All right, there's LOTS more great release news today...

First though, our own Russell Hammond has once again updated the Release Dates & Art section with all the latest Blu-ray, DVD and Video Game cover artwork and Amazon.com pre-order links. As always, a portion of anything you order from Amazon after clicking through to them our links goes to help support our work here at The Bits and we really appreciate it.

Now then... Criterion has just announced its AMAZING December Blu-ray and DVD release slate. There are some really great gems here. Look for Terry Gilliam's Brazil (Cat #51 - BD) and René Clément's Purple Noon (Cat #637 - BD & DVD) on 12/4, and Godfrey Reggio's The Qatsi Trilogy (Cat #639 - BD & DVD - includes Koyaanisqatsi, Powaqqatsi and Naqoyqatsi) and Christopher Nolan's Following (Cat #638 - BD & DVD) on 12/11! For those who may be wondering, Brazil will include the 142-minute Director's Cut and the 94-minutes Love Conquers All version, plus ALL the previous extras!

Also today, Kino Lorber has announced their December slate as well. From their Kino Lorber label, look for Alps (DVD) and a Pablo Larrin: Director's Set (includes Tony Manero & Post Mortem - DVD) on 12/4, Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet (DVD) on 12/18, The Well Digger's Daughter (DVD & BD) on 12/24 and Putin's Kiss (DVD) on 12/31. On Kino Classics, look for The Blue Angel (BD) on 12/4, and Mario Bava's Baron Blood: Remastered Edition (DVD & BD), Mario Bava's Kidnapped: Remastered Edition (DVD & BD) and The Ultimate Buster Keaton Collection 15-disc box set (BD - includes Buster Keaton: Short Films Collection - 1920-1923, The Saphead, Our Hospitality, Sherlock Jr., Three Ages, The Navigator, Seven Chances, Go West, Battling Butler, The General, College (exclusive to this set until next year), Steamboat Bill, Jr. and Lost Keaton) on 12/11. SRP is $299.95. On the Artsploitation label, watch for Gandu (DVD) on 12/11. Finally, look for Fred and Vinnie (DVD) on 12/18 from the Horizon Movies label.

In addition, Lionsgate and Miramax have officially announced a Tarantino XX: 8-Film Collection for Blu-ray only release on 11/20 (SRP $119.99). It will include Reservoir Dogs, True Romance, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill: Volume 1, Kill Bill: Volume 2, Death Proof and Inglourious Basterds, along with "two discs with five hours of all-new bonus material, highlighted by a critics' retrospective on Tarantino's groundbreaking catalog of films and 20 Years of Filmmaking that contains interviews with critics, stars and other masters of cinema." Still no word on the eventual BD release of Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair but one hopes it's coming in 2013.

FYI, Lionsgate has also set A Princess for Christmas for DVD only release on 10/16.

Sony has announced the Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD release of Men in Black 3 on 11/30. Extras will include the Spot the Alien game, 3 featurettes (The Evolution of Cool: MIB 1960's vs. Today, Keeping it Surreal: The FX of MIB 3 and Partners in Time: The Making of MIB 3), 4 Scene Investigations, 5 Progression Reels, a gag reel and Pitbull's Back in Time music video. The Blu-ray 3D will add 2 more featurettes (The Case of Boris the Animal: The 3D Models of MIB 3 and Converting to 3D). There will also be a Men in Black Trilogy: Limited Edition Blu-ray Giftset that includes all three films and a "worm" bobble head.

Indomina will release Flying Swords of Dragon Gate on Blu-ray and DVD on 10/2. The film stars Jet Li.

Dark Sky Films and MPI Media Group have set the Michael Rooker thriller Hypothermia for DVD only release on 10/2 as well.

Anchor Bay has announced that they'll be distributing Rob Zombie's The Lords of Salem, which presumably means home video as well. Details will follow as they come in.

Here's something to blow your mind: Timeless Media Group (a division of Shout! Factory) has just announced the DVD only release of The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams: Season One on 11/6. The 4-disc set will include 13 episodes for SRP $29.93. Big Ben, Mad Jack and old Number 7... wow, I'd actually really get a kick out of seeing this one again.

Speaking of TV DVD titles, don't forget that CBS and Paramount are releasing The Fugitive: The Most Wanted Edition - Complete Series on DVD on 10/23 (SRP $226.99). The 32-disc box set will include all the episodes, a boat-load of extras (rare pilot episodes, interviews, cast TV appearances, featurettes, promos and more) and a soundtrack CD as well.

