Okay… we’ve got some quick post-holiday release news updates for you guys…

First up, Amazon.com is now taking pre-orders for Disney’s The Lone Ranger on Blu-ray/DVD Combo.  SRP is $44.99 but Amazon has it available for $26.99.  No street date yet, but expect it to be announced sometime in the next few weeks.  Same drill for Disney and Pixar’s Monsters University (see cover artwork below).

Today’s the last post this week, allowing for the long holiday weekend here in the States, but we do have some more interesting odds and ends for you today, including some more new title information.

First up, Warner Home Video has officially announced The Dark Knight Trilogy: Ultimate Collector’s Edition box set for release on Blu-ray on 9/24 (SRP $99.97).  The 6-disc set will include Batman Begins, The Dark Knight (2-disc set) and The Dark Knight Rises (2-disc set).  You’ll also get an exclusive disc of new bonus content, including The Fire Rises: The Creation and Impact of The Dark Knight Trilogy documentary, the Christopher Nolan & Richard Donner: A Conversation piece and IMAX Sequences: The Dark Knight & The Dark Knight Rises (all the IMAX scenes from the films in their original formats).  The packaging will also offer cool new swag items, including premium Batmobile, Batpod and Tumbler Hot Wheels vehicles, new Mondo artwork cards of Scarecrow, Joker, Bane, Harvey Dent and Ra’s al Ghul, and a 48-page hardcover book featuring production stills and behind the scenes images from all three movies.  Here’s what the open packaging looks like…

Afternoon!  Given the Fourth of July holiday week here in the States, lots of people – both among our readers and at the Hollywood studios – are on vacation this week, or at least have shortened schedules.  So there’s not a great deal of official news or announcements. 

However, there have been a few major or significant title announcements in the last few days that we haven’t reported on here yet, as I was away from the office for a few days last week in North Dakota visiting family.  So let’s get you all up to date...

This week, the Warner Archive Collection brings a number of terrific Paramount titles back into print. None of these are new to DVD but there are some gems here, so if you missed them, now you can pick them up without breaking the bank.

More importantly, to the best of my knowledge these are the first Paramount titles to come out under the Warner Archive label. The possibility of diving deeper into the catalog and releasing some long-awaited Paramount-owned Most Wanted picks is a tantalizing one indeed. Keep your fingers crossed.

All right, we’ve got a couple things for you today here at The Bits…

First up, the good Dr. Jahnke has posted a new Burnt Offerings column featuring an update on all the latest MOD/DVD-R release news from Warner Archive and others.  He’s also reviewed another new DVD-R title from Warner Archive – The Decks Ran Red.  Do check it out.

Also today, Mario has turned in a new Inside Cinema column with a look at Disney’s newly-updated D23 website.  If you’re into Disney history – not to mention The Muppets and other Disney-related content (eventually to include Star Wars franchise material as well) – it’s worth checking out.

It’s more than a grand redesign:  Disney’s D23.com website now offers more content, archival and new, than ever before.

It’s 98% brand new, filled with countless articles and over three million images from the Disney library.  D23 is user friendly, combining unearthed treasures and new materials.  Jeffrey Epstein, Disney’s Manager of Marketing, said the idea for the change to D23 was to take what fans loved about the website and add much more to the experience.

We’ve got just a quick update today, however we do have another new Blu-ray Disc review for you…

Our own Tim Salmons has given Paramount and David Chase’s Not Fade Away a look.  As it happens, the film stars the late James Gandolfini.  It’s definitely worth checking out.

In announcement news, Warner Home Video has set Paramount’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life and Stalag 17 for Blu-ray release on 10/8.

We’re closing out the week with a trio of new Blu-ray reviews for you…

First up, I’ve checked out HBO’s Deadwood: The Complete Series box set – a great show in great quality that’s well worth a look.

Next up, Tim Salmons has reviewed Warner’s new Jack the Giant Slayer on Blu-ray for you.  It’s a more entertaining film than most critics gave it credit for… provided you switch off your brain before you press play.

And Jeff Kleist has given Warner’s Blu-ray 3D version of Jack the Giant Slayer a look too.  Don’t miss it!

Here at The Bits today, our own Todd Doogan has just turned in a new review of Criterion’s fine The Samurai Trilogy box on Blu-ray Disc.  They’re great films, worthy of any fan of the genre.  Criterion’s done a nice job on them as always, so don’t miss them!

In other news today, 20th Century Fox has set Danny Boyle’s Trance for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 7/23.  The Blu-ray will include deleted scenes, 7 featurettes (The Power of Suggestion: Making Trance, Kick Off, Danny’s Film Noir, Hypnotherapy, The Look, The Final Rewrite and Danny Boyle Retrospective), along with Spencer Susser’s short film Eugene, the theatrical trailer, the Trance Unraveled Easter egg and a UltraViolent digital copy.  See the cove art below.

All right, let’s get the new week started…

First of all, Jeff Kleist has turned in a review of Shout! Factory’s terrific new Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids: The Complete Series DVD box set, which arrives in stores tomorrow.  If you’re a fan of the series, it’s well worth your time and money.  Enjoy the review!

Also today, 20th Century Fox has set Francis Ford Coppola’s Twixt for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 7/23.  Extras will include Twixt: A Documentary by Gia Coppola.