Paramount sets xXx: Return of Xander Cage for 5/2, plus Kino’s April slate, TCM Festival schedule set & more
by Bill HuntWe’ve got two more new reviews for you today... Tim has checked out Abel Ferrara’s The Driller Killer on Blu-ray from Arrow Video, and I’ve given the new Shout! Select Blu-ray of John Milius’ Red Dawn (1984) a look for you today as well. Both titles are worth checking out.
Additionally, we’ve just posted the weekly update of the Release Dates & Artwork section with all the latest Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD cover artwork and Amazon.com pre-order links. Anytime you order literally anything from Amazon in the same session after clicking through to them from any of our links, you’re helping to support our work here at The Bits and we surely do appreciate it.
Also, as I mentioned on Monday, you’re all invited to follow me (Bits editor Bill Hunt) personally on Facebook and Twitter if you’d like, in addition to our regular Bits Facebook and Twitter pages. Just so you know. [Read on here…]
Akeelah & The Bee, The Big Kahuna, DCU animated Wonder Woman, The Sheik & more
by Bill HuntJust a quick post for you today: I’ve just posted my thoughts on Peter Berg’s Patriots Day on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. The disc is now available from Lionsgate. It’s a good solid film.
In announcement news today, Syfy and Universal have set Dark Matter: Season Two for Blu-ray and DVD release on 6/13.
Universal has also set The Last Kingdom: Season Two for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 5/30. [Read on here…]
The Red Turtle, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter & Fifty Shades Darker all officially announced
by Bill HuntTim has posted a pair of new Blu-ray reviews today, featuring his thoughts on Lew Lehman’s The Pit from Kino Lorber and Jeffrey Delman’s Deadtime Stories from Scream Factory. Both are worth a look for fans, so do check them out.
I’m also going to be working on more new 4K reviews this afternoon, so watch for them to be posted here on the site later today and tomorrow morning. We’ll mention them here in tomorrow’s My Two Cents column.
By the way, I wanted to invite you all to follow The Bits on Facebook and Twitter if you don’t already. More importantly, I wanted to invite you to follow me personally (Bill Hunt) on Facebook and Twitter, if you’d like as well. Do keep in mind, however, that on my own personal pages I tend to talk more about other things of interest to me than just Blu-ray, 4K, and DVD specifically – films, great books, science topics, spaceflight, history, technology, and the like. You’re always welcome to communicate with me that way, particularly via Facebook Messenger, as e-mail these days seems to be inundated with junk and SPAM. Maybe I’ll see you there. [Read on here…]
Dawn/Rise of the Planet of the Apes in 4K, plus Despicable Me 4K, Founder, Freedom OVA back on BD & MUCH more
by Bill HuntAll right, we’ve got a bunch of interesting release news today here at The Bits…
The big news today is that 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has just set Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and Rise of the Planet of the Apes for 4K Ultra HD release on 6/13 (SRP $39.99 each). There’s no word yet on extras, but presumably they’ll include the previous Blu-ray editions with all of those extras. This certainly confirms what we already knew, which is that War for the Planet of the Apes is going to be released on the format as well later this year.
Also on the 4K front today, Universal has just set Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2 for release on the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format on 6/6 (SRP $39.98 each). As you may remember, we first revealed that these titles were coming to the format back on 2/14 (you can see that post here). [Read on here…]
Planet Earth II 4K official, plus Monster Trucks, Saturday Night Fever update & Star Wars: Ralph McQuarrie book deal
by Bill HuntToday we’ve got a new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray review for you. I’ve taken a look at Morten Tyldum’s Passengers from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. It’s not a particularly great science fiction film, but it’s gorgeous to look at and both the 4K disc and the Blu-ray 3D in the package are first rate A/V demo material. Do give that a look here.
