Displaying items by tag: Orson Welles

We’ve got some great release news for you all today and of course more new disc reviews as well. As always, we’ll start with the reviews...

I’ve just posted my thoughts on Rian Johnson’s science fiction time-twister Looper (2012), which is finally available in 4K Ultra HD here in the States from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. What’s more—and unlike last year’s UK 4K release from eOne—this edition features fresh remastering by cinematographer Steve Yedlin, with a new Dolby Vision and HDR10 high dynamic range grade and a new Dolby Atmos mix too. Not only is it a big improvement on the original Blu-ray, it improves on the eOne 4K release too, so it’s definitely worth a look for fans.

Also today, Tim has posted a look at Bruce Beresford’s The Adventures of Barry McKenzie on Blu-ray from Umbrella Entertainment.

Stephen has offered his thoughts on Mervyn LeRoy and Busby Berkeley’s long-awaited Gold Diggers of 1933 new on Blu-ray from The Warner Archive Collection.

And Dennis has turned in his takes on Kino Classics’ Princess Tam Tam (1935) and Zou Zou (1934) double-feature and Philip Kaufman’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, both on Blu-ray. [Read on here...]

All right, we have some new and recent disc reviews for you all to enjoy today...

Stephen has checked in with his thoughts on James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad in 4K Ultra HD from Warner, along with Claude Chabrol’s Blue Panther (1965) from Kino Lorber Studio Classics and Jean Renoir’s Whirlpool of Fate (1925) from Kino Classics both on Blu-ray Disc.

Also, Tim has checked out Philip Kaufman’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) in 4K Ultra HD from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, along with Richard Friedman’s Phantom of the Mall: Eric’s Revenge (1989) from Arrow Video on Blu-ray.

And Dennis has turned in his take on Basil Dearden’s The Assassination Bureau (1969) on region-free Blu-ray from Imprint Films and Via Vision.

Lots more reviews are on the way, including several 4K UHD titles that I’m diving into this week, so be sure to stay tuned for them. [Read on here...]

All right, the big news today is that Criterion has just officially announced their November slate of Blu-ray—and yes, 4K Ultra HD—titles!

They begin with an upgrade of Federico Fellini’s La strada (Spine #219 – Blu-ray) on 11/2, followed by an upgrade of David Lynch’s Mulholland Dr. (Spine #799 – Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD Combo) and Once Upon a Time in China: The Complete Films (Spine #1103 – Blu-ray – includes Once Upon a Time in China I-V) on 11/16, and Albert and Allen Hughes’ Menace II Society (Spine #1105 – Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Combo) and Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane (Spine #1104 – Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Combo) on 11/23. Let’s talk 4Ks...

Mulholland Dr. will include a new 4K digital restoration, supervised by director David Lynch and director of photography Peter Deming, with a 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. The 4K disc will include Dolby Vision HDR.

Menace II Society will include a new 4K digital restoration of the directors’ cut of the film, supervised by cinematographer Lisa Rinzler and codirector Albert Hughes, with 7.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. The 4K disc will include Dolby Vision HDR.

Citizen Kane will include a new 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack. Again, the 4K disc will include Dolby Vision HDR. [Read on here...]

We’ve got a couple odds and ends for you today...

First, the big news... Shout! Factory has just reached a multi-year distribution agreement with the Portland-based Laika animation studio. The deal gives Shout! the U.S. packaged media distribution rights to the studio’s first four films: Kubo and the Two Strings (2016), The Boxtrolls (2014), ParaNorman (2012), and Coraline (2009). According to the report on The Hollywood Reporter, new bonus content is already in development for these films. Not only are new Blu-rays obviously in the offing, we can’t help thinking how great these titles would look again on Blu-ray 3D and for the first time on 4K Ultra HD as well.

Also today, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has just announced Supernatural: The Fifteenth and Final Season and Supernatural: The Complete Series for Blu-ray and DVD release on 5/25. The Fifteenth Season set includes 2 new featurettes, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and more (SRP $49.99 for Blu-ray and $44.98 for DVD). The Complete Series set includes all 327 episodes and all the previous bonus content, plus a 68-page book (SRP $359.99 for Blu-ray and $329.99 for DVD). [Read on here...]

