Displaying items by tag: My Two Cents

We’re back as promised this evening with more upcoming catalog 4K Ultra HD news and rumors from our studio, industry, and retail sources. Keep in mind, some of these titles are not yet officially announced, so the dates and details are subject to change.

First of all, this is a title we’ve known is coming for a few months now and while it’s not yet been officially announced by the studio, we do have the final cover artwork from retailers: Universal Studios Home Entertainment is expected to release their Universal Classic Monsters: Icons of Horror Collection – Volume 2 box set in 4K Ultra HD on 10/11.

The set will include The Mummy (1932), The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), Phantom of the Opera (1943), and Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954). You can see the cover artwork at left and also below.

It’s also believed that the titles in the studio’s Volume 1 set—Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931), The Wolf Man (1941), and The Invisible Man (1932)—will finally be released as single-film SKUs, for sure in the UK and possibly in the US as well. We’ll post more as soon as the studio makes any of this official. [Read on here...]

All right, sorry for the lack of an update over the last couple of days. We’ve been very busy here at the site, working on reviews, preparing for some big upcoming reviews, and finishing a few more site upgrades. But the major reason is that there’s a ton of breaking and evolving release news to cover, and getting to the bottom of it all—collating all the details, checking in with sources, confirming key pieces of release information—takes a huge amount of time. But I’m always up for a challenge.

Before we get to that, however, let’s share those disc reviews we’ve been working on over the past few days...

First up, I’ve posted my thoughts on John Milius’ Red Dawn (1984) from Shout! Factory and also Colin Trevorrow’s Jurassic World: Dominion (2022) from Universal, both in 4K Ultra HD.

Tim has delivered a look at Joel Schumacher’s Flatliners (1990) in 4K UHD from Arrow Video, as well as John Carpenter’s Escape from New York (1981) in 4K from Scream Factory.

Dennis has reviewed a number of regular Blu-ray titles in the last few days, including Lon Chaney: Before the Thousand Faces – Volume 2 from Undercrank Productions, Josh and Benny Safdie’s Daddy Longlegs (2009) from Criterion, and Jack Gold’s The Tenth Man (1988) and Ken Hughes’s The Trials of Oscar Wilde (1960) from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

And finally, Stephen has delivered in-depth looks at Paul W.S. Anderson’s Event Horizon (1997)—a Steelbook release that’s getting hard to find here in the States—and Jeff Fowler’s Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022) both in 4K Ultra HD from Paramount, along with Michael Findlay’s Shriek of the Mutilated (1974) on Blu-ray from American Films via Vinegar Syndrome.

As always more disc reviews are on the way in the coming days. [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...]

We’ve got a great new disc review for you this afternoon, and we’ve got some significant release news to report as well. First up, that review...

Tim has just turned in his in-depth look at Rod Serling’s Night Gallery: Season Two (1971-1972) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics as expected. Sounds like it’s another great release that’s loaded with special features, including audio commentary on many episodes. Don’t miss it.

Now then... file this in the “better late than never” category, but Universal has finally made their Blu-ray, DVD, 4K Ultra HD, and Digital release of Colin Treverrow’s Jurassic World: Dominion official, and it is indeed expected to street next Tuesday (8/16). Extras on the Blu-ray SKUs will include the Battle at Big Rock short film, the A New Breed of VFX featurette, and the multi-part Dinosaurs Among Us: Inside Jurassic World Dominion 45-minute documentary. You’ll also get both the Theatrical Version and a new 14-minute longer Extended Edition, which includes an alternate opening and more.

Both Blu-ray SKUs will include DTS-X object-based surround sound, and the 4K Ultra HD release will feature both HDR10 and Dolby Vision high dynamic range. You can see the cover artwork at left and also below. [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...]

All right, we’ve got some great catalog 4K Ultra HD news to report today, but first we have one more new review...

I spent some time this weekend looking at Stanley Kubrick’s landmark war film Paths of Glory (1957) thanks to a fine new 4K Ultra HD release from our friends at Kino Lorber Studio Classics. For the first time, the image has been scanned from the original camera negative in native 4K—Criterion’s 2010 Blu-ray release was only a 2K scan of a fine-grain master positive—so this is unquestionably the best the film has ever looked at home. It’s a beautiful presentation and not to be missed by Kubrick fans and cinephiles.

All right, now for that catalog news... VCI Entertainment has set Bob Clark’s Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things (1972) for release on 4K Ultra HD on 10/11 as a new 50th Anniversary Edition. The release will include a new video introduction and Q&A with actor Alan Ormsby, along with a new 90-minute documentary on Clark’s horror films called Dreaming of Death. You’ll get lots of legacy special features as well. And you can see the cover artwork below the break. [Read on here...]