Stephen has just turned in a review of Warren Beatty and Buck Henry’s Heaven Can Wait (1978), Beatty’s first film as a director and an interesting romantic comedy, which is newly available on Blu-ray from Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment.

In terms of announcement news today, Criterion has just revealed its March 2022 release slate, which is set to include Márta Mészáros’s Adoption (1975) (Spine #1115 – Blu-ray and DVD) on 3/8, a new 4K upgrade of Jean-Pierre Melville’s legendary crime drama Le cercle rouge (1970) (Spine #218 – 4K UHD/Blu-ray Combo) on 3/15, Robert Aldrich’s The Flight of the Phoenix (1965) (Spine #1116 – Blu-ray) on 3/22, and Martin Scorsese’s The Last Waltz (Spine #1118 – 4K UHD/Blu-ray Combo and Blu-ray) and Theodore Witcher’s Love Jones (1997) (Spine #1117 – Blu-ray) on 3/29. Both of the 4K titles will include Dolby Vision HDR.

Note that we’ve updated the relevant Criterion Spines Project page here at The Bits accordingly. [Read on here...]

We’ve got more reviews and some great new announcements today as well. As usual, let’s start with the reviews...

I’ve just taken an in-depth look at Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane (1941) with an assist from the late great Bits reviewer Barrie Maxwell. The film is now available in a 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Disc combo edition from The Criterion Collection and it’s worth every penny. The package features a terrific new film restoration and a wealth of new and legacy special features. As you know, there’s an issue with the movie Blu-ray in the package, but Criterion is already fixing it and I wouldn’t let that stop you from picking up what is one of the best releases of 2021.

Also today, Stephen has taken a look at Glenn Jordan’s Mass Appeal (1984) on Blu-ray from Code Red, and William Malone’s Creature (1985) on Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome.

Tim has checked in with this thoughts on Jeffrey Obrow and Stephen Carpenter’s The Kindred (1987) on Blu-ray from Synapse Films.

And Dennis has offered his thoughts on Jerry Schatzberg’s The Seduction of Joe Tynan (1979) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics. [Read on here...]

We start today’s post with a couple more new disc reviews, as usual...

Stephen has taken a nice deep dive into Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Complete Series, as newly-released on Limited Collector’s Edition Blu-ray by GKids via Shout! Factory. Directed and later re-envisioned by Hideaki Anno (Shin Godzilla), the series is a classic of Japanese anime, right up there with Akira, Ghost in the Shell, and Cowboy Bebop. But it can be a little daunting for the uninitiated, so Stephen will help guide you through it, and there’s no better way to experience the series than this new Blu-ray box set. It’s only available directly from Shout!, but you can also find a wide release Blu-ray edition of the series on Amazon (linked in the review).

Also today, Dennis has take a look back at Milos Forman’s Ragtime, which is now available on Blu-ray from Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment fully remastered from a new 4K scan and restoration as part of their Paramount Presents line. Both the theatrical version and Director’s Cut workprint version are included in the set. You can learn more here.

As always, more reviews are on the way, including a look at Criterion’s new Citizen Kane 4K Ultra HD, which should be up here on the site by Monday. [Read on here...]

Today’s update is a quick one, but we’ve got some good announcement news and a bunch of new disc reviews for you to enjoy. So as always, let’s start with the latter first...

I’ve now posted my thoughts on Cary Joji Fukunaga’s No Time to Die in Ultra HD from MGM and Universal, which offers a stunning 4K image, a very good Dolby Atmos mix, and a lean batch of extras that actually includes a nice 4K exclusive feature.

I’ve also reviewed Ridley Scott’s latest medieval drama, The Last Duel, new on 4K Ultra HD from 20th Century Studios. The film stars Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Jodie Comer, and Ben Affleck, and borrows liberally from Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon.

Tim’s been busy reviewing as well, delivering his thoughts on William Lustig’s Maniac Cop 2 (1990) in 4K UHD from Blue Underground, as well as Budd Boetticher’s Wings of the Hawk in Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D from Kino Lorber Studio Classics (with a restoration by the 3-D Film Archive). [Read on here...]

All right, we have some new and recent disc reviews for you all to enjoy today...

Stephen has checked in with his thoughts on James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad in 4K Ultra HD from Warner, along with Claude Chabrol’s Blue Panther (1965) from Kino Lorber Studio Classics and Jean Renoir’s Whirlpool of Fate (1925) from Kino Classics both on Blu-ray Disc.

Also, Tim has checked out Philip Kaufman’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) in 4K Ultra HD from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, along with Richard Friedman’s Phantom of the Mall: Eric’s Revenge (1989) from Arrow Video on Blu-ray.

And Dennis has turned in his take on Basil Dearden’s The Assassination Bureau (1969) on region-free Blu-ray from Imprint Films and Via Vision.

Lots more reviews are on the way, including several 4K UHD titles that I’m diving into this week, so be sure to stay tuned for them. [Read on here...]

