Well folks, this news is not unexpected. But it’s certainly shocking to see a major Hollywood film studio finally do more than just dip their toes in the streaming waters.

Warner Bros. has now official confirmed that it plans to bypass traditional theatrical windowing and release its entire 2021 slate of films titles day-and-date on HBO Max with the normal theatrical release. Each film will be available for streaming on the service for a 31-day window. This includes Dune, The Matrix 4, The Suicide Squad, Godzilla vs. Kong, and Space Jam: A New Legacy.

We already saw Warner Bros. signal this shift last month with the announcement that Wonder Woman 1984 will arrive on HBO Max with its long-awaited theatrical release on 12/25. Now it looks like they’ve just pushed their chips all in on this move. [Read on here...]

Well... the day is finally here. Many of you are no doubt picking up or receiving in the mail your copies of Warner’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit in 4K Ultra HD. I hope you all enjoy them as much as I did!

There have been reports of Amazon and other retailers running out of stock this week, and that’s no doubt because Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is scrambling to manufacture enough copies to meet demand.

Keep in mind that there’s only one physical media replication plant in all of North America now and every studio is trying to get their big Q4 titles produced there at the moment.

But I would imagine that more stock will arrive in the next week or two, so that everyone who wants a copy should be able to get one by Christmas. [Read on here...]

Afternoon, everyone and happy Cyber Monday. We hope you’ve all had a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday, for those of you here in the States. And for everyone else, we hope you had a great weekend.

We were very busy here at The Bits over the weekend. I’ve completed our in-depth review of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy in 4K Ultra HD from Warner Bros. The disc streets tomorrow, but we’re hearing that supplies are a little short so it might take another few weeks for everyone who ordered to get their copies.

For those of you who want the short version, the set is fantastic. It includes all three films—The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King—in both the Theatrical Cuts and Extended Editions on separate discs (the Extended Editions are split over two UHD discs, as they were on Blu-ray and DVD). There are no special features in the set beyond a Digital Copy code. However, the new 4K remasters are spectacular. Truly, these films have never looked better—not even during their original run in theaters. The 4K-remastered image falls a bit short of reference quality, but trust me when I say that they’re so much better than their previous Blu-ray versions that there’s just no comparison. And the new HDR color grade is breathtaking. Not to mention the sound—each film includes a new Dolby Atmos surround sound mix that absolutely IS reference quality. So I highly recommend that you all check out my review here. [Read on here...]

Afternoon, folks!

All right, there was no post yesterday because we’ve spent the entire weekend focused on getting more new disc reviews done for you. And on that note...

Tim and I have posted our in-depth look at George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead, as newly released in a fabulous 4K Ultra HD Limited Edition by Second Sight Films in the UK. It’s hands down one of the best home video releases of the year on any format. You can find that here.

Also, I’ve now posted my thoughts on Paramount’s Beverly Hills Cop and Coming to America, both starring Eddie Murphy and both coming to 4K Ultra HD on 12/1.

I’ve also just reviewed Kino Lorber Studio Classics’ new standard Blu-ray release of George Miller’s Mad Max, which streets today. I’ll be reviewing their new 4K release too as soon as it arrives. [Read on here...]

We’re closing out the week here at The Bits with a couple more reviews...

I’ve posted my in-depth thoughts on Warner Bros. Home Entertainment’s new Bugs Bunny: 80th Anniversary Collection Blu-ray set. You’ll be glad to know that it’s pretty great. The remastered shorts look fantastic, and the new hour-long documentary is worth every minute of your time. And for those of you who might be wondering, I’ve compiled a list of the Bugs Bunny shorts that remain unreleased on Blu-ray AFTER this set (also accounting for the shorts included on all the previous Looney Tunes: Platinum Collection BD sets). You’ll find that at the end of the review.

Also today, Tim has posted his thoughts on Alain Jessua’s Shock Treatment (1973) on Blu-ray from Severin Films.

And we’ll be working on more Blu-ray and 4K reviews all weekend here at the site. Next up for me is a look at Kino Lorber Studio Classics’ restored Blu-ray of Mad Max (the 4K review will be added as soon as we receive the disc), as well as HBO’s Chernobyl in 4K Ultra HD. And there are more to follow. [Read on here...]

