In reviews this morning, Dennis has taken a look at Raphael Sbarge’s 2022 Laemmle Theatres documentary Only in Theaters on DVD from Kino Lorber. The film chronicles the 80+ year history of the family-owned cinema chain, which is based in L.A., and looks at the family’s efforts to see it survive the current challenges facing the industry.

More reviews are coming, so be sure to watch for them.

Now then... the big news today is two-fold: First, Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment has just revealed that Babylon 5: The Complete Series is coming to Blu-ray Disc for the first time ever on 12/5! Of course, the series was originally produced and finished in SD resolution only. But its live-action footage was shot on film, so that’s been scanned in 4K and downsampled to HD, while the CGI and VFX shots have been upsampled to HD from SD. But if you’ve seen the series recently as it appears on the Max streaming app, you’ll be familiar with the quality. (Note that it’s presented in the original 1.33 broadcast aspect ratio, and will include English SDH subtitles.) All 110 episodes of the show will be included, along with the 1993 pilot film, The Gathering. It appears that this title will be available via online retailers only, so don’t expect to find it at your local brick-and mortar shop. SRP is $99.99. You can see the cover artwork at left and also below. (Oddly, it doesn’t actually include an image of the Babylon 5 space station itself, which.. ahem... seems like very strange marketing choice.)

And second, here’s some exciting news for fans of 1980s animation: The great Ralph Bakshi has announced on his Facebook page that American Pop (1981) is finally coming to Blu-ray Disc from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on 8/22! [Read on here...]

We’re kicking off the new week today with three more disc reviews from The Bits review team, including...

Tim’s thoughts on Martin Brest’s Midnight Run (1988) in 4K Ultra HD from Shout! Factory via their Shout Select line.

Stephen’s take on Mizuho Nishikubo’s animated Giovanni’s Island (2014) on Blu-ray from GKids.

And Dennis’ look at John Cromwell’s Caged (1950) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.

More reviews are forthcoming all this week, so be sure to check back every day for them.

Now then, the big release news today is that the Criterion Collection has just announced its October Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD slate, which includes five great new titles. [Read on here...]

We have three more new disc reviews for you again today here at The Bits, including...

Stuart’s thoughts on Wojciech Jerzy Has’ The Saragossa Manuscript (1965) on Blu-ray from Yellow Veil Pictures via Vinegar Syndrome.

Dennis’ take on the vintage Rin Tin Tin double feature of Clash of the Wolves (1925) and Where the North Begins (1923) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

And Tim’s take on another Shawscope: Volume One Blu-ray title from Arrow Video: Lau Kar-Leung’s Heroes of the East (1978), also known as Challenge of the Ninja, Shaolin vs. Ninja, and/or Shaolin Challenges Ninja.

In announcements today, the big news is that Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment and DC Studios have officially set Andy Muschietti’s The Flash for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 8/29, with the Digital and “Web3 Movie Experience” expected on 7/18. [Read on here...]

Today’s new disc reviews here at The Bits include...

Stephen’s review of Robert Aldrich’s The Longest Yard (1974) in 4K Ultra HD from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

His take on James Wan’s Insidious (2010) in 4K Steelbook from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Tim’s reviews of The Five Venoms (1978) and Crippled Avengers (1978) from Arrow’s Shawscope: Volume One Blu-ray box set.

And Stuart’s look at Philippe Le Guay’s The Man in the Basement (2021) on DVD from Kino Lorber and Greenwich Entertainment.

Don’t forget that today is the final day of Amazon’s Prime Day Deals, and there are still LOTS of them to be had on 4K Ultra HD titles, movie and TV collections, and much more. And if you click to Amazon through one of our links (like this one) before you start shopping with them, it makes a huge difference in helping us to keep The Digital Bits going. So we appreciate the support! [Read on here...]

It’s Prime Day both today and tomorrow on Amazon.com, which means there are all kinds of great deals for Prime Members.

We’re talking deals on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD titles, as well as home theater products (like 4K TVs, AV receivers, and soundbars), games, computer hardware, and lots of other items.

Among the physical media deals you’ll find today are…

Up to 68% off 4K Ultra HD titles (link here).

Up to 66% off Anime titles (link here).

Up to 67% off Movie Collections (link here).

Up to 69% off TV Box Sets (link here).

Up to 46% off Shout! Factory 4K titles (link here).

Up to 60% off Lionsgate Movie Collections (link here).

Up to 27% off Warner Archive Collection titles (link here).

All Movie & TV Deals (link here).

Here are some great deals on home theater equipment and supplies...

All Home Theater Equipment Deals (link here).

Up to 42% off Sony 4K OLED TVs and Home Theater Products (click here).

Up to 57% off LG OLED TVs and Sound Bars (click here).

Up to 40% off Polk Audio Speakers, Subwoofers, and Sound Bars (click here).

Up to 35% off Samsung Sound Bars (click here).

Up to 50% off JBL Sound Bars (click here).

Up to 45% off Denon AVR Receivers and Sound Bars (click here).

And that’s just scratching the surface. Here’s a few more great deal links...

Video Games & Accessories (link here).

Board Games (link here).

Computers & Computer Accessories (link here).