Today’s update is a quick one, as we’re doing a lot behind-the-scenes work here at the site today. (I’m personally digging into some interesting upcoming title rumors.) But we do have some good updates for you on forthcoming 4K Ultra HD titles, and there’s a bunch of new 4K titles available for pre-order.

First up... a great piece of announcement news: Our friends at Kino Lorber Studio Classics have just revealed that they’re going to be releasing Stanley Kubrick’s B&W war classic Paths of Glory (1957) on 4K Ultra HD sometime early in 2022. Street date is listed as “coming soon.” As many of you will already know, the film stars Kirk Douglas as a French army commander in World War I. It’s a brilliant piece of work, and should look great in 4K.

While we’re talking Kino Lorber Studio Classics, the company has also provided updates on other classic catalog titles that are coming soon to 4K. Out of Sight (1998) is currently due in Spring 2022. To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) is awaiting the attention of director William Friedkin to grade and approve the Dolby Vision HDR master. And Orson Welles’ Touch of Evil (1958) is now set to arrive on 4K UHD in February. [Read on here...]

All right, we hope you all had a great Thanksgiving holiday, and that you were able to take advantage of some good Black Friday Week and Cyber Monday deals on discs and whatnot.

We’ve got some big announcement news for you today, and a few follow-ups on previously-mentioned titles and issues too. But let’s get to a couple new reviews first...

First up, Dennis has posted his thoughts on Michael Showalter’s The Eyes of Tammy Faye on Blu-ray from Fox Searchlight.

And Stephen has checked in with this thoughts on Imprint/Via Vision’s The Harry Palmer Collection, which stars Michael Caine as a working-class spy. The set includes The Ipcress File, Funeral in Berlin, and Billion Dollar Brain on region-free Blu-ray Disc.

More reviews are forthcoming, so be sure to watch for them over the coming days. [Read on here...]

All right, we’ve some big announcement news for you today, as well as a couple of updates on titles we’ve mentioned recently, and a pair of new disc reviews. Let’s start with the latter first...

I’ve just posted my thoughts on Destin Daniel Cretton’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in 4K Ultra HD from Marvel and Disney. The disc streets on 11/30. The good news is that it looks and sounds great, though some of you may be disappointed that it doesn’t include the 1.90 IMAX aspect ratio for select scenes that’s now available via streaming on Disney+. Anyway, you can read my thoughts here.

Also, I’ve taken a look at a classic: Ingmar Bergman’s stunning B&W masterpiece The Seventh Seal (1957) as lovingly restored on 4K Ultra HD from the British Film Institute. It’s an import disc that’s worth your time, though keep in mind that the Blu-ray included in the packaging is Region B only (The 4K disc will work on all UHD players worldwide).

Now then... the big news today is that Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures have officially set Denis Villeneuve’s Dune for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 1/11/22, as expected. The Digital release arrives on 12/3. Both the Blu-ray and 4K discs will include Dolby Atmos audio, and retail sources are suggesting that the 4K disc will include HDR10 and Dolby Vision high dynamic range. [Read on here...]

We’ve got a few more interesting pieces of release news for you all today, as well as more new disc reviews. Let’s get to the latter first...

Stephen has reviewed Robert Schwentke’s Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins (2021) on 4K Ultra HD from Paramount, along with Norman Z. McLeod’s It’s a Gift (1934) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, and William A. Fraker’s A Reflection of Fear (1972) on Blu-ray from Imprint.

Also, Dennis has turned in his thoughts on Mark Robson’s Isle of the Dead (1945) on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection and Stuart Heisler’s Among the Living (1941) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

More reviews are on the way over the next several days, so be sure to watch for them.

Now then... in announcement news today, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has just officially set Andy Serkis’ Venom: Let There Be Carnage for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 12/14, with the Digital release due on 11/23. The 4K disc will include HDR10 high dynamic range and Dolby Atmos audio. Extras on both the Blu-ray and 4K will include outtakes & bloopers, 6 deleted scenes, and 4 behind-the-scenes featurettes (Eddie & Venom: The Odd Couple, Sick and Twisted Cletus Kasady, Concept to Carnage, and Let There Be... Action). You can see the cover artwork above-left and also below. [Read on here...]

Today’s update here at The Bits will be a quick one, as we have one major title announcement to report, plus what appears to be an audio problem on a key forthcoming 4K catalog title that we’re tracking.

First though, we have a few new disc reviews for you...

Tim has posted his thoughts on Wes Craven’s The Hills Have Eyes (1977), as released in 4K Ultra HD by our friends at Arrow Video.

Meanwhile, Stephen has checked in too with his thoughts on Wes Craven’s Scream (1996), newly released in 4K Ultra HD by Dimension Films via Paramount.

And Dennis has weighed in as well with his two cents on Liesl Tommy’s recent Aretha Franklin biopic, Respect, new on Blu-ray from MGM via Universal Pictures. [Read on here...]