First Man official, plus Halloween (2018), Perfect Blue, Arrow’s Django delay, Revenge of the Creature 3D update & more
We start today with a pair of new Blu-ray reviews, including Tim’s take on John Waters’ Female Trouble from the Criterion Collection, and also Dennis’ look at The Nun from Warner. More reviews are on the way this week and next, including (next week) several new 4K reviews from myself. Among them will be M:I – Fallout and The Lion King. My wife and I have family visiting here at the moment though, so it’s been tough to break away to do the reviews with the justice they deserve.
The BIG announcement news today is that Universal has officially set Damien Chazelle’s First Man for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 1/22, with the Digital release expected on 1/5. Here’s the great news... while the film is presented in its original 2.40:1 theatrical aspect ratio, the final scenes will be presented in full 1.78:1 to preserve the IMAX aspect as seen in theaters. Audio is English Dolby Atmos and the 4K image will include both HDR10 and Dolby Vision.
Extras on the Blu-ray versions will include feature commentary (with director Damien Chazelle, screenwriter Josh Singer, and editor Tom Cross), deleted scenes, and 8 featurettes (including Shooting for the Moon, Preparing to Launch, Giant Leap in One Small Step, Mission Gone Wrong, Putting You in the Seat, Recreating the Moon Landing, Shooting at NASA, and Astronaut Training). This is certainly the 4K Ultra HD I’m most looking forward to right now here at The Bits. It should be terrific. [Read on here...]
Bud on Burt, plus New on Blu-ray
[What follows is a feature I wrote for The Daily Oklahoman about one of the greatest movie stars and human beings ever… Burt Reynolds]
Maybe it was the mustache. Or the unscripted quips. Or the genteel Southern manner.
Or just maybe it was that laugh, a cackle delivered by one comfortable in his own skin – inviting his audience gut bust with him, as though they were all in a private joke.
That’s our Burt. And he’s, unbelievably, gone.
Fame, according to Jeanine Bissinger, is “often conferred or withheld just as is love, for reasons and on grounds other than merits.” Burt Reynolds earned his fame with raw boned talent and insight into the business of filmed diversion. [Read on here...]
The Big Lebowski & Jurassic World 5-Film set coming to 4K, plus new Kino & Shout/Scream titles
All right, let’s have a quick update with more breaking release news…
Many months after we first told you it was coming, Universal is finally bringing The Big Lebowski to 4K Ultra HD on 10/16, with both regular and limited editions available (the latter can be seen below, packed with swag). We’re awaiting the official announcement, but both are now listed for pre-order on Amazon.com (click here and here to see them).
Also, the studio is releasing a Jurassic World: 5-Film Collection on 4K Ultra HD on 9/18, day and date with the home video release of Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K. So those of you who waited to pick up all the earlier films in 4K hoping for a 5-film box, now’s your chance. You can see the cover art art right and you can pre-order it here.
Note that we’ve updated the 4K Ultra HD Release List here at The Bits with this information and pre-order links for a number of additional upcoming 4K titles. [Read on here...]
- My Two Cents
- The Digital Bits
- Bill Hunt
- The Big Lebowski 4K
- Jurassic Park 5 Film Collection 4K
- Kino Lorber Studio Classics
- Shout! Factory
- Scream Factory
- Breaking News from Shout! Factory and Scream Factory ComicCon panel
- Shout! Takes
- 4K Ultra HD Release List
- Desert Fury
- The Spiral Staircase
- The Ghost of Sierra de Cobre
- Shout Select
- Holy Motors: Collector's Edition
- The Blue Dahlia
- Single White Female
- Critters Collection
- Candyman
- The Urban Legend: Collector’s Edition
- Urban Legends: The Final Cut
- Jurassic World: 5Film Collection 4K
On Someone with Foresight & Recent Releases
Sometimes it’s wonderful to find someone who hails from the same planet as you. I go to film festivals and am always pleased to find intelligent, well dressed and conversant people on subjects close to my heart. These folks, somewhat like yours truly, are professionals, go to work every day, raise families and live contemplative and productive lives. And, well, like a fool such as I, love, as Pauline Kael once said, “when the lights go down.”
