Displaying items by tag: Battlestar Galactica

We’re finishing the week with several new disc reviews today, including my joint review (with our old friend Todd Doogan) of Stanley Kubrick’s Killer’s Kiss (1955) on 4K Ultra HD from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

Dennis has also turned in his thoughts on George Sidney’s The Three Musketeers (1948) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.

And Stephen has delivered a look at John Ford’s The Horse Soldiers (1959) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, along with a music title: The Prince and the Revolution: Live – Collector’s Edition, a 3-LP, 2-CD, and Blu-ray box set which is exclusive to the Paisley Park Records webstore.

As always, more reviews are on the way next week, so be sure to check back for them.

I also wanted to take a moment this afternoon to talk about For All Mankind, which returns today for the start of its terrific third season on Apple TV+. I’ve talked about the series here at The Bits before. It’s essentially an alternate history of the manned space program, which attempts to answer the question: What if the Soviets had beaten NASA to the Moon in 1969? [Read on here...]

“Battlestar Galactica remains in the history of pop-culture as one of the most star-studded, lavishly-produced, special-effects-laden television shows of all time.” – Classic TV historian Herbie J Pilato

The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective commemorating the 40th anniversary of the premiere of Battlestar Galactica, Glen A. Larson’s science-fiction television series about the crew of the Galactica and their ongoing battles with the Cylons and quest to locate Earth. Starring Richard Hatch as Apollo, Dirk Benedict as Starbuck, and Lorne Greene as Adama, the series is remembered for its massive production budget and state-of-the-art visual effects.

The supporting cast included Herbert Jefferson, Jr. (Boomer), John Colicos (Baltar), Maren Jensen (Athena), Noah Hathaway (Boxey), Laurette Spang (Cassiopeia), Tony Swartz (Flight Sergeant Jolly), Terry Carter (Colonel Tigh), Anne Lockhart (Lieutenant Sheba), Jane Seymour (Serina), Patrick Macnee (narrator, Count Iblis, and voice of Imperious Leader), and Jonathan Harris (voice of Lucifer). [Read on here...]

All right, we’ve got a couple things for you this evening here at The Bits…

First up, I’ve spent some time this afternoon talking with those involved in mastering and QC for Paramount Home Entertainment, and have just updated my review of Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival in 4K Ultra HD format with much new information about the transfer and HDR. There’s been some concern by other reviewers that the film image is too dark, and that there must be a mastering error, but having reviewed the 4K disc myself here at The Bits, it was my suspicion that the darker image on the 4K disc (compared to the Blu-ray) was a deliberate creative decision by the filmmakers, similar to the situation with Fox’s The Revenant. That suspicion, as it turns out, was correct. So the review has been fully updated with additional details and information that should help to illuminate the situation. You can find that here. [Read on here…]

We have some sad news to report this morning, but let’s get this out of the way first…

We’ve got a couple of new Blu-ray reviews for you today. Tim has given Criterion’s recent Blu-ray release of John Ford’s My Darling Clementine a look – a fantastic film and one of my favorite westerns. And I’ve chimed in as well with my thoughts on another favorite: Yoji Yamada’s The Twilight Samurai, a samurai classic from 2002, available now on Blu-ray from Twilight Time. Both films are well worth your time.

We also have a quick new History, Legacy & Showmanship column from our own Michael Coate for you today, taking a look back at Disney’s The Little Mermaid on the week of its 25th anniversary. Do give it a look. [Read on here…]

All right, we’ve got a big bit of announcement news to close out the week…

Lionsgate has just officially set The Hunger Games: Catching Fire for release on Blu-ray Combo, DVD and digital on 3/7 (SRP $39.99 and $29.95 for the discs). Extras will include audio commentary with director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson, the 9-part (feature-length) Surviving the Game: Making Catching Fire documentary, deleted scenes and a sneak peek of Lionsgate’s Divergent. You’ll find final cover art below and the title is now available for pre-order on Amazon. [Read on here…]

All right, we’ve got some more Blu-ray Disc reviews for you all to enjoy today.  First up, Tim has given Criterion’s version of Terrence Malick’s Badlands a look for you.  Also, we’ve brought our BD reviews of Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story, Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3 over to the new Bits site.  Enjoy!