“The Flintstones was the first animated sitcom in television history. They paved that gravel road and it’s been smooth traveling ever since.” — Steve Cox, author of Mining Bedrock: The Voices Behind Television’s First Animated Sitcom, The Flintstones

The Digital Bits and History, Legacy & Showmanship are pleased to present this retrospective commemorating the 60th anniversary of the broadcast premiere of The Flintstones, Hanna-Barbera’s animated series set in the Stone Age (but inspired by The Honeymooners and mid-20th Century suburban America) that introduced the world to Fred and Wilma Flintstone, Barney and Betty Rubble, Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm, Dino, Mr. Slate, The Great Gazoo, and a host of other memorable supporting characters.

The popular series (recently released on Blu-ray and reviewed here) originally ran in prime time on ABC from 1960 to 1966 and spawned numerous spin-offs, TV specials, movies and tie-in merchandise. It premiered 60 years ago this autumn, and for the occasion The Bits features a Q&A with a trio of pop culture and animation historians who reflects on the series’ appeal six decades after its debut. [Read on here...]

We’re starting things off today with no less than FOUR new disc reviews here at The Bits...

First, Tim has a look for you at director Ryland Brickson Cole Tews’ Lake Michigan Monster (2018), a wonky low-budget cult film on Blu-ray from Arrow Video. He’s also posted his thoughts on Guy Hamilton’s Evil Under the Sun (1982), an Agatha Christie adaptation on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics featuring Peter Ustinov as detective Hercule Poirot.

Meanwhile, I’ve just posted a review of South Korean filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho’s latest film, Peninsula, the sequel to his excellent 2016 zombie thriller Train to Busan. That’s on 4K Ultra HD from our friends at Well Go USA. I also posted a look at Weathering with You (2019), the latest anime from Your Name director Makoto Shinkai, coming soon from GKids and Shout! Factory in a 4K Ultra HD Limited Collector’s Edition.

And more Blu-ray and 4K reviews are on the way, rest assured. There are a number of good titles coming in right now, and we’re working our way through them as fast as we can. [Read on here...]

All right, we’re kicking off the week with several new disc reviews...

I’ve just posted my thoughts on Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash (2014) in 4K from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, along with Neill Blomkamp’s District 9 (2009) in 4K also from Sony, and the new Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: The Complete Collection on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.

We also have two new disc reviews from Dennis, including Tay Garnett’s Seven Sinners (1940) from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, and Norman Jewison’s Moonstuck (1987) from Criterion, both on Blu-ray.

Tim’s working on more Blu-ray reviews too, and I have several more new and recent 4K title reviews in progress as well.  And yes, if you’re wondering, we are planning to review Second Sight’s Dawn of the Dead: Limited Edition 4K box set as soon as we get our hands on it. [Read on here...]

We have a couple things for you today...

First, Tim has posted a review of Nick Castle’s The Last Starfighter (1984), now available on Blu-ray from our friends at Arrow Video. Sounds like it’s a pretty great disc, so do check it out here.

Also today, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has just officially announced the 4K Ultra HD release of Neill Blomkamp’s Elysium on 2/9. The disc will include Dolby Atmos audio.

Extras on the 4K disc will include 4 featurettes (Exoskeletons, Explosions and the Action Choreography of Elysium, The Hero, The Psychopath and the Characters of Elysium, The Art of the Elysium Miniatures, and Bugatti 2154), plus theatrical trailers. [Read on here...]

All right, it’s FINALLY official.

As we’ve been expecting for weeks now, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has just issued their press release announcing the Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD release of Christopher Nolan’s Tenet on December 15th (SRP $44.95, $35.99, and $28.98 respectively).

You can see the 4K Ultra HD cover artwork at left and also below, along with the Blu-ray and DVD cover art.

In terms of special features, the 4K and Blu-ray versions will include an hour-long documentary on the production called Looking at the World in a New Way: The Making of Tenet. [Read on here...]