I’ve been extremely lucky – I’ve had mentors and friends who have done their dead level best to educate me in the ways of the world while also sharing their deep and abiding love for everything silver and screen. [Read on here...]
- Olive Films
- DVD
- Bluray Disc
- View from the Cheap Seats
- Bud Elder
- Twilight Time
- Warner Archive
- The Digital Bits
- Shout! Factory
- Shout Select
- Screen Archives Entertainment
- The Criterion Collection
- Doctor Joe Fallin
- King of Jazz
- No Orchids for Miss Blandish
- Kino Lorber Studio Classics
- Underworld USA
- Gun Crazy
Paramount sets Downsizing for 3/20, plus Deep Blue Sea 2, Shout!’s Wild at Heart & more
The big news today is that Paramount has just set Alexander Payne’s Downsizing for Blu-ray, DVD, Digital, and 4K Ultra HD release on 3/20. Extras will include 6 behind-the-scenes featurettes (including Working with Alexander, The Cast, A Visual Journey, A Matter of Perspective, That Smile, and A Global Concern). Audio will be DTS-HD MA.
In addition, it looks like Paramount is releasing Cheech & Chong’s Still Smoking on Blu-ray on 4/10, in addition to the Up in Smoke: 40th Anniversary Edition we mentioned on Wednesday.
Now then... if you haven’t already purchased any of Universal’s Despicable Me titles in 4K Ultra HD, the studio is releasing an Illumination Presents: 3-Movie Collection of all three of them on 3/13 for $79.98. [Read on here…]
- My Two Cents
- The Digital Bits
- Bill Hunt
- Downsizing 4K
- Cheech & Chong's Still Smoking
- Cheech & Chong's Up in Smoke
- Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri 4K
- Illumination Presents: 3Movie Collection 4K
- Fifty Shades of Freed 4K
- Deep Blue Sea 2
- The Robot Chicken: Walking Dead Special
- Wild at Heart: Collector's Edition
- Shout Select
- Buckaroo Banzai Steelbook
- Bill and Ted Steelbook
- Sleeping Dogs
- Deep Red
The Place to Be
A little preface – I started writing my little nickel and dime pieces for the holidays not before December 25 but after. And I’ll tell you why. How many of us receive as presents gift cards – they’re easily purchased and delivered. However, many have time limits and they’re incredibly easy to lose. Come on, you’ve lost a few, haven’t you?
So, I write up these fabulous video gifts because you have gift money to spend. And please do so.
When I was in the throes of graduation from Purcell Oklahoma High School about 40 years ago, we Seniors observed a tradition that I’m sure in some form or fashion was copied throughout the country – we had to complete a form that listed our personal “likes.” You know, favorite song, favorite type food, favorite movie, etc. [Read on here...]
Doctor Detroit is coming from Shout! in April, plus lots more new release announcements
All right, we’ve got a couple things for you today here at The Bits…
First, Tim Salmons has just turned in a pair of new Blu-ray reviews, including Shout! Factory’s A Town Called Panic: The Collection and also Scream Factory’s Hell Night: Collector’s Edition. Both are well worth a look.
Also here at The Bits today, our own Russell Hammond has posted the weekly 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. As always, we appreciate it when you shop for great movie titles and other items through our Amazon links, so thank you! [Read on here…]
- My Two Cents
- The Digital Bits
- Bill Hunt
- Doctor Detroit
- Shout Select
- Shout! Factory
- Scream Factory
- A Town Called Panic: The Collection
- Tim Salmons
- Hell Night: Collector's Edition
- BD review
- Release Dates & Artwork
- Crucible of Horror
- Full Moon High
- Superbeast
- Daughters of Satan
- Troll
- Troll 2
- Lords of Dogtown: Unrated Extended Edition
- Kevin Bacon 8Film Collection
- The Ballad of Lefty Brown
- Taboo
- The Only Game in Town, Avalanche Express
- Underground
- The Man from Earth: Holocene
- Sleeping Giant
- The Blood Spattered Bride
- Loving Vincent
- Federico Fellini's Orchestra Rehearsal
Walt Disney Co. to buy 20th Century Fox for $68 billion, plus a Star Wars: Last Jedi BD/3D/4K update & more
Afternoon, everyone! All right, we have more big news to report for you today...
