've purchased all the previous UE sets) have been waiting for. We asked WHV for confirmation and have been told that they're not commenting. Which suggests that it's true. However, there's no such set listed on Target.com. We're trying to get to the bottom of this, so if any of you spot the set at your local Target store be sure to let us know. Meanwhile, we've asked Warner if they can at least tell us when and if the set will be available widely for all their loyal customers who, as I noted, have already purchased all the other UE sets. When and if they get back to us on this we'll let you know. We certainly hope they do, because judging by your e-mails many of you are getting understandably impatient about this.

[UPDATE - Target DOES INDEED have a retail exclusive on the long awaited Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Parts 1 and 2 - Year 7 Ultimate Edition, with both movies included in one box set. That explains why the studio isn't commenting. It's available starting today in stores. A sticker on the front of the box indicates that it's a Target exclusive until 1/6/13, and it's a 6-disc set that DOESN'T include the 3D versions - just 2D. SRP is $49.99. Presumably after 1/6 it will go into wide release. Thanks to the many Bits readers who e-mailed with this information.]

Also today, we've yet to hear back from our contacts at Network and A&E about the BD release status of UFO and Thunderbirds, but Bits reader Robert H. did send us a link to a trailer for the Japanese UFO BD release on YouTube. Keep in mind, given that the U.K. and U.S. rights are owned by other companies, so I wouldn't expect this Japanese release to be all-region. Again, anything we hear from our official contacts we'll post as soon as it comes in.

Finally this morning, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the passing over the weekend of filmmaker Steve Sabol, who was the president and co-founder of NFL Films (along with his father, Ed). If you love football like I do, you need no explanation as to just how much impact Sabol has had on the game of pro football over his career. Week in and week out, season after season, Steve and his camera teams captured every scrap of the drama, the history and the humanity of the game. Like any good filmmaker, he was a storyteller and he was a damn good one. Steve died of complications of a brain tumor at the age of 69. He will be missed. Be sure to check out the NFL's tribute film here.

Stay tuned...

- Bill Hunt

A good number of you have asked if it would be possible for me to compile an alphabetical list of every Most Wanted pick to date. Understandably so, since going through the three albums image by image is a time-consuming chore. Ask and ye shall receive. Here are all of the still unavailable Most Wanted picks since the very beginning of the project. Enjoy.

All right, we've got some good new announcement news for you today.

First though, you may have noticed that I missed a couple daily posts last week. No worries - all is well here. We've just got some good stuff going on here at The Bits. Personally, I've been helping my mother prepare for a move to a new retirement home. And behind-the-scenes here we're also working on a couple really cool things for you guys, one of which is Dr. Jahnke's Hell Plaza Oktoberfest! Look for that to kick off on 10/1. The other thing you'll learn about soon enough, so I'll come back to that in a week or so. Anyway, I appreciate your patience as we get it all completed so thank you.

Now then... Liongate has announced their December Blu-ray and DVD slate, including Bob the Builder: Teamwork Time, Fred 3: Camp Fred, a Fred 3-Movie Collection, Titanic: Blood & Steel (Blu-ray and DVD) and A Vampire's Tale on 12/4, followed by Bigfoot County and Thomas & Friends: Sticky Situations on 12/11. The studio will release Step-up Revolution on Blu-ray and DVD on 11/27. Lionsgate has also set Power Rangers Samurai: Christmas Together, Friends Forever for DVD only release on 10/16.

Warner Home Video will release Thunderstruck on Blu-ray/DVD Combo on 1/1/2013 (SRP $24.97).

Sony Pictures has just announced the Blu-ray 3D Combo, Blu-ray Combo and DVD release of the CG-animated Arthur Christmas on 11/6. Extras will include 2 featurettes (including Un-wrapping Arthur Christmas and Elf Recruitment Video) and 5 Progression Reels (Arthur Christmas Unwrapped, Arthur's Office, Grand Santa, Invasion and Trelaw).

Sony has also announced a slate of new MOD DVD-R titles for release on 11/6, including Arizona (1940), The Tall T, Assignment K and The Houston Story.

Disney has set Army Wives: Season Six, Part Two for DVD only release on 12/18.

20th Century Fox has set individual season sets of Stargate Atlantis for release on Blu-ray Disc on 11/27 (SRP $39.99 each).

Synapse Films has announced The Definitive Document of the Dead documentary for release on DVD and limited edition Blu-ray Disc on 11/13 (SRP $19.95 each). Just 1500 copies of the Blu-ray will be available. The Blu-ray will include the 102-minute documentary on DVD, plus a BD of the 66-minute version from 1979. Extras on both will include all-new audio commentary by writer, producer and director Roy Frumkes.

