All right, we’ve got a couple things for you today, but first more reviews...

On Friday I posted my in-depth thoughts on Warner’s Middle-Earth 31-Disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray box set, which includes the previous 4K discs of both The Hobbit Trilogy and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (both the theatrical versions and Extended versions), along with the previous Hobbit Trilogy Blu-rays (again both versions) and newly-remastered Lord of the Rings Trilogy Blu-rays (sourced from the new 4K remasters, again both versions of each film). It also has a new bonus disc of content, but omits almost all of the previous content save for the audio commentaries. It’s actually a nice set for those who don’t already have any or all of the previous disc releases, but for diehard fans it’s going to be pretty frustrating. Anyway, click here for a lengthy and detailed review.

I’ve also posted my review of J. Lee Thompson’s The Guns of Navarone in 4K Ultra HD from Sony, which is a fine release of a classic WWII film.

Also, Stephen has posted his thoughts on Tony Randel’s Ticks (1993) in 4K UHD from Vinegar Syndrome.

And Tim has posted his thoughts on the He Came from the Swamp: The William Grefe Collection re-release on Blu-ray from Arrow Video, which includes six classic films from the Florida-based low budget filmmaker. [Read on here...]

All right, we’ve got a little more announcement news for you today here at The Bits. But first, a new feature...

Our own Michael Coate has just posted a new History, Legacy & Showmanship column celebrating the 60th anniversary of The Dick Van Dyke Show. It features a great Q&A with television historian Herbie J. Pilato, who reflects on the series’ appeal, impact, and legacy six decades after its debut. We hope you all enjoy it!

Now then, let’s get to the announcement news...

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has just announced Wes Anderson’s latest film, The French Dispatch, for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 12/28, with the Digital release (including 4K) set for 12/14. Audio will be DTS-HD MA. There’s no indication of special features, but you can reasonably imagine that a Criterion special edition is forthcoming next year. The film stars Benicio Del Toro, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Timothée Chalamet, Jeffrey Wright, Léa Seydoux, Frances McDormand, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Christoph Waltz, Edward Norton, and Jason Schwartzman. You can see the cover artwork at left and also below. [Read on here...]

“The Dick Van Dyke Show is simply superior television with an appeal that remains timeless.” – TV historian Herbie J Pilato

The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective commemorating the 60th anniversary of the television broadcast premiere of The Dick Van Dyke Show, the popular situation comedy starring Dick Van Dyke (Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) and Mary Tyler Moore (The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Ordinary People) as Rob and Laura Petrie.

The award-winning series, which originally aired on CBS from 1961 through 1966, revolved around Rob and his co-workers as the writing staff of a television show and Rob’s home life with wife Laura and son Ritchie.

The series—created by Carl Reiner (2000 Years with Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks, The Jerk, All of Me) and memorably featuring Rose Marie as Sally Rogers, Morey Amsterdam as Buddy Sorrell, Larry Mathews as Ritchie, Richard Deacon as Mel Cooley, and Carl Reiner as Alan Brady—premiered 60 years ago this autumn, and for the occasion The Bits features a Q&A with television historian Herbie J Pilato who reflects on the series appeal, impact and legacy six decades after its debut. [Read on here...]

All right, I’m finally feeling better after my recent brush with an allergic reaction, so I’ve got a good My Two Cents update for you all today with some exciting 4K UHD release news and more new disc reviews as well.

First up is Stephen’s look at Joe Dante’s The Howling, now available in a new 40th anniversary release in 4K Ultra HD from Studio Canal in the UK. The 4K disc in the package will work on any UHD player, but the Blu-ray is Region B only and the DVD is Region 2 only.

Also today, Stephen has taken a look at Anthony Mann’s The Naked Spur (1953) on Blu-ray from MGM via the Warner Archive Collection.

And Tim has reviewed Camillo Mastrocinque’s An Angel for Satan (1966) on Blu-ray from Severin Films, as well as Don Siegel’s Coogan’s Bluff (1968) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics. [Read on here...]

Morning, folks! We’ve got an early Bits news post here today with some big catalog announcement news for 4K Ultra HD fans. But first, we’ve got more new Blu-ray Disc reviews for you…

Tim has posted his thoughts on David Nelson’s Death Screams (1982) from Arrow Video, along with John D. Lamond’s Nightmares (1980) from Umbrella Entertainment.

