My Two Cents

We’re starting out the new week today here at The Bits with a trio of new disc reviews...

First up, Tim and I have taken a look at Arrow Video’s terrific new Limited Edition Blu-ray of Ridley Scott’s Legend. The 2-disc set is absolutely loaded with vintage and new extras, and it includes the US Theatrical Cut newly-remastered from a 4K scan, as well as the Director’s Cut. Legend is a challenging title for a lot of reasons, but Arrow’s done a really great job with this one. If you’re a fan of the film, this is as good as it’s ever looked, and this is essentially a complete archive of all the previous special features and more.

Also today, Stephen has reviewed Chloe Zhao’s first film, Songs My Brothers Taught Me, newly-released on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber. If that name is familiar, it’s because Zhao is the filmmaker who’s just made The Eternals for Marvel Studios. It sounds like this earlier work is pretty terrific.

And finally, Dennis has given Wallace Worsley’s 1923 version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame a look on Blu-ray from Kino Classics. As many of you will already be aware, this version features the great Lon Chaney in the role of Quasimodo. It’s worth a look if you haven’t seen it yet.

While we’re on the subject of Universal Monsters, I’m currently working on a review of the Universal Classic Monsters: Icons of Horror Collection in 4K and should have that up by the end of the week. I’m giving myself the week to work on it, however, because I’m attending a studio screening of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune tomorrow afternoon. And I have a sneaking suspicion that’s going to occupy my mind for the next few days afterwards. I’ll definitely post a few non-spoiler thoughts about that film as well this week, rest assured. [Read on here...]

We’ve got a quick release news update here at The Bits for you today. But first, more new disc reviews...

I’ve just given a pair of titles from Sony’s new Columbia Classics: Volume 2 box set a look in 4K Ultra HD, including Carol Reed’s Oliver! (1968) and Otto Preminger’s Anatomy of a Murder (1959). That last review includes film comments by our dear friend Barrie Maxwell, the late great Digital Bits classic film columnist.

Also, Tim has taken a look at Random Space Media’s recent Resident Evil: Six Movie Collection, which includes the first six films in that series in 4K Ultra HD. It’s very similar in content to Sony’s 2020 release and it’s an all-region Australian import.

And Stephen has reviewed Ari Aster’s Misdommar: Director’s Cut in 4K Ultra HD, which is only available directly from A24 via their online web shop.

All of these releases are well worth a look for cinema fans, so do check out the reviews.

Just to give you a sneak peek at what’s coming next review-wise, I’m going to continue working my way through Sony’s Columbia Classics: Volume 2 4K titles as well as the Universal Classic Monsters: Icons of Horror Collection in 4K. All of those reviews should be posted here at The Bits by mid next week. Tim’s also working on Legend on Blu-ray from Arrow, and Stephen and Dennis are working through a stack of new titles too. So stay tuned for lots more reviews in the week ahead and beyond. [Read on here...]