Displaying items by tag: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

All right, folks. This will be our last post until Wednesday next week, as it’s not only the long Labor Day weekend here in the States but by wife and I are also celebrating our thirty-second wedding anniversary. So we’re going to take a little time to relax here in sweltering-in-a-heatwave Southern California.

But, we’ve got a TON of release news to talk about, as well as a pair of new disc reviews to start things off today...

Stephen has turned in his thoughts on Gaspar Noe’s intriguing and doubly-experimental Lux Aeterna (2019) on Blu-ray from Yellow Veil Pictures via Vinegar Syndrome.

And Tim has posted his thoughts on Jeffrey Obrow and Stephen Carpenter’s The Kindred (1987), now available in a new Special Edition Blu-ray release from Synapse Films.

And we’ve got lots more disc reviews coming over the weekend and early next week, so be sure to check back for them.

Meanwhile, our friends at Via Vision Entertainment down under are releasing a Saw: The Ultimate Collection 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set on 11/9 that’s not only comes in an exclusive “reverse bear trap” replica, but is limited to just 1500 copies. The 13-disc set includes Saw, Saw II, Saw III, Saw IV, Saw V, Saw VI, Saw 3D: The Final Chapter, Jigsaw, Spiral: From the Book of Saw, plus a Bonus Disc packed with extras. You can see the packaging at left. Be sure to visit their website here for all the details and to pre-order. [Read on here...]

We’ve got news, news, and only news here at The Bits today, and we’re starting with the big announcement: Criterion has just unveiled their November Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD release slate...

It kicks off with Věra Chytilová’s 1966 Czech New Wave classic Daisies (Spine #1157 – Blu-ray only) and a 4K update of Wong Kar Wai’s evocative 2000 gem In the Mood for Love (Spine #147 – 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD) on 11/1. Following on 11/8 is Jane Campion’s cold but captivating The Power of the Dog (Spine #1158 – 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD). On 11/15, look for Andrew Lau Tak-wah and Alan Mak’s The Infernal Affairs Trilogy (Spine #1159 – Blu-ray only – includes Infernal Affairs, Infernal Affairs II, and Infernal Affairs III). Finally, Spike Lee’s Malcolm X round out the month’s slate on 11/22 (Spine #1160 – 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray).

Note that Malcolm X and The Power of the Dog will include Dolby Vision HDR (In the Mood for Love appears to be HDR10 only), while The Power of the Dog will also feature Dolby Atmos audio.

You can see the cover artwork for all of these titles at left and also below. We’ve also updated our Criterion Spines Project and 4K Ultra HD Release List pages here at the site accordingly. And more detail about the special features included on these titles is available here at the Criterion website. [Read on here...]

All right, we have big release news to report today, but first we’ve got three more new disc reviews for you all to enjoy…

Stephen has given an in-depth look at Dario Argento’s Tenebrae in 4K Ultra HD, as newly released in a terrific and loaded special edition package from our friends at Synapse Films. If you’re a fan of Argento, the gaillo genre, or this film in particular, this is a great package that you’re not going to want to miss.

Stephen has also taken a look at an under-appreciated Soviet classic by director Alexandr Ptushko, a filmmaker considered by many to be the Russian George Pal… Sampo (1959) new on Blu-ray from Deaf Crocodile and Vinegar Syndrome. This is an interesting piece of cinema that also deserves a look.

Last but not least, Dennis has offered his thoughts on Graham Mason’s Inspector Ike (2020), which presents itself as a “lost 70s telefilm” and detective story spoof, a-la The Naked Gun. That’s available on Blu-ray from Factory 25 via Vinegar Syndrome, so be sure to check it out.

Now then, the biggest box office hit of the year… and what is likely to be the biggest home media title of the year as well… has finally been made official: Paramount Home Entertainment will release Joseph Kosinski’s Top Gun: Maverick on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 11/1 (a date that our sources have been suggesting for a few weeks now). But here’s the real surprise: The Digital release will drop next Tuesday on 8/23! [Read on here...]

We begin our Friday My Two Cents installment here at The Bits with a trio of new disc reviews…

Stephen has turned in his in-depth thoughts on George Stevens’ 1956 Hollywood classic Giant, starring James Dean, Rock Hudson, and Elizabeth Taylor, as recently released on 4K Ultra HD by Warner Bros.

Also, Dennis has checked in with this thoughts on Lyndall Hobbs’ Back to the Beach (1987) from Paramount and Joe Wiezycki’s Satan’s Children (1974) from AGFA and Something Weird Video.

Now then, the big release news today is that Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has finally officially announced two major catalog titles for 4K Ultra HD...

First, they’ve just set Tobe Hooper’s Poltergeist (1982) for release on 4K UHD and Digital on 9/20. The disc will feature HDR10 high dynamic range, with the previous 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. The package will include the previous Blu-ray extras on disc, including They Are Here: The Real World of Poltergeists, Part 1 – Science of the Spirits, They Are Here: The Real World of Poltergeists, Part 2 – Communing with the Dead, The Making of Poltergeist, and the film’s theatrical trailer.

And of course, the studio has just officially set Joel Schumacher’s The Lost Boys (1987) for release on 4K Ultra HD and Digital on 9/20 as well. Once again, you’ll get HDR10 high dynamic range and the previous 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. Both the 4K disc and the Blu-ray in the package will include audio commentary with Schumacher. [Read on here...]

