Displaying items by tag: My Two Cents

All right, as many of you know, Thursday marks the official 50th Anniversary of the Star Trek franchise. Star Trek: The Original Series debuted on NBC TV way back on September 8, 1966.

As is probably true for many of you, Star Trek’s played an enormous role in my life. It was my first favorite TV show as a very young child, certainly my first exposure to science fiction of any kind, and it’s not an exaggeration to say that my moral compass – the very principles I believe in (a more optimistic future, the idea that we’re stronger working together, that exploration is one of the most noble things Humanity can do, that it’s our differences that make us greater, etc) – all come from classic Star Trek. The series certainly fostered my curious nature and lifelong interests in science, astronomy, writing, and spaceflight technology. Over the past decade, my love of the franchise led to the discovery of Patrick O’Brian’s “Aubrey-Maturin” series of historical novels, which begin with Master and Commander (upon which the 2003 Russell Crowe film was based) – they’re essentially Star Trek stories set in the 19th Century.  [Read on here…]

We’re closing out the week here at The Bits with another quick column, but we have some great stuff for you to check out...

First, I’ve turned in an in-depth review of Warner’s The Iron Giant: Signature Edition on Blu-ray. Trust me, the disc is not to be missed. It includes both the theatrical and Signature versions of the film, plus new extras, and nearly all of the legacy DVD special features too. The disc streets next Tuesday (9/6). Check out my review here.

Also today, our old friend Jack Jameson weighs in this afternoon on Arrow Video’s new Female Prisoner Scorpion: The Complete Collection Blu-ray box set, which includes the films Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion, Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41, Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable, and Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701’s Grudge Song, plus extras. The series stars Meiko Kaji of Lady Snowblood fame, who was the inspiration for Uma Thurman’s character in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill films.  [Read on here…]

All right, today’s post is going to be a quick one, as I’m celebrating my 26th wedding anniversary with my lovely wife, Sarah. But we do have a couple bits of very good news for you…

The first big announcement today is that CBS, Paramount, and the estate of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry are officially releasing a 3-disc Blu-ray collection on 12/13 called Star Trek: The Original Series – The Roddenberry Vault. Produced by our old friend Roger Lay, Jr., who created many of the amazing features for the recent Star Trek: Enterprise and Star Trek: The Next Generation Blu-rays, this set will contain 12 classic Original Series episodes (specifically The Corbomite Maneuver, Arena, Space Seed, This Side of Paradise, The Devil in the Dark, The City on the Edge of Forever, Operation – Annihilate!, Metamorphosis, Who Mourns for Adonais?, Mirror, Mirror, The Trouble with Tribbles, and Return to Tomorrow) along with 3 new documentaries, including Inside the Roddenberry Vault (featuring Rod Roddenberry looking at long-lost film reels), Star Trek: Revisiting a Classic (a retrospective look at back at the making of the series), and Strange New Worlds: Visualizing the Fantastic (a look at the series’ visual effects and futuristic technology).  [Read on here…]

First things first today...

Our own Tim Salmons has just posted another new Pick-Ups/Dailies Blu-ray review, this time featuring a look at Arrow Video’s Microwave Massacre: Special Edition. Do check it out.

Also, the good 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 street dates. Remember, anytime you order literally anything from Amazon after clicking through one of our links, you’re helping to support The Bits and we really do appreciate it.  [Read on here…]

We’ve got a couple things for you today, and obviously a bit of sad news to report. But first things first...

Our own Tim Salmons has checked in with another new Blu-ray review, as part of his latest Pick-Up/Dailies column for the week, this time featuring his thoughts on Ken Russell’s new Crimes of Passion: Special Edition from Arrow Video. The disc is now available, and Tim says that while the film is a bit of challenge, it’s worth a look on disc. Do check out his review.  [Read on here…]

We’re rounding out the week with a pair of new Blu-ray reviews...

Tim Salmons has checked in with his thoughts on Shout! Factory’s new Transformers: The Movie – 30th Anniversary Edition on Blu-ray. Sounds like it’s pretty terrific, though you may still wish to keep your previous editions for the extras that don’t carry over. More in the review.

Also, Jim Hemphill has offered up his thoughts on Twilight’s recent Blu-ray edition of Busby Berkeley’s The Gang’s All Here (1943), which is flat out terrific. Don’t miss it.

By the way, in case you missed the update I posted to my review of the set late on Wednesday, Madman Entertainment’s new Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: The Complete Series is actually an All Region release, even though it’s listed many places as being Region B. But I have directly and personally confirmed that these discs are, in fact, All Region. Do check out the review here. [Read on here…]

We have another quick update today, but we do have some interesting things for you...

First of all, our own Tim Salmons has just turned in his thoughts on Scream Factory’s new The Thing: Collector’s Edition, and says he believes it’s their best Blu-ray release yet. The title now streets on 10/11 and it’s going to be well worth your time. So do give it a look.

Also, I’ve just spent the last day or so going through Madman Entertainment’s new Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: The Complete Series Blu-ray box set, which streeted on 8/17 in Australia and New Zealand, and arrives here in the States via Amazon on 8/26 (note that the discs are listed as Region B but are, in fact, ALL REGION). All the company had to work with is HD scans of the Universal’s syndication masters for these episodes, but they’ve compiled a pretty wonderful Blu-ray release – one I’ve really enjoyed going through. So do give that a look today as well.  [Read on here…]

We’ve got a short post for you today, but it has some good stuff in it...

For starters, we’ve got a new review for you this afternoon, thanks to our own Tim Salmons, featuring Stars’ new Ash vs Evil Dead: The Complete First Season on Blu-ray Disc. The title arrives in stores tomorrow, and it’s pretty damn good. Do give it a look.

The big announcement news today is that 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has just officially set Independence Day: Resurgence for release on Blu-ray Combo, Blu-ray 3D Combo, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on 10/18, with the Digital HD version expected on 9/27. [Read on here…]

Okay, we’re rounding things out for the week with just a quick update this evening...

First, we’ve got a trio of new disc reviews for you (from yours truly), including Warner’s Man of Steel and Universal’s Oblivion in 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format, as well as Disney’s Star Wars: Rebels – Complete Season Two on regular Blu-ray. The two 4K titles are now available, whereas Rebels hits stores on 8/30. Do check them out!  [Read on here…]

So um... yeah. Since yesterday morning, when the SRP and final product images first went up on Amazon – and even before we posted our column on the subject yesterday afternoon – we started getting e-mails and private messages from diehard Rings fans asking: “Is Warner’s Middle Earth: Ultimate Collector’s Edition Blu-ray set really $799.99?!”

I understand the feeling behind that question, believe me, because I feel it too. When I first saw that $799 price listed, I thought surely it was an error. Especially when you consider that the theatrical set was listed at $68.99, and when that price info quickly disappeared.

I figured there was absolutely no way Warner would charge $800 for a Blu-ray release of these films that contained no new disc-based content whatsoever. Had to be a mistake. [Read on here…]