Also here at the site today, our own Russell Hammond has posted the weekly update of the Release Dates and Artwork section, 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 after clicking through to them through our links goes to help support our work here at The Bits and we appreciate it.  It really does make a difference.  So thank you!

In announcement news today, Universal has set the comedy Admission, staring Tina Fey and Paul Rudd for Blu-ray and DVD release on 7/9.  Universal has also set Syfy’s Alphas: Season Two for DVD only release on 7/16.

HBO has set Boardwalk Empire: The Complete Third Season for Blu-ray and DVD release on 8/20.  Also coming to Blu-ray and DVD from HBO on 8/13 is Girls: The Complete Second Season, as well as Enlightened: The Complete Second Season on DVD only.

Warner Home Video has announced the Charlie Chan Collection for DVD release on 8/6 (SRP $39.92).  The set will include Shadows Over Chinatown, Docks of New Orleans, Shanghai Chest and The Golden Eye.  All will be remastered.

Sony has set the documentary The Gatekeepers for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 7/9.  Sony has also set NO for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 6/25, followed by Dead Man Down on both formats on 7/9.

Here’s a title that’s not officially been announced yet, but Sony has accidentally let it slip that director Neill Blomkamp’s upcoming sci-fi/action film Elysium is likely to street on or around 12/17.  The date is obviously subject to change, but you can tentatively set the Wayback Machine (in reverse) for it.

Meanwhile, CBS has set The Borgias: The Third Season for Blu-ray and DVD release on 8/6.  CBS has also set Family Ties: The Seventh and Final Season for DVD only release on 8/13.

Disney has announced the DVD only release of ABC’s Revenge: The Complete Second Season on 8/20 (SRP $45.99), followed by Army Wives: The Complete Seventh Season (SRP $39.99) and Castle: The Complete Fifth Season (SRP $45.99) on 9/10, and Nashville: The Complete First Season (SRP $45.99) on 9/17.

Disney has also set the animated Oliver and Company: 25th Anniversary Edition for release on Blu-ray/DVD Combo on 7/21.

Grindhouse Releasing has set Corruption and An American Hippie in Israel for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 9/10.

Image Entertainment will release the Sony catalog title Quicksilver on Blu-ray on 8/6, followed by The Tailor of Panama and 88 Minutes on 8/20, and Stranded on 8/27.

Wolfe Video has set Quentin Lee’s White Frog for DVD release on 6/4.

Lionsgate has set the supernatural western Gallowwalkers for DVD release on 8/6 (SRP $26.98).

Magnolia Home Entertainment has announced The Brass Teapot for Blu-ray and DVD release on 6/18.

Anchor Bay Entertainment will release Detention of the Dead on DVD only on 7/23, followed by The Demented on Blu-ray Combo and DVD on 7/30.

And our friends at Warner Archive have made a few more great DVD-R/MOD titles available this week, including Sincerely Yours (1955), Stampede (1949), Short Grass (1950), Wild Stallion (1952) and Rider on a Dead Horse (1962), as well as The Monogram Cowboy Collection: Volume Six – Jimmy Wakely, which includes Riding the Dusty Trail aka Riders of the Dawn (1945), Lonesome Trail (1945), The Rangers Ride (1948), Range Renegades (1948), Silver Trails (1948) and Brand of Fear (1949).

In other news, this has nothing to do with Blu-ray Disc, but it’s just damn cool: Astronaut (and musician) Chris Hadfield just returned safely from the International Space Station yesterday, but before he left he shot an HD video tribute to David Bowie by recording one of the coolest versions of the song Space Oddity you’re ever likely to see.  Bowie himself even recognized it on Twitter.  Do give it a watch (and be sure to select 720p)…

Finally, don’t forget that the original 1978 Battlestar Galactica feature film hits Blu-ray today at Best Buy stores for just $14.99.  I picked up a copy – it’s pretty good.  No extras, but the film looks surprisingly nice given its age.  Nice contrast, color and detail.  Audio is DTS-HD Master Audio 2.1 (with the .1 channel reproducing the Sensurround track of the original theatrical presentation).  Jeff will be doing a review in the next week or so.

We’ll leave you with a look at the Blu-ray cover artwork for Universal’s The Host (due 7/9), Sony’s The Call (7/25) and HBO’s Boardwalk Empire: The Complete Third Season…

Stay tuned...

- Bill Hunt