Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Batman: TAS details, Night Stalker, Pink Panther: Vol 3, & Halloween in 4K?
by Bill HuntAll right, we’ve got a bunch more interesting news for you today…
First though, two more new Blu-ray reviews… Tim has just turned in his thoughts on Scream Factory’s Piranha II: The Spawning on Blu-ray, directed by no less than James Cameron. The disc streets on 7/31, and it’s worth a look.
Also, our own Dennis Seuling has given Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One a look on Blu-ray. That disc streets today and I do expect to review it on 4K Ultra HD as soon as Warner sends a review copy. Watch for that soon and enjoy the BD review from Dennis in the meantime.
Now then… Universal Studios Home Entertainment has just made Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom official for release on Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 9/18 (as we predicted weeks ago), with the Digital release expected on 9/4. [Read on here...]
Batman: TAS, Jonny Quest, and TONS of new Shout!/Scream titles announced at Comic-Con – we have the details!
by Bill HuntLet’s catch you up on the Blu-ray announcements that came in at Comic-Con from the Warner Archive Collection and both Shout! Factory and Scream Factory.
First up, just as expected, the Warner Archive announced their long-awaited Batman: The Complete Animated Series Blu-ray box set for release on 10/16 (SRP $112.99).
The cover artwork we shared last week is NOT final, but we do have a look at the final package below.
If you click on it (or here) you can now pre-order the set on Amazon.com (you’ll get the final sale price when the discount is eventually factored in). [Read on here...]
Batman: The Animated Series on Blu-ray gets cover art, plus Bill at Comic-Con & 2 reviews
by Bill HuntAll right, we’ve got a pair of new disc reviews for you…
Tim has taken a look at Lionsgate’s recent Vestron Video Collector’s Series titles, including Dagon and Beyond Re-Animator. Both are worth your consideration, so enjoy the reviews!
Also today, don’t forget that I’ll be at Comic-Con this evening to host the Breaking News from Shout! Factory and Scream Factory panel with Brian Ward and Jeff Nelson. The panel runs from 7-8PM in Room 32AB and there’s a whole bunch of great titles going to be announced! Trust me, I’ve seen the list. You guys are going to dig these. We’ll also have Q&A and a lot of fun, so be sure to join us if you’re down in San Diego tomorrow.
If not, we’ll post the details here on The Bits on Saturday, rest assured. And if you follow me on Twitter (@BillHuntBits), I’ll post the details there immediately after the panel. [Read on here...]
Zatoichi (1989) finally coming to Blu-ray, plus X-Files: S11, Olive’s Bound & a Jack Ryan 4K update
by Bill HuntWe’ve got more interesting announcements today, including a very nice surprise, plus new reviews too.
First up, those reviews… Tim has taken a look at Richard Friedman’s Doom Asylum on Blu-ray from Arrow Video, along with Dread Central’s Director’s Cut on Blu-ray. Both are well worth a look.
Also, as promised, we posted Michael Coate’s latest History, Legacy & Showmanship column last night, which is a celebration of the 25th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park. The packed column features a look back at the original theatrical release (the first ever in DTS) along with a great new roundtable discussion with film historians Joseph McBride, Mike Matessino, and Steven Awalt. We think you’ll really enjoy it.
Also today, we’ve just posted the weekly update of our Release Dates & Artwork section, featuring all the latest Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD cover artwork and Amazon.com pre-order links. As always, anytime you order literally anything from Amazon after clicking through one of our links, you’re helping to support our work here at The Bits and we really appreciate it. So thank you! [Read on here...]
When Dinosaurs Ruled the Cinema: Remembering “Jurassic Park” on its 25th Anniversary
by Michael Coate“It takes a filmmaker as deeply imaginative, but also technically savvy as Steven Spielberg to orchestrate and bring [all of the elements] together into a cohesive whole that works with his intricate vision as a storyteller, in both moments and big picture. There are other filmmakers who would have made wonderful adaptations of the Crichton book, no doubt, but the project landed in the right, highly skilled hands, heart and imagination.” — Steven Awalt, author of Steven Spielberg and Duel: The Making of a Film Career
The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective commemorating the silver anniversary of the release of Jurassic Park, Steven Spielberg’s popular and franchise-inspiring adaptation of Michael Crichton’s best-selling novel starring Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum and Richard Attenborough and which showcased groundbreaking and award-winning visual effects and audio. [Read on here...]
It’s official... Solo: A Star Wars Story hits Blu-ray, DVD & 4K on 9/25, plus a new Talking Blu
by Bill HuntDisney has just announced that Lucasfilm’s Solo: A Star Wars Story, directed by Ron Howard, will arrive on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 9/25 (just as we first predicted here on The Bits way back when), with the Digital release due on 9/14.