Meanwhile, Dennis has turned in a look at Kurt Neumann’s The Secret of the Blue Room (1933) from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, as well as M. Night Shyamalan’s Old from Universal.

And Stephen has checked in as well with comments on the Warner Archive Collection’s new Val Lewton Double Feature of The Ghost Ship (1943) and Bedlam (1946), as well as their recent Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 3.

More reviews are on the way throughout the week, so be sure to check back for them! [Read on here...]

Afternoon, folks! Hope you all had a good Halloween weekend.

We’re got some more new disc reviews for you today, starting with the one I posted yesterday: My in-depth look at the Universal Classic Monsters: Icons of Horror Collection, which features Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931), The Invisible Man (1933), and The Wolf Man (1941), along with the Spanish version of Drácula (1931) all in 4K Ultra HD. The set is definitely worth a look for fans of the characters.

Also today, Stephen has reviewed John Huston’s Freud (1962) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

And Dennis has delivered a look at Arthur Lubin’s The Spider Woman Strikes Back (1946) also on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

More reviews are coming over the course of the week, so be sure to check back for them. [Read on here...]

We’re finishing the week with a few more new disc reviews...

Tim has finished his thoughts on Halloween III: The Season of the Witch, Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, and Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers all in 4K Ultra HD from Scream Factory.

Meanwhile, Stephen has checked out M. Night Shyamalan’s Old in 4K Ultra HD from Universal, along with David Bruckner’s The Night House on Blu-ray from Fox Searchlight, and the W.C. Fields classic The Bank Dick (1940) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

And given that this is the Friday before Halloween, we’re saving my review of the Universal Classic Monsters: Icons of Horror Collection in 4K Ultra HD for posting on Sunday.

Lots more new and recent disc reviews are on the way for next week as well, so be sure to stay tuned for them. [Read on here...]

We’ve got more new disc reviews for you this week, with still more on the way...

Tim has reviewed Scream Factory’s new 4K Ultra HD releases of Halloween (1978) and Halloween II (1981), along with Arrow Video’s Deep Red 4K UHD, and Synapse Films’ recent Demons I & II: Limited Edition 4K Ultra HD release.

Meanwhile, Stephen has checked out Free Guy in 4K UHD from 20th Century Studios and Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, along with Bluebeard (1963) on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

And Dennis has offered his thoughts on Jack Arnold’s The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957) on Blu-ray, as newly-released by the Criterion Collection.

We’ll have more reviews over the next few days, including more of the Halloween sequels in 4K,Scream in 4K, Old, the Universal Classic Monsters: Icons of Horror Collection and more, so be sure to stay tuned for them. [Read on here...]

Let’s have a quick round-up of Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD release news, and then I must dive back into my own review work over the next several days...

First up, it does indeed appear that Disney is preparing a 4K Ultra HD release of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. I’ve now got multiple retail and industry sources confirming this. However, don’t expect the sequels to be announced anytime soon. It’s possible that the studio is planning to release more films in the series next year if this first one sells well (and possibly promoted by the success of the films in streaming on Disney+) but for now Curse of the Black Pearl seems to be the only film immediately in the offing.

Also, while we’re on the topic of Disney, it seems that the Heat 4K release continues to be in limbo, but is still expected to arrive on the format sometime next year.

Meanwhile, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune is definitely shaping up for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD in early January sometime. Info some retailers suggests that the studio is targeting 1/11/22 as the street date. And for those of you who have been waiting, not only does it finally arrive in theaters tomorrow (with sneak peek preview screenings tonight in many US cities), the film premieres IN JUST TWO HOURS in 4K with HDR and Dolby Atmos on HBO Max. So get ready to enjoy a helluva good cinematic experience. [Read on here...]

We’re starting off the week with a trio of new Blu-ray reviews...

Stephen has taken a look at Nadia Tass’ Malcolm (1986) on Blu-ray from Umbrella Entertainment, along with Ralph Thomas’ Percy (1971) on the format from Code Red via Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

And Dennis has given Jonathan Mostow’s Breakdown (1997) a thorough going-over on Blu-ray via the new Paramount Presents release. As most of you know, the film stars Kurt Russell, J. T. Walsh, and Kathleen Quinlan.

More reviews are on the way all this week, so be sure to check back for them.

Now then, in announcement news today, our friends at Kino Lorber Studio Classics have revealed that they’re prepping a new 4K Ultra HD release of the 1963 John Sturges classic The Great Escape for release sometime in January. [Read on here...]