Power Tools (link here).

Remember, anything you order from Amazon after clicking to them from one of our links (like this one) goes to help support our work here at The Bits, and we really do appreciate it.

We hope you find lots of great deals on titles and items you’ve been looking for!

Stay tuned...

(You can follow Bill on social media at these links: Twitter and Facebook)

We have three new disc reviews and a nice batch of Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD title announcements to start the week off for you today...

First, Dennis has reviewed Dave Thomas’ The Experts (1989) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

Dennis and Tim have jointly reviewed Jan de Bont’s The Haunting (1999) in 4K Ultra HD from Scream Factory.

And Tim has reviewed another Shaw Brothers title on disc, in this case Chang Cheh’s Chinatown Kid (1977) from Arrow Video’s fantastic Shawscope: Volume One Blu-ray box set.

In announcement news this morning, Paramount has just made Steven Caple Jr.’s Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023) official for release on Blu-ray, DVD, 4K Ultra HD, and 4K Steelbook on 10/10, with the Digital release set to drop tomorrow (7/11). Extras will apparently include extended and deleted scenes (including an alternate opening and ending) and 9 behind-the-scenes featurettes (Human Affairs, Life in the 90s, Heroes, Villains, The Chase, The Battle of Ellis Island, Into the Jungle, The Switchback Attack, and The Final Conflict). Unfortunately, we don’t have any disc specs. But you can see what we believe is the near-final cover artwork at left and also below the break. [Read on here...]

We’re closing out the week this afternoon with some newsy odds and ends, a few more tidbits about forthcoming titles from our industry sources, and of course more new disc reviews. Today’s reviews include...

Tim’s take on Wes Craven’s The People Under the Stairs (1991) in 4K Ultra HD from our friends at Scream Factory.

His look at Craig R. Baxley’s Stone Cold (1991) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

And Stuart’s thoughts on Richard Thorpe’s The Truth About Spring (1965) on Blu-ray, also from the good folks over at Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

In 4K Ultra HD release news, you might recall that yesterday we mentioned that Sony was bringing Martin Campbell’s The Legend of Zorro (2005) to the format on 8/22. Likewise, Universal was working on a 4K release of Emerald Fennell’s Promising Young Woman (2020) for that same day. [Read on here...]

We have three more new disc reviews of you today, including...

Stephen’s take on Ridley Scott’s Thelma & Louise (1991) on 4K Ultra HD from the Criterion Collection.

Tim’s look at Peyton’s Reed’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) on 4K Ultra HD from Marvel Studios and Disney.

And Stuart’s take on Imprint’s Tales of Adventure: Collection 1 on Blu-ray, which includes John Rawlins’ Arabian Nights (1942), Alfred E. Green’s A Thousand and One Nights (1945), Fred de Cordova’s The Desert Hawk (1950), Terence Young’s Zarak (1956), and William Dieterle’s Omar Khayyam (1957).

All three titles are well worth your time, so do give the reviews a look and enjoy!

Now then, the main piece of announcement news today is that Disney has officially set their live-action The Little Mermaid (2023) for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 9/19, with the Digital release dropping on 7/25. Here’s the catch though: The physical 4K release will only be available in retail-exclusive SKUs, including one at Best Buy (in Steelbook packaging), one at Walmart (packed with a collectible pin), and the other at the Disney Movie Club (with a lithograph). The 4K UHD release will include Dolby Atmos audio, while the Blu-ray will have 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. [Read on here...]

Afternoon, Bits readers! We’re back after the long 4th of July holiday here in the States with more reviews and announcements. As always, we’ll start with reviews...

Stuart has reviewed a pair of new Blu-ray titles, including Gregory La Cava’s Lady in a Jam (1942) and also Mervyn LeRoy’s Moment to Moment (1966) from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

Stephen has checked in with his take on William Cameron Menzies’ Invaders from Mars (1953) on 4K Ultra HD from Ignite Films.

And Dennis has offered his look at Vincente Minelli’s The Courtship of Eddie’s Father (1963) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.

Now then, in announcement news today, the big news is that our friends at Shout! and Scream Factory have just unveiled their September Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD release slate, and—as always—there are some gems to report. [Read on here...]

Well, there’s a little bit of release news to close out the week here at The Bits, plus we have a few more new disc reviews...

Tim has turned in his thoughts on Ezio Greggios’ The Silence of the Hams (1994) on Blu-ray from Turbine Media.

Dennis has reviewed Gary Whitson’s Hung Jury (1994) on Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome.

And Stuart has offered his take on Alfonso Brescia’s Italian gangster film The New Godfathers (1979) on Blu-ray from Raro Video.

In announcement news, Imprint Films has revealed their planned September release slate, which is set to include Sam Peckinpah’s Cross of Iron (1977) on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray Combo and also Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974) on Blu-ray, along with the Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles TV series (1980) on Blu-ray, and finally a new Film Focus: George Peppard (1968-1974) Blu-ray box set, which includes P.J. (1968), Pendulum (1969), The Executioner (1970), and Newman’s Law (1974). The Executioner is a Blu-ray format debut. Street date for all of them to ship is 9/27. [Read on here...]