Displaying items by tag: Dennis Seuling

We’re starting today with a couple more new disc reviews including...

Stephen’s take on Disney’s new wide-release 4K Ultra HD version of their animated classic Cinderalla (1950), which looks fantastic and bodes well for future Disney 4K titles.

And Dennis’ review of Harry Beaumont’s The Broadway Melody (1929) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection.

Now then, the big announcement news today is that Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has finally (and officially) set Sydney Pollack’s The Way We Were (1973) for 4K Ultra HD release on 10/17 in a new 50th Anniversary Edition. [Read on here...]

We’ve a bunch of news to cover throughout the rest of this week, and we’ll start today with some significant announcement news in just a moment. But first, we have new disc reviews for you...

Stephen has posted his thoughts on the new DC Universe animated movie Justice League: Warworld on 4K Ultra HD from Warner Bros.

Stuart has weighed in with his thoughts on Fritz Lang’s Human Desire (1954) and William Nigh’s Mr. Wong Collection—which includes Mr. Wong, Detective (1938), The Mystery of Mr. Wong, Mr. Wong in Chinatown (both 1939), The Fatal Hour, and Doomed to Die (both 1940)—both on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

And Dennis has checked in with his take on Bernard Girard’s Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round (1966) also on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

Now then, a lot of you have asked when Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, which was announced yesterday by Disney and Lucasfilm for Digital release on 8/29, is coming to physical media. Our sources say the street date for Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K UHD is likely to be set in late October or early November, and should be announced in the next 4-6 weeks. We’ll certainly post updates as they come in.

The big announcement news today is that the Criterion Collection has officially revealed their November slate of Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD titles. [Read on here...]

We have two new disc reviews of you to enjoy today...

Stephen has taken a look at Dusty Nelson’s Effects (1979) in 4K Ultra HD, a film that originated from the minds of several Pittsburgh-area collaborators of George A. Romero. It’s now available from Image Works via the American Genre Film Archive and our friends at Vinegar Syndrome.

If you’re interested in this film, you might also enjoy reading a 2005 archived interview we did on the original Bits website about the project with our old friend John Harrison (Takes from the Darkside, Frank Herbert’s Dune). You’ll find that here (and pardon the messy HTML).

Also today, Dennis has taken a look at Cheryl Dunye’s The Watermelon Woman (1996) on Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.

We don’t have a lot in the way of new announcement news today, but a number of long-awaited 4K Ultra HD catalog titles are finally available for pre-order on Amazon. [Read on here...]

All right... as one might expect, we’ve got a lot to talk about again today here at The Bits.

First of all, we don’t have any new information on Manta Lab’s “disc-less” WandaVision packaging, except to reiterate that while this is a licensed Disney Consumer Products item, it’s most definitely not an official Marvel Studios/Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment physical media product. And while some you deluxe packaging collectors might think that’s splitting hairs, for the vast majority of disc consumers around the world it’s a very important distinction. Disney is not suddenly getting in the business of releasing Steelbook packaging for titles they have no intention of actually releasing on disc, and making it okay by including a Digital copy code. Just to be clear. In any case, we hope to hear more on this in the next few days.

As to the matter of today’s other Disney hot topic, I’m afraid, the news is not good. Despite the fact that Sanity has now pulled down their original Facebook post announcing it, we at The Digital Bits have confirmed today with multiple industry, distributor, and retailer sources in the region that Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is indeed pulling out of the Australian market in terms of physical media. This follows similar moves in Asia (save for Japan) and Latin America, and the reason is apparently down to the gradual collapse of physical disc sales in the region, the growth of Disney+ Starz streaming, and also the rise of global retailers (think Amazon, Zavvi, etc). None of that will be of any comfort to disc fans in Australia, who will now have to pay a hefty shipping premium to import titles from outside the country. But it is true that Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol 3 will be the last new-release Disney title to get a physical release in the region. Previously-released titles may continue to be available for purchase until the end of the year, but that will be up to individual retailers.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, folks, but there it is.

Now then, before we shift to a bit of announcement news, we have several new disc reviews here at The Bits that are worth mentioning today...

Here’s the big one: Stephen has just turned in his in-depth thoughts on William Friedkin’s To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) in 4K Ultra HD, as newly-released by our friends at Kino Lorber Studio Classics. It’s a great disc, with the best A/V presentation of the film to date, and it includes nearly all of the previously-created special features. [Read on here...]

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...]

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...]

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...]