In announcement news today, BBC Home Entertainment has finally made the Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD release of Planet Earth II official for 3/28 (SRP $44.95, $35.99, and $59.99 respectively). The series is narrated by the legendary Sir David Attenborough. From the press release “bonus content includes Planet Earth Diaries, a look behind the scenes with each episode’s production team, revealing the astounding challenges they encountered and their incredible experiences while filming Planet Earth II. For DVD and Blu-ray, these are 10-minute bonus clips at the end of each episode and for the 4K UHD, it will be a 54 minute disc accompanying the series.” The UHD will present the series in native 4K with HDR, though the sound is 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio only. [Read on here…]
Criterion’s June slate has The Lodger & Straw Dogs, plus Space Between Us, stream Ken Russell’s Devils & more
by Bill HuntWe’ve got a bunch of good stuff for you today here at The Bits so let’s get right to it...
First up, Tim has just posted his review of Tibor Takacs’ The Gate from Lionsgate, part of their new Vestron Video Collector’s Series. The disc is now available in stores.
Meanwhile, Michael Coate has chimed in with a new History, Legacy & Showmanship column, celebrating today’s 40th anniversary of the hit ABC sitcom Three’s Company. It features an interview with author and series authority Chris Mann. Do give it a look. [Read on here…]
Hers and Hers and His: Remembering “Three’s Company” on its 40th Anniversary
by Michael Coate“It’s amazing how such a silly sitcom can help refuel the spirit by helping us appreciate life’s absurdities. Three’s Company constantly reminded that such a shift in perspective can help us tackle the not-so-funny stuff in life.” — Come and Knock on Our Door author Chris Mann
The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective article commemorating the 40th anniversary of Three’s Company, the farcical situation comedy television series starring John Ritter as Jack Tripper which showcased his comedic exploits with his two female roommates, friends and nosy landlord. [Read more here...]
La La Land official, plus Pink Panther Collection, new Kino titles & TONS of Shout/Scream BD art
by Bill HuntIn announcement news today, Summit Entertainment and Lionsgate have just officially announced the Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release of Damien Chazelle’s almost Best Picture La La Land on 4/24. The Digital HD release is due on 4/11. It looks like the disc will actually include a nice batch of extras, starting with an audio commentary by Chazelle and composer Justin Hurwitz. You’ll also get 11 behind-the-scenes featurettes (Another Day of Sun: They Closed Down a Freeway, La La Land’s Great Party, Ryan Gosling: Piano Student, Before Whiplash: Damien Chazelle’s Passion Project, La La Land’s Love Letter to Los Angeles, The Music of La La Land, John Legend’s Acting Debut, The Look of Love: Designing La La Land, Ryan and Emma: Third Time’s the Charm, Epilogue: The Romance of the Dream, and Damien & Justin Sing: The Demos) and a song selection option. You can see the official final cover artwork to the left and below. [Read on here…]
Kino’s The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: 50th, plus U2: Joshua Tree & reviews of Cinema Paradiso & Hellions
by Bill HuntAll right, just a quick one today, but we do bring you another pair of new Blu-ray reviews this afternoon…
Tim has checked out Scream Factory’s new IFC Midnight release, the B-horror title Hellions.
Also, our old friend Matt Rowe has revisited a classic in Giuseppe Tornatore’s Cinema Paradiso, finally available in the U.S. in the form of Arrow Academy’s terrific 2-disc Special Edition Blu-ray (formerly available only in the U.K.) that includes both the restored Theatrical Version and The Director’s Cut plus extras. It’s not to be missed. [Read on here…]
Warner sets Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven for 4K Ultra HD, plus Pioneer makes their new PC 4K UHD drive official
by Bill HuntGood afternoon, folks! We’ve just posted a pair of new Blu-ray reviews here at The Bits, starting with Tim’s take on John Brahm’s The Mad Magician, now available on Blu-ray 3D from Twilight Time. It’s an overlooked Vincent Price gem.
I’ve also posted my two cents on Mamoru Oshii’s classic anime Ghost in the Shell (1995), newly-reissued on Blu-ray by Starz/Anchor Bay in exclusive Mondo Steelbook packaging to take advantage of the live action remake’s debut in theaters.
Also, we’ve just posted the weekly Release Dates & Artwork section update with all the latest Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray cover artwork and Amazon.com pre-order links. As always, a portion of anything you order from Amazon after clicking to them through our links goes to help support our work here at The Bits and we appreciate it enormously. So thank you! [Read on here…]