And Image Entertainment has set Rescue: IMAX for Blu-ray 3D Combo and DVD release on 11/6 (SRP $24.98 and $19.98).

In other news today, 20th Century Fox has just announced their own Digital HD movie download plan. From the press release, Digital HD is "a new initiative that allows consumers to download or stream their favorite Fox movies on a variety of connected devices. Customized for today's digital lifestyles, more than 600 Fox films can now be enjoyed anywhere, anytime in amazing high-definition immediately in the U.S. from Amazon, CinemaNow, Google Play, iTunes, PlayStation, VUDU, Xbox Live and YouTube." That cross device/cross platform compatibility is a BIG deal - especially with iTunes and Amazon. "Digital HD combines four key benefits into one offering with earlier access to new releases, attractive pricing, cloud storage and availability across multiple devices. Whether the plan involves watching Fox movies on connected HDTVs in your living room, or on your tablet or smartphone on the run, Digital HD offers up versatility and convenience." The first title is available today for "less than $15" - Ridley Scott's Prometheus.

Speaking of Fox, there's been some confusion regarding which version of Casino Royale is being released on Blu-ray Disc both as a re-issue single by Fox and in the Bond 50 box set. Fox Connect indicates that it's an unrated version. This has fans wondering, because there IS a 13-second longer "unrated" version that was released by Sony in Europe. However we've confirmed today with Fox that the version being re-issued on Blu-ray by the studio - both as a single and in the box set - is the same PG-13 rated version released previously. The text on Fox Connect is in error and will be corrected. Just so you know.

And according to multiple Bits readers (thanks for the e-mail guys!) an official promo video that leaked early on YouTube (which is now removed) apparently let slip the planned street date for Warner's Blu-ray Combo version of The Dark Knight Rises with the text "Own it on Blu-ray Combo Pack or Digital Download 12/3." Take it with the appropriate grain of salt as it's a Monday, but we have no reason to doubt it.

Here's a look at the Blu-ray cover art for Lionsgate's Tarantino XX: 8-Film Collection, Sony's Men in Black 3 and Criterion's Brazil. All three titles are NOW AVAILABLE for pre-order on Amazon.com by clicking on the cover art below...

Stay tuned...!

- Bill Hunt

More new announcements for you today...

Warner Home Video has set Grand Hotel, Mrs. Miniver and Driving Miss Daisy for Blu-ray Disc release on 1/8/13. Daisy will come in BD Book packaging. Also newly announced for Blu-ray release by the studio is Tom and Jerry: Blast Off to Mars on 10/16 and (for New Line) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3 as BD singles on 12/18.

Sony will release [REC]³: Genesis on DVD only on 11/6.

CBS and Paramount set J.A.G.: The Complete Series - Collector's Edition for DVD box set release on 12/11. The 56-disc set will contain all the episodes plus extras and you'll get a 40-page booklet as well. Also coming to DVD that same day is the Mission: Impossible: The Complete Television Collection Gift Set, featuring every episode plus extras in packaging that looks like microfilm in a bomb-like container.

MGM has set Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure for BD release on 11/13 (SRP $19.99). Extras will include 3 featurettes (The Original Bill & Ted: In Conversation with Chris & Ed, Air Guitar Tutorial With Bjorn Turoque & The Rockness Monster and One Sweet and Sour Chinese Adventure to Go), radio spots and the theatrical trailer.

Meanwhile, Fox has set The Big Trail for BD release on 11/13 as well (SRP $19.99).

In other release news, you can now pre-order Disney's Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One - Avengers Assembled BD set on Amazon.com again (SRP $219.00 but they have it for $139.96). Street date isn't listed but a note from Amazon says the set will come in different packaging now (minus the briefcase which Disney got sued over) and ship sometime in Spring 2013. So adjust your plans accordingly.

Finally today, here's something really cool for you Hobbit fans: Warner Bros has just issued the second trailer for the film and it looks pretty damn great. It's all over YouTube, and you can also view it on Apple (if you can actually see it - the site's bandwidth has been crushed all afternoon) and also here at the film's official site where you can choose to view the trailer with any of FIVE different endings. Count me in!

Here's a look at the Blu-ray cover artwork for MGM's Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Criterion's The Qatsi Trilogy (due 12/11), and Warner's Driving Miss Daisy...

Stay tuned...

- Bill Hunt

Sony's Grover Crisp understands the science and art of film restoration as well as anyone working in Hollywood today. As the Senior VP for Asset Management, Film Restoration and Digital Mastering for Sony Pictures Entertainment, he's personally supervised scores of great film restoration efforts for the studio - both physical and digital - including such classics as The Bridge on the River Kwai and Jason and the Argonauts.