The Digital 4K offering will offer Dolby Vision HDR, but it appears that the physical 4K disc will feature HDR10 only. This would seem to be a reversal for Disney (and it’s one that appears to be the case with Avengers: Infinity War in 4K as well). Aspect ratio is 2.39:1 on all SKUs.
The 4K SKUs will feature Dolby Atmos object-based audio. There’s no 3D SKU planned for the US, but as usual it appears there will be an all-region Blu-ray 3D SKU available in the UK (click here) for those who wish to import. [Read on here...]
Criterion’s October slate, Westworld: S2, Hereditary & more 4K, plus Amazon Prime $15 4K sale, 8 new BD reviews & more
by Bill HuntAll right, today’s post was meant to go live yesterday, but we had some server glitches and crashed that took us offline for a while. As such, we’re playing catch up a little bit today. But we’ve expanded the post with today’s news and reviews so. So here we go…
First up, Tim Salmons has turned in his thoughts on Vincent Ward’s Vigil, now available in a new Special Edition Blu-ray from Arrow Video, as well as Scream Factory’s In the Mouth of Madness: Collector’s Edition. Also, David Steigman has taken a look at on Arrow’s The Case of the Scorpion’s Tale: Special Edition on Blu-ray, along with Cleopatra Entertainment’s China Salesman. And Dennis Seuling has reviewed Fredric Hobbs’s Godmonster of Indian Flats on Blu-ray from AGFA and Something Weird Video, as well as 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment’s Love, Simon on Blu-ray.
Now then... Prime Day was a little bit of a disaster yesterday, what with Amazon.com having all kind of outages. But the good news is that they’re having a special sale today for Prime members on many great 4K titles. They have over 175 great titles for just $15 each today! Act quick if you want to take advantage via this link. (Doing so will help support our work here at The Bits and we appreciate it!) [Read on here...]
Jack Ryan 5-Film, Robin Hood & Sherlock: S1 all in 4K, plus Criterion’s Bergman BD box & Gravity Falls reviewed!
by Bill HuntBoy, have we got some big news today!
First though, we’ve just posted a trio of new Blu-ray disc reviews...
I’ve turned in my thoughts on Shout! Factory’s outstanding new Gravity Falls: The Complete Series Blu-ray box set which is packed with love and a lot of extras. If you’re a fan, it’s outstanding.
Also, Dennis Seuling has offered his take on the Amy Schumer comedy I Feel Pretty on Blu-ray from Universal and Dante Lam’s Chinese actioner Operation Red Sea on Blu-ray from Well Go USA. Enjoy!
Now then... let’s get to that news: First up, we’ve just learned that BBC Home Entertainment will be releasing Sherlock: Season One on 4K Ultra HD on 11/6 (SRP $29.98)! No kidding, you can pre-order it here already on Amazon.com. [Read on here...]
Sony sets Fraggle Rock: The Complete Series for release on Blu-ray on 9/25, plus Le Grande Lebowski in 4K
by Bill HuntYes, it’s true! We revealed this on social media last night and it caused quite a stir!
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has officially announced the 9/25 release of Fraggle Rock: The Complete Series on Blu-ray and DVD in honor of the series’ 35th anniversary.
Fraggle Rock: The Complete Series will feature all 96 episodes remastered in high definition on 12 Blu-ray Discs with lossless audio.
All-new extras will include an interactive Fraggle Music Celebration that allows you to sing along to every episode, the Life on Set: Moments with Jim Henson featurette, and a 1993 Today Show segment featuring Uncle Travelling Matt. [Read on here...]
Creepshow, Doctor Who 4K, Adrift, new Bits reviewers & Bill to host the Shout!/Scream Factory Comic-Con panel
by Bill HuntWe kick things off today with four new Blu-ray reviews, starting with Tim’s look at Don Coscarelli’s The Beastmaster (1982) now on all-region Blu-ray from Aussie distributor Umbrella Entertainment.
Also today, we have another Blu-ray review from new Bits staff reviewer David Steigman, who’s taken a look at Richard Quine’s My Sister Eileen (1955) from Twilight Time. David is a longtime cinephile who’s been watching films since the mid-1970s and has previously written reviews for the websites DVD Drive-In and EuroCult AV. He’s a big fan of the classic Godzilla films as well as other monster movies. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Erlinda, and works in marketing when he’s not reviewing movies.
We also have two new Blu-ray reviews from new staff reviewer Dennis Seuling, who’s offered his thoughts on the Warner Archive’s new Seven Brides for Seven Brothers: Special Edition (1954) as well as Universal’s Blockers. Dennis has been an avid film fan since he marveled at The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms as a kid. For over 25 years, he was the Film and Home Entertainment Reviewer for The Villadom Times, a New Jersey weekly newspaper, and has written for several other publications including the website Next Projection. He’s also developed and taught a Film Studies program for two New York City high schools.
On behalf of all of us here at The Digital Bits, as well as our readers, we’re very glad to welcome both David and Dennis to the team here! [Read on here...]