The Walt Disney Company has just reached a deal to purchase 20th Century Fox and all related entertainment assets from Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox for a deal reportedly worth in the neighborhood $68 billion. Yes, that includes the rights to the original Star Wars films. 21st Century Fox will retain Fox Broadcasting, Fox Sports, Fox News, and all the Fox TV stations, along with the actual 20th Century Fox studio lot in Century City. You can read more about this here at Variety today.
Now... with this news breaking, naturally the first question movie fans want to know is: Does this mean the original Star Wars is finally going to be released on disc. And the answer is: Cool your thrusters, Space Cowboys. [Read on here…]
Geostorm, Last Flag Flying, Professor Marston and the Wonder Women, Dark Crystal, Orville & more
Afternoon, folks. We’ve got a bunch of release news to report today and some new disc reviews too. First the reviews...
Our own Tim Salmons has checked in with a look at a pair of All Region Blu-rays from Aussie distributor Umbrella Entertainment, including Drive-In Delirium: ’60s and ’70s Savagery and Drive-In Delirium: Maximum ’80s Overdrive. Be sure to check them out.
We’ve also posted the weekly update of the Release Dates & Artwork section with all the latest Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD cover art and Amazon.com pre-order links. As always, we’d appreciate it if you used our Amazon links (any one of them) when you’re shopping from the retailer. Thank you!
The big news today is that Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has set Dean Devlin’s Geostorm for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 1/23 (SRP $35.99 and $28.98), with a Digital release expected on 1/23. There’s no 4K Ultra HD version currently planned it seems, at least not at the moment. Extras on the Blu-ray will include 3 featurettes (Wreaking Havoc, Search for Answers, and An International Event). [Read on here…]
- The Dark Crystal 4K
- Jigsaw 4K
- Ultimate Puppet Master Collectible Trunk
- The Burbs
- Shout Select
- Bill Hunt
- The Digital Bits
- My Two Cents
- The 4K Ultra HD Release List
- The Orville: Season One DVD
- Geostorm
- Last Flag Flying
- Professor Marston and the Wonder Women
- The Dark Crystal: Anniversary Edition 4K
- Star Trek: Discovery Season One
- Drive In Delirium BD review
- Tim Salmons
- Release Dates & Artwork update
- Bullet Heat
- Friend Request
- Better Call Saul: Season Three
- I Remember You
- My Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea
- Godzilla films on Film Struck
- Rampage 4K
- Reader Player One 4K
- The Shape of Water 4K
- Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri 4K
- Ferdinand 4K
Shout! Selects to include The ‘Burbs & Downfall, plus Universal sets Straight Outta Compton for 4K
We have just a couple of quick release announcements and updates to offer you today, before we let you all head out for the weekend…
Shout! Factory has announced The ‘Burbs: Collector’s Edition for release on Blu-ray on 3/20 as part of their Shout Select line.
Also coming that day as part of their Select line is Oliver Hirschbiegel’s Downfall, an absoutely fantastic film about the last days of Hitler in WWII starring Bruno Ganz (and the source of a surprisingly persistent viral YouTube meme you may be familiar with – one of the early versions even referenced The Bits, as some of you longtime readers may recall). Shout! also has Macon County Line coming on 1/16 to the Select line. Extras on these titles are still TBA. [Read on here…]
- Denis Villeneuve
- Warner Bros Home Entertainment
- Blade Runner: 2049 3D
- Blade Runner: 2049 4K
- The 4K Ultra HD Release List
- My Two Cents
- The Digital Bits
- Bill Hunt
- Blade Runner: 2049
- Shout Select
- The Burbs
- Downfall
- Straight Outta Compton 4K
- Macon County Line
- Basket Case
- Ultimate Puppet Master Collectible Trunk
- Jigsaw 4K
- The Dark Crystal 4K
- Daddy's Home 4K
- Paddington 2 4K