All right, we’ve got a couple things for you today...

First, as promised, we’re very proud today to present Michael Coate’s latest History, Legacy & Showmanship column here at The Digital Bits, entitled Still Boldly Going: Celebrating “Star Trek” on its 50th Anniversary! In this lengthy piece, Michael moderates a great roundtable discussion on the history of the beloved franchise with Trek luminaries Mark A. Altman, Jeff Bond, Robert Meyer Burnett, Marc Cushman, Daren R. Dochterman, Dorothy Fontana, Gary Gerani, David Gerrold, Edward Gross, Bill Kraft, Herbie J. Pilato, and Melinda Snodgrass. It’s a terrific discussion and a rare opportunity to hear from so many leading Treksperts all in one place. We hope you enjoy it and, as always… “Live Long and Prosper!”  [Read on here…]

“Star Trek has left a legacy of hope and optimism that humankind has a future. If we cultivate the potential of Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations so that we embrace a universe brimming with the riches of life in all of its forms, then humankind can evolve into something finer and nobler. I think that is what Gene Roddenberry meant when he said that the human adventure is just beginning.” — Bill Kraft, author of Maybe We Need a Letter from God: The Star Trek Stamp

The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective article commemorating the golden anniversary of Star Trek, Gene Roddenberry’s legendary science-fiction television series depicting the voyages of Captain James T. Kirk and his crew of the starship Enterprise.

The memorable television series premiered 50 years ago this week (September 6th, 1966, on CTV in Canada, and September 8th, 1966, on NBC in the United States), and similar to our other Star Trek roundtables (here and here) and classic television retrospectives (here, here, here, and here), The Bits for the occasion has assembled a Q&A with an esteemed group of Treksperts, historians and Star Trek writers who examine the best episodes and offer commentary on the show’s enduring appeal, influence and legacy.  [Read on here...]

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…]

Welcome to a new edition of Pick-Ups!

Back this week with more reviews. Not a lot happening movie-wise, although I am pleased that the new horror movie Don’t Breathe is doing well at the box office. Perhaps I’ll be able to catch it at some point. We’re also starting to break out the Halloween decorations, and if anybody knows us, we go all out. Hopefully I can share a couple of pictures with you when we get it all up. If nothing else, they’ll definitely pop up on social media at some point.

Anyways, let’s move on to some reviews. [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…]