We start the new week with a few more Blu-ray reviews, including Tim’s review of Absurd from Severin Films, David’s look at Street Mobster from Arrow Video, and Dennis’ take on Gun Crazy from the Warner Archive Collection. Enjoy!

Also, we’ve posted another new update of the Release Dates & Artwork section featuring all the latest Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD cover artwork and Amazon.com pre-order links. And as we work our way towards Thanksgiving and Black Friday week, we ask that whenever you’re going to shop on Amazon for literally anything, please consider starting by clicking through one of our links (link this one). It makes a real difference in helping us to keep The Bits and we really do appreciate it.

In terms of announcement news, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has just set Jonathan Demme’s Philadelphia: 25th Anniversary Edition for release on 4K Ultra HD on 11/27, just as we expected. All of the existing extras will carry over, and there will be a new featurette with new Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, and Mary Steenburgen interviews too. Audio will be Dolby Atmos and there will be HDR10 high dynamic range. [Read on here...]

We’re kicking things off today with a trio of new Blu-ray reviews, including...

Tim’s look at Peter Medak’s The Changeling (1980), available in a new limited edition from Severin Films.

David’s thoughts on William Castle’s Strait-Jacket (1963) from Scream Factory.

And Dennis’ take on the 2004 remake of Walking Tall, starring Dwayne Johnson, from MVD Visual.

We’ve also posted the weekly update of the Release Dates & Artwork section, featuring all the latest Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K cover artwork and Amazon.com pre-order links. As always, whenever you order literally anything from Amazon after clicking to them through one of our links (like this one), you’re helping to support our work here at The Bits and we really appreciate it. [Read on here...]

“Casino Royale is the Star Wars Holiday Special of James Bond films.” — 007 historian John Cork

The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective commemorating the 50th anniversary of the release of Casino Royale, the James Bond comedy spoof starring Peter Sellers, Ursula Andress, David Niven, Orson Welles and Woody Allen.

Our previous celebratory 007 articles include Tomorrow Never Dies, Die Another Day, Dr. No, The Living Daylights, The Spy Who Loved Me, You Only Live Twice, Diamonds Are Forever, Casino Royale, For Your Eyes Only, Thunderball, GoldenEye, A View to a Kill, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Goldfinger, and 007… Fifty Years Strong.

The Bits continues the series with this retrospective featuring a Q&A with an esteemed group of James Bond historians who discuss the virtues, shortcomings and legacy of Casino Royale (1967). [Read on here...]

We’ve got a bunch of good stuff for you today here at The Bits so let’s get right to it...

First up, Tim has just posted his review of Tibor Takacs’ The Gate from Lionsgate, part of their new Vestron Video Collector’s Series. The disc is now available in stores.

Meanwhile, Michael Coate has chimed in with a new History, Legacy & Showmanship column, celebrating today’s 40th anniversary of the hit ABC sitcom Three’s Company. It features an interview with author and series authority Chris Mann. Do give it a look. [Read on here…]

“Citizen Kane towers over most other films. Few are in its league. It has a legacy for filmmakers as the film to beat, and for critics as one of the best of the best.” — Young Orson: The Years of Luck and Genius on the Path to Citizen Kane author Patrick McGilligan

The Digital Bits is pleased to present this retrospective commemorating the diamond anniversary of the release of Citizen Kane, Orson Welles’s legendary film about newspaper tycoon Charles Foster Kane and the pursuit of the meaning of “Rosebud.” [Read on here...]

[Editor’s Note: Be sure to follow us on Twitter @thedigitalbits @BillHuntBits and on Facebook here and here. And you can help support The Bits by pre-ordering Blu-rays and other items from Amazon through this link.]

We’ve got some good stuff for you today here at The Bits, including a new column and fine release news too...

First up, our own Michael Coate has just posted a brand new History, Legacy & Showmanship column here at the site, entitled Mighty Wings: Remembering “Top Gun” on its 30th Anniversary. Michael details the film’s original 70mm North American theatrical release and discusses its lasting impact and Tony Scott’s legacy with documentarian Charles de Lauzirika, producer of the excellent Danger Zone: The Making of Top Gun documentary from the 2004 Special Edition DVD (it’s also on the recent Blu-ray edition). Don’t miss it.  [Read on here…]