PBS Distribution has announced a Masterpiece Classic: Downton Abbey - Seasons 1 & 2 box set for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 10/2 (SRP $64.99 and $59.99). The DVD is a 6-disc set while the BD set is a 5-disc set.

Anchor Bay Entertainment will release The Trouble with Bliss on DVD only on 1/1/2013.

Well Go USA Entertainment will release Painted Skin: The Resurrection on Blu-ray and DVD on 11/13.

Shout! Factory will release Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters - Creatures Unleashed on DVD only on 12/4 (SRP $14.97).

CBS and Paramount have set Perry Mason: The Seventh Season - Volume Two for DVD only release on 10/23 (SRP $55.98), followed by The Streets of San Francisco: Season Five, Volume One and Volume Two on DVD on 10/30 (SRP $45.98 each) and Perry Mason: The Eighth Season - Volume One on DVD on 11/27 (SRP $55.98).

Paramount has also set Hot in Cleveland: Season Three for DVD only release on 11/27.

For you music fans, Eagle Rock Entertainment has set Paul McCartney: Live Kisses for DVD and Blu-ray release on 11/13.

And Image Entertainment has set Suddenly, the 1954 film noir classic starring Frank Sinatra, for Blu-ray Disc release on 12/4 (SRP $19.98).

In other news today, for those of you up in Canada who are having problems with Warner's Harry Potter Wizards Collection box set, we've got an e-mail you can use to report problems and see about getting them resolved. Contact Warner's Heather Borg at this address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We're working on getting a similar e-mail address for you U.K. readers too, so check back over the next couple days.

Also today, Amazon is suggesting that Universal's Ted will street on Blu-ray Combo and DVD on 12/11 (SRP $34.98 and $29.98).

Amazon.co.uk has also suggested a new street date for Warner's Empire of the Sun - 11/13 in the U.K. according to the site. Sources at Warner have informed us that a new official street is soon to be announced, so be sure to check back. We'll post it as soon as it's available.

And while we're talking about Amazon... Amazon.co.jp has revealed the Japanese Blu-ray Disc release of Gerry Anderson's UFO on 12/5 and Thunderbirds on 2/6/2013 respectively. Looks like lots of great content. One suspects they're coming in the U.S. and the U.K. as well - likely handled by Network and A&E/New Video. Fingers crossed we'll see official announcements soon. We're working to confirm. Thanks to several Bits readers who sent this in today.

We'll leave you with a look at the Blu-ray cover art for Synapse's Document of the Dead and Warner's The Postman Always Rings Twice (due 11/13) and Guys and Dolls (11/6)...

Stay tuned...

- Bill Hunt

More new announcements for you today...

Warner Home Video has set Grand Hotel, Mrs. Miniver and Driving Miss Daisy for Blu-ray Disc release on 1/8/13. Daisy will come in BD Book packaging. Also newly announced for Blu-ray release by the studio is Tom and Jerry: Blast Off to Mars on 10/16 and (for New Line) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3 as BD singles on 12/18.

Sony will release [REC]³: Genesis on DVD only on 11/6.

CBS and Paramount set J.A.G.: The Complete Series - Collector's Edition for DVD box set release on 12/11. The 56-disc set will contain all the episodes plus extras and you'll get a 40-page booklet as well. Also coming to DVD that same day is the Mission: Impossible: The Complete Television Collection Gift Set, featuring every episode plus extras in packaging that looks like microfilm in a bomb-like container.

MGM has set Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure for BD release on 11/13 (SRP $19.99). Extras will include 3 featurettes (The Original Bill & Ted: In Conversation with Chris & Ed, Air Guitar Tutorial With Bjorn Turoque & The Rockness Monster and One Sweet and Sour Chinese Adventure to Go), radio spots and the theatrical trailer.

Meanwhile, Fox has set The Big Trail for BD release on 11/13 as well (SRP $19.99).

In other release news, you can now pre-order Disney's Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One - Avengers Assembled BD set on Amazon.com again (SRP $219.00 but they have it for $139.96). Street date isn't listed but a note from Amazon says the set will come in different packaging now (minus the briefcase which Disney got sued over) and ship sometime in Spring 2013. So adjust your plans accordingly.

Finally today, here's something really cool for you Hobbit fans: Warner Bros has just issued the second trailer for the film and it looks pretty damn great. It's all over YouTube, and you can also view it on Apple (if you can actually see it - the site's bandwidth has been crushed all afternoon) and also here at the film's official site where you can choose to view the trailer with any of FIVE different endings. Count me in!

Here's a look at the Blu-ray cover artwork for MGM's Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Criterion's The Qatsi Trilogy (due 12/11), and Warner's Driving Miss Daisy...

Stay tuned...

- Bill Hunt