My Two Cents
As always, we’re kicking things off this week with some new disc reviews...
Dennis has checked in with a look at Paul Schrader’s The Card Counter on Blu-ray from Focus Films and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
And Stephen has turned in his thoughts on Joe Carnahan’s Copshop on Blu-ray from Open Road Films and Universal.
Now let’s have some release news...
Continuing the theme of Kino Lorber Studio Classics kicking ass with catalog 4K, the company has just set their Ultra HD release of David Cronenberg’s Eastern Promises (2007) for 3/22, featuring a brand new Dolby Vision color grade approved by cinematographer Peter Suschitzky and a new interview with screenwriter Steven Knight. You can see the cover artwork above-left.
Paramount has officially announced its 30th anniversary Blu-ray Steelbook release of Wayne’s World on 2/1. There’s no indication that the disc has been remastered or features new extras. [Read on here...]
We’ve got some good news today for those of you who are fans of The Beatles. But first one more new disc review...
Plus, the set includes a remarkable batch of extras, including many new audio commentary tracks, alternate audio tracks (full or partial audience laugh tracks), and a featurette on the process of saving the negatives and restoring the image and sound. Do give it a look.
Now then, Disney has officially confirmed that they plan to release the 3-part The Beatles: Get Back documentary on Blu-ray and DVD on 2/8. [Read on here...]
Wednesday afternoon here at The Bits brings new disc reviews and more release news as well...
First, Tim has posted his thoughts on Michael Felsher’s excellent new documentary After Effects: Memories of Pittsburgh Filmmaking, now available on Limited Edition Blu-ray from his own new label, Red Shirt Video. Sounds like it’s a pretty terrific release so do check it out.
By the way, after you enjoy that, here’s a link to an interview I did way back in 2005 (on the original Bits website) with writer/director John Harrison about Effects and his work with Romero and other Pittsburgh filmmakers. (Just pardon the messy formatting.)
Also this afternoon, Stephen has posted reviews of William Beaudine’s The Old Fashioned Way (1934) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, as well as Sarah Smith, Jean-Philippe Vine, and Octavio E. Rodriguez’s Ron’s Gone Wrong in 4K Ultra HD from 20th Century Studios.
More reviews are forthcoming in the days ahead, including several that I’m working on, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for them. [Read on here...]
Welcome to 2022, folks! As usual, we’ve got some new reviews and a bunch of Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD release news to report today. So we’ll start with those reviews first...
Tim has posted his thoughts on Giorgio Ferroni’s 1060 Italian Gothic horror title Mill of the Stone Women, which is now available on Blu-ray from Arrow Video. He’s also taken a look at Ronin Flix’s new 4K Ultra HD release of Meir Zarchi’s controversial I Spit on Your Grave (1978).
Also, Dennis has turned in his thoughts on Mitchell Leisen’s Golden Earrings (1947) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.
And Stephen has offered a look at George Nierenberg’s Say Amen, Somebody (1982) on Blu-ray from Milestone Video and Kino Lorber proper.
More reviews are forthcoming all week, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for them. [Read on here...]
We’re taking it a little easy here at The Bits this week, especially in this stretch between the holidays, so that our whole team can relax, unwind, and focus on family and whatnot. But we do have a good post today with release news, a new disc review, and a bit of a look ahead at a few new 4K UHD catalog titles that we expect to arrive sometime in the new year. As always, let’s start with the review first...
Stephen has given Paul Morrissey’s Flesh for Frankenstein (1973) an in-depth review in 4K Ultra HD from Vinegar Syndrome. The disc includes both 4K, Blu-ray, and Blu-ray 3D in both polarized and anaglyph form (thanks to a restoration via the 3-D Film Archive). Sounds like it’s a nice set, but there’s a problem with the 4K disc in the package that’s being corrected (replacement discs will be issued in January sometime). The disc will be available for sale again on the company’s website early next year.
Now then, the big news we have is that Sony has finally officially announced both Ghostbusters: Afterlife for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 2/1, as well as the Ghostbusters Ultimate Collection 4K UHD/Blu-ray box set (including Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters II, and Ghostbusters Afterlife) that same day. Note that the Ghostbusters Ultimate Collection will also include Paul Feig’s Ghostbusters: Answer the Call in 4K Digital, along with 4K Digital versions of the other films as well. All of these 4K UHD discs will include Dolby Atmos audio and both Dolby Vision and HDR10 high dynamic range. [Read on here...]