We’ve got a couple of announcements to report today...

First, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has just officially set its Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection: Volume 3 for release on 10/25. And just as we first reported here at The Bits a few weeks ago, the package will include Frank Capra’s It Happened One Night (1934), Fred Zinnemann’s From Here to Eternity (1953), James Clavell’s To Sir, with Love (1967), Peter Bogdanovich’s The Last Picture Show (1971), John Huston’s Annie (1982), and James L. Brooks’ As Good As it Gets (1997).

Each film will include Dolby Vision HDR and all-new Dolby Atmos mixes. All of them will carry over the legacy Blu-ray special features, as well as bonus content that’s new to release.

The new content will include... [Read on here...]

Today’s update at The Digital Bits is a relatively brief one, as I have family visiting here from North Dakota this week. But we do have some new disc reviews, as always, as well as some interesting release announcements and rumors.

First up, those reviews...

Dennis has offered his take on Robert Siodmak’s Time Out of Mind (1947) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

Stephen has reviewed Rene Daalder’s Massacre at Central High (1976) on Blu-ray and Steelbook Blu-ray from Synapse Films.

And Tim has taken a look at Rod Serling’s Night Gallery: Season One (1969-1971) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

FYI, Tim is working on a review of Season Two of the series as well, so watch for that to be posted very soon. [Read on here...]

We’re finishing the week here at The Bits with a spate of new disc reviews for you to check out and enjoy...

First, I’ve taken a look at Michael Mann’s Heat (1995) which is finally available in a long-awaited new 4K Ultra HD release from 20th Century Studios. The new 4K master is impressive, though not reference-quality.

It’s important to note, however, that Mann made creative changes to the film’s color grading in 2017, as he was preparing his new Director’s Definitive Edition (see his own comments on this at the time here). This means the film is somewhat darker looking, with slightly-desaturated color, than it was before—even with the new HDR grade. This in turn has caused a host of “fan” reviewers to claim that the disc is defective, when the truth is that they simply don’t like the new color grade. Meanwhile, professional reviewers have almost all praised the disc’s image improvements, while acknowledging the darker grading. Those of you with genuinely bright 4K displays (with effective tone-mapping) will appreciate the new color grade the most. The point is, you’re going to see a lot of diverse opinions about this title out there on the Interwebs and social media. It’s only by understanding that these changes were initiated by the director himself that you can sort the reality from opinion. Anyway, I break it down in the review.

Also today, Stephen has turned in his thoughts on Sam Raimi’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in 4K Ultra HD from Marvel and Disney. [Read on here...]

Boy, we’ve got a LOT of new announcement and catalog release news to report on today, so let’s get right into it…

First up, the big news: Criterion has just announced their October title slate, and as expected it includes a couple of great 4K Ultra HD titles, along with some Blu-ray gems.

It all starts with a title we revealed last week: George A. Romero’s classic zombie film Night of the Living Dead (1968 – Spine #909 – 4K Ultra HD) on 10/4. Following on 10/11 is another title we revealed a couple months ago here at The Bits, David Lynch’s Lost Highway (1997 – Spine #1152 – Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD), as well as Frank Capra’s Arsenic and Old Lace (1944 – Spine #1153 – Blu-ray and DVD). On 10/18, look for Jayro Bustamante’s La Llorona (2019 – Spine #1156 – Blu-ray and DVD) and Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Cure (1997 – Spine #1155 – Blu-ray and DVD). And finally, Kasi Lemmon’s Eve’s Bayou (1997 – Spine #1154 – Blu-ray) round the month out. Lost Highway will include Dolby Vision HDR.

You can read more about these titles here at the Criterion website, and we’ve updated our Criterion Spines Project and 4K Ultra HD Release List pages here at The Bits accordingly. You can also see the cover artwork at left and also below. [Read on here...]

We’ve got no less than five new disc reviews for you all to enjoy today, with still more on the way…

Tim has reviewed Stephen Soderbergh’s Out of Sight (1998) on 4K Ultra HD from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, as well as Kenneth Branagh’s Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994) on 4K Ultra HD from Arrow Video.

Dennis has offered his thoughts on David Lean’s Summertime (1955) on regular Blu-ray from the Criterion Collection.

And Stephen has taken a look at William Malone’s Scared to Death (1980) on Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome, as well as Luis Bunuel’s The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972) on import 4K Ultra HD from StudioCanal in the UK.

We’ve also got some significant new 4K Ultra HD catalog news today as well… [Read on here...]

We’ve got some major catalog release news for you today to start the new week off right…

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has just set Tom Holland’s Fright Night (1985) for release on 4K Ultra HD on 10/4. The release will feature a new 4K scan from the original camera negative, with Dolby Vision HDR and a new Dolby Atmos mix along with the previous 5.1 mix and the original stereo as well.

The title will come a Blu-ray version of the film mastered from the new 4K scan that will feature all-new Deleted Scene Storyboards and the never-before-seen alternate Holland/Beyda Spec Trailer, along with legacy extras that include audio commentary by Holland, actors Chris Sarandon and Jonathan Stark, and filmmaker Tim Sullivan, a second commentary with Holland, actors William Ragsdale and Stephen Geoffreys, FX artist Randall Cook, journalist Jeremy Smith and Tim Sullivan, and 3 featurettes (You’re So Cool, Brewster! The Story of Fright Night, What is Fright Night, and Tom Holland: Writing). [Read on here...]