It's no exaggeration to say that Richard Donner is one of the most influential filmmakers of the past thirty years. For all intents and purposes, he single-handedly invented the modern superhero movie with 1978's Superman. In 1987, he reinvigorated the buddy movie formula with Lethal Weapon, spawning three sequels and countless imitators. But like any filmmaker, there have been some disappointments along the way, both critical and commercial. Perhaps the biggest was the failure of Inside Moves, a low-key character study, to find an audience upon its release in 1980. The film garnered critical praise and an Academy Award nomination for Diana Scarwid in the Best Supporting Actress category. But an ineptly managed theatrical release all but insured that no one would ever see it. After its release on VHS in the early 80s, Inside Moves promptly vanished into obscurity.

When Lionsgate recently announced their new 3-disc Full Disclosure Blu-ray Edition of Francis Ford Coppola's legendary Vietnam War film, Apocalypse Now, the news seemed almost too good to be true for longtime fans. The set, which streets on 10/19, is due to include both versions of the film, many hours of bonus features and, at long last, the infamous Hearts of Darkness documentary – the first time the film and documentary have ever been presented together on disc. It also includes – for the first time in ANY home format – both versions of the film in their original 2.35:1 theatrical aspect ratio. Given the film's complex history, and the equally complicated history of its past home video editions, fans of Apocalypse Now immediately began to have questions about the Blu-ray release, and quickly began to speculate about the release online. How would the new transfer compare to the 2001 release? How involved were Coppola and cinematographer Vittorio Storaro in preparing the new transfer? What surprises might the new edition bring?

I'm sure by now, most of you know that when you go to see a movie in a theater, the screen you watch movies on is shaped differently than your TV screen at home. Properly shown movies appear to be much wider-looking than television programs do. There's a reason for that, and it's all about something called aspect ratios.

So just what exactly are aspect ratios, and how did they come to be? Well sit right back, and I'll tell you the whole story...

RealD, 3DTV, Blu-ray 3D, active shutter glasses - these are terms you've probably heard mentioned on TV and in trips to Best Buy and other retailers. Certainly, anyone who's gone to a movie in theatres in recent months has heard about (or experienced) 3D on the big screen, with such hit films as Avatar, Toy Story 3 and How to Train Your Dragon. There's little doubt that 3D is here, and here to stay. What's more, the technology has finally arrived for you to enjoy the 3D experience in your living room. But what does it all mean? How does it work, and what special equipment do you need to give it a try?

The following is a comparison of anamorphic and non-anamorphic (letterboxed) widescreen DVD video, as displayed on Standard 4x3 and Digital 16x9 TVs. For this demonstration, we've chosen to use snapshots of actual DVD video from the film Rushmore (aspect ratio is 2.35:1). Buena Vista's original DVD version (on the left) is non-anamorphic. By contrast, The Criterion Collection DVD release (on the right) is anamorphic.

The following is a comparison of anamorphic and non-anamorphic (letterboxed) widescreen DVD video, as displayed on Standard 4x3 and Digital 16x9 TVs. For this demonstration, we've chosen to use snapshots of actual DVD video from the film Good Will Hunting (aspect ratio is 1.85:1). Buena Vista's U.S. DVD version (on the left) is non-anamorphic. By contrast, Alliance's Canadian DVD release (on the right) is anamorphic.

As the editor of The Digital Bits, I'm proud to present you with The Ultimate Guide to Anamorphic Widescreen DVD for Everyone! - the Everyperson's bible to DVD's most important video quality feature.

You may remember the first editorial I did on this subject back in 1998: The Big Squeeze: The ABCs of Anamorphic DVD. Lots of you have let me know that the editorial helped you to better understand just exactly what anamorphic is and how it works. But we still get tons of e-mail from puzzled readers asking questions about it. I recently did some research of my own, and started looking at the various resources available on the subject (both online and in various print publications). What I discovered, is that while there are lots of good articles on anamorphic widescreen, most of them are written in very technical terms and are difficult for even reasonably savvy DVD consumers to understand. Given the vigorous position in support of anamorphic widescreen that we've taken here at The Digital Bits, I decided to assemble what I hope will become the most clear and easy-to-understand guide on the subject. And it will always be just a click away, easily accessed by pointing your mouse at the familiar Anamorphic Widescreen logo found on every page of the Bits.